For “Junior” Medical Students: What You Can Do Now to Improve Your Chances of Matching
Matching to a residency program through the NRMP® (National Resident Matching Program) is a competitive endeavor. Even strong candidates – especially IMGs (international medical graduates) – can have difficulty getting PGY-1 (post graduate year one) positions in many specialties. Those that do match may not get their first or second choices, leaving them in suboptimal locations or programs.
What can you do early in your medical school career to improve your chances of matching well? First, it’s important to show early and strong commitment to your chosen specialty. The NRMP surveyed Residency Directors in 2008, asking them which factors they use in selecting applicants to interview. Sixty-six percent of respondents listed “perceived commitment to the specialty” as a factor. Commitment can be demonstrated easily through membership in a medical school’s specialty interest group. If no club exists, a candidate can start one, demonstrating dedication to the field and leadership. Another almost effortless way to demonstrate commitment is to become a member in a specialty’s national organization.
More important, however, is demonstrating real commitment through accomplishments. These may include research, international work and community service in the field, and honors in multiple rotations in the specialty. It’s difficult to find the time for these activities during medical school. But as can be seen from the NRMP Residency Director survey, they are critical.
To improve your residency candidacy fully, consider working with a professional when it’s time to apply. Because applicants can unknowingly undermine their chances of success with poorly compiled application materials and underdeveloped residency personal statements, a qualified, personalized residency admissions consultant provides a great advantage.
Residency consulting companies come in a variety of forms. Some are bigger businesses that focus on admissions to several types of graduate programs – not just medicine. Others are smaller and provide a medical focus, but have a pool of consultants of varying quality. Finally, elite companies offer both the medical focus and a highly experienced consultant who works one-on-one with clients. These professionals are ex-admissions officers from highly respected medical institutions. They have the inside knowledge of how residency admissions work, providing individualized guidance to optimize applicants’ personal essays, ERAS® and interview skills.
When choosing a residency admissions consulting company, a candidate should verify the company’s references and research its consultants. It is best if the company does not assign written materials to outside editors who cannot be evaluated. Elite companies that offer both the medical focus and a highly experienced consultant who works one-on-one with clients offer a large advantage for applicants, especially during these competitive times.
