Best Nursing Schools

What does it take to match into the specialty and program of your choice? This question is hotly debated and surveys of medical students and program directors find sharp divisions on the topic. In a recent survey of students, the authors concluded that "there are significant differences between program directors' and medical students' perceptions of which factors are important in the residency selection process" (Brandenburg 2005). In advising students over the years, we have come to realize that misperceptions abound, with students frequently overestimating or underestimating certain residency selection criteria. These misperceptions may result in a failure to match or lead to a match with a less desirable residency program. From our own experiences as students, and in the process of counseling students, we know how difficult, anxiety-provoking, and mysterious the residency selection process is. In this book, we answer the question of what it takes to match successfully. We provide specific evidence-based advice to maximize your chances of a successful match. Who actually chooses the residents? We review the data on the decision makers. What do these decision makers care about? We review the data on the criteria that matter to them. How can you convince them that you would be the right resident for their program? We provide concrete, practical recommendations based on this data. At every step of the process, our recommendations are meant to maximize the impact of your application. Utilizing a unique combination of evidence-based advice and an insiders' perspective, this book will help you achieve your ultimate goal: The Successful Match.

Amazon Sales Rank: #17680 in Books Published on: 2009-01-15 Original language: English Number of items: 1 Dimensions: 1.05 pounds Binding: Paperback 405 pages

From the Publisher In the 2007 Match, over 40% of U.S. senior applicants failed to match with the residency program of their choice. In competitive fields such as dermatology, ophthalmology, plastic surgery, and urology, over 30% of U.S. senior applicants failed to match at all. The numbers are significantly worse for osteopathic and international medical graduates. In fact, in the 2008 Match, over 5,000 international medical graduates failed to match. Regardless of your chosen specialty, the key to a successful match hinges on the development of a well thought out strategy. This book will show you how to develop the optimal strategy for success. Learn how you can upgrade your credentials, write high-impact personal statements, solicit strong letters of recommendation, shine during interviews, and much more. This book is an invaluable resource to help you gain that extra edge. Inside, find the answers to the following questions - * Who are the decision-makers and what do they care about? Chapter 2 summarizes the data, specific to each field, on the relative importance of USMLE scores, AOA status, number of honors grades, research experience, and other criteria. * One study of recommendation letters found that key information, such as interpersonal communication skills and cognitive knowledge, was often lacking. What can you do to help your letter writers write the best possible letter? * A survey of program directors was performed to determine the most important aspects of a personal statement. What were the three most important? * In one study, 1/3 of applicants were actually ranked lower following the interview. Another study found that 14% of interviews resulted in unranked applicants. What can you do to avoid common interview pitfalls? * Do you know your competition? NRMP data from 2007 indicate that in competitive fields such as dermatology, orthopedic surgery, ENT, and radiation oncology, over 90% of applicants had participated in research. * Should you do an audition elective? How important is it? How can you excel during the elective? * What are the three most important criteria used to select IMG applicants? What are the least important? In one study, 93% of decision-makers felt that letters of recommendation from non-U.S. faculty were worthless. Featuring discussion of these issues and more, this book will provide you with specific, concrete recommendations that will maximize your chances of achieving the ultimate goal: that of a successful match. About the Author Samir Desai, M.D., has advised and mentored many medical student and international medical graduate applicants during his time as a faculty member in the Department of Medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine. He is the co-author of the popular Success on the Wards: 250 Rules for Clerkship Success, a book that shows students how to excel during the third year of medical school. He is also the author of the best-selling Clinician's Guide to Laboratory Medicine: Pocket. Widely used by students and residents, this book provides a unique step-by-step approach to lab test interpretation while fitting easily in a coat pocket. At the websites - TheSuccessfulMatch.com and ImgAssist.com - he provides consulting services to applicants seeking residency positions in the United States. Together with Dr. Rajani Katta, he writes a regular column for studentdoctor.net called The Successful Match. Rajani Katta, M.D., is an associate professor in the department of dermatology at the Baylor College of Medicine. She has authored over 30 articles published in scientific journals, and lectured extensively both nationally and locally on dermatology and contact dermatitis. She is the co-author of the popular Success on the Wards: 250 Rules for Clerkship Success, a book that shows students how to excel during the third year of medical school. Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. Before the interview (Chapter 12) An invitation to interview is a significant honor. During the screening process, the residency program has worked hard to whittle down a large applicant pool into an elite group. Contrary to commonly held belief, the purpose of the interview is not to determine if you have the qualifications needed to be a resident at their institution. By granting you an interview, the program has already made that determination. Rather, the purpose of the interview is to assess fit. Are you the right fit for the program? Is the program the right fit for you? Unfortunately, or fortunately, you work has just increased exponentially. Although the CV, personal statement, letters of recommendation, and other aspects of the application are all of great importance, there is no disputing the fact that the interview is possibly the most critical step of the residency application process. While the other elements of the application will help you get an interview, your interview performance will strongly influence your ranking. Surveys of program directors have shown that success in the interview is critical towards securing a position in the residency program. Unfortunately, many otherwise qualified applicants lose any chance of matching into the residency program of their choice because of a poor interview. In a study of internal medicine residency applicants, 1/3 of applicants were ranked less favorably following an interview (Gong). In a study of emergency medicine residency programs, with data obtained from 3800 individual interviews, a total of 14% of interviews resulted in unranked applicants (Martin-Lee). The conclusion here is that the interview has the potential to destroy your chances. Preparation is critical. A successful interview is one that moves you higher on the program's rank list. Successful interviewing requires a considerable amount of preparation. You need to know what to research before the interview, what to wear, what to say, how to conduct yourself, and what to do after the interview. In this chapter, we outline the steps to ensure that every one of your interviews will be a success.

