Resident Socials

[marcello]

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This may have been asked in the past but what is the consequence of skipping out on a resident social (appart from missing on some chances to ask questions) becuase with one instance, the event really interferes with travel plans. Do schools take note of the fact the applicant did not appear at the event? Does it hurt chances of matching?
Thank you!

 

[John Deere Gree]

The purpose of the resident dinner is as one chief resident told me "to make sure you aren't weird or a freak."

You should attempt to make it to the resident dinners. If possible rework your travel plans, if that's not possible oh well (I'll be missing a few). Some places the residency socials count, some places it doesn't. I would definitely not miss the socials at places that are my top choices just in case they do count for something.

 

[dragonfly99]

It probably doesn't count for much of anything in a nonpicky specialty like medicine or peds. It might count in pickier specialties. I think if you are not going, you should explain to the program coordinator why you aren't (impossible with travel plans, etc.). Also I would make extra effort to talk w/the residents on the day of the interview.

I do think it was held against me at one of the fellowship interviews that I hadn't been to the dinner the night before, despite the fact that I had medicine residents' clinic that afternoon, and wasn't able to make the dinner because we were not allowed to cancel our resident clinics due to residency interviews.

 

[Ashers]

It probably doesn't count for much of anything in a nonpicky specialty like medicine or peds. It might count in pickier specialties. I think if you are not going, you should explain to the program coordinator why you aren't (impossible with travel plans, etc.). Also I would make extra effort to talk w/the residents on the day of the interview.

I do think it was held against me at one of the fellowship interviews that I hadn't been to the dinner the night before, despite the fact that I had medicine residents' clinic that afternoon, and wasn't able to make the dinner because we were not allowed to cancel our resident clinics due to residency interviews.

I have to miss one at a program that I really like because my rotation won't let me off for >3 days for residency interviews, and there's no way for me to switch this rotation.

The program coordinator emailed asking when we would be arriving, if we'd be attending dinner, and how long we'd be staying in the city. I had to say I wouldn't be attending the dinner because my flight gets in at midnight the night before the interview.

I'm hoping it's OK because I'm annoyed that my school's lottery system was so crappy that I got a required class in December when I wanted a vacation. I'm doing a relatively competitive specialty too. =(

 

[Law2Doc]

It might count in pickier specialties.

At some programs, the residents' "vote" actually counts a lot, and whether they decide they like you (esp at the pre-interview dinner) can eliminate an applicant right off the ranking list.

 

[John Deere Gree]

It probably doesn't count for much of anything in a nonpicky specialty like medicine or peds.

I know of a few nonpicky programs (yes IM, Peds, FM) where it does count...

Interviewees must realize they are "on" as soon as they meet the residents/PD/etc. even if it is the night before the "official" interview.

 

[fuzzyerin]

At some programs, the residents' "vote" actually counts a lot, and whether they decide they like you (esp at the pre-interview dinner) can eliminate an applicant right off the ranking list.

'Tis true, tis true. Some people can be made or broken by how they are with the residents the night before. Depending on how you fit with us is a big part of our decision making process, and during rank list creation, it is not unusual for a resident to pipe up "remember at the dinner they..."

 

[marcello]

fuzzyerin:

Is it often the case that a resident may vote an applicant off a list if they didnt show up to the social? Just to be realistic, of 12+ interviews, having to miss one or two socials due to travel conflicts seems likely. Any thoughts? Thanks!

 

[Khaos]

fuzzyerin:

Is it often the case that a resident may vote an applicant off a list if they didnt show up to the social? Just to be realistic, of 12+ interviews, having to miss one or two socials due to travel conflicts seems likely. Any thoughts? Thanks!

I know that I'm not fuzzyerin but to answer your question...

No, it's not likely that residents will vote you off for not being able to make the dinner. However, the resident can definitely help you when it is time to review you folder and figure out where people are going to rank you. I've seen the dinner before usually help more than anything. A bad or akward interview can happen to anyone and the residents that met you the night before can step in for you and say that you were pleasant to talk to, great to hang out with, etc...and that it was just a fluke with that one interview. I've seen it happen!

We understand that you can't make it to every dinner, we've been there too.

 

[Law2Doc]

However, the resident can definitely help you when it is time to review you folder and figure out where people are going to rank you. ...
We understand that you can't make it to every dinner, we've been there too.

