Trying to increase my chances of residency...

[amlowpudding]

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Hi I'm currently a P3. GPA is about 3.7-3.8ish. Worked in retail since the beginning of school. Go to health fairs and other events through some student orgs but don't hold any leadership positions. Planning on trying to get some harder clinical APPEs next year.

What can I do to increase my chances? I was wondering if there were extra certificates I can try to get? And how do I get a poster or project done? I'm not close to any professors.

 

[Seriously Serious]

What area of pharmacy are you interested in specializing in? If you want to get a poster / project done, you will more than likely need to approach one of your professors (past or present) and ask if there are any current research projects you can participate in. From that research, you can then construct a poster to present at any conference that accepts it (midyear, etc). This will also enable you to develop a relationship with your professor (letter of recommendation).

If you don't ask, the answer is always 'no'.

 

[Amphetamine Salts]

don't do a residency. get a job and start paying off your 150k+ loans

 

[Dred Pirate]

if residency equals job/residency in hospital - 1. get a job in a hospital 2. Get published - or more likely a poster presentation 3. Make sure any elective rotations are hospital based 4. network

 

[Abby Atwood]

Work on your interview skills. My info looked similar to yours for last years residency application cycle (a few small leadership positions and a couple of APPE projects, but nothing that different). I got several interviews, but I did not get a residency position. The lack of hospital experience was probably a factor, but I am certain that I would have walked away with a position if I had done a better job during interviews.

My other advice is to apply to residencies that are likely undervalued (e.g. candidate programs), and keep your presentation topics broadly applicable (programs don’t want to research your presentation topic). I would also recommend applying to programs close to where you live. It will decrease the cost of interviews, and programs seem to look at you sideways if you are not from the area.