UC Davis Anesthesiology Candidate

UC Davis,

Anesthesioloy

Advice from program director from 2005

         We interview applicants in upper quartile of USMLE

o   In 2011, 50 percentile = 217; 75 percentile=235, SD 24

o   Step 1 is important as basic sciences particularly

         Physiology

         Biochemistry

         Pharmacology

         Foundations of anesthesiology practice

o   A poor score in Step 1 can be negated by improved USMLE Step 2

o   or strong advocacy from faculty adviser

         All positions fill in California

         Open positions in south and northeast regions fill during post-match scramble

         The majority of positions are at the PGY2 level

o   There are a small number of categorical PGY1 positions nationally

o   Most applicants will need to consider participating in match for PGY1 treansiontal internships in additional to PGY2 position in anesthesiology

         Research is highly desirable in related research area

         Grades/USMLE important but not supreme

o   Clerkships (electives) indicate their idea of the important core medical disciplines relevant to the practice of anesthesiology

o   Their facility in discussing experiences during clerkships and medical school indicate self reflective and communication skills

o   Strong advocacy from faculty adviser(s) as to clinical performance and character on clerkships

o   Personal statement not as important as ability to discuss :

         their life

         learning experiences

         influences and personal values

         Some sense of who they are

         What they are looking for from residency

o   The impressions gained during the interview day is the deal breaker/maker

www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/gme/ppts/residency_advice_1.pps

Making the Most of Your Residency Application: What to Do ... or Not

From http://www.slideshare.net/maxedmond/making-the-most-of-your-residency-application-what-to-do-or-not-presentation

Making the Most of Your Residency Application: What to Do ... or Not - Presentation Transcript

1.      MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR RESIDENCY APPLICATION: WHAT TO DO … or NOT Timothy Munzing, M.D., Family Medicine Residency Director Kaiser Permanente Orange County National Residency Matching Program Board of Directors

2.      Agenda Residency Application Process and Timeline Factors to Consider in Choosing a Residency Application and Interview tips Sample Interview Questions Top 10 Things NOT to Do

3.      Materials Submitted in a Residency Application ERAS Application Curriculum Vitae Personal Statement Letters of Recommendation Medical Student Performance Evaluation (Dean’s Letter) USMLE Transcript

4.      Application Timeline Contact Letter of Rec. Writers – Summer Prepare Application Docs – Summer Meet with Dean – August Register with ERAS – after Aug. 15 Submit ERAS Applic. – Sept. or early October

5.      Application Timeline (cont.) Interviews – Nov. through January Register with NRMP (before mid- January) Match List due – mid-Feb. Match Day – mid March (three days prior you find out if you Matched with a program – if not – Scramble on Tuesday and Wednesday)

6.      Choosing a Residency: Factors to Consider Location, location, location Gestalt, program fit (gut feeling) Type of program (community vs. university vs. county) Single vs. multiple residency hosp. Program size – larger vs. smaller Non-surgical vs. surgical emphasis

7.      Choosing a Residency: Factors to Consider Teachers – primary faculty vs. residents Electronic health record – in place vs. planning vs. no plan Behavioral medicine emphasis On-call – educational vs. service Research emphasis Salary / benefits Other Characteristics

8.      WORDS OF WISDOM ABOUT YOUR INTERVIEWS Be prepared Know your application packet well Do your homework about the program you are interviewing at RELAX!!!!

9.      THE INTERVIEW BEGINS BEFORE YOU GET TO THE PROGRAM!! ERAS Application Personal Statement MSPE (Dean’s Letter) Letters of recommendation Board Scores

10.  ERAS APPLICATION Be honest Don’t exaggerate your skills – (e.g. language proficiency) Don’t Pad your Activities – Include volunteer activities you’ve done regularly – not if only once

11.  ERAS APPLICATION BE PROUD OF YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS Identify any obstacles you have overcome – Highlight your organizational and volunteer work – Avoid emphasis on California’s surf, sand, and climate –

12.  PERSONAL STATEMENTS READ, RE-READ AND RE-READ AGAIN!!

13.  PERSONAL STATEMENTS BE CONCISE, YET THOROUGH THREE PAGES IS TOO LONG! – THREE PARAGRAPHS IS TOO SHORT! – CHECK YOUR GRAMMAR BE PREPARED TO BE ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT ANYTHING ON YOUR PERSONAL STATEMENT

14.  PERSONAL STATEMENTS Fill in the blanks Explain any absences in timeline, medical school – extension Low board scores or failures – what did you do with – them? Are you only applying to Family Medicine? –

15.  PERSONAL STATEMENTS Tell the reader who you are! Personal statements form first impressions! Program directors read hundreds of these – makes you special – someone they can’t wait to meet???

