Student's Guide to Match 2

7/27/2019 Student's Guide to Match 2

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Thats in Kansas,

Right?

A UMKC Students Guide

To the Match

WARNING

MATCH AHEAD

A Collaboration of Our Experience by:Steven Couch

Patrick DSouza

Jay ShahAnnie Winkler

June 14, 2006


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Table of Contents

ERAS TimelinePage 3

San Francisco Match Timeline.Page 6

Out of Town ElectivesPage 9

Curriculum Vitae (CV)Page 11

Personal StatementPage 14

Letters of Recommendation (LOR)..Page 18

Researching Residency Programs..Page 20

Pre-Interview Day Events..Page 24

Interview Day...Page 28

Post-Interview Follow-Up...Page 34

Appendix I: MyERAS 2007 Application Worksheet

Appendix II: Request for Letter of Recommendation/Cover Sheet

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ERAS Timeline

Year 5

August Decembero Apply for AOA if qualifiedo Think about profession and assess its competitiveness

Competitive fields include : Dermatology, Neurosurgery, Plastic andReconstructive Surgery, Ophthalmology, Orthopedic Surgery,Radiology, and Urology

In the past few years, there has been an increasing number ofqualified applicants in Anesthesiology and General Surgery

o If choosing a competitive field, think about ways to strengthen theweaknesses in your potential application such as research experience,extracurricular activities, involvement in professional organizations, andcommunity service

January Mayo Explore career choice

Plan out of town electives (earlier rather than later) Many institutions have March due dates for visiting students

applications. Look into requirements in January and February

Institutions give preference to their own students and may notnotify you about availability until May. You may want to think

about applying to multiple places giving yourself more options;you can always decline a position if you give adequate notice.

Year 6 May June

o Finalize out of town electiveso Start organizing CVo Begin personal statemento Think about potential letters of recommendationo Start researching residency programs

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Julyo ERAS web site opens July 1 and you may begin to complete profile and

application You can register as soon as you receive your ERAS token from

Marilyn McGuyre and Frances Nelson Registration is complete in a matter of minutes

o Finish first draft of personal statemento Update CVo Begin to ask for letters of recommendation from people with whom you have

workedo Continue to research residency programso Submit application for USMLE Step 2 CK and CS, keeping in mind

Your application must be approved and sent through UMKC It takes time to process your application and receive your orange

scheduling permit by mail USMLE Step 2 CS does not send a permit; you will receive an

e-mail to schedule your appointment Time slots especially for Step 2 CS fill quickly. Popular months include

October through mid January If you feel that your Step 2 CK score would strengthen your academic

credentials, plan to take it by the end of September

Augusto Complete ERAS applicationo Finalize personal statemento Check status of letters with Franceso Make a tentative list of programs to which to applyo Take your picture in the photography department of the Office of Educational

Resources on the 2nd floor Call 235-1836 or extension 1837 to schedule your appointment

o Organize your schedule in a planner or other centralized sourceo In mid August, registration with the NRMP begins

Septembero Submit application as soon as it is finalized

ERAS opens for submission September 1o When you receive invitations to interview, respond promptly as dates fill

quicklyo Continue to follow-up on your letters of recommendation

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Octobero Shop for interview attireo Purchase portfolio to hold program informationo Arrange mock interviewo

Continue to schedule interviews as they are offered Look into transportation to and within interview cities If residency program does not provide housing, plan for places to stay

November Decembero November 1, MSPE (Deans letter) releasedo Continue to interviewo Write thank you notes after each interviewo Military Match results releasedo December 1 is the deadline to register with the NRMP

Januaryo Finish interviewingo Consider second lookso Follow-up with programso Urology Match results released

Februaryo Take second looks early in the month if you have not already done soo Follow-up with your top programso Rank lists are typically due towards the end of the month. Visit

www.nrmp.org for deadline.

Marcho MATCH DAY! April May

o Pass along advice to younger students

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Septembero September 6, 2007 is the recommended time for CAS submissiono Toward the end of the month expect to start hearing from programs; check

your e-mail several times per dayo

Respond to each invitation you receiveo Get a calendar that you write all of the invitation dates in. Be ready when youare contacted by the programs to know which date works best within a fewminutes

o CAS provides bios on all of the programs that you should look at and befamiliar with the dates that they offer interviews

o Submit ERAS application October

o Shop for interview attireo Understand that interviews can occur as early as the end of Octobero Arrange mock interviewo Keep all information regarding The Match in one central placeo Start making an interview folder to have at each interview if needed, which

includes picture (name on back), CV, personal statement, copies ofpublications, copies of USMLE score reports, and copy of transcript

o Most of your interview invitations will come during this time. The key isprompt response to the invite (spots go quickly!)

o You must be nice to all of the coordinators. They can make or break you!o Mark on your calendar each interview for which you sign up. Dont be afraid

to overbook days because you can always cancel latero Know what days you want to interview at certain places. Have a plan alreadyestablished so that you are not just haphazardly arranging

o Once you set a date, it may be difficult to changeo Look at transportation to all of the interviewso Early hotel and transportation planning is key

Novembero Interviewo You may still be hearing about program invitations during the first several

weeks of the month

o Write thank you notes after each interviewo November 1, the Deans letter is releasedo Ask Marilyn or Frances for a copy of the letter and read it over to assess for

any errors of difficult sections to understando Put a copy of your Deans letter in your interview folder

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Decembero Interviewo Write thank you notes after each interviewo Plan interviews for ERAS later in the month so that they do not conflict with

our CAS interviewso Follow-up with your favorite programso Consider second looks

Januaryo January 10, 2007 12:00 pm PST, RANK LISTS are DUEo January 18, 2007, MATCH DAY!o January 19, 2007, May call CAS if you still dont know where you are goingo January 24, 2007, Scramble beginso Finish interviewing for ERAS spot

Februaryo Submit ERAS rank list

Marcho ERAS MATCH DAY!

