Residency Application

[Bethany555]

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I have searched for a few threads but haven't found the answer to my question. It is definitely something I would think was covered or maybe it's too obvious to cover, so I might just be typing the wrong keyword or am not looking in the right place. In any case,

How does the residency application process work? Do you search for programs in the specialty you want and send out several applications or do you apply to a broad range of specialties? What criteria do they look at - is it like med school applications where they look at volunteering, clubs, shadowing, etc. or pure academics? If someone could link me or explain the process, that'd be great.

I am currently attending a BS/MD program (starting the BS part now). It's an extremely long way off, but it's the next application I'll have to worry about. Also, what do hospital directors look for when hiring - Med School? Residency? Fellowship? etc. and how do people generally see it weighted.

 

[EpicBearMan]

I have searched for a few threads but haven't found the answer to my question. It is definitely something I would think was covered or maybe it's too obvious to cover, so I might just be typing the wrong keyword or am not looking in the right place. In any case,

How does the residency application process work? Do you search for programs in the specialty you want and send out several applications or do you apply to a broad range of specialties? What criteria do they look at - is it like med school applications where they look at volunteering, clubs, shadowing, etc. or pure academics? If someone could link me or explain the process, that'd be great.

I am currently attending a BS/MD program (starting the BS part now). It's an extremely long way off, but it's the next application I'll have to worry about. Also, what do hospital directors look for when hiring - Med School? Residency? Fellowship? etc. and how do people generally see it weighted.

I do not have any experience myself, but from what I have read, most people send out several applications to programs in their top pick specialty and send a few applications to programs in a backup specialty, especially if first choice is extremely competitive (plastics, derm, etc).

It seems like more emphasis is placed on academics for residency applications than med-school. Step 1 USMLE score is apparently insanely important, along with grades during 3rd year. Research seems to be important too if you are interested in a research heavy specialty like radiation oncology.

The students rank their favorite programs and the programs rank their favorite applicants. Some computer system pairs up schools and applicants that ranked each other highly. On match day, all of the students find out what program they will be attending, and from what I understand, this decision is usually final.

Congrats on your BS/MD acceptance. Are you doing a 6 year accelerated program?

 

[ILikeDrugs]

http://www.nrmp.org/about_nrmp/index.html

 

[Bethany555]

Thanks guys!

@EpicBearMan 7 year at Northwestern

I looked through the links and it helped a lot with the process, but I'm also curious about what the directors care about? Grades? USMLE? Activities? Research? etc.

 

[Parts Unknown]

How does the residency application process work? Do you search for programs in the specialty you want and send out several applications or do you apply to a broad range of specialties? What criteria do they look at - is it like med school applications where they look at volunteering, clubs, shadowing, etc. or pure academics? If someone could link me or explain the process, that'd be great.

It's a long story, but I'll give you the gist of it (from my perspective).

Most med students apply to one specialty. Towards the end of M3/beginning of M4 you begin to assemble your application, which is a standardized electronic application sent through ERAS (electronic residency application service). It's a pretty unremarkable application. Your medical school will upload your transcripts, dean's letter, LORs, etc. You fill in the boxes, write yet another personal statement, etc. When the season begins you simply log in an select which programs you want to transmit your application to. In contrast to AMCAS, as you submit more applications it gets cheaper per app.

If you are a solid applicant aiming to match into FP in a particular rural area, you might submit two applications. If you are a marginal candidate trying to match derm or ENT you may submit 120 (no joke).

Then you hunker down and wait for interview invites. When you start getting offers you have to make schedule/travel arrangements. If you're applying cross-country, like I did, prepare to grease up your credit card. Some people only do a few, most can't handle more than 12-15.

After your interviews are finished, you sit down and hammer out a rank list, which you submit to the NRMP (national residency matching program). On match day you get completely hammered, either because you matched at #1 or #12-15.

The importance of different facets of your application will vary depending on specialty. As a premed you rack up countless ECs, as a residency applicant ECs done during medical school carry very little weight. Most places are foremost interested in your clerkship grades and USMLE scores. Some weigh research heavily. In general your academic cred >>> anything else.

The interviews are a bit different from med school, because you are likely meeting with people who you would be working with very closely... for years.

All that said, a few people will apply to multiple specialties. Usually this is done for backup. Say a marginal applicant applies to both derm and IM. He gets 2 derm interviews and 15 IM interviews. He can then rank the derm programs above the IM programs and feel good about matching somewhere.

And then there is the whole prelim/categorical issue, but don't trouble yourself with that.

 

[Ischemic]

Thanks PartsUnknown, that actually helped answer a few of my questions as well. I'm currently thinking about doing IM and possibly pursuing a fellowship in cardiology or anesthesiology. I also really want to pursue them in a Cali hospital/university. How difficult is it to match into IM or anesthesiology in California from your experience? Any programs that are malignant and should be avoided? Also if you have thoughts concerning away rotations at these hospitals. Thanks a bunch. And if you don't mind me asking, what is your field currently?

 

[Parts Unknown]

I'm currently thinking about doing IM and possibly pursuing a fellowship in cardiology or anesthesiology. I also really want to pursue them in a Cali hospital/university. How difficult is it to match into IM or anesthesiology in California from your experience? Any programs that are malignant and should be avoided? Also if you have thoughts concerning away rotations at these hospitals. Thanks a bunch. And if you don't mind me asking, what is your field currently?

I have zero experience with IM in California. I can say that overall IM is not a very competitive field, although in every field (even less competitive ones) there will be sought-after programs that are tough to land.

There are two bits of advice/insight I would offer:
1. Not all residency programs are created equal. Not by a long shot. "IM in California" could mean anything in terms of size, scope, support, scut, etc. No doubt your experience at UCLA would be very different from Bakersfield, but who knows? Bakersfield may suit you better. At the premed level matching in any competitive program may seem awesome, but there are some suck-*** programs in every field. And sometimes they're at some big name places.

2. You cannot really get a feel for this stuff until you're almost there. It's painful, I know, but just put your head down and trudge on. It's obviously good to plan ahead and do your research, but you can't smell the proof until you see the pudding.

Oh, and I'm a pathologist. Go me.

 

[unhappytnt]

Thanks Parts Unknown, really informative! 👍

 

[smq123]

I'm currently thinking about doing IM and possibly pursuing a fellowship in cardiology or anesthesiology.

FYI: Anesthesiology is a separate specialty. You can't do a fellowship in anesthesiology - anesthesiology does have its own fellowships, though.

Which programs are "malignant and should be avoided" can, very easily, change. Chairmen come and go, program directors come and go, faculty come and go. When they do, that can change the tenor/culture of a particular program.

Matching in California is always a bit of a challenge. It definitely helps if you have obvious ties to the state (i.e. family that lives there, a spouse that already has a job there, etc.)

It is far too early to think about away rotations. It depends on how competitive you are after 3rd year, what field you are going into (it is rare to do an away rotation in IM or peds; very common to do an away rotation in urology, radiation oncology, or ENT), etc. Away rotations also tend to be very expensive, since you have to pay to apply for an away rotation AND pay for your housing while you are there (away rotation sites frequently do not offer you free housing).