Check out this featured Student Doctor Network piece by Dr. David Presser and me called Choosing a Specialty:The Generalist vs. the Early-Committer. It’s valuable for anyone in college through the third year of medical school (maybe more).
Medical School and Residency Interviews: Let Your Story Show Your Glory
With medical school and residency interview seasons approaching, it’s critical that you create a strategy to optimally manage the process. Remember that interviews are a persuasive endeavor – not simply a chance to introduce yourself. You need to use examples of your accomplishments to convince the interviewer of your worthiness.
Take a look at this short piece I wrote to get you on the right track fast.
Working for Satisfaction, $, or Both?
Here’s a thoughtful New York Times article on work satisfaction, the influence of compensation on decision-making, and human motivation that has many applications to a career in medicine.
Tags: Doctors, New York Times
Residency Match Registration Opens Soon
Here’s a quick reminder that the National Resident Matching Program’s (NRMP®’s) registration opens on September 15 at 12pm EST. This means that you can start assigning your application to training programs at that time. Getting your application in early is helpful, but having strong written materials is critical.
Tags: NRMP, Residency Application
Medical School and Residency Interviews: Illegal Questions and How to Manage Them
The interview – whether for medical school, residency, fellowship, or dental school – is subject to basic legal rules. Admissions officers/faculty members should refrain from asking questions that are not relevant to the position the interviewee is seeking. Questions about race, religion, and marital/family status fall into this category.
If you are asked these types of questions, you can simply answer – if it’s not distasteful to you – or respond by addressing the intent of the question without revealing personal information. (“I think you’re asking if my home life will affect my ability to carry out my duties. I can assure it won’t.”)
If you have the opportunity to give feedback to the institution, you can consider doing so after the interview. When I was interviewing for residency, I was asked by a faculty member if I had a boyfriend. After the interview day, I talked to a faculty mentor at my school who reported the situation to the other institution. The faculty member who asked me the illegal question was no longer permitted to interview.
Dr. Finkel is a graduate of Stanford University and Harvard Medical School. On completing her residency at Harvard, she was asked to stay on as faculty at Harvard Medical School and spent five years teaching at the world-renowned Massachusetts General Hospital. She was appointed to the Assistant Residency Director position for the Harvard Affiliated Emergency Medicine Residency where she reviewed countless applications, personal statements and resumes. Read more
Listen to Dr. Finkel’s interview on The Visible Voices podcast:
Listen to Dr. Finkel’s interview on the White Coat Investor podcast:
Listen to Dr. Finkel’s interview on the FeminEm podcast:
