Home › Posts tagged Residency Applicants › Page 4
Blog Archives

Residency Applicants: The Big Day is Approaching

Posted on by by

Here’s a condensed version of this week’s Match schedule from the NRMP website:

Today

11 am EST: Applicants learn if they matched via email and the R3® system. SOAP-eligible unmatched and partially matched applicants have access to the List of Unfilled Programs in the R3 system.

2 pm EST: SOAP applicants can start preparing and sending applications in the AAMC ERAS® system. Applicants cannot communicate with a program until contacted by that program.

Wednesday

SOAP Round 1

12 pm EST: SOAP Applicants begin receiving offers by logging in to the R3 system. Applicants accept or reject offer(s) once all offers have been generated.

2 pm EST: SOAP Applicant deadline to accept or reject Round 1 offers in R3 system.

2:05 pm EST: List of Unfilled Programs updated in R3 system for SOAP-eligible applicants.

SOAP Round 2

3 pm EST: SOAP Applicants begin receiving offers in the R3 system.

5 pm EST: SOAP Applicant deadline to accept or reject Round 2 offers.

5:05 pm EST: List of Unfilled Programs updated in R3 system for SOAP-eligible applicants.

Thursday

SOAP Round 3

9 am EST: Applicants begin receiving offers in the R3 system.

11 am EST: Applicant deadline to accept or reject Round 3 offers.

SOAP ends

12 pm EST: List of Unfilled Programs accessible from R3 system and updated to include unfilled programs not participating in SOAP. All applicants who are unmatched or partially matched have access to List of Unfilled Programs. Programs not participating in SOAP can be contacted by unmatched or partially-matched applicants, including applicants who were not SOAP-eligible.

Friday – Match Day

1 pm EST: Applicants learn the location of program(s) to which they matched via email and in the R3 system.

Tags: , ,

An Offer You Can’t Refuse

Posted on by by

I speak to a few lucky medical school and residency applicants who are asked to write their own letters of recommendation. If you have this opportunity, first, realize that it is not unethical to write your own letter if you’re asked. If you’d like to explore the scruples of this issue, take a look at this New York Times ethicist column about this exact topic.

The mistake I see candidates make in these situations is that they feel awkward about showcasing their accomplishments fully in their letters. If you have this opportunity, write a glowing letter. Be effusive and full-throated in your compliments to yourself. After all, the letter writer can always tone it down if s/he doesn’t agree. But if s/he does, you have bolstered your candidacy tremendously.

Tags: , , ,

Breaking Up is Hard to Do

Posted on by by

I found this article to be a sensitively-written piece by Dr. Thomas Cook, an emergency medicine program director. We spend so much effort trying to match into a good residency that we sometimes forget to consider the personal toll training takes.

Tags: ,

NRMP® Data Suggests Residency Applicants Should Apply Broadly

Posted on by by

In their publication Impact of Length of Rank Order List on Main Residency Match Outcome:2002-2015, the NRMP reports that matched applicants consistently have longer rank order lists than unmatched applicants.

What that means to those approaching the residency application process is that candidates should throw a wide net in choosing programs at which to apply. Of course, there is a cost to this strategy, and that expense needs to be balanced. However, if you can afford it, starting out with more options usually will provide more opportunities to interview and thus, the ability to create a longer rank order list.

Tags: , ,

Step 2 CS

Posted on by by

For residency applicants, there is an updated version of the Step 2 Clinical Skills (CS) Content Description and General Information booklet now available. As many candidates know, because the test is not a familiarly-formatted multiple choice examination, Step 2 CS requires careful preparation. The test is made up of 12 patient encounters and lasts about 8 hours.

Tags: ,

About Dr. Michelle Finkel

Dr. Michelle Finkel

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

Receive FREE Insider Medical Admissions Tips.

Sign Up

Listen to Dr. Finkel’s interview on the White Coat Investor podcast:

Listen to Dr. Finkel’s interview on the FeminEm podcast: