Those Who Succeeded in the 2009 Residency Match Suggest (Recommendations from the Class of 2009):
Brooke Reich, M.D.
As for Matching advice. Rotate in the field at the program you would like to match at early in 4th year. It can make the world of difference for matching (that is if the student is a hard worker/has a good personality). This can help if their scores aren't stellar. Students need to have a good understanding of how competitive their application is and need to apply accordingly. Also, Wayne is better known in the Midwest, so Wayne students should preferentially interview in the Midwest over either coasts. If you have big goals then you need to plan ahead and set up contacts/do research, etc.
Henna Tirmizi M.D.
For me, success in the match was due to applying broadly. Since Anesthesiology is pretty competitive, I applied to over 30 programs (including TY yrs) and went to every single interview I was offered (around 10). That way I had many options when it came to making my rank list, and knew that I had much better chances of matching than others who might have only applied to few programs. I ended up matching my top choice, but in retrospect, much better safe than sorry.
Rebecca Peak
I think one of the things that helped me to obtain success in the match was doing some away rotations at the program I was most interested in (my number one choice, and where I ultimately ended up matching.) I think this can be particularly helpful for people applying from afar to geographic locations/programs that are more competitive/desirable. I have no doubt that getting to know the program (and giving them a chance to get to know me) during those visiting rotations played a significant role in my match success.
John Dentel
As far as advice goes, here it goes:
1) Get ERAS submitted on the earliest date possible. Make sure there are no punctuation or grammar errors!
2) Apply to more than enough programs - it's ok to turn down interviews, but make sure you have at least 12.
3) Schedule interviews as soon as you get the invite. So, always have your calendar with you and updated.
4) Try to schedule "home" or local interviews first, this can take make the "away" interviews less stressful.
5) If you're going out of state for an interview, use the alumni program because it saves money in the end, and you'll need that money at the end of the year!
6) Enjoy the process!
Garrick Spears
In regards to advice on the Match, I would suggest that the 4th years apply to as many programs as possible. I would suggest a minimum of 40. I would also suggest they look in smaller market areas. New York and Chicago are nice, but consider a smaller town, like Akron, Ohio or Shreveport, Louisiana for better results.I would also suggest that they ask the residents that they work with what programs they would suggest. There are many gems out there that they may not know about.
Tips From Our Faculty for the Residency Application Process
Personal Statements
Jeanne Lusher, M.D. - Distinguished Professor of Pediatrics, Co-Director, Hematology/Oncology
For those who have a few blemishes in their academic records, I would recommend commenting (briefly),in one’s personal statement. If it is something major, I would include it in the personal statement, but would also discuss it with faculty who you’re asking to write a recommendation letter for you. If the faculty person knows what happened, they would be better able to put it in context ,and thus could still be your advocate.
Dr. Beth Ann Brooks - Residency Program Director, Psychiatry
Regarding any blemish on a student’s academic record, I would advise mentioning it in one’s personal statement with a brief, honest explanation, but I wouldn’t recommend making that the focus of the personal statement. Some programs may be reluctant to interview a student who doesn’t mention it in his/her statement. No matter what tactic a student adopts, he/she has to be prepared to address any deficiencies during the interview.
Jennifer Swearingen, M.D., Dermatology
In a sea of applications, particularly in areas such as dermatology, the personal statement may truly make the candidate shine. It goes without saying that your statement should be free of spelling or grammatical errors. Your audience is capable of reading your CV, and there is no need to regurgitate your accomplishments in your personal statement as well. Paint a clear snapshot of who you are as a person. In my personal statement I discussed important pieces of my life including my daughter, my background of growing up on a farm in the Midwest, and the elements I was looking for in a program as well as what I would contribute. My thought was that if I was clear about what was valuable to me in my life and what I sought in a program, that I would find a great fit. If a program was "turned off" by their impression of me by my honest description on paper, I probably would not fit into their program well in person either. It worked out well for me...best of luck to all of you in your writing.
