MD & DO Tips for matching at a specific residency program?

[ohmanwaddup]

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I'm a third year looking to match at one specific program for residency for a variety of reasons. Obviously I might come to hate it on interview day, but what can I do to ensure I get an interview and get ranked highly besides perform well on boards, at the actual interview ect.

I was planning on writing a separate personal statement specific for this program and why I want to be there and a letter of intent, but are there other things I can do to increase my chances?

 

[proudofmykids]

In the old days, the number one thing you could do would be to do away electives at their program and get LoRs from in-program Attendings. Likely still highly relavent.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

I'm a third year looking to match at one specific program for residency for a variety of reasons. Obviously I might come to hate it on interview day, but what can I do to ensure I get an interview and get ranked highly besides perform well on boards, at the actual interview ect.

I was planning on writing a separate personal statement specific for this program and why I want to be there and a letter of intent, but are there other things I can do to increase my chances?

You need to rotate there.

 

[ohmanwaddup]

You need to rotate there.

how many rotations do you think? will one suffice? should I try to do it before or after applications go out? before December?

I've also heard that aways can hurt you, does that advice go out the window if you want to match somewhere specific?

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

how many rotations do you think? will one suffice? should I try to do it before or after applications go out? before December?

I've also heard that aways can hurt you, does that advice go out the window if you want to match somewhere specific?

Just 1. And yeah that goes out the window if you want somewhere specific.

It’s also prudent to mentally prepare to not match that program.

 

[ohmanwaddup]

Just 1. And yeah that goes out the window if you want somewhere specific.

It’s also prudent to mentally prepare to not match that program.

Yeah I've been working on that. Luckily there's a program of the same specialty in the same city, and I can apply to a bunch around it in another specialty I'd be just as happy being in, just kinda have my sights set on this was specifically, checks all the boxes medically and life wise.

 

[Redpancreas]

I'm a third year looking to match at one specific program for residency for a variety of reasons. Obviously I might come to hate it on interview day, but what can I do to ensure I get an interview and get ranked highly besides perform well on boards, at the actual interview ect.

I was planning on writing a separate personal statement specific for this program and why I want to be there and a letter of intent, but are there other things I can do to increase my chances?

There's not much you can do to guarantee what you described unless you're talking about a small/surgical field where a major thing that may help is a rotation. Rotations completely depend on the field. Given that @ohmanwaddup and @AnatomyGrey12 are having a dialogue, seems like you may be asking about Gen Surg? In that case, I feel like a rotation's a must. If this is IM and you are already competitive enough for the place and would be moving down a perceived tier to go there, it may be better to just apply and communicate clearly with that place so you avoid the whole yield protection thing.

1.) Personalized Statement/Alluding to your motives
2.) Listing your address as the state if you have connections
3.) Writing an email post-2-4 weeks of when programs generally start sending invites (known as the first wave) if you haven't received one.

That's really about it.

 

[ohmanwaddup]

There's not much you can do to guarantee what you described unless you're talking about a small/surgical field where a major thing that may help is a rotation. Rotations completely depend on the field. Given that @ohmanwaddup and @AnatomyGrey12 are having a dialogue, seems like you may be asking about Gen Surg? In that case, I feel like a rotation's a must. If this is IM and you are already competitive enough for the place and would be moving down a perceived tier to go there, it may be better to just apply and communicate clearly with that place so you avoid the whole yield protection thing.

1.) Personalized Statement/Alluding to your motives
2.) Listing your address as the state if you have connections
3.) Writing an email post-2-4 weeks of when programs generally start sending invites (known as the first wave) if you haven't received one.

That's really about it.

Nah med/peds. I am not entirely sure how competitive I am. so few apply it hard to interpret the data, especially as a DO

 

[Redpancreas]

Nah med/peds. I am not entirely sure how competitive I am. so few apply it hard to interpret the data, especially as a DO

Hmmm. Yeah not too sure. Med-Peds is a much smaller field than Medicine and that may make a difference. If I were forced to guess, I would think it follows the surgery/EM etc. model where aways are valued as opposed to medicine/neuro in which it's probably not in your best interest unless you need your foot in the door. I would ask people doing Med-Peds to be sure.

@tantacles If it worth it to do an away if you need to match at X med-peds program?

