Roadmap to Residency: - AAMC

Roadmap to Residency: FromApplication to the Match and Beyonde. Attire and appearance:• Dress appropriately and professionally• Maintain a professional and politedemeanor with everyone youencounter; some programs affordthe departmental secretary a voteon the selection committee• Avoid distracting elements in yourattire, appearance, grooming,jewelry, etc.f. Rehearse, if possible:• “Try out” answers to questions withyour advisor or a trusted friend• Attend any available interviewworkshops presented at your school• Develop your interview skills,poise, and presentation withpractice.g. Expect the unexpected and potentiallydifficult questions:• Anticipate areas of concern in yourapplication (e.g., a grade, USMLEscore, or leave of absence) andprepare, in advance, an effective,nondefensive ways of addressingthem.h. Ask good, relevant, and importantquestions:• Assess the strengths and challengesof the program in relationship toyour individual professional plans• Inquire about training options,recent program successes, assessmentpolicies and practices, andplans for the future• Avoid asking faculty membersmundane questions (focusing onstipend, call schedules, leavepolicies, parking, etc.)• Focus on substantive questionsabout mutual benefits – how theapplicant and program would bothbenefit from a successful match.2. Creation of an information grid foruse in program assessmentCreate an information grid for usein program assessment and includeall factors that are crucial to yourresidency training programselection.3. Completion of the information gridfor each program visitedComplete the information gridimmediately after each visit byassessing relevant factors for thatprogram in comparison withprograms previously visited.4. Second visits• Student affairs officers and residencyprogram directors are currentlydiscussing the advisability of secondvisits to residency training programs• Program directors are consideringimplementation of a proposal fromthe student affairs community that asingle visit to a residency trainingprogram by an applicant be consideredthe standard for both the applicant’sassessment of the program and theprogram’s assessment of the applicant• Although this standard would notprohibit voluntary second visits by anapplicant for any purpose, a secondvisit would not become a requirementof the assessment process for anyresidency applicant.20Association of American Medical Colleges, 2005