Getting into Residency? Here are some of my tips on how to successfully match!

Residency Statistics: Residency is very difficult and stressful time for all applicants and candidates. The book that was VERY helpful to me was the: The Successful Match 2017 by Anjana Katta, MD and Samir P Desai, MD. 

To give you my background story:

I applied to Internal Medicine PGY-1 (stands for Post-Graduate Year 1) which is intern year. I applied to categorical programs, since I want to specialize in Internal Medicine. Internal Medicine residency is 3 years. As the years pass, each of the number behind PGY change. Starting second year, I will be called a "resident"... junior resident in PGY-2 year and senior in PGY-3 year. Just to give you a run-down of the number of programs I applied and the response:

  • Applied: 147 
  • Withdrew: 1 
  • Rejected: 23 
  • Invited: 20 (Scheduled: 20, Waitlisted: 1 - but ended up scheduling eventually, Declined: 0) 
This is a usual run-down for an average applicant (average scores and average CV). I applied to programs which had a pre-match position (meaning they do not participate in NRMP also known as early match according to NRMP); however, I stayed in the match process (although, it is much harder) to try to get the best program for me. Three of the interviews I had were pre-match positions, so when I ranked programs, I ranked 17. To learn more about the algorithm, visit NRMP. Nonetheless, I would say that this experience was worth it, and you can do it, too! Let me know if you have any questions! 

In order to match, I tried to make myself a competitive applicant. I ended up going back to school after graduating medical school. I also took Step 3 during my year off. In addition, I started working at an Urgent Care facility (to keep up with my clinical skills). 

When applying, I created an excel sheet that had the following information: the program, the NRMP number (which will help you when you rank programs) name and contact information of the PD, name and contact information of the residency program coordinator/secretary, as well as the program address, more statistics: such as average step scores, pre-match/match status, if they sent an interview invitation or rejection, etc. I suggest you do the same for each speciality you are applying to.

Use the ERAS tools (i.e. residency tool and others) and AMA tools (i.e. FREIDA and others). 

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