Taking the Fifth

If there were one reason not to accept you, what would it be?

When a faculty member asks you this tough question in an interview, her motivation might be to determine whether there is a weakness in your application that she is missing. Or she may be assessing how you manage stressful situations by posing a question that is unpleasant.

While you need to be honest throughout the entire application process, you do not need to volunteer information that might harm you.

You can say, “While every candidacy has room to improve, I think I have a strong application." Then you can use the question as an opportunity to mention the strengths of your candidacy.

Contact me for Mock Interviews. I still have January slots open as of this writing.

David and Goliath

Here's a short, fun piece by an emergency medicine program director positing that being from a humble background might provide an advantage to those medical students and residents who choose emergency medicine.

What is a letter of intent?

A letter of intent (LOI) is a supplemental note applicants write to medical schools, residencies, and other medical programs to let faculty know of their interest in an institution and the distinctiveness of their candidacies. Letters of intent can be written early in an effort to obtain an interview, after the interview to show enthusiasm and remind the faculty of the candidate's worthiness, or after a wait list notification (for medical and dental students who don't participate in the Match).

The letter should be written in a timely fashion. In other words, there's no reason for a residency applicant to write a letter of intent in late February. The letter should avoid restating the strengths of the institution. Instead the applicant should express his/her interest and then move onto his/her strengths. An LOI should be a page or less.

For help writing a professional, expert LOI, contact me.

Dine But Don't Whine

Many residency programs and medical schools are now offering applicants an opportunity to get to know their institutions through social events before the interview day - dinners or optional happy hours, for example. While I would recommend attending these events to score social points and familiarize yourself with the programs, please do remember that what you say can be repeated. Be discrete about your plans and preferences.

Take a look at this quick Guru on the Go® video for more information.

"All-In" Policy

I recently received an email from an applicant who was offered a slot outside the Match. Although there are situations in which this type of overture is legitimate, please make sure you understand the NRMP's All-In Policy to ensure that any offers you receive are valid.