03-21-2014, 01:11 PM
My dear colleagues,
It has been 10 months since I first joined this forum. My first ever post was to ask what my chances were into getting into residency. Since then, I have come to learn valuable tactics in this game. The Match Game. To all those that are left unmatched, I can only imagine how disheartening it is to find out you did not succeed. I aim to share what I have found out by describing the the most crucial details I have come to learn about this match. This is my farewell gift to this community.
The Top 10 Must Do's to Secure a Match:
1. Learn about the programs you are applying to. Start in May/June/July to learn about your programs. Email them, ask if you can do an observership/elective. Let them learn your name and if possible your face. Even if you won't meet their requirements they will invite you for interview (I was invited to three programs without fulfilling their score cut-off requirements just because I showed interest early)
2. Have your documents uploaded to ERAS by August 31. Do not wait until the last week. ERAS gets overwhelmed during this time. Step 1, Step 2 CK, CS, LORs, Deans Letter (MSPE), Personal Statements, Photo, Transcripts (basic sciences and clinical)
3. List all clinical rotations in the US as part of work experience. A lot of caribbean students forget to list their US rotations in the CV portion as they assume their school automatically does this on the transcript. The truth is some do, some do not, and even if they do it is not nearly as detailed as what you would write for yourself. I called ERAS and asked this, it is a MUST DO!
4. Apply early, Apply wide. On the day of Sept 15 not an hour late. Apply with ALL (SO IMPORTANT) YOUR DOCUMENTS ALREADY UPLOADED. If you are a day late, even if you have stellar scores, you will miss out on nearly 50% of your interviews.
5. Re-learn about all your programs once you get invited. Do not expect them to make you learn. Do your homework. Practice makes perfect.
6. Interview day (Game Day): I personally know one person (very close to me
) who had one interview, one shot. She matched. Once you are called for an interview, they have already looked past your credentials. This day is there to see if you are a humble, team friendly, communicable person. Use it to show them they need you. Do not be too aggressive. I have seen applicants interrupt PDs presentation to seem interested. Be calm, enjoy the process, you have made it that far anyway.
7. No matter what anyone tells about post-interview communication, IT IS IMPORTANT. Even if a program does not email you back. That does not mean you should not email them expressing your continued interest. It shows you are grateful for the chance...and you are likely to be grateful in the future.
8. Ranking preference does not matter on your end. Choose what you want to put high and choose selfishly. Do not depend this decision on post-iv communication. This is the one thing you can control in this game. Do not hesitate to put your dream program as your first choice.
9. Before deadline of Rank List, research about your top choice state licensure requirements. Many people find out later after they matched that they are not even qualified for state licensure. Secret: I pre matched in a program in Illinois only to later find out my medical school does not fulfill Illinois state licensure. I humbly declined the pre match and went back into the process of match. Imagine if this happened after you match. Programs do not have the energy or man power to go through 3,500 applicants and see if they qualify for state licensure. That is up to you. The program will replace you and your vacant seat will be filled even after match. (you are not protected by match agreement if you fail to meet the state's requirements). Do yourself a favor and rank the least bureaucratic state first choice.
10. Pray. Pray. Pray. then certify and await results. Enjoy your success. You deserve it.
This is my last post on this forum. Thank you so much for sharing this journey with me. It is a different game I play from now on. Goodbye and Good Luck!
It has been 10 months since I first joined this forum. My first ever post was to ask what my chances were into getting into residency. Since then, I have come to learn valuable tactics in this game. The Match Game. To all those that are left unmatched, I can only imagine how disheartening it is to find out you did not succeed. I aim to share what I have found out by describing the the most crucial details I have come to learn about this match. This is my farewell gift to this community.
The Top 10 Must Do's to Secure a Match:
1. Learn about the programs you are applying to. Start in May/June/July to learn about your programs. Email them, ask if you can do an observership/elective. Let them learn your name and if possible your face. Even if you won't meet their requirements they will invite you for interview (I was invited to three programs without fulfilling their score cut-off requirements just because I showed interest early)
2. Have your documents uploaded to ERAS by August 31. Do not wait until the last week. ERAS gets overwhelmed during this time. Step 1, Step 2 CK, CS, LORs, Deans Letter (MSPE), Personal Statements, Photo, Transcripts (basic sciences and clinical)
3. List all clinical rotations in the US as part of work experience. A lot of caribbean students forget to list their US rotations in the CV portion as they assume their school automatically does this on the transcript. The truth is some do, some do not, and even if they do it is not nearly as detailed as what you would write for yourself. I called ERAS and asked this, it is a MUST DO!
4. Apply early, Apply wide. On the day of Sept 15 not an hour late. Apply with ALL (SO IMPORTANT) YOUR DOCUMENTS ALREADY UPLOADED. If you are a day late, even if you have stellar scores, you will miss out on nearly 50% of your interviews.
5. Re-learn about all your programs once you get invited. Do not expect them to make you learn. Do your homework. Practice makes perfect.
6. Interview day (Game Day): I personally know one person (very close to me
) who had one interview, one shot. She matched. Once you are called for an interview, they have already looked past your credentials. This day is there to see if you are a humble, team friendly, communicable person. Use it to show them they need you. Do not be too aggressive. I have seen applicants interrupt PDs presentation to seem interested. Be calm, enjoy the process, you have made it that far anyway.7. No matter what anyone tells about post-interview communication, IT IS IMPORTANT. Even if a program does not email you back. That does not mean you should not email them expressing your continued interest. It shows you are grateful for the chance...and you are likely to be grateful in the future.
8. Ranking preference does not matter on your end. Choose what you want to put high and choose selfishly. Do not depend this decision on post-iv communication. This is the one thing you can control in this game. Do not hesitate to put your dream program as your first choice.
9. Before deadline of Rank List, research about your top choice state licensure requirements. Many people find out later after they matched that they are not even qualified for state licensure. Secret: I pre matched in a program in Illinois only to later find out my medical school does not fulfill Illinois state licensure. I humbly declined the pre match and went back into the process of match. Imagine if this happened after you match. Programs do not have the energy or man power to go through 3,500 applicants and see if they qualify for state licensure. That is up to you. The program will replace you and your vacant seat will be filled even after match. (you are not protected by match agreement if you fail to meet the state's requirements). Do yourself a favor and rank the least bureaucratic state first choice.
10. Pray. Pray. Pray. then certify and await results. Enjoy your success. You deserve it.
This is my last post on this forum. Thank you so much for sharing this journey with me. It is a different game I play from now on. Goodbye and Good Luck!