What is important to a residency Program Director?

[organdonor]

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Members don't see this ad.

There has been much talk of late in pre allo and allo as to what residency directors find important *cough prestige cough*.

It turns out, fortunately for us, a reputable organization (NRMP) not only ASKED them, but also conveniently gathered the data and presented it for our benefit.


The following are ranked by number of residency programs citing it as factor in selecting applicants to INTERVIEW


1.USMLE/COMLEX Step 1 score
2.Letters of recommendation in the specialty
3.Personal Statement
4.Grades in required clerkships
5.USMLE/COMLEX Step 2 score
6.Grades in clerkship in desired specialty
7.Graduate of U.S. allopathic medical school
8.Medical Student Performance Evaluation
(MSPE/Dean's Letter)
9.Class ranking/quartile
10.Gaps in medical education
11.Personal prior knowledge of the applicant
12.Perceived commitment to specialty
13.Honors in clinical clerkships
14.Applicant was flagged with Match violation by the
NRMP
15.Volunteer/extracurricular experiences
16.Other life experience
17.Honors in clerkship in desired specialty
18.Consistency of grades
19.Audition elective/rotation within your department
20.Evidence of professionalism and ethics
21.Interpersonal skills
22.Perceived interest in program
23.Graduate of highly regarded U.S. medical school
24.Leadership qualities
25.Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) membership
26.Demonstrated involvement and interest in research
27.Feedback from current residents
28.Visa status*
29.Honors in basic sciences
30.Fluency in language spoken by your patient population
31.Interest in academic career
32.Away rotation in your specialty at another institution
33.USMLE/COMLEX Step 3 score*
34.Other post-interview contact
35.Gold Society membership





The following are ranked by Mean importance in RANKING applicants

1. Applicant was flagged with Match violation by the
NRMP
2.Interactions with faculty during interview and visit
3.Interpersonal skills
4.Interactions with housestaff during interview and
visit
5.Feedback from current residents
6.Evidence of professionalism and ethics
7.Grades in clerkship in desired specialty
8.Perceived commitment to specialty
9.Letters of recommendation in the specialty
10.Graduate of U.S. allopathic medical school
11.USMLE/COMLEX Step 1 score
12.Leadership qualities
13.Honors in clerkship in desired specialty
14.Gaps in medical education
15.Grades in required clerkships
16.USMLE/COMLEX Step 2 score
17.Honors in clinical clerkships
18.Class ranking/quartile
19.Medical Student Performance Evaluation
(MSPE/Dean's Letter)
20.Personal prior knowledge of the applicant
21.Consistency of grades
22.Perceived interest in program
23.Visa status**
24.Audition elective/rotation within your department
25.Graduate of highly regarded U.S. medical school
26.Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) membership
27.Fluency in language spoken by your patient
population
28.Personal Statement
29.Other life experience
30.Demonstrated involvement and interest in research
31.Honors in basic sciences
32.Volunteer/extracurricular experiences
33.USMLE/COMLEX Step 3 score**
34.Other post-interview contact
35.Interest in academic career
36.Gold Society membership
37.Second interview/visit
38.Away rotation in your specialty at another
institution

It is killing me to see people making life altering decisions based on the 23rd and 24th most important factors PD's consider!

But don't take my word for it. Look up all the data you want and more. Also break it down by specialty (hint: it doesn't vary much).
http://www.siumed.edu/oec/Year4/References/NRMP PDSurvey 2012.pdf

At original source:
http://www.nrmp.org/match-data/main-residency-match-data/
http://b83c73bcf0e7ca356c80-e8560f4...ads/2013/08/programresultsbyspecialty2012.pdf

Mods, I think this would be useful info in both pre allo and allo as I've seen many of these conversations in both but I won't cross post without your blessing!

 

[ærospallo]

Great info; thanks for posting this.

I'm curious about number 10. Would they consider pursing an MPH between MS2 and MS3 a "gap in medical education", or are they referring more to taking an LOA for personal reasons? My assumption would be the latter.