But again, even if the resident input is mostly positive, if they are positive for the folks who show up and can't give much input on the folks who didn't show, that in and of itself can hurt you in ranking if you didn't show. If they didn't get much of a chance to hang out with you, they can't pipe in that you are a good guy/gal they'd like to work with.

 

[dragonfly99]

OK, so it counts at some programs, but I can tell you for sure that it doesn't count at some other programs (it truly is there just to let you get some informal input from the residents, etc.). I didn't make the preinterview dinner at the fellowship program where I ended up matching. I am 100% positive that the preinterview dinner didn't count for anything (unless you'd acted like a total freak or really mean or something) at my medicine program, and we the residents were never asked to help rank an applicant, etc. Now, usually one of the chief residents was there and he probably might have some input, but really 95%+ of the decision was made by the program director, plus some senior faculty. How much this dinner counts vs. not probably varies a lot from program to program...I will say that it seemed to matter more in fellowship interviews vs. residency, in my experience.

My medicine program was very old-school and not very resident-driven (i.e. decisions on various matters were generally made by the dept. chair, PD, and other attendings and residents weren't usually consulted) so that may be why we weren't really involved in ranking residents. I actually have a really hard time imagining a program where the residents help "rank" applicants, though I have no doubt it exists. I mean, how would this be done? Are there 1 or 2 "favorite" residents that the PD consults to see whether they liked particular applicants...or does the whole crew of 70 residents/interns sit down together and rank the applicants? I just don't get how it would work.

 

[Samoa]

At my med school, the medicine faculty would create a preliminary rank list based on the interviews and applications, and then the PD would invite the residents (all of them) over to his house for a party, where they would bump people up or down or off the list entirely. I think it's done by consensus--meaning, whoever has the most persuasive personality or the strongest opinion about an applicant has the most influence.

 

[drbetty]

It probably doesn't count for much of anything in a nonpicky specialty like medicine or peds. It might count in pickier specialties.

For smaller programs (surg subs), a chair at my school explained to me that current residents have a significant role in evaluating candidates (applications and dinners) because each class size is only 3 residents, and so team dynamics is really important. One weirdo out of 3 residents can be a real problem.

For larger specialties like peds, it varies by program. I know that residents at my home program don't really have much input, except the chiefs. On the other hand, at Seattle Children's, I was told that residents take part in the interview selection process after the dean's letters go out, so I wouldn't be suprised if your behavior at pre-interview events could affect RoL. But if you can't make it, then you can't make it. It's not easy to schedule these flights. Just try your best to impress during the rest of your stay.

 

[Law2Doc]

Are there 1 or 2 "favorite" residents that the PD consults to see whether they liked particular applicants...or does the whole crew of 70 residents/interns sit down together and rank the applicants? I just don't get how it would work.

I was told that at one program the residents discuss the applicants as a group and send their input to the PD through a senior.

 

[sestamibi]

Okay, now how do I dress at these socials?

I was told it would be casual.

Casual enough for jeans, sneakers, and a nice shirt?

Or no?

 

[DonStracci]

Okay, now how do I dress at these socials?

I was told it would be casual.

Casual enough for jeans, sneakers, and a nice shirt?

Or no?

I've been wearing dressy casual- dressier black pants, sweater, boots... and I've felt appropriately dressed always. Some of the residents have been in jeans (even at nice restaurants, odd), but I'd rather be overdressed than under.

 

[Law2Doc]

Okay, now how do I dress at these socials?

I was told it would be casual.

Casual enough for jeans, sneakers, and a nice shirt?

Or no?

Casual at these functions usually kind of means "preppy". (In my prior career, we called it "smart casual"). In other words, a shirt with a collar, some sort of non-denim pants, and shoes. Sweaters are ok. Don't do T-shirts, shorts, jeans or sneakers. And at the other extreme, don't wear a tie or a blazer.

 

[buckley]

Casual at these functions usually kind of means "preppy". (In my prior career, we called it "smart casual"). In other words, a shirt with a collar, some sort of non-denim pants, and shoes. Sweaters are ok. Don't do T-shirts, shorts, jeans or sneakers. And at the other extreme, don't wear a tie or a blazer.

Agree. i didn't attend socials for the program I matched into 🙂 so i think it's okay. but if u can attend, then do so. it's free food!