How To Get A Medical Residency Interview

Every year after residency rank order lists have been submitted, and before match day, program directors from all residency specialties are sent a survey “to shed light on the factors that program directors use to (1) select applicants to interview and (2) rank applicants for the match.”*

In 2014, program directors listed these factors as their top considerations when inviting residency applicants for an interview.

1) USMLE Step 1/COMLEX Level 1 score

2) Letters of recommendation in the specialty

3) Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE/Dean’s Letter)

4) USMLE Step 2 CK/COMLEX Level 2 CE score

5) Personal Statement

6) Graduate of U.S. allopathic medical school

7) Grades in required clerkships

8) Gaps in medical education

9) Honors in clinical clerkships

10) Perceived commitment to specialty

* http://www.nrmp.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/PD-Survey-Report-2014.pdf

www.MedEdits.com

MedEdits FREE 15 minute medical school, residency or fellowship consultation.

Do you have questions about the medical school, residency, or fellowship admissions process?

Sign up for a FREE 15 minute consultation.

Free consultations are introductory sessions designed for prospective clients or their parents who live in the United States ONLY. Clients who have worked with us previously are not eligible.

Please follow these steps:

1) Choose and schedule your session by clicking below.

2) After scheduling your session, we will send you an applicant questionnaire which must be completed before your free session. 

Best regards,

MedEdits Medical Admissions, LLC

MEDICAL SCHOOL AND RESIDENCY INTERVIEWS: “TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF.”

I am not sure if any surveys have been conducted to determine how many medical admissions officers start medical school and residency interviews with this request but, based on my experience, I can tell you that a very large percentage of interviews begin this way. Most applicants are terrified of this prompt. They don’t know what they should say, how far back they should “go,” and what topics they should cover. I advise applicants to capitalize on the opportunity that “tell me about yourself” presents. When you respond, you can provide information about topics that are most significant to you and then allow the interviewer to “cherry pick” and ask you about those topics that most interest him or her. Here are a few general guidelines on how to reply to “tell me about yourself”:

1) Before walking in to any interview, have a general idea of how you will respond to  “tell me about yourself.” As you prepare for your interviews, think about who you are and your path to the interview seat. One approach is to create an outline of your most meaningful experiences – both personal, academic, and extracurricular. Then “talk through” the outline.

2) Speak about those experiences and qualities that distinguish you most. These details will obviously differ for every applicant. Don’t feel that you must limit your reply to medically and scientifically related pursuits and interests; you should talk about your background and meaningful and significant extracurricular accomplishments as well.

3) Stay on topic and give a comprehensive overview of your candidacy and life. Some people make the mistake of responding to “tell me about yourself” by talking about why they want to be a doctor or rambling randomly about a variety of topics.

4) Don’t talk about any one experience in tremendous detail. You should think of your response in an “outline” format. You don’t want to elaborate about any one topic; give your interviewer room to ask about those topics she would like to hear more about.

In reality, “tell me about yourself” is what you want your interviewer to say first. It allows you to talk about those topics that are most important to your candidacy, and your answer sets the stage for what you most want to discuss. If you practice your response and know your general approach before walking into your interview, not only will you look forward to “tell me about yourself” instead of dreading it, but you will confidently deliver your reply, establishing a good tone for your entire interview.

Visit www.mededits.com to schedule your FREE 15 minute consultation.

This information is based on content in The Medical School Interview, The Residency Interview, and The MedEdits Guide to Medical School Admissions, books that help applicants prepare for the interview processes. If you want help preparing for interviews, contact MedEdits.

THE RESIDENCY INTERVIEW: WHO SCREENS MY ERAS APPLICATION?

Typically only one to three people per program are responsible for screening residency applications, and how they do it is important to understand. Since some programs may have up to 500 (or even 1,000) applications for only 100 interview slots, for example, it becomes the responsibility of those reviewing applications to decide who will be invited.I can tell you from experience that making these decisions is a daunting task. To decrease the work load, many program directors apply filters to applications to decrease the number of applications that must be reviewed to a reasonable quantity. What kinds of “filters” are used? There are many. Some filters may be applied so program directors only review applications who have a certain United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE) step 1 score as a threshold, others may use a filter that only views applicants who have graduated within five years, while others may use no filters and manually review every application submitted. Some programs then assign “points” for everything: research, USMLE scores, and letters of recommendation; you are invited for an interview only when your “score” meets a minimum number. More often, however, a great deal of subjectivity goes into the decision to invite an applicant for an interview, whatever the grading system. Often, the screener’s personal interests and outlook play a part in the review of your application–especially if you are a “borderline” applicant. For example, if reviewer A always had to struggle with standardized tests yet managed to succeed while reviewer B always had board scores in the top 5th percentile, reviewer A is much more likely than reviewer B to screen in an application with lower-than-average board scores.

