Post by Eileen on Apr 11, 2007 16:15:28 GMT -5
Advice: How competitive you are, what you want to do, where you want to go, etc. can really vary (and change). Therefore, my most important advice is #1 The mentors. However, I have also listed a few items I feel would apply to everyone going for Emergency Medicine:
1. The mentors. Very, very important. Have several. Find a doctor who is your role model (i.e. they are doing what you want to be doing in 10-20 years). Get to know them well. Ask them how they did it. Get a letter of recommendation from them. Have residents as mentors—the match is fresh in their mind. I had seven mentors. I found one of them by a Google search on the internet. Seriously.
2. The away EM rotation. An enlightening experience and a potential excellent source for a letter of recommendation. **Do an away rotation at the program you expect to be your first choice (if your first choice isn’t home program).** Not only so they “get to know you”, but also to make sure it is your first choice. Boy am I glad I did this step (actually did it twice).
3. The letters of recommendation. Get most from EM docs. You’ll want four—so try to get three from EM docs. You can ask for multiple recs and send different ones to different programs. If programs in your top choices are familiar with the physicians who wrote your recs, it may help greatly.
4. The specialty. So what are you going to add to the field of emergency medicine? Know the history of what you are getting into. Explore the web pages. Browse forums but beware information could be inaccurate or misrepresented. Know current hot topics. Read blogs of Emergency Physicians—some are more inspiring, some depressing, but they all offer insight. Here are some links:
www.emra.org
www.saem.org
www.acep.org
forums.studentdoctor.net/forumdisplay.php?f=43
www.scutwork.com
www.fingersandtubesineveryorifice.blogspot.com
hallwayfour.wordpress.com
emergmeddoc.com
NOTE: Some program directors read forums. Conceal your identity or don't say anything you wouldn't say to everyone.
5. The enthusiasm. If you are enthusiastic (on a rotation, interview, etc.), you may be surprised how much that helps matters.
6. The interviews. Be enthusiastic. Be honest. Never bad mouth anyone or any program. Emergency medicine is relatively small and tight—people know each other across the country.
7. The pre-interview social. If you are really interested in the program, you better go. Period.
8. The second look. Go back after your interview and spend some time in the emergency department of programs you are really interested in if you would like a closer look or want to talk to more people there. Don’t be waiting for an invitation to come back—if you want it, go get it. A second look is an excellent opportunity to make sure it is what you want.
9. The #1 choice. Tell your top choice “You are my #1 choice”, before rank lists are due. (The rules are that they can’t ask, but you can freely offer the information.) Send a letter, e-mail, or call. This may have no effect, or it could help. Don’t tell a program they are ranked #1 if they are not (contrary to some advice you may hear…) Remember EM academic community is small.
10. The timeline. Very tricky. This needs to be thought out yesterday. When to sign up for an away rotation…when to ask for letters of recommendation…when to take step 2…when to schedule interviews…when to tell your top choice where they stand – my advice for this, because answers may vary depending on your particular situation, consult the most important thing: THE MENTORS. Mentors have different strengths, that is why you need several. If one doesn’t know, ask another one. You need to have somebody to ask your questions to. Don’t ask other clueless people, and don’t guess.
So that is some of my advice. And if you find any of this helpful, consider those following right behind you and offer your advice as well. Congratulations, enjoy, and good luck!
1. The mentors. Very, very important. Have several. Find a doctor who is your role model (i.e. they are doing what you want to be doing in 10-20 years). Get to know them well. Ask them how they did it. Get a letter of recommendation from them. Have residents as mentors—the match is fresh in their mind. I had seven mentors. I found one of them by a Google search on the internet. Seriously.
2. The away EM rotation. An enlightening experience and a potential excellent source for a letter of recommendation. **Do an away rotation at the program you expect to be your first choice (if your first choice isn’t home program).** Not only so they “get to know you”, but also to make sure it is your first choice. Boy am I glad I did this step (actually did it twice).
3. The letters of recommendation. Get most from EM docs. You’ll want four—so try to get three from EM docs. You can ask for multiple recs and send different ones to different programs. If programs in your top choices are familiar with the physicians who wrote your recs, it may help greatly.
4. The specialty. So what are you going to add to the field of emergency medicine? Know the history of what you are getting into. Explore the web pages. Browse forums but beware information could be inaccurate or misrepresented. Know current hot topics. Read blogs of Emergency Physicians—some are more inspiring, some depressing, but they all offer insight. Here are some links:
www.emra.org
www.saem.org
www.acep.org
forums.studentdoctor.net/forumdisplay.php?f=43
www.scutwork.com
www.fingersandtubesineveryorifice.blogspot.com
hallwayfour.wordpress.com
emergmeddoc.com
NOTE: Some program directors read forums. Conceal your identity or don't say anything you wouldn't say to everyone.
5. The enthusiasm. If you are enthusiastic (on a rotation, interview, etc.), you may be surprised how much that helps matters.
6. The interviews. Be enthusiastic. Be honest. Never bad mouth anyone or any program. Emergency medicine is relatively small and tight—people know each other across the country.
7. The pre-interview social. If you are really interested in the program, you better go. Period.
8. The second look. Go back after your interview and spend some time in the emergency department of programs you are really interested in if you would like a closer look or want to talk to more people there. Don’t be waiting for an invitation to come back—if you want it, go get it. A second look is an excellent opportunity to make sure it is what you want.
9. The #1 choice. Tell your top choice “You are my #1 choice”, before rank lists are due. (The rules are that they can’t ask, but you can freely offer the information.) Send a letter, e-mail, or call. This may have no effect, or it could help. Don’t tell a program they are ranked #1 if they are not (contrary to some advice you may hear…) Remember EM academic community is small.
10. The timeline. Very tricky. This needs to be thought out yesterday. When to sign up for an away rotation…when to ask for letters of recommendation…when to take step 2…when to schedule interviews…when to tell your top choice where they stand – my advice for this, because answers may vary depending on your particular situation, consult the most important thing: THE MENTORS. Mentors have different strengths, that is why you need several. If one doesn’t know, ask another one. You need to have somebody to ask your questions to. Don’t ask other clueless people, and don’t guess.
So that is some of my advice. And if you find any of this helpful, consider those following right behind you and offer your advice as well. Congratulations, enjoy, and good luck!