Post by Eileen on Apr 11, 2007 16:39:49 GMT -5
Common myths/worries…things I thought or I heard someone else thought throughout the Emergency Medicine match process:
“I was a ‘second-string’ interview and/or I was waitlisted. There’s no way I’ll match there.”
Incorrect. So the invitation to interview at what ended up being my first choice program came late and offered only two dates…I matched there. The application gets you the interview. The interview gets you the job.
“They didn’t call. They don’t want me.”
Some programs just don’t call anyone. Sometimes they tell you this at the interview.
“They called. They must really want me.”
Some programs call everyone. Seriously.
“I don’t think I can match at program ‘X’, but program ‘Y’ really likes me…even though I prefer ‘X’, I’m going to rank ‘Y’ first.”
Understand the algorithm. Rank in order of genuine preference. X, then Y.
“Emergency medicine is competitive. You need to apply to 30-45 programs.”
Alright, on this one I think the number of programs you apply to and interview at depends on how competitive you are. And the only way to find that out is to give a mentor (preferably a faculty member or program director) your entire application, board scores, etc. and ask them, “How competitive am I?” If you are very competitive, applying to a ton of programs is a waste of money unless you just want to interview everywhere. Fifteen might just be enough.
“I’m getting a lot of invitations in. I’m just going to hold onto them, see how many I get, then schedule.”
Bad, bad idea. Dates fill up fast. Schedule as soon as you get it, then cancel. Schedule ones you are not as interested in at the end so you can cancel in advance. Try to cancel at least a week or two in advance.
“I didn't know what to do about Step 2. I think I screwed up.”
Ask your mentor how Step 2 should play into everything. I took it in October and decided I wasn’t going to have it on automatic send so I would have the option of what to do with it. I told programs I had taken Step 2 and passed. I didn’t think my score would hurt or help my application and I never sent it. Nobody ever asked about it. (FYI: My Step 1 score was neither a highlight nor a red flag in my application.)
“They lied to me.”
Unfortunately, this one is true. Sometimes they lie. The process gets rather political. Always remain cautiously optimistic.
“It doesn’t really matter if you go to the pre-interview social.”
Maybe it doesn’t matter. However, often faculty members will ask if you attended. One asked me who I talked to. Later, the resident I referred to told me that the faculty member asked her about me. On the other hand, for the socials I didn’t attend…when the interviewer asked me if I attended I answered, ‘no’…and felt like an idiot.
“I was a ‘second-string’ interview and/or I was waitlisted. There’s no way I’ll match there.”
Incorrect. So the invitation to interview at what ended up being my first choice program came late and offered only two dates…I matched there. The application gets you the interview. The interview gets you the job.
“They didn’t call. They don’t want me.”
Some programs just don’t call anyone. Sometimes they tell you this at the interview.
“They called. They must really want me.”
Some programs call everyone. Seriously.
“I don’t think I can match at program ‘X’, but program ‘Y’ really likes me…even though I prefer ‘X’, I’m going to rank ‘Y’ first.”
Understand the algorithm. Rank in order of genuine preference. X, then Y.
“Emergency medicine is competitive. You need to apply to 30-45 programs.”
Alright, on this one I think the number of programs you apply to and interview at depends on how competitive you are. And the only way to find that out is to give a mentor (preferably a faculty member or program director) your entire application, board scores, etc. and ask them, “How competitive am I?” If you are very competitive, applying to a ton of programs is a waste of money unless you just want to interview everywhere. Fifteen might just be enough.
“I’m getting a lot of invitations in. I’m just going to hold onto them, see how many I get, then schedule.”
Bad, bad idea. Dates fill up fast. Schedule as soon as you get it, then cancel. Schedule ones you are not as interested in at the end so you can cancel in advance. Try to cancel at least a week or two in advance.
“I didn't know what to do about Step 2. I think I screwed up.”
Ask your mentor how Step 2 should play into everything. I took it in October and decided I wasn’t going to have it on automatic send so I would have the option of what to do with it. I told programs I had taken Step 2 and passed. I didn’t think my score would hurt or help my application and I never sent it. Nobody ever asked about it. (FYI: My Step 1 score was neither a highlight nor a red flag in my application.)
“They lied to me.”
Unfortunately, this one is true. Sometimes they lie. The process gets rather political. Always remain cautiously optimistic.
“It doesn’t really matter if you go to the pre-interview social.”
Maybe it doesn’t matter. However, often faculty members will ask if you attended. One asked me who I talked to. Later, the resident I referred to told me that the faculty member asked her about me. On the other hand, for the socials I didn’t attend…when the interviewer asked me if I attended I answered, ‘no’…and felt like an idiot.