This blog entry is an excerpt from The Residency Interview (CHAPTER 1: THE INTERVIEW PROCESS).  Click her to read more.

MedEdits Interview Question Challenge

What is the toughest interview question you have received? "Like" MedEdits on Facebook and post the question on our wall. Dr. Freedman will select one question and will post the answer. The "winner" will be announced on December 18th, 2010 and will receive a free copy of The Medical School Interview or The Residency Interview. Good luck!

Like MedEdits on Facebook.

Visit MedEdits.

Three Interviewers, 20 Candidates, One Hour

A client of mine recently had a residency interview that went something like this:

1) Introduction of the program (30 minutes)

2) Hospital tour (30 minutes)

3) Round robin interview session (60 minutes) 

There were three interviewers who interviewed roughly 20 candidates in only one hour. How can anyone make a judgement about someone if they spend, literally, only five - 10 minutes "interviewing" them.

I will revisit this topic later in the season as I gather more data to see if  this is a trend. Have any readers had similar experiences? Would you like it if your resident physician was chosen based on only three, five minute interviews?

Residency Interview Tips

Read my latest article on The Student Doctor Network. Written specifically about residency interviews, alot of this information will also be useful for medical school applicants.

Click Here to access the article.

Visit: MedEdits

Residency or Medical School Interviews?

Click Here to read an article I wrote about some not so common interview pitfalls.

Do you need help preparing for medical school or residency interviews? Contact us ASAP; I am now booking in to early November.

Visit: MedEdits

Medscape Residency Interview Article

Dr. Dan Egan, a former medical student and current colleague of mine, wrote a succinct article about residency interviews. Click Here to read Dr. Egan's article. You will be required to log in to Medscape.

The Residency Interview Book!

By Jessica Freedman MD, www.MedEdits.com

You asked for it, you got it.

I am happy to announce the publication of The Residency Interview: How To Make the Best Possible Impression. This book is based on my experience as a residency admissions officer together with my experience while privately advising clients with MedEdits. This comprehensive MedEdits guide will provide applicants with practical advice to help them perform well on residency interviews. Be the first one to buy this book and, if you are applying for residency this year, be sure to read it before you hit the interview trail!

Visit: MedEdits

Acing Your Residency Interview

Read my latest article about residency interviews on the Student Doctor Network!

Visit: MedEdits

Residency Interview Thank You Notes

I receive many queries from clients regarding thank you notes after residency interviews. The most recent program directors survey done by the National Residency Matching Program suggests that such follow up notes do not impact ranking but I still recommend that applicants send them. Expressing gratitude suggests that you are courteous and professional and therefore I always advise sending them. Since most faculty are hooked on email, it is acceptable to send thank you emails unless the program specifically instructs otherwise.

On a personal note, when I was a residency admissions officer and received such letters from applicants, they often ended up in the recycle bin even though it made a good impression. These notes never impacted the decision that I made regarding an applicant's candidacy or ranking.

So, what should you write? These notes should be brief (one or two paragraphs) unless you discussed something specific and unusual with an interviewer. You should thank the interviewer for their time, try to mention something specific from your interview and discuss what you liked about the program.

You should wait to tell a program that they are your #1 choice until the end of interview season and then write a letter of intent.

Do you need help with your interview season strategy or letter of intent? Contact MedEdits.

Medical School Interviews and Residency Interviews

If you do not yet have many medical school interviews, there is no need to worry (yet). Since Labor Day was unusually late this year, many medical school admissions offices are somewhat backed up. Admissions officers are human and summer vacations may have been taken into September. October is likely to be very busy and there are probably stacks of "to be screened" files waiting to be reviewed....

Similarly, it is very early for residency interview invitations. Also, some programs wait until November 1st to review applications once the Medical School Performance Evaluations are released (MSPE).

Visit MedEdits and reserve your mock interview time as soon as possible.

Medical School and Residency Interviews: The Importance of Practice

It is essential that medical school and residency applicants practice interviewing. While it is fine to practice with friends and family, it is advisable to practice with someone who has actually served on a medical school admissions committee if you are applying to medical school or a residency admissions committee if you are applying to residency.

It is very important not to memorize your answers or to say things that you "think they want to hear." Being authentic and honest during your interviews is essential.

Members of the MedEdits class of 2010 already have medical school interview invitations. But, do not despair if you are not in this elite group. There are still many interview invitations to come and the season is just beginning.

If you are a residency applicant and need help with your written documents, please contact us soon. ERAS applications can be submitted on September 1st and it is ideal to submit as close to this date as possible.

Visit: MedEdits

Getting Into Residency

Read Dr. Freedman's article on the Student Doctor Network, "Getting Into Residency Part 2."

