Advising Students Applying to Family Medicine

Carefully balancing realism and optimism.

Background It’s getting more competitive. Student feedback indicates they want realistic

advice that also does not dash their hopes for greatness.

Gone are the days that everyone matched their top choice.

Now for some data

Programs are smarter about filling

Spots available to scramble are decreasing

We don’t want our students to look like this on Match Day

And we’d like to avoid this:

Ambivalent Students

Family Medicine

Other Specialty

Pros

Cons

Assessing and Impressing Things to Assess

Your competitiveness What you want from a residency Individual residency programs How many programs to apply to Good fit after interviews

Ways to Impress CV Personal Statement LOR Interviews

Your Competiveness Use this to get a realistic idea of how

programs will view you. Helps guide how many programs you will

apply to. IS NOT MEANT TO MAKE YOU FEEL BAD! Develop an action plan for any concerns – you

will be asked about it. Also find areas to highlight.

What you want from residency Can start with a general list of what is

important to other students but important to personalize.

Do you want any special kind of training (C/S, sports med, maybe considering a fellowship)?

Use this to identify programs that may be a good fit for you.

Individual Programs FREIDA AAFP WWAMI Footprint Tracker Prior match rates Inside scoop via UW grads Current residents at individual program

websites

Number of Programs Depends on relative competitiveness of you vs. programs Work backwards and account for attrition. In 2009

students that ranked >12 programs had a 100% match rate, students that ranked >10 had a 99% match rate.

You can always add more programs a few weeks after you initially apply

Stretch – Likely – Slam-dunk The more the better (but don’t take out a separate loan

to cover application costs, this means you are overdoing it)

For students that are hesitant about number – remember this is a job interview, many people would be ecstatic if they knew 15 interviews would likely land them a job.

CV Everyone looks different. Include memberships in organizations (AAFP,

FMIG, etc) DO NOT LIE! Explicitly state leadership roles in ERAS

comments. Bring a copy with you on interview day. Only include something from high school if it

was amazing, it is ok to include pertinent activities from college or before med school that required a significant and longitudinal commitment.

Letters of Recommendation Ask early and be clear. Someone who knows you clinically and thinks

you did a good job. Specific to family medicine. Send your CV, personal statement, photo to

writer. These letters are VERY IMPORTANT!

Personal Statement Tell a story. Find a theme and link experiences to it. Highlight your strengths and what you are

looking for in a program. Give yourself lots of time. EDIT and REVIEW – you get points off if you

use the wrong “their/there” Limit to one page, 12 point, single spaced. MOST IMPORTANT FOR LANDING INTERVIEWS!

Interview Logistics Most programs offer rolling interviews. Over 50% of programs offer MORE THAN 50% of their

interview slots between 9/1 and 11/1. Have a rough idea of what order and what

weeks/months you will interview. Promptly respond to interview offers.

Be nice to program coordinators. Ordering – consider putting your top choices in the

middle. Dress for success. Coordinate travel – go to social events, check out HOST

program If you need to cancel, call right away and speak to a

person.

Preparing yourself to interview Know yourself

Practice statements to address weaknesses Develop a Top 5 list

Prepare for common questions including – what questions do you have for me?

Prepare a two-minute drill. Brief review of background, education, medical

school, why you are interested in the program. Practice with a mock interview.

Preparing for individual programs General Attributes

Volume, diversity of patients Learning environment – supportive and collegial Size of clinic/hospital, type of program Graduate success Good fit for your training goals Community factors

Specific Program Attributes Research the program, specific tracks, opportunities Research faculty/residents

Prepare list of questions, different for type of interviewer

Don’t ask salary, benefits, vacation, leave.

The interview day THE ENTIRE EXPERIENCE IS THE INTERVIEW. Go to pre or post interview events. Be on time. Be ready to answer open ended questions and

to ask questions. Be ready to answer the same question 5 times. Take a break if you need it to keep your

energy up. Accept invitations for future contact. Interactions with faculty and residents are

most important in rank list of programs.

Interview Follow Up Reflect on your interview – write down

thoughts and impressions as soon as possible. Combine an analytical and instinctual

approach for assessing good fit of the program.

Send thank you cards. Consider a second look. Do not send e-mails that ask 10 questions

that each require a 1 page response.

Dates to Remember September 1st – be ready to apply to programs November 1st –Dean’s letter ready November-January – Interviews February – Rank List In March – Match Day

Other resources AAFP Strolling Through the Match

http://www.aafp.org/online/etc/medialib/fmig/documents/clinical/matchbook.Par.0001.File.dat/Strolling10Book.pdf

STFM Article We will need help with mock interviews in the

fall, I know you are all excited.

Questions?