16.  PERSONAL STATEMENTS: Make someone want to read on “I grew up with a two sisters, a dog and a turtle.” Does this capture you? – Is this cleaver…? – (Be creative but not cutesy) “Standing on the brink of a deadly crevice on a glacier in Montana …” Does this get you interested? –

17.  Med Student Performance Evaluation - DEAN’S LETTER *** You may not get to read this?*** READ, REREAD, AND REREAD AGAIN! KNOW WHAT IS IN YOUR DEAN’S LETTER BE PREPARED TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS

18.  LETTERS OF SUPPORT WHO SHOULD WRITE THEM? Someone who knows you – WELL (ask if he/she can write you a good letter) At least one or two from Family – Medicine

19.  LETTERS OF SUPPORT: POSSIBLE RED FLAGS No Family Medicine letters Letters that state that you will make a great “surgeon, pediatrician, etc.) Letters from someone who barely knows you Brief or generic letters

20.  BOARD SCORES: DO YOU NEED TO BE A MEMBER OF MENSA OR AOA?? THE ANSWER IS “NO”!! Board scores are a part of the overall evaluation Be prepared to discuss it if you failed the boards or did poorly – better yet – bring the issue up before they do Don’t be defensive – answer questions openly and honestly

21.  Submitting the Application Early bird gets the (worm) interview – no later than October 1st if possible Check to see if letter writers sent them in (gently remind them) Be prompt in calling when offered an interview – be flexible in scheduling

22.  ON TO THE INTERVIEW!! APPEARANCE LANGUAGE PROFESSIONALISM COMMUNICATION SKILLS PROMPTNESS REMAIN INVOLVED IN THE INTERVIEW PROCESS

23.  PROMPTNESS ALLOW YOURSELF EXTRA TIME TO ARRIVE ONTIME FOR YOUR INTERVIEW PROGRAMS HAVE TIGHT SCHEDULES AND – TARDINESS CAN MAKE THINGS WORSE AND REFLECT BADLY ON YOU DON’T MAKE EXCUSES IF YOU ARE LATE, – APOLOGIZE

24.  APPEARANCE: FIRST IMPRESSIONS DO COUNT! DRESS PROFESSIONALLY THIS IS NOT DENIM DAY! – LOOK NEAT AND CLEAN – REMEMBER YOUR DEODORANT –

25.  LANGUAGE BE PROFESSIONAL DO NOT USE FOUR LETTER WORDS (YES…THIS HAS HAPPENED!!)

26.  STAY INVOVLED IN THE INTERVIEW PROCESS LOOK EAGER; DON’T LOOK BORED…EVEN IF THIS IS YOUR 15TH INTERVIEW IN WHICH YOU HAVE BEEN ASKED THE SAME QUESTIONS!!! WATCH YOUR BODY LANGUAGE

27.  PROFESSIONALISM THE INTERVIEW MAY DICTATE WHERE YOU ARE GOING TO SPEND YOUR NEXT THREE YEARS OF TRAINING DON’T CRITICIZE OTHER PROGRAMS – DON’T CRITICIZE YOUR OWN PROGRAM – DON’T USE DEROGATORY TERMS FOR PATIENTS –

28.  COMMUNICATION SKILLS A BASIC TENET OF PATIENT CARE IS COMMUNICATION LISTEN TO THE QUESTION THAT IS ASKED AVOID “CANNED” ANSWERS (THIS GETS HARDER AS THE INTERVIEW TRAIL PROGRESSES)

29.  COMMUNICATION SKILLS: THE ROLE OF GEOGRAPHY “WHAT INTERESTS YOU IN THIS PROGRAM OTHER THAN GEOGRAPHY?” “I WANT TO BE IN A PROGRAM THAT IS – CLOSE TO THE OCEAN.” Always have questions of the P.D. or other – interviewers – shows you are interested

30.  INTEREST IN THE PROGRAM: LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION! REPUTATION OF THE PROGRAM FAMILIARITY WITH FACULTY AND/OR RESIDENTS FAMILY NEARBY WEATHER

31.  INTERVIEWER-GENERATED QUESTIONS Why Family Medicine? What attracted you to this program? Discuss your strengths and weaknesses If you couldn’t be a physician, what you want to be? Describe a patient where a Family Physician would have made a difference

32.  INTERVIEWER-GENERATED QUESTIONS PLEASE PICK ONE AND DESCRIBE THE MOST REWARDING, DISTURBING, SATISFYING, FRUSTRATING PATIENT- RELATED EXPERIENCE YOU HAVE HAD.

