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Blog Archives
Don’t Let ERAS Kick Y’ERAS
Just a reminder to residency applicants: MyERAS is open and available for you. Even if you aren’t ready to start working on your application (and if you know what field you are applying in, there’s no reason that you can’t be ready right now), I’d recommend registering and taking a look at what will be required of you on the ERAS. Many applicants have never seen an ERAS and don’t know much about what extras are required (like “other awards” and additional unexpected sections).
Don’t be surprised by what’s required of you later in the season… You really cannot start too soon.
Paralympic-Medalist Physician Asks to be Recognized for her Tremendous Abilities, Not her Wheelchair
Check out this well-written New York Times piece by Dr. Cheri Blauwet, an American wheelchair racer (Paralympic and Olympic medal winner) and physician in PM&R. I’m sure Dr. Blauwet’s assertions are true about bias among patients, colleagues, and admissions officers: In my career, I’ve met very few doctor colleagues with overt physical disabilities.
Tags: Medical School, New York Times, PM&R, residency
No One Wants to be your Second Choice for High School Prom Date
Imagine you’re back in high school, planning to ask out a fellow classmate to the prom. You approach your potential date, “Would you be interested in going with me to the dance? You’re my second or third choice.”
Not very compelling…The same is true for letters of intent: I’ve had several applicants ask me if it’s okay to say that an institution is their “second or third choice” or “one of my top” picks.
That does not sound very flattering. Instead you can say something like “I would be thrilled to be at your institution,” or ” I’m confident I can make a positive contribution.” In other words, you don’t need to lie (which I never recommend); but you don’t have to shoot yourself in the foot either.
I do edit letters of intent and have been busy with them this season. Let me know if you need assistance.
Tags: Letter Of Intent, Loi, residency
Residency Applicants, Thinking about How to Create your Rank Order List? Check out this easy advice.
For those of you who are starting to think about your Match rank order list, please make sure you follow this (simple) strategy: Rank your first choice first, your second second, etc. The Match algorithm is mathematically quite complicated, but because the process always begins with an attempt to match an applicant to the program most preferred on the applicant’s rank list, you do not want to try to “game” the system.
For example, I’ve had applicants tell me that they plan to rank a less preferred institution higher because that program has more residency slots. That’s a no-no. The applicant will actually be harming him/herself with that strategy.
Here’s a video the NRMP created this year to better explain the Match algorithm. Here’s also a less-than-one-minute Guru on the Go© video “NRMP Ranking to Avoid a Spanking” to emphasize your optimal ranking strategy.
Tags: NRMP Match, Rank Order, residency
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