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Out-of-Town Electives Are they necessary?

o Not absolutely. The most common reason to go to a certain institution is tolearn more about the place, see it for yourself, and to give your application alittle more weight at the programs through which you rotate. It certainlyhelps to get your foot in the door at a competitive place or in a competitivefield. Working at big-name places or with the well-known people of the fieldwill add prestige to your application. Also, there may be a perception ofpeople on either coast that Midwesterners will not leave the Midwest; doingrotations on the coasts can help to show those people that you do not fit theirstereotype.

When to do them?o The ideal time to do out-of-town electives is July-September. It is possible to

do them in October, November, or even December but realize that doingthem at that time will not help you get interviews. Those months are for thesame reason the busiest time for out-of-town electives, so it is best to getthe applications in early.

How many to do?o This is dependent upon your schedule, financial resources, and

competitiveness of the specialty. Because of DORO, Humanities, Step 2, and other requirements we

have as part of our curriculum, it may be difficult to find 2-3 monthsduring July-October in which to do the rotations.

Most programs require only a nominal monetary application fee, buthousing may be extremely expensive, depending upon where you go.

It follows that if you are applying to a competitive specialty, it would beadvantageous to do more away electives to increase your chances ofmatching.

Where to go?o This is entirely up to you, the applicant. Perhaps by this time you have

researched programs and have a tentative list of programs to which you mayapply. From this list, choose from your top choices. Apply to more schoolsthan you have available time, as it may take the school a long time torespond. Some do not respond until 30 days before the rotation begins; thismakes it difficult to make housing and travel arrangements.

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How to apply?o Applications for away rotations are handled through the medical schools that

are affiliated with the hospitals.o The website of the medical school is the first place to look, though the

application is usually buried in the website and difficult to find in the eventthat you cannot find the application, call the school and ask for the person incharge of the visiting students. They will be able to e-mail you the link for theapplication.

o Many schools will require the application, a fee, immunization history, atranscript, and proof of good standing as a medical student. Some schoolsrequire a CV, personal statement, and/or a letter of recommendation.

o Most schools have a deadline for away rotations in July-October, which isusually in April or May.

Other Helpful Ideaso Once you are accepted, finding housing is the next major problem.

If you have a friend in the area, and you are going somewhere you cantake a car, then this would be the best, cheapest, and easiest option.

If you have to try and arrange housing, first check with the hospital andmedical school; sometimes they provide housing at a large discount,or perhaps for free.

If you must get an apartment, be aware that it will be very expensive.www.craigslist.com is the first place to check for a sublet. Corporatehousing (short-term apartment living) may be another option.

If you are in a city that has a Step 2CS testing center, it would be veryconvenient to take the exam before you leave at the end of therotation.

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The Curriculum Vitae

Basics

CV for Letter Writers

You will need to create a CV to give to letter writers Keep in mind that the basic purpose of a CV is to summarize your education, work,

and life experiences

Include enough to allow the writer to support your candidacy and convey a sense ofwho you are

Be concise. You should never exceed two pages (no one will read through morethan this)

There are many ways to format a CV and you should do what represents you thebest

o Your format should reflect your own style but retain a professionalappearance

o Always start with your contact information at the topo If you decide to include a picture, be professionally dressed against a solid

backgroundo Your first category should always be education. After this, the order of

categories is up to you Common categories include

Work experience Research Publications Honors Awards Affiliations Community service Hobbies & interests Skills Traditionally, the last category is references. It is standard towrite "Available upon request."

o Title categories according to what presents you in the best lighto You do not have to use categories off of a standard formo Combine categories if necessary in order to have more than one or two items

per categoryo Organize each category chronologically when possible.

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ERAS CV

ERAS will automatically generate a CV for you. However, the format is set. Youcannot change headings, order, font size, style, spacing, etc. This is the CV thatprograms will see and download (and often have in front of them when you are

interviewing). Your ERAS CV is compiled from the application information you enter. While there

are twelve sections to the application, there are really only three which are more thanbackground information (sections 5, 6, and 12)

o Section 5 is entitled Experience. You must classify each experience as work,volunteer, or research. If you don't know how to classify something askyourself if it was research related. If the answer is yes, then you must list it asresearch. If the answer is no, then ask yourself if you received monetarycompensation. If yes, then list it as work. If no, then list it as a volunteerexperience

You must also enter: Organization name Your position Supervisor name Description of duties Reason for leaving Dates of experience

o Section 6 is entitled Publications. You must enter: Title of publication Authors/presenters Publication/organization Month and year of publication Volume number and pages

o Section 12 is entitled Miscellaneous. You are first asked two questions: if youhave any limiting aspects and if your medical education was interrupted orextended for any reason. Any affirmative response requires you to enter anexplanation or description in 510 characters or less (including spaces). Thissection also has separate text boxes to enter:

Languages in which you are fluent

Can you conduct an interview in this language? Hobbies and interests Medical school awards Other awards and accomplishments Membership in honorary/ professional societies

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Helpful Hints

Don't feel compelled to list everything you have ever done. This can be distracting,especially if done in a laundry list fashion. Your CV should reflect themes. Comingfrom UMKC, you will be viewed as a focused, goal oriented candidate. Use this to

your advantage. Show that you have pursued interests and not just randomlypartaken in activities

Use short descriptions under items. This can generate interest, tie experiencestogether, and help shape the way the item is viewed. Do not describe self-explanatory items. Remember brevity is the key to wit. (No more than a fewsentences!) The CV should not explain everything, but rather spark interest in you.