33.  INTERVIEWER-GENERATED QUESTIONS: OFF THE BEATEN PATH “WHO IS THE REAL ________?” “IF YOU WERE AN ANIMAL, WHICH ANIMAL WOULD YOU BE? WHY?”

34.  Questions to Ask the Program Director or Faculty What changes do you anticipate? Where are your graduates practicing? How is the program preparing their residents for the New Model of FM? Does the program have an EHR? What are the weaknesses of the program, and what are they doing to improve them?

35.  Questions to Ask the Program’s Residents How is the morale in the program? Is this improving or worsening and why? Is the program as described to you in your interview? What were your 2 or 3 other top programs when applying and why? Describe the program’s strengths and weaknesses (same as PD?) Can you influence the program?

36.  AFTER THE INTERVIEW MEET WITH OTHER FACULTY OR RESIDENTS BE PROFESSIONAL – REMEMBER ANYTHING YOU SAY CAN – BECOME PART OF YOUR INTERVIEW EVALUATION AGAIN, DO NOT CRITICIZE THE PROGRAM –

37.  AFTER THE INTERVIEW FOLLOW-UP WITH THE PROGRAM EMAIL THE PROGRAM PD – SEND A THANK YOU NOTE – ASK FOR A SECOND VISIT IF YOU ARE – REALLY INTERESTED IN THE PROGRAM

38.  Most Common NRMP Violations Applicant fails to accept matched position PD offers written or oral contract to US Senior prior to Match Day PD asks applicant where he/she intends to rank the program – affecting program Ranking of applicant

39.  Most Common NRMP Violations Medical school official withdraws allopathic US Senior to facilitate position outside Match Medical school official informs previous grad of match result early Unmatched applicant contacts programs about unfilled positions prior to 12 noon E.S.T. on Tuesday of Match Week

40.  What’s the Rule? You can court – you can’t get engaged! No PD can ask you where you are ranking them – or – “we will rank you #1 if you rank us #1” – violations You can tell the program where you are ranking them – or vice versa – if no strings are attached

41.  Top 10 Things Not to Do! 10) Be late: in applying or for the interview

42.  Top 10 Things Not to Do! 9) Fail to Explain Missing Dates or Concerns in the Application.

43.  Top 10 Things Not to Do! 8) Have a famous celebrity (who doesn’t know you) write “I’m sure Joe will be a good doctor”.

44.  Top 10 Things Not to Do! 7) Come to the interview dressed for the beach or a cocktail party.

45.  Top 10 Things Not to Do! 6) Emphasize you want to train near the beach, surfing, skiing, etc.

46.  Top 10 Things Not to Do! 5) “I look forward to joining your Radiology Residency Program”

47.  Top 10 Things Not to Do! 4) Be rude to the residency coordinator or staff.

48.  Top 10 Things Not to Do! 3) Bring your photo portfolio to the interview.

49.  Top 10 Things Not to Do! 2) Plagiarize your personal statement

50.  Top 10 Things Not to Do! 1) Lie about your background

NRMP Fees ($50) Reg 9/1-10/31

https://services.nrmp.org/r3/home/login/login.cfm

Registering with the NRMP

U.S. Seniors
In order for a senior in a U.S. allopathic medical school to participate in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) as a U.S. senior, the following requirements must be met:

• the applicant attends a U.S. medical school accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME)
• and the applicant has been determined by the dean of student affairs to be on schedule for graduation in the year of the Match and to be eligible to enter graduate medical on July 1, in the year of the Match.

To register for the Match, select the navigation button "Register/Login" from this page or from the NRMP home page. The NRMP Registration, Ranking, and Results (R3) System uses the AAMC ID and a password as the unique identifier of each participant. If you do not already have one, you will be assigned an AAMC ID as part of the registration process and you will select your own password needed for future access to the R3 System. Keep this information in a secure place to prevent any breach of security to your rank order list.
Before registering for the Match, students are asked to carefully review the Match Participation Agreement.
When you register for the Match you enter into a contractual agreement with the NRMP and all the programs that you include on your rank order lists.