Should you follow-up with programs after an interview? How do you pick someone to write your letter of recommendation? What is appropriate to discuss at your interview? Should you go on second looks?

Click Here to read the full article.

Visit: www.MedEdits.com

Interview Day Tours and Lunches: How To Behave

Many clients ask me about how to behave on tours and lunches during interview days for medical school, residency and fellowship.

1) The bottom line is always be respectful. Whether it is a secretary, residency coordinator or the person who takes away the trash, it is essential to treat everyone well.

2) On tours, be front and center and pay attention. As a tour guide, I could always tell who was lingering, chatting or disinterested and who was really paying attention to what I said. While it is good to ask questions, don't dominate or interrupt the tour guide.

3) Demonstrate good table manners. If you are nervous, stay away from caffeine. Bring a breath mint for after your meal.

4) Be kind to the other applicants. Pretend you are in a fishbowl this day. If you are friendly and personable to all, this can only help you.

5) Read my blog entry on the dinner before the interview day. Click Here.

For advice and guidance on all aspects of the admissions process for medical school, residency and fellowship, visit: www.MedEdits.com.

Medical School and Residency Interviews: The Dinner The Night Before

Many clients ask me about the purpose of dinners that are held the night before interview days. Typically, residency programs do this but some medical schools hold these, too. The goal of these dinners is two fold. First, dinners serve as recruitment tools to attract the best applicants. Second, this provides programs with more "data points" about applicants. After a dinner, I was frequently told about the applicants who were liked and disliked.

A few rules for these meetings:

1) Be on your best behavior. You are under the microscope.

2) Dress like you are going to a cocktail party. Don't wear jeans. Don't wear a suit. Nice slacks and a shirt or sweater is fine.

3) Don't get too casual. Remember this isn't an interview and you want to be personable yet professional.

4) Don't stay too late and close down the bar. Leave when the crowd leaves and, if there are people lingering or moving on to another venue, don't stay with them. You must be well rested for your interview the next day.

For advice and insight regarding all aspects of the admissions process for medical school, residency and fellowship visit: www.MedEdits.com or call us at 201.244.6142.

Residency and Medical School Interviews: What To Take

I find that many medical school and residency clients are concerned about what they should take to interviews. Here are some tips:

1) Do not bring a backpack to carry around with you. It is too bulky.

2) If you are traveling and must bring a suitcase, this is acceptable. You can ask where to leave your luggage during your interview. It was commonplace, when I interviewed applicants, to have one or two people do this each day.

3) Bring a pen and folder or portfolio. You should take notes during program or school presentations so, be prepared. Most programs will give you folders with literature about the school/program. Do not take notes during your actual interview(s).

4) It is OK to bring a purse. Just make sure it is small and easy to carry.

5) Bring any recent publications or updates for your interviewers.

I can help you with interview preparation. Visit www.MedEdits.com to see how our clients are doing this season.

Residency: When Should I Interview?

"Dr. Freedman: When is the best time to schedule my interviews for residency?"

I have received this question numerous times even though interview season hasn't even begun! There is no perfect answer to this question and, if you ask 10 people, you will receive 10 different responses. There is one article in the literature that shows no correlation between interview date and rank position: Click Here to read the article.

If you have the luxury of choice, schedule one or two "safety program" interviews early in the season. It is my personal opinion to save the best for last. I always found it refreshing, especially at the end of a long interview season, to have a terrific applicant who was a pleasure to meet and interview. When we concluded our season and ranked applicants, it was easier to remember those applicants who interviewed later in the season and I was often "fuzzy" about applicants who interviewed in the middle of the season.

The bottom line: there is no magic formula here. Stay in touch with programs (especially those in which you are interested) so they don't forget you. Don't "can" or memorize responses for your interviews and do whatever you can to stay energetic throughout the season.

Visit: http://www.mededits.com/.

Client Snippet: Interview Attire

Clients ask me so many questions, many of which apply to a broad population. I have decided to post a weekly -- or possibly biweekly -- client question, concern or comment of interest.

This week, a very talented medical school applicant who already has interviews asked: "Dr. Freedman, I have heard that women should not bring purses or shoulder bags to interviews. Is this true?"

I am always amazed when I read admissions books that suggest women should only bring briefcases to interviews. I think this advice dates back to the 1940's and suggests that successful women should look (and act) like men. My suggestion is to bring whatever makes your comfortable. Colors are in this season. Be bold -- bring a red handbag. As long as your overall look is professional, there is no need to completely blend into the navy blue masses. Just be sure to bring a pen and a folder to hold any important documents.

MedEdits provides interview preparation for medical school, residency and fellowship.

Visit: http://www.mededits.com/