A short description is especially useful for job duties with work experiences andcommunity service type activities. Try consolidating various activities under theorganization name (i.e. Make-a-Wish) instead of listing each time you volunteered.Then in the description mention that you organized or helped with A, B, and Cactivities

Use common sense; be cautious about listing an interest group, professional society,or experience in a field other than your own. If you do this, be able to both explainhow this changed your career choice and show that you have explored your careerchoice more than the other field

Be able to have a conversation, preferably a good one, about anything listed on yourCV. Listing a more unique hobby can be a great conversation piece at interviews.Listing several may alienate a program director. If it is listed, it will come upsomewhere on the interview trail. (So don't list things you didn't do in an attempt to

make your application look better!) If you have time, try to be able to list at least one or two things in each major area.

Programs understand that you have had less time than most other applicants. Assuch, deficiencies in areas such as research or community service will be lookedmore favorably upon if you have at least explored the area. It is even better if youcan tie these activities into themes in your application. For example, research inyour field or a service activity related to an interest or hobby.

It is better to list research as 'in progress' or 'submitted for review' than to not list it atall. You can always provide a program with an updated CV when you interview (and

you should if you have significant changes). On the ERAS CV don't be confined by the space! You have some leeway to be

interactive or creative. Prior students have written things such as, "Ask me about..."This can set your application apart and create interest in inviting you out for aninterview.

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The Personal Statement

What is it?o

The personal statement is a critical part of your residency application formany reasons: It is the only portion of your application not based upon scholastic

achievement or a letter writers perspective of you It is something over which you have complete control The personal statement gives a residency program a better idea of

who you are as a person

Are you who they are looking for in a resident? Do your career goals fit with the mission of the program?

It may be used as a part of their selection process The personal statement is a way to distinguish yourself from other

applicants with similar academic achievement

You will often hear the phrase, it can make or break you During your interview, it can be used as conversation and most likely

will be brought up at some point during your interview dayo The personal statement will be one of the most time-consuming and

frustrating components of your application, but never discredit its importanceo It should only be one page

When entering your personal statement, ERAS recommends typingdirectly into the space of pasting from a TEXT file (.txt). They havetheir own format and font. Print out your personal statement fromERAS to ensure it only occupies one page.

On average, a residency program director reads the personalstatement in 3 minutes. In that time, you want them to know who youare as a person

What is it not?o The personal statement is not equivalent to your CV. Do not list your

accomplishments. It should be a reflection of your personal and professionalgrowth and you may include those experiences or accomplishments fromyour CV that are relevant

o It is not a place to discuss why you wanted to become a doctor. That was thepurpose of your medical school admissions essay; write about your specialtyinstead

o The personal statement is not something to procrastinate. Get started early!

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What should I include?o Why (fill in your specialty)?

Include in your personal statement: What got you interested?

o Personal connection or experienceo Patient encountero Specific aspect of your specialty

What experience in that field have you had?o Rotationso Researcho Publications

How did you make your choice? This will be a question you are consistently asked during each

interview. If you develop this portion of your personal statement, youwill be prepared for your interviews

o What makes you unique? Strengths Motivation

o What are you looking for in a residency program? You should be developing a list of things that are important to you and

may want to include these in your personal statemento What are your career goals?

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? A hot topic is if you see yourself in academics versus privatepractice after residency

o You dont have to commit, but may want to think about it This is a question you are guaranteed to be asked during an

interview What will you contribute to your field?

o There are no rules or instructions to writing a personal statement. The abovequestions are only suggestions but should be incorporated into your PS insome way

Where to begin?

o Draft 1 What do you want a program to know about you? Write your answers to the questions above

o Draft 2 Add supporting facts and begin to consolidate your thoughts

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o Draft 3 Connect your thoughts

Use a personal story, quote, patient encounter, or acombination of these

oOnce you have a solid draft, begin to show your personal statement Show it to the people who know you the best friends and family

They will give you honest feedback and make suggestions Share it with someone who has a background in English to ensure it is

grammatically correct You may even want a program director and/or program coordinator to

critique your personal statement

They see hundreds of essays and would know how to compareyours to other applicants

o Most importantly, begin your personal statement before reading otherswhether they be your friends or examples online

Once you see them, it will be difficult for you to be open-minded andbe creative with your own personal statement

Other Helpful Tips :o Be creative!