Dr. Lawrence Schwartz, Department of Emergency Medicine
Personal statements are just that, personal. My recommendation is for students to meet with their advisors or mentors in the specialty to which they are applying and discuss their personal statement. Over the years, I've met with students, they've emailed their PS to me, I've read them and sent them back with suggestions. I don't think there is a "perfect" personal statement. These statements are as varied as the students. I would encourage the students to work with us when putting them together.
Matthew Griffin, M.D., F.A.C.E.P, F.A.A.E.M.
Regarding your Personal Statement: Follow these rules:
- Honesty
- proud but no inflation
- no more than 1 page in EM applications
Melissa Barton M.D., F.A.C.E.P.
I tell students the personal statement should be no more than 1 page. Don't squish the margins or decrease the font size to get more onto one page. Some reviewers don't read this page; others such as myself spend
quite a bit of time on the personal statement.In the personal statement, tell PD's why you want to do a particular specialty and why they would want you as a future resident. Be careful making statements like "I want an academic program" and then submitting the application to a community hospital-type program.
Don't put jobs such as the makeup counter at Macy's when you were 18 year old. This probably isn't relevant anymore and just clutters the application. Do list jobs if you were both working at the same time you were going to
college/medical school. If there are any "issues", like unexplained gaps of time, failure of Step 1, etc., we suggest one or two lines (at most) in the personal statement to briefly explain this matter and thereby open the door for further discussion during an interview. If it is not addressed, we wonder what the student may be trying to hide.
As always, don't lie. I do know of some program directors who have not signed the student to a residency contract because of falsifications on the ERAS application.
Robert N. Frank. M.D.
My strong feeling is, that the best personal statements say something about the applicant as an individual. What's unique about you as a person? What is/are the most important experience(s) of your life? A personal distinction? A personal tragedy? A difficult and/or challenging situation you've faced? How did you deal with it? What inner strengths and/or weaknesses in yourself did this experience demonstrate to you (don't be afraid to be frank about your weaknesses: we all have them). Above all, DON'T be generic! In my own field (ophthalmology), the worst personal statements I've seen are those that begin, "When I was eight years old, my mother took me to have my eyes examined. I was so fascinated by the experience that I decided, right then and there, that I wanted to be an eye doctor."
Valerie M. Parisi, M.D.. M.P.H., M.B.A.
Personal statements hints:
- NO MORE than one page
- first sentence has to be a “hook”; how are you special and different from everyone else
- Tell a personal story
- DO NOT say you went to medical school to help people. Everyone did that.
- Give examples of experiences that shaped YOUR character
- Be brave and discuss your greatest weakness and how you are dealing with it.
Mark D. Faber M.D., FACP
"Some points are too obvious to mention but they get missed anyway. Things like: meticulously checking spelling and grammar. It's critical to have somebody else check it over as well, especially someone who writes well. If there are any weak spots, like repeating a year or having to retake USMLE's they should be explained in a way the assures the PD that the applicant understands what went wrong and has corrected the problem, without making excuses. Great LORs will go a long way, especially if the PD knows the writer, so if possible get a letter from someone in the institution or who is well known. If they get the interview they really need to polish their interview and interpersonal skills. They need to have a firm hand shake and look the interviewers squarely in the eye. They should practice their interviews in front of the mirror, with their friends/family and peers, and on videotape if at all possible.
Bonita Stanton. M.D.
"Take time with your personal statement; it is VERY important. And it should tell a story that the reviewer cannot get from your resume-it should not list your honors etc. It should speak to your enthusiasm and work ethic-humor or a little creativity (NOT including beginning with a quote) are always appreciated."
Monte Harvill, M.D.
Most personal statements I read are processed reports of why the individual chose the specialty for which they have applied. I emphasize to my student contacts that the PS is a part of "marketing" for the position and that it should keep the reader interested. Hopefully, the page is memorable or sparks discussion during the interview.