Registration Fee

Payment of the $50.00 registration fee for U.S. seniors must be made at the time of registration for the 2011 Main Residency Match. Applicants who complete their registrations after November 30th must pay an additional $50 late registration fee. All registration fees are non-refundable.
By electing to pay by credit card or electronic banking, the applicant authorizes the NRMP to supply the applicant's bank with information it requires about your NRMP Agreement to resolve any inquiries concerning related charges.
Registration entitles the applicant to the following NRMP services:

• Access to the NRMP R3 site;
• Processing of up to 20 different program ranks on the primary rank order list at no additional cost (for each additional program over 20, the fee is $30 per program);
• Processing of up to 20 different program ranks on supplemental rank order lists at no additional charge, regardless of the number of supplemental rank order lists having combinations of those programs (for each additional program over 20, the fee is $30 per program);
• Each partner of a couple may rank up to 30 different programs on the primary rank order list and up to 30 programs on all supplemental lists combined at no additional charge. Each partner of a couple also must pay an additional $15 registration fee.

Note: Applicants with outstanding registration fees will not be able to enter rank order lists or to be ranked by programs until all fees have been paid in full.

Updating Your Profile

Applicants can update information in their profiles at any time during the match process through the R3 System. It is particularly important to keep e-mail addresses and phone numbers current so the NRMP can keep in contact with you. The NRMP uses e-mail to send reminders, notices, and Match results.
Couples
Applicants notify the NRMP of their desire to participate as a couple by providing their partner's AAMC ID through the NRMP R3 System and paying an additional $15 per partner couples fee. Applicants who are members of a couple can link their program choices together so that they can be matched into a combination of programs suited to their needs. In creating pairs of program choices on their rank order lists, couples can mix specialties, program types, and geographic locations. Applying as a couple should not influence the selection decisions made by program directors.
Verification of Credentials
The NRMP requires verification of expected graduation from the dean of student affairs for every senior registered for the Match. Without verification, the student is not permitted to be included in the Match. Applicants whose graduation from medical school is not verified by their institutions will be withdrawn automatically by the NRMP.
Withdrawal from the Match
U.S. seniors can withdraw from the Match only through the dean for student affairs.
Withdrawal requests must be entered before the rank order list deadline. Applicants who have submitted certified rank order lists and do not withdraw by the deadline will be included in the Match. They will be obligated to accept an appointment if matched and if all of the program prerequisites have been satisfied.
Applicants with unpaid registration fees will be withdrawn.
Applicants can confirm whether they are withdrawn by logging-on to the NRMP R3 System.

Updated August 2010 

ERAS Fees ($400)

From: https://www.aamc.org/students/medstudents/eras/residency/69732/fees_and_billing.html

Fees and Billing

Fees are based on the number of programs applied to under the same specialty and accrediting body (ACGME or AOA). Those applicants applying to both ACGME-accredited and AOA-accredited programs are charged processing fees separately. SeeExample 4.

Note: Military program, regardless of specialty, are treated as a single specialty.

ERAS Fees

Under the Same Specialty and Accrediting Body (ACGME or AOA)

Programs Up to 10: $85
Programs 11-20: $8 each
Programs 21-30: $15 each
Programs 31 + : $25 each

Example 1
30 Emergency Medicine programs [$85 + (10 x $8) + (10 x $15)] = $315
Example 2
20 OB/GYN programs [$85 + ($8 x 10)] + 10 Family Medicine programs [$85] = $250
Example 3
5 military Family Medicine programs, 3 military Internal Medicine programs, and 2 military Surgery programs [$85] + 7 civilian Pediatrics programs [$85] = $170
Example 4
3 ACGME accredited Family Medicine programs [$85] + 3 AOA accredited Family Medicine programs [$85] = $170

Other Fees

USMLE Transcript Fees

The NBME  charges $70 for transmitting USMLE transcripts, regardless of the number of requests. This fee is collected by ERAS and will appear on your invoice.