Have a theme or something to organize your thoughts Use a quote

o For example, Albert Einstein wrote Learn fromyesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The

important thing is to not stop questioning. Organize your paragraphs with:

learn from yesterday to speak aboutyour experience in medical school

live for today to refer to what you havedone in your given specialty

hope for tomorrow to discuss yourcareer goals

Personal experience or storyo

You may want to incorporate why you chose a career inmedicine especially if there is continuity into yourspecialty

o Accomplishment in medical school or your specialty Patient encounter

o Be careful not to reveal to many identifiers as HIPAAalso applies

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o Leave an open-ended thought in your personal statement. For example, Patient diagnosis in which you had a critical role Outcome of a personal experience These may be used as conversation during your interview

o Be concise. The personal statement should not be longer than one pageo Avoid grammatical errors or spelling mistakes

Proof read and have others critique your personal statemento Some people suggest addressing your potential weaknesses in your personal

statement; however, this is controversial. If you choose to include aweakness, discuss it in the middle of your personal statement. Be sure tostart strong and finish strong

o If you find that your Personal Statement is not working, start overo Be Patient!o Start early, dont procrastinate!o Ask for help if you need it.

There is a College of Arts and Science Writing Center on UMKCsmain campus

Visit their web page http://cas.umkc.edu/writingcenter/ or call(816) 235-1146 for more information

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Letters of Recommendation (LOR)

How to ask?o

Every program, in almost every field will require, but not limit the number ofletters to three (A few require four). There is no limit, however, to the number ofletters you may ask for, and remember that you can choose which letters go towhich programs.

o It is best to ask early and in an appropriate manner. For example, if you wish toask your docent for a letter, it would be best to schedule an appointment to speakto him/her about it, instead of just stopping them in clinic.

o Also, it is important to provide your letter-writers with three documents: apersonal statement (this does not have to be your final draft, just something forthem to read about you), a CV, and the official LOR forms from ERAS with your

name and AAMC number filled in at the top (example attached). These formsshould be given to the letter-writer in a stamped, addressed (to Frances Nelson)envelope. In addition, on the ERAS LOR form, make sure the box waiving yourright to see your letter is checked.

In the SF Match, the letter-writers will give the applicant the LOR in asealed envelope that requires the letter-writers signature over the seal,instead of mailing it directly to UMKC.

The LOR are then sent with the complete application to the SF match (theCentral Application Service, or CAS, receives all correspondence for the

SF match) by the applicant.o If you are not especially close with your letter-writer, and feel that they should get

to know you a little better before they write your letter, schedule a session (ortwo) to speak with them about your short and long-term career goals, yourthoughts about where you want to go, and any other information that you wouldwant them to know about you.

*Beware of the mediocre letter from a letter-writer who barely knows youbut agrees to write the letter.* If that is a concern, ask the letter-writerdirectly, are you comfortable writing a letter of strong support for me forthis program?

Who to ask?o If you are applying for anything that relates to general medicine, like IM,

Pediatrics, OB-GYN, ER, Neurology, Dermatology etc. then your docent and thelocal chairman or program director (though the director may have a conflict ofinterest if they really want you) of that particular field would be an appropriatechoice, though it is by no means an absolute necessity to ask anyone.

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Researching Residency Programs

Keys to success when thinking about what residencyprograms to apply to :

o Early researcho Early Ranking of Programso The Interview Calendaro Saving Information for Later Review

Gathering Informationo The first and most important step requires that you to figure out the criteria

you will evaluate the programs with and what characteristics are important toyou and your career goals. (i.e. continuity clinics, extensive surgical

subspecialty departments, etc)o This takes a lot of work, so start early.o Many of you will be applying to a large number of programs (>40-50) so break

them up. Assess what programs you want to consider before you startcollecting the information

o In addition to helping you establish your application list, this backgroundinformation will help you decide what interviews you want to accept.

o The information about each program should be organized in whatever wayyou choose (one notebook, separate manila folders)

o You should review this information thoroughly and ofteno Start considering the Rank of your chosen programs before you applyo Clearly understand your Ranking when accepting your interviews

Where Should I Get the Information?o Residency Programs

Websites and FRIEDA provide contact information for each program Do not hesitate to email or write postcards to the programs requesting

information. Most programs provide packets of information It would be a good idea to set up a database (such as MS Word

MailMerge) to help you electronically label your written communication

so that thank you notes can be easily addressed in the future.o Career Mentor

You must discuss career goals within chosen field. The mentor mustunderstand what information is important to you and they must havean accurate evaluation of your character.

Provide subjective interpretation of reputation May provide contacts with programs to help gain more information

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Helps provide subjective opinions about program personalities,benefits and flaws

o Faculty Can be biased toward their own program May provide contacts with other programs Subjective opinions about programs Seek opinions from junior faculty who trained at other programs

o Residents A very good resource for inside information about their program Can be very good for other programs too, they applied only a few

years prior Good to understand geographic information about programs A great resource while on away rotations Fellows from other institutions are a great resource too Contact information will be available through your docents and StudentAffairs Office regarding current residents and faculty in your chosen

field who have agreed to help out UMKC studentso Other Students (or Graduated Students)

**Share information with each other** Give feedback about program encounters Discuss programs with other students you meet at away rotations and

along the interview trail We have started a database of programs where the 2006 class

interviewed that may shed light on the programs to which you want toapply

Do not hesitate to contact UMKC graduates regarding residencyprograms

o FRIEDA (Fellowship and Residency Electronic Interactive Database)http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/2997.html Produced by the AMA Very good resource regarding objective information about schedule

and benefits Links to program websites Contact information for program

o Graduate Medical Education Directory (The Green Book) Print version of FRIEDA Annually updated catalogue of programs Can get in UMKC Health Science Library Can order from AMA

