An Effort to Rid NY Hospitals of Caribbean Medical Students

This NYT piece on the push to rid New York hospitals of Caribbean medical students is worth a read. I think it's unlikely that Caribbean schools will be forced out of New York hospitals, as the financial incentive to keep the schools' funding is way too strong. It's worth considering, however, the fate and reputation of Caribbean schools.

It's interesting to note, too, that New York schools that have relied on their prestige to secure rotation slots may now be worried that they can't compete with the millions of dollars that Caribbean schools are spending to do the same.

Does Going to a Fancy School Pay Off?

Here's an interesting NYT article on whether going to elite colleges pays off financially (and emotionally). The results are a bit weak, but do suggest that elite schools can make a difference in income and graduate school placement.

January Schedule

I apologize for the delay: My January schedule is available online through the Insider Medical Admissions website. Please schedule Mock Interviews and Strategy Sessions early, as the slots get grabbed up quickly!

Thank You Notes

An applicant recently asked me to whom he should be sending thank you notes after interviews. Use this as a general guideline: If, during the interview day, you have spent more than five minutes of one-on-one time with someone from the institution, that person deserves a thank you note.

See my other blog postings on thank you notes for more information, but the bottom line is that these short notes should be handwritten (no email) and sent promptly after the interview.

The Time Pressure of Pre-Match Offers

A few of my residency applicants have already been given pre-Match offers. Can anything be done to alleviate the time pressure often associated with these early acceptances?

First of all, I'm always impressed with pre-Match offers that do not require a rapidly-forced reply from the applicant. Better programs have the confidence to afford their applicants some time to think.

If you are made a pre-Match offer, there is no down side to requesting more time to make your decision. If the program says no, nothing is lost and if they say yes, you have a bit more time to think or interview at other institutions.

I've had applicants ask me if they should accept a pre-Match offer or take their chances with the Match. Of course, there's no simple answer. Factors to consider include the strength of an applicant's candidacy, the quality of the program and the applicant's risk tolerance.