Questions about the application process

[goosemac]

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Hi everyone,

First of all thanks for all the information you senior members/attendings/residents have given to other students. There is a recent thread about LOR's which was really helpful for someone like me. I don't post much but have been a member of SDN for a while.

I am interested in PM&R and sports medicine. My sports med interest led me to choose kinesiology as my concentration in undergrad. I always wanted to do sports medicine but not in an outpatient setting and when I learned about, and finally rotated in PM&R I found my calling.

I had a couple of general questions to give me a better sense of direction?

I feel like I have some good experiences that'll help my candidacy, but I had to take a leave of absence to study for boards since I didn't pass the first two times. A lot of people I have talked to have told me that board scores don't matter as much in PM&R and while that may be true, there's still this elephant in the room. I'm assuming that eliminates me from some of the top programs, but does it eliminate me from matching in PM&R altogether?

When reading a personal statement what would a residency director or an attending be looking for?
I have a plethora of reasons as to why I like PM&R but I need help trying to streamline all of these into a personal statement. Should I mention specific cases I saw during my rotations (keeping HIPAA in mind, of course) or do I talk about my research at a gait lab?
I find it really easy to talk about how much I like PM&R when I compare it to other specialties, but then I run the risk of bashing or putting down other fields.

When talking to one of our Deans, he told us that residency directors and attendings always lie to medical students and tell them to rank their programs high so they have more students to choose from. I took what he said with a grain of salt, but when both of the attendings I worked under gave me good oral reviews and told me to rank their program high I couldn't help but feel a bucket of cold water being thrown on me from that memory. What should I think of what that dean said vs the attendings?

Thanks in advance, obviously you can tell I have a lot of questions so I'm grateful for anyone that answers them. Not sure you can tell but I have kind of an anxious personality.

 

[goosemac]

?

 

[Ludicolo]

While board scores aren’t as important in PM&R, you do still need to pass. So yes, past failures may put some of the top programs out of reach. However, depending on the rest of your application, you may still have a decent chance of matching somewhere, if you apply broadly.

I can’t tell you what people look for in a PS, because everyone looks for something different. Talk about your key experiences (be they clinical or research) and why they drew you to our field. If you write about it, be prepared to discuss it during an interview. Tell us why you fit into PM&R. Don’t bash any other specialties or any other people in those specialties. Also, don't talk about your past board failures in your PS. You will have the chance to discuss this during the interview (if you're not screened out). Make the statement fit on one page. Spell and grammar check.

Don’t get sucked into the mind games of listening to other PDs or attendings telling you to rank them #1 or highly. Yes, it’s nice to feel wanted; but this is one time where you need to be self-centered. Now, most attendings are honest (I don't think we ALWAYS lie), but some may only be looking out for themselves, and some - even though they like you - don’t have much pull with the PD whatsoever. Doesn’t matter really. As has been said many times before: rank the programs in the order that YOU want to go.

 

[PMR 4 MSK]

Show your assets and downplay your liabilities.

In both PS and interviews, tell people why you want to go into PM&R. What do you bring to the field? Why should they pick you over the hundred other applicants they have? Why should they rank you highly?

Yes, 2 failed boards all but eliminates you from top-tier programs, but there are plenty of programs out there. Find the ones that offer what you want.

When it comes to the Match, Program Directors lie. Never believe anything they tell you regarding ranking. One ENT PD told one of my classmates he was their number 1 choice and he really wanted to go there, so he didn't rank anyone else. He had to scramble when he had no match.

I saw people who bragged that 4 or 5 programs called them and said they were their top candidates, and then they got their third choice.

One of the ladies a year ahead of me put money down for an apt in NYC when one became available before the match, and the ortho PD had assured her a spot in their program. She lost a lot of money.

PDs aren't supposed to ask personal questions. I was interviewing at one where it was I (a male) and female candidate in his office and he asked if either of us was planning to have kids anytime in the next 4 years. She was married and he asked her how she was going to prevent pregnancy while she was a resident. He asked me if I was engaged or if I was planning to bring a SO with me. I did not even rank that program.

Why do PD's do it? Bragging rights. "All 6 of my incoming class ranked us #1!" "I filled all 6 of my spots with my top 8 picks!" They destroy people's careers for bragging rights.

 

[deleted185747]

Your personal statement should make the reader want to meet you and have the impression that you will satisfy whatever requirements the PD is looking for.

I think they look for someone who is hard working, intelligent, motivated to learn on their own, strong work ethic, work well with others in a team environment, excellent communication, etc. Showing that you know what PM&R is would be secondary. Your research should be highlighted (you are applying to an academic program afterall and they love research)

My PD never tells candidates anything positive and most leave the interview feeling deflated. He always says "well, good luck then!" at the end of the interview.

Ok some PDs lie. Med students also lie when they say they really like a program... Its just like the world of business - everybody is looking out for himself or herself.

 

[lossnwilderness]

Don't believe PD's. I have also seen people in other specialties screwed as well. Apply broadly (take a loan). Relax, I'm sure you will match somewhere.

You may need to take leave of absences from here on out to make sure you pass your boards. It becomes a licensing issue (at least for taking USMLEs) if you fail so many times. I'm not sure of the number, but look into it. You would hate to leave residency and not able to obtain a medical license. I have heard of that happening as well.

 

[goosemac]

Thank you guys so much, ERAS just opened up so its game time now...

 

[Jitter Bug]

I agree don't say anything about taking boards 3 times, BUT be fully prepared to discuss it, and you may even want to write something out and practice it at home so you can discuss it honestly without sounding defensive or weird.
Also be prepared to explain what you did wrong that made you fail and how you will avoid that in the future, because you have many more tests ahead of you. These tests will be done while you are working regular resident hours, or attending hours. You have PM&R SAE's, maybe EMG SAE's depending on your program, and then after you finish you need to pass your PM&R specialty boards. If you don't know what you did wrong and how to avoid that in the future, its worth some time and thought right now. Maybe hire a tutor to show you different learning styles. Money well spent if it keeps you in medicine.
Everyone studies differently, and you just need to sort out how you learn, rather than wish you could just read and retain like some of your luckier classmates.