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o Specialty Specific Program Directories Professional specialty organizations may provide list of accredited

programs with contact information (e.g., American College ofObstetrics and Gynecology)

May rival information found in FRIEDA Attain through organization website

o San Francisco Matching Program Directory Basic program information can be found without registering for SF

Match Once registered, a comprehensive directory is accessible Comment section of directory provides additional information about the

programs including dates of interviewso Online Student Doctor Forums

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/

Very subjective information about selected field Be careful about what you decide to post, program directors and

faculty check this site to see what has been written May provide insight into other peoples experience with the match

process Commonly exposes flaws of programs more than benefits

Early Ranking of Programso As you are processing the information you need to start thinking about which

programs are your favorites.

o

Create list of not just top or middle tier programs but allow lower tier programsonto your listo Helps with application processo Helps you decide which interview offers to accept, and at which programs you

actually interview On a side note, it is smart to accept many more interviews than you

plan to attend; it is always possible to cancel Sometimes, two different programs offer interviews on the same day;

in this event, only decline the less desired program after the moredesired program has offered you an interview

o Compare pre- and post-interview ranking, as it will help with eventual rankingat end of interviews

Interview Calendaro Programs provide possible interview days on websites, FRIEDA, subspecialty

pages (especially if only a small number of selected interview days areavailable)

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o Create a calendar that keeps track of all of the possible interview days of theprograms to which you applied

o This is very important because you will be receiving interview offers that maypreclude your ability to attend another programs interviews

o Once again, do not plan on interviews that you have not already received; youcan always cancel interviews later

o Keep a copy of this calendar close when you are accepting interviewinvitations

o Make sure to keep a copy of accepted interview dates (recommend a differentcolor ink or highlighter on the same calendar)

Saving Information for Latero Good organizational skills are importanto Assess the information before the interview dayo Assess again after the interview day for validity and accuracy of informationo Assess the information again while establishing rank listo Assess the information again after the match to make sure you know what

you have gotten yourself into

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Pre-Interview Day Events

Scheduling Your Interviews

oThe KEYS to getting the interview day you want are:

Reviewpossibleinterview dates before interviews are offered You must know what dates you prefer quickly Consider preliminary planning of coordinated trips Speedy response to invitations To ensure your interview spot, you must speak with the coordinator or

get response via emailo Keep a calendar of all scheduled interviewso Do NOT be afraid to overbook your interviews

Do not wait for another invitation to schedule an interview to which youare already invited!!

If you get the interview you want, you can cancel others latero Courteous canceling of interviews:

Cancel as early as possible Speak directly with the coordinator Ask about alternate dates or times that fit in your schedule, they may

create special dates for you.o Keep a final schedule of your interview dateso If you are doing an out of town elective during interview season, do not be

afraid to attempt to schedule interviews during your rotation. Realize, however, that missing rotation days even for legitimate

reasons should be avoided if you are trying to obtain a LOR or stronglyconsidering the program at which you are rotating.

o Conventional wisdom explains that interviewing in the latter half of theinterview season will help keep you fresh in the committee members mindswhen rank lists are created.

The Mock Interview

o It would be important to schedule a mock interview with someone whom youtrust to give you good feedback and who has experience in residencyinterviews (especially in field of your choice).

o Many times, your docent is a good resource for mock interviewso Perform in this interview just as you would like to execute in the actual

interview.

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Pre-interview communication

o As stated above, respond early to interview invitationso Many programs will send you information regarding the selected interview day

schedule.

o You should review the information provided and plan trips accordingly.o Feel free to communicate with the interview coordinator about the interviewday schedule

o To keep a good rapport with the interview coordinator, try to keep anyexceptions or changes to the interview schedule to a minimum.

Interview Attire

o Early shopping is keyo Men: Differing opinions. However, a safe bet is a dark suit (blue, gray, black,

brownblack is most common) with a white or blue shirt and a plain tie.Shoes should be comfortable, clean and polished.

o Women: Even more differing in opinions than mens clothing. Consider darkskirt or pant suit (blue, gray, black, or brown). Consider a nice collared shirtunderneath. Shoes should be comfortable (you walk a lot during tours) andpolished. The key is to maintain professionalism and avoid beingprovocative.

If in a surgical specialty, you may have to tour the OR in a bunny suit.This may entail the removal of your suit coat, and subsequentembarrassment if you have a flimsy or indecent blouse on underneath.

o Having stated the above, a non-black/gray/blue-colored (but professional) suitwill attract attention. At several interviews, the lone brave individual whodressed differently would receive comments (from faculty encountered ontours) such as, Out of all these people we should hire you. This can behelpful if you have an outgoing personality. However, if you shy away fromthe whole group turning toward you and awaiting your response, probably notfor you.

o A handful of anesthesia interviews will have you change into scrubs andspend time in the OR talking with a resident. Items such as a comb or shoehorn may come in handy when redressing.

What to Bring to the Interview

o Zippable notebook or briefcase (Professional)o Nice peno Mints/gum/mouth spray

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o Interview Packet (The first two items are necessary to bring along. Theother items can be helpful to have, especially for SF match interviews.)

