Every two years the National Resident Matching Program® (NRMP) publishes a current program director (PD) survey which focuses on two main questions: 1) What factors do PDs use in deciding whom to interview? 2) What factors do PDs use in deciding whom to rank? Results of the 2014 Program Director Survey is available here.
So, as you approach interviews, if you’re wondering what PDs want, here are your answers.
I’m giving a shout out to those of you who are avoiding Internet sites with posts from medical school and residency applicants. Good for you!
Even the most competitive candidates get nervous when they see others boasting about their plethora of interview invites. Who knows if those posts are true? And even if some are, how does reading them change your strategy?
I’m recommending staying offline to keep your nerves under control.
A few people have asked me for reading material to help them before their medical school and residency interviews. For something quick but thorough, take a look at my part 1 and part 2 pieces of “How to Prepare for Your Med School Admissions Interview.”
And regarding interviews…having someone examine your head in the interview setting can actually be fun if you’ve prepared well :). Please plan your mock interview(s) with me as soon as you get your first invitation, as I’m scheduling 1-2 week in advance.
As I’ve mentioned before, the National Residency Match Program (NRMP) provides copious statistics regarding the Match. Recently, the NRMP published Results and Data: 2014 Main Residency Match, which is filled with information that can help you approach this year’s application cycle strategically. For example, the report includes a chart called, “Positions Offered and Number Filled by U.S. Seniors and All Applicants, 2010 – 2014,” which gives you a pretty clear idea of how competitive different fields are. Here is the newly published report.
Below is an excerpt of a piece I wrote on how to make the best impression during your medical school and residency interviews. Knowing the institution you’re at makes a big difference during the interview process.
When I was at Harvard, we had a residency applicant about whom I was very enthusiastic, but when we sat down to talk about the candidate’s credentials, one of my colleagues put a kibosh on the applicant’s prospects. As it turned out, the candidate had made it clear that he did not want to leave California. “If he’s not interested in us, why should we be interested in him?” my colleague asked.
Although you hope that schools will like you, keep in mind that institutions want to see that you are serious about them as well. There is a psychological principle: People tend to like those who like them. Apply this idea to schools when you interview. Be so familiar with the institution that you convey to the interviewer that you are excited and sincere about spending the next four years there. Know details about the school’s curriculum, extracurricular opportunities, location, associated hospitals, and students. Have very specific questions to ask your interviewer that demonstrate your intimate knowledge of the school and your belief that you could be a contributing member of the class.
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
