COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE STEP BY STEP GUIDANCE FOR US RESIDENCY MATCH PROCESS AND REQUIREMENTS

1 Month till Match season starts so reminded me of how it was last year for me so thought I should share my two cents on the topic. I am sure other seniors will have stuff to add here so here goes:

Resume:

In job applications, presentation of your experiences accounts to be one of the most important ingredient. You need to spend time to put in the best possible way all of your experiences. Try to elaborate and distribute them to as many headings in your ERAS cv. Don't write topped this gold medal that coz in the US they don't use that stuff.  Write your class ranking because everyone talked about mine. Also use Latin terms like magma cum laude etc. if you have got a distinction or something. Google them up :) Also put your social work experience, literary society, social welfare and all the other extracurricular stuff you love doing haha I was surprised when in most of my interviews they would love talking about that stuff. But write only if you have done something and not just for the heck of it because they will ask you details of what you did and how it benefited you

Personal Statement:
Well this was the hardest part of the application process as far as I think. It took me like forever writing it. Make sure you make it as personal as you can and don't take ask others or use those services to write your personal statement. But remember to show it to your seniors, friends etc. for feedback especially if they live in the US. I remember a PD during one of my interview talking about how touched he was with someone's story so seriously they read that. Because it gives them some idea about who you are, why you want to come to the US, why this specialty and why they should take you over someone. Make it sound so nice and special that anyone who reads it would want to meet you in person :) I remember sending mine to two three seniors and changed it based on their feedback. Also showed it to my cousin who is a Masters in English for grammatical correction and also to another friend who was super smart at writing stuff :) So basically mine got changed a gazillion times. Start working on it from now and don’t leave it for the last week. And no don't ask any senior for their personal statement because that'll change your mindset and you will start writing along the lines that person did and not what your personal story is. Also if you applying to multiple specialties, make sure you have different PS for different specialties.

Programs to apply to:

Apply widely and to as many programs as you can afford. I could only afford 75 but most people average around 130-150. I only applied to Medicine but I would seriously recommend applying to other fields too for backup. Fine if you get a lot of calls in the specialty you like, awesome. But what if you don't? It requires a lot of money going through the entire match so don't jeopardize it applying to only a few programs and one field. As a senior once recommended, apply to high tier programs, mid-tier programs and low tier programs. Apply wide and not to a specific area. Apply to programs who take a lot of img's and not just locals. High tier would say Harvard or John Hopkins haha I applied to Harvard coz I was like what if they like me, what if. And also how will I know if am good enough for them unless I apply right? haha But of course my application wasn't good enough for them, duh!!! :P BUt then I applied to a lot of mid-tier and also low tier programs and that worked out. The more the number of programs you apply to, more the number of interview calls you hopefully can acquire and more the chances of matching successfully. Apply to programs where you have seniors and other programs where you might know someone who can help you. I used to check each programs website from aamc, see their residents and go through their requirements given on their website. That way I would get a good idea about the program and then I would add it to my list. So make sure you go through all the programs you want to apply to. Get on it ASAP!

Crossing the Filter:

As mentioned in previous experiences your scores are one of the most important factor and the first hurdle you need to cross in order to secure residency. As from now on program will consider filtering application with three digit scores (as for most program filter is set around 220-230). So you will be in the pile of applicants who will cross initial score filter (they can be anywhere around 500 to 2000). Some programs filter by visa status so if you are a Green card or US resident you will get additional benefit. Anyhow after you have crossed initial filter what’s next. Either of the two things can happen, you can become lucky and program coordinator reviews your application and forward it to pd or your application will remain in the pile unchecked or reviewed till all the interview slots are filled.

Getting your application reviewed:

So this is the time you need to work your brains and be proactive. There are few ways you can do it.

* First if you can locate some seniors (most of them are simply awesome and helpful). They can forward your aamc id to program coordinator making it possible for program director to review it and if you match his expectations, that rewards an interview. Important thing is you keep a follow up with the seniors as their schedule is hectic; it may slip from their mind or they might have their own limitations. Also remember that a senior isn’t the Program Director. All he can do is forward your application and that's about it. Also, most seniors can only ask for a couple of people and not everyone. And they will be putting their own reputation at stake recommending you so don't feel offended if you don't hear back from their program.

