What information would you consider helpful?
1) # of interview invitations OFFERED last year (not just number of interviews conducted)
Last year, we sent out 348 interview invites and conducted 180 interviews for 16 categorical IM positions.
2) TIMELINE including a) when first interview invites were sent out, b) when the majority of interview invites were sent out and c) when your last interview invites were sent out. There could also be d) special explanations you feel are necessary (e.g. "we extended invitations to applicants from our home medical school much earlier than to others") -- OR, if you expect these dates to be different then last year, then just include that dates you expect for this year... with ballpark estimates for each of the three aforemention key periods
Last year, we started sending out interview invites in the first week of October. Most interview invites were sent out in the middle of the month of October. We stopped sending out interview invites in the first week of January. Please note that due to some changes in the timing of several steps of the applications process, we tentatively anticipate our interview invite schedule being offset to about a week earlier than it was last year. Please understand that this is only an estimate. If it becomes apparent that these estimates are likely to change, we will update this posting accordingly.
3) Simple listing of each resident (no need for name or picture, but sure include it if you'd like), their home state at time of application and their medical school
- Jeff Martin MD, CA, UCLA SOM
- Alex Triton MD, RI, MAYO CLINIC SOM
- Lisa Willis MD, FL, UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA SOM
- Ryan Broder DO, PA, PHILADELPHIA COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE
4) DETAILS of coverage of food, medical insurance, dental insurance, parking.
- Residents get a food card for $350 of in-hospital food purchases per month.
- Medical insurance is under the UnitedHealthcare program (please see details of coverage at the following link: ***) - note the details of the policy flutuate slightly from year-to-year. Yearly costs and premiums are funded completely by the residency program, residents are responsible for co-pays as outlined at the aforementioned link.
- Dental insurance is under the Delta Dental Premium PPO program (please see details of coverage at the following link: ***) - note the details of the policy flutuate slightly from year-to-year. Yearly costs and premiums are funded completely by the residency program, residents are responsible for co-pays as outlined at the aforementioned link.
- Residents are given free parking passes for on-site parking at all of our medical centers and satellite clinics at which they are required to rotate.
You might ask "why would they want to take the time to compile all of this information for applicants?" I'd answer "because it is a sign that the program is considerate." ... Considerate of the time and feelings of their prospective residents... and [at least in my experience with considerate people and institutions] therefore also more likely to be considerate of the time and feelings of their residents and patients. If they don't choose to be considerate when they are trying to attract people to their program, how can I imagine that they will choose to be considerate once I'm in their program and no longer have a choice? I realize I'm only one future resident and physician, but knowing that I work for - and along side - considerate human beings means the world to me... and it is the #1 thing I'm looking for in programs.
When programs send out those notices that "hey, we've received your application and are thankful that you wanted to apply to our program..." (something most programs DON'T do) that means something to me. But to take it one step further and in that
initial email say "we anticipate either offering you an interview, asking you to wait a little bit longer for further evaluation or rejecting you by date X" (something I haven't seen ANY program do), then that would mean the world! Programs that thought to do that would move WAY up my list. Because they went the extra yard to essentially communicate that "hey, we realize a lot is up in the air for you and you're facing huge financial and scheduling constraints... and while we can't let you know anything definitive in terms of our decision on your application right now, we wanted to at least give you something tangible to hang your hat on."
... Little things like this matter. Especially from the more "elite" programs who have their pick of the litter. In my opinion it is when people don't NEED to kiss butt specifically to get something they want, and yet they still choose to be considerate of the people they deal with, that their true colors are revealed....
Okay. I've belabored this. You get the point. Hope this feedback is useful to you.