Picture to give to secretary (expected in interviews through SF match) Curriculum Vitae (if updated, bring a copy to leave with the program) Copies of any publications Personal Statement USMLE Score Report Transcript Medical Student Performance Evaluation (Deans Letter)

Travel

o Early preparationo Attempt to schedule multiple interviews with one trip.o Traveling inexpensively takes work, you can use any of the following:

Drive! Fly: Online travel organizations (Expedia, Priceline, Orbitz, Student

Universe, etc) Take Amtrak/ train service Greyhound/ bus service AAMC saver programs (UMKC will let you know) Travel Agent

I personally used Janet at Barry Travel Center (816.587.2100)which was very nice because she was the cheapest way I could

find for travel. I called her up and told her where I wanted to goand when. She set up the entire trip for me.

*Warning, once the plans are set with her and paid for they aredifficult to refund or change!*

o Always plan to leave early and arrive in the city early. Also plan to leave theinterview city late. Do not press time during your interview dates.

o Several organizations provide information regarding hotels to stay in duringthe interview (some may pay too!)

If no information is provided, consider those online organizations(Priceline, Orbitz, etc).

o In city traveling: Rental Cars Taxi cabs Airport shuttle

o When flying, try to take everything as a carry-on. You do not want to havelost luggage when you arrive.

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Interview DayForeword

oThe following will take you through a list of typical events at a residencyinterview. Please keep in mind that this is only an example, and everyprogram arranges their interviews in a different fashion. Also, differentspecialties have very different interview processes. The following was writtenby an internal medicine resident, and it will therefore apply to most of thelarger specialties (Pediatrics, OB/Gyn, General Surgery). The section oninterviewing itself, however, is applicable to any specialty. For the larger,more common and less competitive specialties, always bear in mind that theyare selling the program to you as much as you are selling yourself to theprogram. This will serve to keep you in the appropriate attitude of combined

skepticism and humility.

Day Beginso Usually, the interview day begins at around 7-8 a.m. The residency

coordinators most often a secretary or assistant are the people with whomyou will have been corresponding, and are also the first people you will meetat the interview, as they will hand out packets of information regarding theprogram along with your personal schedule for the day. The first meeting isalmost always headed by the program director, who is sometimes

accompanied by the chairman. He/She will give an overview of the program,along with a schedule of the days events. Though you will have alreadydone research about the program, this meeting often is fodder for creativeand unique questions, as invariably the program director will mention somesalient features about the program that you might not have elicited from yourresearch. There may be time for Q&A at this point, but more often it is simplythe first opportunity the Program Director has to sell you on the program.

Morning Report/Rounds/Conferenceo

At some point in the morning, most programs will have the candidates go onrounds with the residents or attend some type of prototypical morningconference. This is an opportunity for you to accurately judge the quality andattitudes of the residents, faculty, and staff. There were some programs inwhich the candidates were expected to participate, though this was notcommon. If you do get the opportunity to participate, remember that showing

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off or trying too hard to impress people can often backfire and end up makingthe candidate look worse.

Time with residents/luncho Sometime during the day, you should be offered an opportunity to breakbread with the residents, or spend some time simply asking them questions.

Be wary of the program that does not allow any time with their residents. Thisis the perfect time to ask the little questions (Where to live, do I need a car,how expensive will it be, are you happy here, how easy is it to get involved inresearch, how open are the faculty, etc.). It is, in the writers opinion, poorinterviewing to ask these types of questions in the interview itself.

Interview Typical interview experience, setup,questions, demeanor.

o Dress: Men Suits of dark color for most fields, with white or blue shirt, anda plain tie. Women Business suits of dark color and appropriate length.Shoes for either gender should not attract attention, and should be well-polished. The point is to not detract attention from your words and personalitywith flashy clothing. Have your nails trimmed and hair (head and facial) wellgroomed.

o Most interviews are one-on-one, 15-20 minutes, and it is common to have 2interviews during the day, though smaller fields may have many more thantwo. It is conducted in a quiet room, and you may have to go the interviewers

office. Almost always there are people to direct you to the door, but allmedical centers are built like a maze, so the interviewers will not mind if youare late.

o When you get your schedule in the morning, it will have the names of yourinterviewers, and it is a good idea to learn their names, so you can greet themwith a FIRM handshake and a Hello, Dr. DSouza, nice to meet you. If youdo not know how to say the name of your interviewer, ask some residents orfaculty so you pronounce it correctly.

In some of the smaller fields, you may know with whom you will beinterviewing well before the interview day. If that is the case, be sureto look up everything you can find about that persons career. This willhelp you make more of an impression on the interviewer, by askingsmart questions. For example, if you know your interviewer has doneextensive research about new techniques in lacrimal duct stenosis,you can formulate a question such as, Dr. Couch, I know you havedone some work in lacrimal duct stenosis, and I was wondering if you

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could tell me if and when, as a resident, I might be able to get involvedin such research. Never forget most peoples favorite subject isthemselves and their work, so most interviewers will be more thanhappy to discuss their own work with you.

o There are typical questions for an interview, such as, Tell me about yourself,Tell me about your greatest success/failure, Tell me about your research,Why would you like to come here? What are you looking for in a residencyprogram? Books have been written on typical interview questions, and youcan go to the standard ones like First Aid for the Match to find a moreextensive list of the common ones. You should prepare, well in advance ofyour first interview, a set of answers to those common questions. You maybe asked all, some, or none of them, but they are difficult questions to answerspontaneously, so have some idea of an answer prepared.