 

[NickNaylor]

How about you just link to the source directly so that people can read it: http://www.nrmp.org/match-data/main-residency-match-data/

As far as @Covert's question above, they are likely more concerned about leaves of absence as you mention rather than things like dual degrees or other education-based changes in your schedule.

 

[masaraksh]

A recent survey of chicks, money, power, and chicks said prestige (specifically as defined by USNWR rank) of medical school matters.

Great info though!

 

[alpinism]

It is killing me to see people making life altering decisions based on the 23rd and 24th most important factors PD's consider!

If it makes you feel better, prestige would also affect factors 2, 11, 19, and 26 (interview selection criteria). You need to get an interview to get ranked. Applicants are also more likely to match at their home school, and better med schools tend to have better residency programs
(as a general rule, there are obviously exceptions).

While prestige is by no means the most important part of your application, it plays a big role at some programs.

 

[mcloaf]

Really, this again?

 

[NickNaylor]

Really, this again?

Hey man, someone somewhere is discovering SDN for the first time. And when that happens, every reposted thread gets an angel its wings.

 

[Patros]

So in regard to LOR's, how does one go about getting a good one? Is it just down to getting honors in the clerkship the professor teaches? And it's not like average LOR quality varies between medical school right?

 

[HarryPlopper]

So in regard to LOR's, how does one go about getting a good one? Is it just down to getting honors in the clerkship the professor teaches? And it's not like average LOR quality varies between medical school right?

Work with the attending you want your letter from as much as possible. After working with said attending for at least 1 day, reveal your intentions of wanting a letter and hoping to work in the future with him/her. Then bust your ass during that rotation. If you're going after a letter from the head of the rotation and you won't have a chance to work with him/her, tell the attendings you work with how did you do. If they said you did great, ask them if possible and not too much hassle, to put in a word for you.

Honors is good but not necessarily required. In addition, getting honors doesn't mean you should get a letter from that rotation. Get a good feel of the situation and think carefully. Quality of letters are highly dependent on the individual attendings. Attendings who love to teach or work with students have probably written multiple LOR in the past and are probably more experienced.

Also, please don't act like a gunner or an assh*le. It doesn't matter how great you are if everyone hates your guts. You may think that the only opinion that matters is the person writing your letter but should they get feedback from others, it could be devastating. An attending who hears from his/her residents that you are insufferable is going to refuse to write you a letter or write you a terrible one.

 

[Catalystik]

So in regard to LOR's, how does one go about getting a good one?

There are three things you want your LOR to comment on: that you are hardworking, capable of teamwork, and easy to get along with, because that's what Program Directors are looking for. So be sure to make those characteristics apparent. Any other positives are gravy.

Also, please don't act like a gunner or an assh*le. It doesn't matter how great you are if everyone hates your guts. You may think that the only opinion that matters is the person writing your letter but should they get feedback from others, it could be devastating. An attending who hears from his/her residents that you are insufferable is going to refuse to write you a letter or write you a terrible one.

Completely agree.

 

[Patros]

^Thanks for the advice guys.

 

[bauhinia123]

(Sorry if this was asked before)
Why is research ranked so low? I thought it's quite important for competitive specialties. Will a first author basic science publication in a journal with a decent impact factor (e.g. Genetics) in my gap year boost my chance for a competitive specialty? In order words, is it worth it to sacrifice my last few months of freedom and strive for a 1st author pub in the basic sciences after I receive med school acceptances?

 

[Catalystik]

Will a first author basic science publication in a journal with a decent impact factor (e.g. Genetics) in my gap year boost my chance for a competitive specialty? In order words, is it worth it to sacrifice my last few months of freedom and strive for a 1st author pub in the basic sciences after I receive med school acceptances?

Some competitive specialties want to see research related to that specialty. Eighty percent of premeds end up changing their specialty plans, so it's hard to plan ahead to get a competitive edge before med school even starts.