Most helpful customer reviews 11 of 11 people found the following review helpful. Best book for Residency applicants By A. Mallik "The Successful Match: 200 Rules to Succeed in the Residency Match" - the title of the book describes it very well. This is a results-oriented, thorough, and complete guide. Remarkably, it is also engaging, step by step and easy to follow. The authors have made a great effort to organize the book with the time-pressured, busy residency applicant in mind. One of the biggest challenges that residency applicants face is the confusing array of contradictory information from different sources. In this book, the authors do a wonderful job of addressing many myths and rumors that exist out there. They don't merely provide their opinions, but instead provide hard data -- the results of surveys and studies, as well as direct quotes from important decision makers such as residency program directors. Their painstaking research equips the applicant with the knowledge and insight to navigate this challenging process by helping them understand what programs are really looking for. The authors recognize that `one size fits all' often does not work for residency applications - e.g. something that makes sense for one specialty may be inappropriate for another. I found the layout of The Successful Match more friendly and effective than other reference books. After reading the relevant section of "The Successful Match", I was equipped to deal with that aspect of the residency application process, since the authors provide very useful checklists, tips, and clear guidelines. The section on International Medical Graduates (IMGs) is the best guide out there, and meets a very important need. This book is a must-read, especially for all IMG applicants! 7 of 7 people found the following review helpful. Must Have Book By Med Student This book is a MUST HAVE for any medical student planning to participate in the Match. Prior to reading the book, I quickly gleaned through Iserson's Getting into Residency, which pales in comparison to The Successful Match. The depth of information provided in this book for each step of the application process is astounding. It is well- researched and provides insightful perspectives into each specialty. The tips provided on selecting an advisor to dealing with a conversational interview will be especially helpful. I especially liked the information provided for writing the personal statement, CV, and ERAS. Learning how program directors view the details provided to them in these documents challenged me to present my professional background effectively. Being educated about the Match through this book has reduced my anxiety and I am certain it would do the same for anyone who avails the use of this book. Best of luck in the upcoming Match. 6 of 7 people found the following review helpful. The Successful Match - A Must-Have By Ambarish Bhat I have looked into many books that intend to help applicants match successfully, however, The Successful Match alone provides everything you need to know. Not only does it give you a foundation of knowledge necessary to advance through the application process, but also an inside scoop into the minds of those decision makers that comprise the admission committee. It taught me how to see myself as a residency applicant, not from an applicant's point of view, but strategically from that of a program director's perspective. I could trust the authors' statements because they were fully supported by evidence and I retained the information presented by the authors as they kept me engaged with "Did you know's", "Tips", "Rules", and Q&A formats. In conclusion, I recommend all residency applicants look into The Successful Match. It is a must-have. See all 26 customer reviews...