In a related note, it is a good idea to keep yourself abreast if you donot already of the current events of the world during your interviewseason. The easiest way to do this is to pick up a copy of the NewYork Times provided free of charge in the lobby of the medicalschool on your way to the airport, so you can read it on the plane.Whatever your method, be aware of world events, as you may beasked about them, or you may want to use them as conversationstarters with people you meet. East and West-coasters do tend tobelieve that most Midwesterners are uninformed, ignorant people; it isimperative to debunk their theory, and this is one of the ways toaccomplish this. There will be more on this later.

Many interviewers may start with an informal conversation on howyour day has been going, how dinner the night before was, or even ifyouve gotten a chance to do anything in the city. Informal as it mayseem (it may even be on the way back to his/her office), yourresponses reveal plenty about yourself. Are you an optimistic orpessimistic person? How did you handle the rain/snow, temperature,lost baggage, flight delay, etc.? Where did you go for dinner? Withwhom did you talk? (Its embarrassing if you cannot remembernames.) Were you paying attention at the morning conference? How

did the topic discussed relate to cases you have seen? How do youprepare for trips? Do you give yourself time to explore new places?How important is the location of the program to you? Often thesequestions are informally rolled into conversation, and reveal things thatdont come across on a paper application. Dont over think youranswers, just be cognizant that this part of the interview is as importantas any other. The interviewer is still trying to sell the program to you

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and wants to ensure you have been treated well and dont misshighlights of the program/city.

o During your interview, simple things are key: Give a firm handshake and asmile when you introduce yourself, stand tall, sit straight, leave your hands inyour lap (gestures that people use are usually unnecessary and often detractfrom their words), speak in a measured, calm voice, keep eye contact but donot stare, give cues that let your interviewer know you are listening, do notfidget, smile when appropriate, laugh when appropriate, and above all, listen.

You should have a list of set questions you ask during your interview,but it is foolish to simply ask them one after another. Listen to theanswer, and you will often find another question hidden in theiranswer.

o Very tough questions can be common during interviews at competitiveprograms and in interviews in competitive fields. Many of the questions are

simply to catch you off guard. The key to answering these questions is tosimply: be honest, calm, collected and admit when you do not know theanswer. It is not uncommon to be asked questions about controversialsubjects such as family, abortion, euthanasia, or faith. Stay current with thenews, as many times interviewers ask about your position or interpretation ofthe newsworthy situations (ex. immigration, creation vs. evolution, etc).Staying calm is the key to more strange questions, such as Well Dr. Shah,you went to the Dominican Republic on a missions trip, will you draw me amap of the country and all surrounding islands? You may or may not knowthe answer, but the key is to collect yourself and answer the question asthoroughly as possible and admit when you dont knowdo not makeanything up.

o A list of questions that you ask the interviewer should include some standardquestions that you ask every interviewer along the trail and some that aretailored to the specific programs. The questions you ask should NOT wastetime, or keep the interviewer talking. That is a waste of an interview. Youhave 15-20 minutes to show them something they cannot find in yourapplication, and while there are some things on which you should elicitanswers, the best interviews occur when the interviewee speaks for nearly

the entire time. This can be difficult, because many interviewers will start theinterview with, What questions do you have for me? This makes talkingdifficult, because you are limited to questions only, not answers; nevertheless,you can still speak extensively while asking the questions. The way to do thisis to craft your questions in such a way that allows the interviewer tounderstand why you are asking the question. For example, you might ask,Dr. Winkler, I am especially interested in learning to teach during residency,

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as I am considering staying in academic medicine. What teachingopportunities does the program offer? The point is to say something aboutyourself in every sentence you speak during the interview.

Sometimes it is possible to create opportunities for good questions viayour application. For example, an interesting pathology case woveninto a personal statement will cause any interviewer to ask about thatparticular case, and will give you leave to speak about it and anyrelated subjects. Or, you might suggest in your ERAS application thatthe interviewer ask you about particular hobbies/interests (though thismust be done in an unassuming fashion).

o How do we conquer the bias of being from a 6-year program in the Midwest?The best way to do this is to answer their questions on this subject withoutspeaking about it; in other words, be mature. This can be achieved not onlythrough body language, as stated above, but also through the manner and

style of your conversation. Pay attention to the way you speak. If you tend tosay like, uhh, I mean, Do you know what I mean? or any othernonsensical verbiage, get rid of it. State what you want to say in the mostdirect, clear, concise fashion as you look them in the eye, sit up, and holdyour head high, and they will not question your youth. From the moment youwalk through the door until the moment you walk out, you should exudematurity, calm, and confidence (but not arrogance).

On a related note, if they should ask you if you regret anything aboutgoing to a 6-year program, you do not always have to give the partyline, No, it was the best experience ever, there was nothing to regret,let me talk about all the clinical experience. It is OK to give some ofthe downsides of the program in a thoughtful, respectful way. Theinterviewers are people, and usually smart people. They realize thatevery program has downsides, and it is simply more realistic to tell thetruth.

o Some interviewers ask a similar question about other programs you haveinterviewed at to see if you can both recognize weaknesses and discuss themin a thoughtful, respectful way. Bad-mouthing places will only backfire.

o How to impress the interviewer? This is the most difficult part of the process.They have your application, so you cannot impress them by numbers orresume. You have to make them like and remember you in 15-20 minutes.The only way to do this is to be professional, intelligent, thoughtful, witty,funny but not silly, confident but not arrogant, humble but not meek, and toactually win their respect, admiration, and affection.