I recommend a style of writing prose that is more individual and less scientific (boring). I suggest that their personal interests be woven through the statement by finding attributes that fit the position for which they are applying. For instance, one student had a strong musical background. His PS discussed parts of a symphony and told how his personality reflected those portions of a masterpiece (rhythm, melody, harmony, solo, duet, etc.). He was able to tie the attributes of the music to his own personality and how it fit into the position he was seeking. Another student had an interest in cooking so his statement blended his personal attributes into a recipe for success. I believe a well-written poem would be great, if done with appropriate style and demure. One must be careful not to overdo the hyperbole and stay focused on the task; that is, to tell about themselves.
This type of personal statement is far more interesting to read and shows a level of confidence and creativity that are attractive in an applicant.
How to Write a Personal Statement (from “Strolling Through the Match” by the American Academy of Family Physicians)
A part of every application process is the preparation of a personal or autobiographical statement. Generally speaking, the application forms for residency positions will request a personal statement. In other instances in which you are preparing your credentials for a job or another type of position, you will want to include the substance of a personal statement in the form of a cover letter to your CV.
If you will not participate in ERAS and will complete a paper application, the personal statement serves to complement and supplement your CV with a description of your qualifications and strengths in narrative form. Like a CV, it is written for a specific purpose or position. You want to convey to your reader how and why you are qualified for the position to which you are applying. In the case of a residency position, you want to emphasize the reason for your interest in that specialty and in that particular program.
Feel free to highlight items in your CV if they help to remind your reader of the experiences you've had that make you well prepared for the position. This is your opportunity to expand upon activities that are just listed in the CV but deserve to be described so your reader can appreciate the breadth and depth of your involvement in them.
You may choose to relate significant personal experiences, but do so only if they are relevant to your candidacy for the position.
Lastly, the personal statement is the appropriate place to specify your professional goals. It offers the opportunity to put down on paper some clear, realistic, and carefully considered goals will leave your reader with a strong impression of your maturity, self-awareness and character.
The importance of good writing skills cannot be overemphasized. The quality of your writing in the preparation of a personal statement is at least as important as the content. Unfortunately, not only are good writing skills allowed to deteriorate during medical school, in some sense, they are deliberately undermined in the interest of learning to write concise histories and physicals. For the moment, forget everything you know about writing histories and physicals. While preparing your personal statement:
- Write in complete sentences.
- Avoid abbreviations - don't assume your reader knows all the acronyms you do. As a courtesy, spell it out.
- Avoid repetitive sentence structure.
- Avoid using jargon. If there is a shorter, simpler, less pretentious way of putting it, do so.
- Use a dictionary and spell check. Misspelled words look bad.
- Use a Thesaurus. Variety in the written language can add interest but don't get carried away.
- Get help if you think you need it. For a crash course in good writing skills try The Elements of Style, Strunk and White, MacMillan Press, Fourth Edition. If you have a friend or relative with writing or editing skills, try to enlist their help. In any case, give yourself enough time to prepare a well-written statement. Remember, in the early part of the residency selection process, it is the closest thing your reviewers have to knowing you personally.
ERAS
ERAS lets applicants create one or more personal statements that can be earmarked for specific programs. Some programs ask applicants to address specific questions in their personal statements.
ERAS includes a simple text editor for typing your personal statements; however, you may complete your personal statement using word processing software so that you can make changes more easily and take advantage of the available editing features, such as spell check. Once you've finalized the text, save your document as a text file. Then, use the "cut and paste" feature to add your information to the personal statement section of your ERAS application. Before you assign the personal statement to a program, print out a copy for review to ensure that there are no hidden page breaks or special characters embedded from the word processor. Your personal statement(s) must be assigned individually to each program. There is a link on the MyERAS Web site that details how to complete the document and assign personal statements to individual programs using MyERAS.
ERAS Meeting - Kertia Black, M.D., Assistant Dean - June 8, 2009
Year IV Orientation - January 26, 2009
General Guidance
Rank Order Listing Tips
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