Hey hmania! Glad to see you are progressing.
My advice is to apply early, broadly (in terms of programs), and wide (geographically) for your Match prospects. Pick a field you really want... and then throw in some "sure bets" as far as Family Practice, Peds, prelims, IM, etc. just to absolutely make sure you match somewhere in something. Plenty of residents switch programs or subsequently do something else (2nd residency, fellowship, sub-specialty, etc.) after they start a program. The point is, do everything you can to ensure that you match into a program somewhere and don't have to (what we used to call) scramble (that they now call SOAP).
Good luck! Make sure everything is ready to go by the deadline and submit your applications ASAP, even if they are slightly incomplete (missing letters, etc.).
-Skip
Well I guess it calls as an Update! I started the interview season!... Lets just say going all in with a grand total of $4700 ish ... 190 FM and 10 IM. My wallet hurts so much right now. However the response was fantastic. Here's a timeline of how things went:
-1 week before Sept 15th (when programs get my app): sent out emails to programs that I rotated or have great interest in that included some words and my aamc id. Got response back from 2 places with promised interviews.
- Sept 16th: got 3 interviews
-Sept 17th- Oct 1st: total count of 10 interview invites
-Since Oct 2nd: 6 more interviews
Now you are probably thinking... this student got major major high scores. I would say... nah. It was purely divine intervention, preparation, and opportunity. What I did to make sure I got "for sure" interviews was : AAFP conference in Kansas and sold myself, strategic audition, Letters of recommendations, and emailing random programs that I wanted to know more about before submitting (this happened in June, July, August).
So I scheduled the ones I have had my eyes on sandwiched in the middle. The ones I wasn't too sure about in the beginning for practice and to shake those nerves out as I practice my response.
So here are some things that I have noted along my interviews that are notable:
1. FM are the best: they often pay for hotel stay, and dinner the night before. Other specialties only do dinner
2. To prep for dinner: please read this
Table manners for physicians: 30 tips for better dining etiquette this will be so helpful for those not familiar with the proper way to have dinner. I have seen students as well as residents go on the "date" and engulf the food like it is their last meal on earth.
3. When asked "why this place? or what connection do you have?"... You can sense people lying. Really.... As a candidate, sure you want to have family here... but is it worth it to lie and compromise your ethics?
--- short story: on my first interview in this "rural" area. Residents asked this over dinner. One applicant said... "yeah, I have family who lives here".. Resident probed a little more "where does your family reside?"... Applicant stated "this area, I've visited this area many times before"... Resident said "wow this is a small place and everyone knows each other"... Applicant said "yes it is ... my relative is an electrician".... Resident said "Oh cool, has your relative taken you to this _____"... Applicant said "yeah".... Resident said "what did you enjoy the most there?".... Applicant by now was sweating visible bullets and the smell of bull**** came right out.
-- Now, it was uncomfortable for applicant as well as Me. I had to deal with the heat radiating off of them and being caught in that web... but I got to say... the spot light showed more than just lies... it showed a person who bended under pressure... a person whose ethical compass was mis-align.
--- why can't you be honest and answer... "I want to be that connection to your program?"
--- I have talked to residents at that hospital about my answer... they said ... connection doesn't matter. Programs want you for you!
4. By a planner to keep the interview dates, dinner time and place, hotel place, flight time, and rental car details in. You can also write what you personally thought about the programs in after the interview.
5. Programs do read Personal statements and applications. I am one of those who took 4 months of editing and proofreading ... and it should count. Additionally, the places that I really wanted to go to... had personalized personal statements catered to their program. The program director told me that he loved this most... because this showed that I am detail oriented and willing to take time for them.
6. Southwest airlines is a blessing... because if you need to change flights or cancel... you still have credit
7. At most... 2 interviews per week is good enough. You don't want to burn out.
8. Many people said that 10 interviews... means that you will match. If more than that, you can start to be nit picky and cancel for other applicants to get a chance.
9. I love receiving handwritten notes ... and so I hope that I am doing the right thing by sending it off!
10. Be You... everyone else is taken.
11. Even though I have a lot comparatively to other candidates, but be humble. I treat every interview like it is an opportunity to learn rather than a given right. Many of my peers start chilling because they are "for sure" going to match... while this is statistically correct.. you never know. I have known those with 8 who did not Match last year. Until the ink is dry on a contract then I can rejoice.
12. The fact that I am from Ross University was never negative thing to my application. Actually, it serves as an advantage... you can explain global (international) medicine and the clinical experience that US students do not live through for 2 years.
13. Best part about this process... you are more in tune with yourself. A lot of self- reflection is involved.
Any comments or advice for this tumultuous time would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for reading