Match Strategy

Mark Gamber

Why did you work so hard at TCOM?

To learn enough to take the best care possible of your patients

To be able to pursue the residency of your choice in the location of your choice

Networking begins NOW!

Find residents in the fields that interest you What did they do to get there? What would they have done differently? Which programs are the strongest? Have them edit your Resume/Personal

Statement Give Jay Woody example

Dean’s Interview

Take it seriously It is practice for residency interviews Think about what you are going to say

because things may change! Give my example about FP, IM, EM

ERAS

Have Lee Tayon’s phone # handy Have your resume and personal statement

ready This is the document that your interviewers

will have on the desk as they speak to you Give my example about when I got it done

Must Read

Iserson’s “Getting into a Residency” Prepare answers to all the questions at the

back of the book-you will be asked these questions!

Find a few current articles about recent research and issues in your field

Give my examples

Boards

What should my threshold be for taking USMLE step 2?

When should I take it? Will the residency programs even get my

COMLEX or USMLE step 2 scores in time?

Elective Rotations

It does matter if you rotate there Be prepared to work hard and be judged Figure out how to make yourself stand out

– show up early/stay late– become the “rectalizer”– offer to help with research– be prepared to go out on the town

Scheduling Interviews

Most residency programs are flexible about scheduling interviews…but don’t call and change more than once or twice

Call to schedule early because the more competitive residency programs fill their interview dates

Clump out of town interviews to save $ Remove the !@#$%^& filter on your email Interview at favorite locations later

The Interview

Research the program & interviewers to develop specific questions

Attend dinner/party the night before/after Re-read all of your written answers to

Iserson’s questions the night before Practice with a friend (I am serious) Give JPS smoking example of what not to do

During/After the Interview

To close, give the interviewer an updated resume with 2x2 picture attached

Take notes on interviewer’s full name, title and interests

Write a thank you letter according to Iserson’s example

Write it ASAP, so you can include personalizing element

Thank You continued

Say that you plan to rank them “very highly” unless…– you are ranking them #1, in which case you

should say so– you are not going to rank them at all, in which

case you shouldn’t yank their chain

Keeping in Touch

Residency Coordinators can be your best friend

The evolving concept of the “2nd Look”– return and work a day– return and attend a conference or journal club– help participate with research– return for a party

Your Match List

Match according to what you dream of, not what you think you will get

Involve your family in the decision (give my example, Texas Tech example)

You can only rank programs you interviewed Do not rank programs that you would not be

happy at, it is better to scramble