Once your ERAS has been submitted, getting into residency kicks into high gear with the interview season. Because residency admissions have become so competitive of late – especially in certain specialties – the residency interview has become critical.
Here are a few quick tips that I offer my clients:
- Your primary goal is to distinguish yourself from all of the other applicants by showcasing your accomplishments. Anyone can say s/he wants to help people or is hard working. Fewer candidates can prove it. Answer questions with specific examples of what you have done in medical school (and college) in order to demonstrate that you are distinctive. Don’t worry about repeating what is in your application. It is expected that you will flesh out your ERAS and residency personal statement during the interview.
- Make eye contact, be comfortable with pauses, speak slowly and clearly and dress professionally; you do not want to be noticed for your clothing.
- Along those same lines, pack carry-on. Don’t take the chance of losing your business clothes.
- Arrive early. Worst-case scenario you sit and relax or walk around the building. The alternative – coming late – can adversely affect your image as a responsible medical professional.
- Be polite to everyone you meet. Do not say anything negative to anyone even if you are told his or her input will not affect the application process, e.g. current residents at lunch.
One would never take the Boards without practicing first and yet, countless applicants go to interviews without preparing. Consider working with a professional: Because applicants can unknowingly undermine their chances of success with poor interview skills, 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 statements, applications and interview skills.
When choosing a residency admissions consulting company, a candidate should verify the company’s references and research its consultants. 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.