Med-Peds

For discussions relating to the combined internal medicine-pediatrics residency. Co-hosted with NMPRA.

forums.studentdoctor.net

Importance of aways & auditions in Med-Peds

Hey all, Current M3 planning on applying med-peds. I'm trying to figure out if I need to do away rotations this upcoming summer/fall. How important would people say away rotations are for med-peds? I've seen a lot of people say they aren't that helpful and you should only do them if it's at...

forums.studentdoctor.net

 

[Glubad]

I'm a third year looking to match at one specific program for residency for a variety of reasons. Obviously I might come to hate it on interview day, but what can I do to ensure I get an interview and get ranked highly besides perform well on boards, at the actual interview ect.

I was planning on writing a separate personal statement specific for this program and why I want to be there and a letter of intent, but are there other things I can do to increase my chances?

If you can’t rotate there due to COVID and have ties to the school (ie if your SO is a resident there or somehow associated with the school) you can also ask if your SO’s PD or dean can give them a heads up about your strong ties to the area and that you’ll be applying this cycle -that helped me get an interview to a specific out of region program, not sure if it will help with the actual match or not though.

 

[ohmanwaddup]

If you can’t rotate there due to COVID and have ties to the school (ie if your SO is a resident there or somehow associated with the school) you can also ask if your SO’s PD or dean can give them a heads up about your strong ties to the area and that you’ll be applying this cycle -that helped me get an interview to a specific out of region program, not sure if it will help with the actual match or not though.

I own a house in the same city, grew up in the city, have lots of family in the same city, Went to college in the same state. That’s about it ties wise.

I currently attend a Med school several states over though and have an out of state address, though that’ll be changed back in a weeks.

 

[husky_doc16]

I agree with @BacktotheBasics statements. The other thing you can do is do well as a third year med student and rock Step 2. These things aren't specific to that one program, but it will definitely help. If you're planning to do an away rotation, do it before you send your ERAS app in, so that you can get an LOR. Having an attending give you a "stamp of approval," definitely helps.

Another thing to look out for are virtual events or virtual acting internships if aways aren't available given the pandemic.

 

[ohmanwaddup]

I agree with @BacktotheBasics statements. The other thing you can do is do well as a third year med student and rock Step 2. These things aren't specific to that one program, but it will definitely help. If you're planning to do an away rotation, do it before you send your ERAS app in, so that you can get an LOR. Having an attending give you a "stamp of approval," definitely helps.

Another thing to look out for are virtual events or virtual acting internships if aways aren't available given the pandemic.

Doubt I’ll be able to get one in before apps go out unfortunately

 

[deleted1095841]

Just 1. And yeah that goes out the window if you want somewhere specific.

It’s also prudent to mentally prepare to not match that program.

How can away rotations hurt you?

 

[Putkernerinthehall]

If you don't put your best foot forward and impress them during the away rotation, it could be worse than applying w/o having done a rotation there.

 

[husky_doc16]

For some specialties, away rotations are expected (ortho, EM, plastics, etc). Family med, Neuro, and IM do not require aways, but if you are set on a specific program, an away can help you match there.

 

[husky_doc16]

Doubt I’ll be able to get one in before apps go out unfortunately

Any reason why you wouldn't be able to do an away before Sept?

 

[ohmanwaddup]

Any reason why you wouldn't be able to do an away before Sept?

They just are not open yet on VSAS. Looks like the first rotations open to visiting students for them will be august, so hopefully I can squeeze in. Right now im trying to make sure I have a Subi in peds and IM to hopefully get a letter from before apps go out

 

[ThoracicGuy]

How can away rotations hurt you?

You can go there and not impress them. Your entire away rotation is basically a month long interview. A month long rotation also allows some personality quirks to come out that wouldn't be seen on a one day interview.

 

[deleted1095841]

You can go there and not impress them. Your entire away rotation is basically a month long interview. A month long rotation also allows some personality quirks to come out that wouldn't be seen on a one day interview.

I see. If that were to happen, would it only affect my chances with that one program, or with everyone?

 

[ThoracicGuy]

I see. If that were to happen, would it only affect my chances with that one program, or with everyone?

Just that program unless you were to get letters from people there for your application.