 

[IncognitoGuy]

(Sorry if this was asked before)
Why is research ranked so low? I thought it's quite important for competitive specialties. Will a first author basic science publication in a journal with a decent impact factor (e.g. Genetics) in my gap year boost my chance for a competitive specialty? In order words, is it worth it to sacrifice my last few months of freedom and strive for a 1st author pub in the basic sciences after I receive med school acceptances?

The things ranked here are not necessarily applicable to all specialties. IIRC, the NRMP report also has a ranking broken down for each specialty.

 

[organdonor]

If it makes you feel better, prestige would also affect factors 2, 11, 19, and 26 (interview selection criteria). You need to get an interview to get ranked. Applicants are also more likely to match at their home school, and better med schools tend to have better residency programs
(as a general rule, there are obviously exceptions).

While prestige is by no means the most important part of your application, it plays a big role at some programs.

The criteria that US News uses to rank medical schools (research funding) indeed somewhat correlates to #26. However I have never heard of a medical student wanting to do research and not being able to do it at any US MD school. I really don't think that there is much link between the other criteria you mentioned and US News rankings, especially with the opportunities US MD students have to do away rotations.

If any pre meds reading this out there are wanting to optimize the 26th most important thing to residency directors then by all means pick the higher ranking school. However if your goal is to get a good residency you should be getting a good step score and impressing your attendings to get good LOR's.

(Sorry if this was asked before)
Why is research ranked so low? I thought it's quite important for competitive specialties. Will a first author basic science publication in a journal with a decent impact factor (e.g. Genetics) in my gap year boost my chance for a competitive specialty? In order words, is it worth it to sacrifice my last few months of freedom and strive for a 1st author pub in the basic sciences after I receive med school acceptances?

This is one area where the conglomerated data does differ from specialty to specialty. Click on the link to see the breakdown. In neurosurgery, por ejemplo, you'll see that an interest in research has a much higher mean importance score than in most other specialties but it is still something like the 12th most important thing in ranking behind stuff like step 1 score, professionalism, Letters of Recommendation, and interaction with faculty and staff on interview day.

 

[Amygdarya]

The things ranked here are not necessarily applicable to all specialties. IIRC, the NRMP report also has a ranking broken down for each specialty.

I suspect priorities may also differ somewhat between the different types of program, eg., academic programs could put more emphasis on research etc. than community programs. I'm not saying research would trump Step scores, LORs and clinical grades at academic programs, but I would expect it higher on the list for academic programs than in these aggregate survey results.
Could someone knowledgeable confirm or deny this please?

 

[ace12345]

Yeah this seems a bit odd to me. I'm sure AOA, though not essential, is more beneficial to an applicant with it than the 26th lowest point on the scale.

 

[organdonor]

You do

Yeah this seems a bit odd to me. I'm sure AOA, though not essential, is more beneficial to an applicant with it than the 26th lowest point on the scale.

you don't get AOA in a vacuum. You get it for reasons 1-25.

And to other poster, if by academic you mean research focused then yes, programs who do a lot of research value applicants who have done research.

 

[ace12345]

You do
you don't get AOA in a vacuum. You get it for reasons 1-25.

And to other poster, if by academic you mean research focused then yes, programs who do a lot of research value applicants who have done research.

Well said, I agree. Not to be devil's advocate, but using this argument couldn't something similar be said about attending a "more prestigious" school? Would it not expose you to better opportunities within many of points 1-25 (Letters of reference stands out right away)?

 

[mcloaf]

Well said, I agree. Not to be devil's advocate, but using this argument couldn't something similar be said about attending a "more prestigious" school? Would it not expose you to better opportunities within many of points 1-25 (Letters of reference stands out right away)?

This was already pointed out in here...

 

[ace12345]

This was already pointed out in here...

Stated but not replied to. I wanted to get the OP's take on this, though I agree that this has been discussed extensively at this point and does not really need to go further.