Please check out my recent Student Doctor Network piece to help you avoid big admissions bloopers.
Choosing your Medical Specialty
The medical education system is really quite twisted: We spend a mere 2-12 weeks exposed to a specialty and then must make a quick decision as to whether we want to spend the rest of our careers in it.
A few recommendations:
1) Understand that what you are seeing in your rotation may not jive with what you would really be doing on a day-to-day basis after training. For example, most internists don’t spend the majority of their days in the hospital, although you will likely do that on your internal medicine rotation.
2) Ask attendings what they do and don’t like about their fields. Make sure you could stomach the worst parts.
3) Consider whether you like the operating room or not.
4) Shadow a few attendings outside of rotations.
5) Study statistics on physician burnout by field.
6) Finally, do some soul searching, and don’t be afraid to be honest with yourself about your likes and dislikes. It’s okay to admit you want a reasonable lifestyle or a salary that could support a large family. Considering those “ugly” issues now may help you avoid a lot of pain later.
Medical School Wait List Advice
Waitlisted for medical school? What can you do?
First, remember that the number of medical school applicants has been increasing yearly, so don’t feel insecure. Medical school admissions have become increasingly competitive, and being on the wait list is better than being rejected, despite the anxiety you feel.
Here are a few things you can do:
1. Send a letter of intent. Let the school know of your continued interest and any new accomplishments. Ensure the letter is well written and brief. In the letter, don’t make the mistake of dwelling on the school’s strengths when you should be highlighting yours.
2. Ask the school if you can set up a second look: Show them you are serious, and provide yourself with more data if you are later offered a spot.
3. Don’t neglect other options or opportunities, focusing all of your attention on this institution to the exclusion of others.
4. Plan for last minute notice. I’ve heard of acceptances being offered to applicants off the wait list the day before medical school was to begin!
Above all, try to keep your chin up despite the expected stress.
ECFMG Data
First of all, congratulations to all residency applicants who matched on March 21! I appreciated the good news from clients. Please take some time to enjoy yourselves before the hard work of residency begins.
The Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) and the National Residency Match Program (NRMP) recently partnered to publish some really important data for International Medical Graduates (IMGs) called “Charting Outcomes in the Match for International Medical Graduates.” Previously, “Charting Outcomes in the Match” was available, but it left IMGs trying to interpret the Independent Applicant data. This document is far clearer. It can be found here.
Tags: Ecfmg, Img, National Residency Match Program
Medical School Personal Statement
As I mentioned in my penultimate (I love that word) blog entry, it’s time to get started on your medical school personal statement. We’ve talked about distinguishing yourself with your accomplishments. Now, let’s start at the top and briefly consider the intro.
Catching the reader’s attention is a way to make an excellent first impression and increase the odds that your essay will be read – not skimmed. Consider a topic that is distinctive to you that also demonstrates traits, talents, and/or perspective that other applicants might not have. I’ve read excellent essays that start with a description of applicants’ unique hobbies, international experiences, performances, and sports events. Note that these may seem to have nothing to do with medicine at first blush. However, once they are conveyed for a few sentences (not more!), the skilled writer can link the introductory stories to traits, talents, and/or perspective that make the writer a good match for medical school.
Tags: Medical School, Personal Statement
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:
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