Residency coordinator here ! I can do my best to answer questions. I still don’t know eeeeeverything 7 years later but I know a lot.
Examples:
Write an engaging personal statement. Don’t be like English 101 students and write really embarrassing personal things (awkward having to grade papers about being strung out on drugs ). Like you don’t have to mention your personal medical conditions but if you must because it ties into why you want to go in the specialty, be objective and not graphic. Stick to the point. Introduction, body , conclusion. Remember how to write topic sentences. No walls of text. Fix typos. Try to stay on one page. If a few sentences go to the next page don’t freak out. If a program refuses to read on the next page because they have a hard stop at 1- maybe you don’t want that program anyway.
Contacting programs: omg pleeeeaseeeeee just write one email if you must. Do. Not. Call. I repeat , do not call. One email gets copied and pasted and added to ERAS under notes. Or we put it on cortex / thalamus.
So to be clear: We know you are amazing. Thank you for letting us know you are interested in our program. We appreciate the one email. We noted your interest. Getting more than one + phone calls + voice messages does not help you. One email does. Don’t keep asking about your status. Don’t keep flaunting your interest. A good program will have a timeline laid out. But you just have to be patient.
We can’t interview everyone. Even if you are most interested in a program I promise they do thorough reviews and can tell if you won’t be a good fit. If you get rejected it’s fine to send a “I’m disappointed but in case anything were to change , I’ll be thrilled to interview”. Just once though. Don’t ask if there are any openings. Even if waitlisted. You’ll be contacted if there are openings. I will say we have moved people off rejection pool before. If you are rejected it doesn’t mean you don’t qualify programs just can’t interview or waitlist everyone. It sucks sending rejections. I know it feels so personal and gut wrenching but it doesn’t mean you suck. We got 1200 applications last year !
Hoarding interviews: don’t do this. If you are not 100% feeling the program don’t hoard. It won’t affect your match. But it does affect others’ matches. Be mindful of canceling. Give us 2 weeks. It’s a lot of behind the scenes prep!
When you are invited to interview and have confirmed your day don’t expect immediate info— cut us some slack, Jack! Expect something at least a week in advance. If it’s 3 days before , maybe send an email. There might be a new coordinator.
Check out websites and instas. Some programs are late with some updates (new classes for example). This reminds me to update our website …
Your medical schools all have different grading scales and that’s annoying.
You should get equivalent of High Pass or higher in specialty you want to go into. If everyone gets a pass we’ll see it. If a higher percentage got honors (or equivalent ) and you didn’t we will wonder why.
If you don’t get a PD or chair letter but others in your class did , that’s sus. If you did get a chair / pd letter from another specialty that tells us you’ll be great in specialty you’re applying to that’s sus. Why can’t you get one from your desired specialty ? It would be great if you can get a chair AND PD letter. I think this varies by specialty. If alll your letters are from faculty from outside your desired specialty that’s a flag.
It’s understandable if you are applying to 2 specialties. But be careful. Don’t be sloppy. Have different personal statements. Have different letters. If a wrong letter gets into a program don’t panic. Just make sure it gets changed.
So let’s say you are a writing powerhouse. It’s not necessarily a gold star on your application. Maybe if you apply to Mayo or any huge research institute. But for smaller places It might be perceived as you not having a lot of interest in clinical practice. I know the instinct is to show off everything. But if you have like 20+ maybe choose the ones that are most reflective of your expertise.
2nd looks have never influenced our rank. Does it really influence yours ? My program won’t do them anymore. It’s a waste. And not equitable.
I’m sure I’ll have more. I’d also consult with your advisor. Don’t take everything I say as the only gospel. It’s just perspective. I am happy to answer any questions.
ETA thanks for your DMs too ! If I don’t answer your question give me 2 days of ghosting max. I’m probably trying to figure out the answer if I don’t respond within a few hours. Then you can ping me , wtf FearlessAct! 🙃
And remember in one lowly RC from one of thousands of programs. Just my perspective based on how we’ve looked at applications but my responses / opinions aren’t end all be all !
