Blog Archives

Aim for All Stuff and No Fluff

The goal of your written materials (and your interview) is to distinguish yourself from everyone else to demonstrate that you are worthy of a competitive medical school or residency slot.

Therefore, it’s critical that you avoid flowery or trite language, as using it does the opposite of making you distinctive. Recently, I read a piece by Lisa Miller called, “When Did Everything Become a ‘Journey’” about the overuse of the word. Miller cites Northern Arizona University linguistics professor Jesse Egbert who notes that “journey,” as a noun, has almost doubled in American English since 1990. 

In her piece, Miller also includes a wry quote from a Los Angeles clinical psychologist who describes the word “journey” as “eye-rollingly cheapened.” In editing personal statements, I see the word used frequently – maybe once in every four essays I revise.

Good writing takes a lot of time – brainstorming, outlining, and many drafts. Make sure your written materials are the best they can be by being diligent about your process (and by getting professional help).

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Your Residency Application: What Do Program Directors Really Want?

Imagine that you’re a program director (PD) going through scores of ERASes and interviews. What questions would you ask yourself as you assessed each residency candidate to avoid big headaches?

1) Can this person do the job? Is s/he competent?

2) Will this person “play well with others” and not create complaints from patients, faculty, or other services.

3) Will this person stick with the program and not leave prematurely? A PD does not want to scurry around to fill an open call schedule/ residency slot.

As you approach your interviews, consider how you can demonstrate your competence and collegiality, as well as your commitment to the field and the residency program. For the former, ensure you showcase academic successes, extra curricular activities that demonstrate teamwork, and – if asked – hobbies and reading materials that demonstrate your personality. For the latter, highlight research projects in the specialty, sub-internships, and knowledge about the program and city. 

Making sure the PD knows you are not going to cause him/her trouble is at least half the battle.

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Check Yourself Before you Wreck Yourself: Your Residency Application

As we approach the time to submit your rank order list, it’s imperative that you understand how to organize your list.

Don’t try to outsmart the algorithm by putting programs with more residency slots higher on your list or by prioritizing those that have given you good feedback over those that haven’t. None of those factors is relevant in creating your rank order list, and you will harm your chances if you pursue those strategies!

Your first choice should be first. Second should be second, etc.

Take a look at this under-one-minute Guru on the Go video for further clarification.

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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

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

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