General Guide to the Match

Medical School and Sub-Internships
As a third or fourth year medical student, there’s little you can do about the school you’re from, your first and second year grades, or your Step I scores. Just let ‘em go. Your focus should be two-fold: excelling during your sub-internships and working toward supportive letters of recommendation. More than one good application has been tarnished by a busy, well-known professor cut and pasting a generic letter of recommendation. When asking for letters, choose faculty who know you well and who you feel will write you a strong, personalized letter. Do not pick someone just because they’re widely known or published, or happen to be the head of your department (unless, of course, they love you!) A sincere one page letter from junior faculty, however, carries more weight than a brief, generalized paragraph from a professor emeritus.


Research
Research interest and experience are worthy additions to a strong application, but are not generally required. Some students will bring a significant research background to the table, but the majority of applicants will have just a few months in the lab and maybe one or two publications. A strong letter from a lab mentor demonstrating the ability to be productive in a lab environment helps round out an application. You should be able to discuss any project of which you were a part. Just realize that the faculty interviewer probably knows more than you do (or will direct the conversation into their area of expertise).


Application
Recognize that most programs will screen hundreds of applications for the few people they plan on inviting for an interview. As such, it is essential that your application be thoughtful, well written, and honest. Peer review prior to submission is an excellent idea, both for grammar and syntax as well as content. Personal statements are called personal for a reason. They allow the reader a glimpse into your motivations and background and help the program evaluate your potential “fit” into their residency. Take care when choosing subject matter. In the absence of a literature or creative writing background, sticking to a more traditional essay might be the best plan. “Creative” attempts can backfire (one essay submitted to us written from the perspective of a sperm comes to mind here… no joking). An intriguing personal statement can bolster a mediocre application, but FAR more important is that a peculiar essay can destroy a strong application.

Don’t be afraid to call the programs to confirm that your application was received and is complete. Inquire about interview dates for programs you are interested in so you can avoid scheduling conflicts later on.


Interview
A good interview starts with being well informed. Most programs will send out an informational packet prior to the interview date. Review this and get to know what makes the program “special.” Surf their website prior to traveling to get some extra background on the faculty and their clinical interests. While it’s essential to know the program, it is perhaps more important to know your own application. Expect that faculty will carefully review your submission and may grill you on even the most minute appearing detail. If you take credit for a publication or paper, be prepared to discuss it thoroughly; if you can’t, don’t list it. Review common interview questions in an interview preparation book like First Aid for the Match (You can also check out our article on Interview Questions at MyInterviewTrail.com). Specifically, you should have planned, and thoughtful answers to common questions like “why this specialty?” and “why our program?” They will ask you.

Many students are anxious about the interviews and are curious how to act. The answer goes back to a common theme of this discussion: finding a “match”. (Remember, a MATCH occurs between two entities!) The interview process is structured to help you find a program that suits your interests, personality, and goals, AND ALSO for the programs to do the same. Be yourself. It will only help you in the end.

A dinner the night before the interview is typical and may be held at the home of a faculty member or at a local restaurant. These are often billed as “informal” events… but don’t allow yourself to get too comfortable! A drink or two to relax is fine. Having five because you’re nervous is not. Remember, despite what anyone tells you, this “get-together” is a big part of the interview process… the evaluation may be informal but it is an evaluation nonetheless. Your academic prowess may or may not be assessed here but your social skills and “fit” with the residents and staff certainly will be. A post-dinner drink is a great opportunity to see the town and spend time with the residents in a more relaxed environment. Try not to stay out ‘til 3am. The residents may use the interview day as a day-off from their clinical responsibilities, but you need to be on your toes (and not hung-over).

For the actual interview day, business attire is critical (check out our Fashion Tips artcle). Shell out a few bucks for a new interview suit and consider throwing in a LITTLE flair to stand out in a world of black suits leather bound interview folders (just a LITTLE!) Punctuality is key. Most interviews will consist of a welcome and brief program overview given by one of the chief residents or the program director, followed by the interviews themselves, a box lunch, and a tour. Try to relax in the interview. You should know your own application backwards and forwards at this point and questions about it shouldn’t be stress-provoking. If you have previously considered answers to common interview questions, you will rarely be blind-sided. If an unexpected question arises, take a moment to consider it carefully before answering. The occasional interviewer will try to bully or intimidate you…keep your cool, smile, and be comfortable in the fact that you are well prepared. If you really get a bad vibe from the faculty, simply cross that program off of your list (don’t forget that you’re judging them too!)

Follow-up
It is important to acknowledge your interviewers via letter or email and thank them for their time. Most faculty will interview dozens of potential residents over the span of a month; a well written letter or email that reminds the interviewer of your interaction (via specific personal references) will help keep you fresh in their mind.

Ranking
The rules of the match are well beyond the scope of this article (check out The Rank List) for more info). Recognize that the matching process is weighted to benefit the students and that you should rank programs in the order you wish to match regardless of where you feel they may rank you. Once your list is in and the deadline is past, relax! Match Day and your sweet fourth year VACATION are close at hand. Check out our Top Picks for post-match Vacation Spots here.