*Second, try calling them yourself. You can call as early as end of September to first week of October. I maintained an excel sheet with all the programs I applied and the dates I called them with a brief note about the response.  Now the question is how you will approach the program coordinators. So I came up with some sources. You can obviously find phone numbers on ERAS itself. If you hear a human voice its good, most of the time it will go to voice mail, do leave a message some pc do listen to their voice mails. Calls are transferred to vm after 4 beeps (keep track of these as pc might pick up the phone so keep trying), sometimes it goes directly to vm. Other sources of contact numbers; websites (sometimes they try to avoid real numbers on eras due to floods of calls asking status); ACGME website (they have emails and phone numbers of pc and pd, most of the times they are different).

Early in the season coordinators are (most of the times) super friendly as the real trauma of hundreds of call daily has not started asking in a monotonous voice, “What is the status of my application?” Guys you need to be different in that situation. In majority of the programs coordinators play a significant role in selection of candidates. So you should understand your mission to get hold of interview starts the very moment when coordinator picks up the phone. Try to be nice and come up with some good queries for the program (which can be answered by pc), you can mention about your credentials (briefly about scores, electives, research publications) asking do they match the criteria they have set. Try to communicate your aamc id. That’s the most important part, if you can make the program coordinator open your application on eras, that’s what you are looking for (I received few iv calls right on spot). But your struggle is not over at this point. You need to maintain your communication call her again, with some more queries. Regarding how frequently you can call, you might call them each week to twice a week. As end of October will arrive you will find a significant change in pc’s attitude, as major bulk of applicants will start calling asking for status. That’s where you need to be smart don’t start with the same questions what every other applicant is asking. You need to develop a healthy relation with them so come up with some plan, something different which will hold you separate from other applicant. Most of the pc will note your aamc id but almost none will review your application because on average they receive 200 plus calls each day (that’s what one coordinator told me).

*Emails:

Along with calls send emails. Same rule is applicable here as well, be different. You need to pay special attention to the subject of your email (“application status” is not a good subject). Try to come up with something different, I am sure you can do it but be relevant. During the end of season I even sent emails to pc and pd with subject like ‘Regarding interview invitation’: well everything is fair in love, war and residency. It’s all about survival. I am sure they receive hundreds of emails daily, they will not go to each email, they will just go through the subjects (as some important emails do pop up in the pc email account, rest assure a different subject may compel pc to review your application). If your email subject is routine it will be deleted without even being reviewed. You can get hold of different email id of pc and pd as well from website and acgme website. I secured few interviews by this method. But make your emails short and to the point. Don't write your entire resume in the mail. Just 3-4 lines max. Mention that you applied and are interested in your program. And would love to hear back positively from their side. And your aamc id and name. 

What’s next:

If everything is going according to plan and you get your application reviewed will it guarantee an interview? Answer is in present competitive situation most likely No. You application must be strong enough with really good clinical and research experience. Each year many bright imgs remain unmatched, so you have to compete with applicants with great scores, lot of US clinical research/experience. If you already have all the stars the next important thing is how you will put it in your application. 

How to improve your CV and chances of match:

So if you are still a student try to secure electives. If you are already done with step 1 then you can manage to get hold of electives at many different places. Remember try for those places which do have imgs, going to big university programs e.g. mayo most of the time is not very helpful as you don’t have a real chance to match into that program. Some may argue letters from big programs matters, well if you compare it with real chance of matching in a mediocre program I will go with the second option. I will recommend for students to do at least 3 months of electives at different hospitals. During elective try to be proactive be there sharp at 6, ask residents to assign patient to you and participate in patient care. This will improve chances of getting hold of good letter of recommendation and good relationship with attending which can be used latter to acquire interviews. During your electives if your attending is active in research, ask him for opportunity and show enthusiasm to do research with him. If not search the directory get hold of doctors active in research, set appointment or just visit their office. You have to make the best use of time you spend in US. Always remember a sub-internship (elective rotation in internal medicine) is most recommended. Although it is hard to secure but if you perform well, it insure matching in the same program.

For graduates, search for externship positions (some noteworthy hospitals, St Vincent charity Cleveland, Wayne state cardiology and peds Detroit….) if unable to locate go for observership. Start sending emails to attending, asking for volunteer research and later on ask them if you can observe with them in their clinic or floor. Try to spend time in multiple hospital rather than spending 6 months at one place (exception; if you foresee solid chances to match into the same program).

Remember to make good impression with attending you work with, try to stay in contact with them. If you have good relationship with them, they might make phone calls/ emails to program directors. This will increase your chances. If you are working closely with some fellows, try to ask them to recommend you for residency program they graduated from. It is all about developing contacts and using them. Never shy off or perceive that it is not right to ask them, you won’t lose anything if you will.

Good luck everyone for a successful Match InshAllah. Hit us up if you have any queries! :)