Medical Specialty Preference Inventory, Revised Edition

A s s e s s m e n t   D a t e :   8 / 1 5 / 1 1
Specialty Choice Probabilities

T h e   f o l l owi n g   s c o r e s   r e p r e s e n t   t h e   p r o b a b i l i t y   t h a t   y o u  wi l l   e n t e r   i n t o   o n e   o f   t h e 16 special t ies based on your   interest   in per forming speci f ic act ivi t ies  in
medicine.  A higher  probabi l i ty  indicates a st ronger  preference  for   that  special ty.
Specialty Probabi l i ty
S u r g e r y -Ge n e r a l    60  %
Anesthesiology    23  %
Internal  Medicine    8  %
Emergency Medicine    3  %
Ra d i o l o g y -Di a g n o s t i c    2  %
Pathology-Anatomic and Cl inical    2  %
========================================================

Medical Interest Scales
The Medical Interest Scales measure your interest in specific areas of medical
pract ice.  High scores  indicate more  interest .  As you  review your   resul ts,  pay
par t icular  at tent ion  to scales on which you scored ei ther  very high or  very  low.
These general ly  indicate  impor tant  areas  to  focus on as you explore special t ies.

Highest  Scor ing  Interests:  
Immediate Resul ts
Procedural Care
Technology  in Medicine
Knowledge of Organ Systems
Diagnostic Precision

Lowest Scoring Interests:
Social Context
Patient Counseling
Psychological Care

Complex Problems    3 . 0  
Comprehensive Care    2 . 8  
Diagnostic Precision    6 . 2  
Emergency-Cr i t ical  Care    6 . 0  
Hi s t o r y   T a k i n g    2 . 8  
Home Heal th Care    3 . 0  
Immediate Resul ts    7 . 0  
Knowledge of Anatomical Structures    5 . 0  
Knowledge of Organ Systems    6 . 5  
Laboratory Results    6 . 0  
Palliative Care    2 . 4  
Patient Counseling    1 . 7  
Prevention and Education    2 . 9  
Procedural Care    7 . 0  
Psychological Care    1 . 7  
Reproductive Care    2 . 2  
Social Context    1 . 3  
Technology  in Medicine    7 . 0  
I n t e r e s t Your Score

NRMP 2012 Residency Match Schedule

2012 Main Match Schedule

September 1, 2011	Registration opens at 12:00 noon eastern time for applicants, institutional officials, program directors, and medical school officials.
November 30, 2011	Applicant early registration deadlineNote: Applicants may register for $50 until 11:59 p.m. eastern time. Applicants who register after November 30 must pay an additional $50 late registration fee ($100 total fee) until February 22, 2012, when registration closes.
January 15, 2012	Rank order list entry beginsApplicants and programs may start entering their rank order lists at 12:00 noon eastern time.
January 31, 2012	Quota change deadlinePrograms must submit final information on quotas and withdrawals by 11:59 p.m. eastern time.
February 22, 2012	Deadline for registration and ROL certification Rank order list certification deadline Applicants and programs must certify their rank order lists before 9:00 p.m. eastern time. Staff will be available to answer your questions during the final deadline hours.CERTIFIED applicant and program rank order lists and any other information pertinent to the Match must be entered in the R3 System by this date and time. Withdraw deadline  Independent applicants who have accepted a position through another national matching plan or by agreement outside the Matching Program must withdraw before 9:00 p.m. eastern time.
March 12, 2012	Applicant matched and unmatched information posted to the Web site at 12:00 noon eastern time. Filled and unfilled results for individual programs posted to the Web site at 12:00 noon eastern time. Locations of all unfilled positions are released at 12:00 noon eastern time only to participants eligible for the Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP).
March 13, 2012	Programs with unfilled positions may start entering their Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP) preference lists at 11:30 a.m. eastern time.
March 14, 2012	Programs with unfilled positions must finalize their first-round Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP) preference lists by 11:30 a.m. eastern time. Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP) offer rounds begin at 12:00 noon eastern time.
March 16, 2012	Match Day! Match results for applicants are posted to Web site at 1:00 p.m. eastern time. Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP) concludes at 5:00 p.m. eastern time.
March 17, 2012	Hospitals begin sending letters of appointment to matched applicants after this date.

Note: SOAP-eligible unmatched applicants shall initiate contact with the directors of unfilled programs only through ERAS. Other individuals or entities shall not initiate contact on behalf of any SOAP-eligible unmatched applicant prior to contact from directors of unfilled programs. Such contact is a violation of the Match Participation Agreement. Contact between programs and matched applicants prior to the general announcement of 2012 Match results at 1:00 p.m. eastern time Friday, March 16, 2012 also is a violation of the Match Participation Agreement.

Updated 07/01/2011

http://www.nrmp.org/res_match/yearly.html