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Touro The tours are simple, boring, and another way to ask the little questions of the

residents who are giving the tours.

Concluding the Dayo By the end of the day, you will be tired. Some programs will have a social

hour with drinks and food, others an informal Q&A session. Whatever thecase, be sure to thank all the people you met, especially the coordinator. If atall possible, if you have not spoken to the program director on an individualbasis, make an effort to meet him/her at this time. Be sure to thank him/herfor the opportunity, and let them know how much you enjoyed their program.Then get the heck out of there.

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Post-Interview Follow-Up

Thank You Notes/ Immediate Feedbacko

Differing opinions. This is mostly a matter of style/personal preference, butwhatever you choose make sure it appears neat and professional. Optionsinclude hand-written thank you notes, typed letters, typed letters with a hand-written addendum, attachments to emails, or emails. If you attach adocument to an email, attach it as a pdf. This will ensure it appears the wayyou want it to. Consider including a picture.

o Consider email thank you notes, program directors and other staff are morelikely to respond to email. You may be able to infer their opinions of youthrough language and format used in the email.

o Try to get thank you letters out as soon as possible. It is very easy to fallbehind on these, and then much harder to get them done once you arebehind. In addition programs will continue with their next set of interviewees,and some programs have periodic rank sessions. While some people getthank you notes out the same day or the next day, a good rule of thumb iswithin one week.

o The first set of thank you notes takes the longest, but provides a basictemplate. Just be sure to tailor your notes to the specific program.

o At the very least you should thank the program director. Try to be concise,but thank him or her for the opportunity to visit the program. Tell them that

you enjoyed meeting the residents and staff, emphasizing the people withwhom you interviewed. If you interviewed or met with the program director,include something from that interaction. Restate your strengths, how you area good fit for the program, and your level of interest in the program.

o Many people thank each interviewer as well. These notes can be shorter, butshould still be personalized as to the conversation you had. It helps if youhave jotted down a few notes after each interview.

o Dont forget thank you letters are an opportunity to further sell yourself andyour interest in the program. Dont waste the opportunity with somethingcompletely generic!

Continuing the Courtshipo Once you interview, it is up to you to maintain correspondence with the

program. This should generally be with the program director, but can bebeneficial with anyone on the selection committee.

o Continuing correspondence is most efficiently done via email.

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o If you interview early in the season, your correspondence period is that muchlonger. Some programs may believe your interest to be superficial if they onlyhear from you right after your interview and right before rank lists are due.

o Past applicants have corresponded every few weeks, or even on a morefrequent basis. (Some students have totaled 30-40 emails with a programover the course of the season.) While this may seem excessive to some, itleaves no doubt in committees mind as to your level of interest. Remember,out of sight is out of mind! Yet, there is a fine line before you become in sightand overbearing!

o Feel free to ask about program features that come up on later interviews. Itshows programs that you remain interested and are actively evaluating youroptions.

o Be sure to write your top programs at the end of your interview trail. Youshould let them know that you are done looking at programs and you remain

very interested in their program.o Consider second looks (see below).o Do not lie to the programs. Programs directors often talk to each other, and

telling multiple programs that they are your top choice may be shootingyourself in the foot.

o Avoid using numbers and consider wording such as you are in the top of mylist over the more clichd I plan to rank you highly. However, if you have aclear top choice, tell the program as much.

Second Looks

o Consider second looks at your top choices only.o Second looks allow programs to see that you truly are interested, but more

importantly allow you to reassess your top programs and how you want torank them.

o As most programs have their final ranking sessions in late January to midFebruary, it is best to take second looks in the latter half of January or thevery beginning of February.

o While some programs insist that second looks will not affect how they rank, inthe opinion of this author this is only if your visit is after the ranking session.

While the program may not say this applicant did or did not take a secondlook, the increased face time will help faculty to get to know you and reconveyyour interest in the program.

o Try to briefly meet or at least say hi to the program director on your secondlook.

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Rank Listso Rank programs in order of your preference. Do not take into consideration

where the program is ranking you. The match is designed to favor applicantpreferences.

o Rank every program which you would be happy attending.o Do not rank a program if you would not be happy there. Anywhere youput on the list (regardless of where on the list), you may end up attending.

o Seriously consider the order of your whole list! Hopefully, the order of thebottom of your list will not matter, but do not take chances as it is difficult topredict how competitive fields are on a year to year basis.

o Make sure to certify a rank order list before the deadline. It is not hard torecertify your list if you decide to make changes prior to the deadline (inERAS). However, in the SF Match changes to the rank list are difficult.

Post-Match Follow-Upo Consider responding to the welcome email from the program with some sort

of positive response (e.g. Im looking forward to the upcoming year, or Thankyou for the opportunity to train at).

o There will usually be some business to take care of in these first few emailsas well. This may include a forwarding address, temporary licenseapplication, or scheduling/vacation requests. Return paperwork in a timelymanner!! If the coordinating secretary has to hound you, itll be harder tocatch any breaks in the upcoming year.

o It is good form to thank your letter writers and let them know how the matchturned out for you.o Celebrate! You have three months before you are an intern.

Student's Guide to Match 2

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Transcript of Student's Guide to Match 2