How to get more residency interviews

 
Gearing up for your next match?? Stay focused. Let me share a few essential things to remember on your way to match.
USMLE scores are certainly important, but you can’t change your scores. So if the scores are not in favor of you… move on. Try to get something else that can help you get this beast won!

Rotations
You need to focus on rotations! Doesn’t matter hands-on or tele. Doing telerotation won’t suffice. Move out and explore. Do your part. Get your night oil burning. Follow your passion. Be accountable, support, serve your community, help the needy. This will keep your flame burning. 

Letters Of Recommendation
Vital part of your journey. Your LORs will let PDs know about how good or bad as an individual you are(primarily good- no one writes bad about you. Else, it is not a recommendation). LORs will portray the real you. They should be personalized with your qualities. A generic letter is equivalent to NONE. Be professional while requesting the LOR from your attending. You need to EARN the letter. Doing a rotation will not fetch you a letter; you need to make such an impression that the letter writer should feel proud to advocate for you. In case your attending may want to talk to your favorite program, therefore make sure you have done your job well.  
 
Resume/ CV / ERAS application
Now, the Resume/ CV / ERAS application reflects what YOU ARE Professionally. While writing a CV, don’t repeat what you wrote as previous experience. Make it intriguing.  You should read your CV at least 50 times before hitting the submit button. Avoid grammatical mistakes. You are Doctors! Use Grammarly. Take a month trial to understand what and how you can benefit from Grammarly. The program director should be able to grasp what he/she is expecting from his/her resident in your CV. Mention your hard work, accountability, persistence, and teamwork, in your CV. Demonstrate if you have got any experience with residency programs, if you are an expert in the outpatient clinics, ECGs, ECHOs. You need to point out everything throughout your CV. DO NOT REPEAT. Substantiate your work there. Add your research and publications. Exemplify how much you care for the community by your volunteering efforts. For an IMG with Old YOG, show how up to date you are. I did all BLS, ACLS, and PALS certifications. Many will say it is not mandatory. Your program will take care of that once you get in. That is there but OLD YOG is a red flag and you need to convince them that you are up to date on your certifications. 
 
Personal Statement
Your PERSONAL STATEMENT is equally critical. This is where program directors see the PERSONAL YOU. If you are an IMG, I am sure that you undermine your clinical experience and your positive points. Please don’t do that. I am here in the US for almost 7-8 years. I have experience here of teaching to non-medical students. From my experience, I see students here boast on their little qualities. They would exaggerate even if it is not significant-quality, simple, eg. - if Someone has called to any friend/ office/ anywhere maybe 4-5 times and did not get the reply or return call, he or she would say, “OMG, I called you million times… looks like you guys are working hard, I couldn’t get any answer.. Are you guys doing ok?” So it is like showing off that you called them many times but at the same time, not getting upset on it and asking if they are OK, displays their concern! So, the point is, it would be best if you show off your assets, struggles, compromise, hard work, but without being desperate about it! Tell them what you learned from your experience! Own your mistakes and show what you have learnt from those that changed you. If you are an old graduate, you are not the same as you were 10 years back. You are more mature, the adjustable person who modified yourself into the current situation and surroundings. So for personal statements, avoid saying what is there in your CV. PDs read your CV. They know what rotation you did, what you learned, and etc. They want to see if you are the person who would support other co-residents during their weakest moment, whether you can lead, whether you can communicate with relatives and show empathy when their patient passed away, if you can keep calm with patients or your attending, even while your senior resident who might be 10 years younger than you may get mad and yelled at you.  You want to show your qualities and PERSONAL YOU in your PROFESSIONAL YOU. This part is critical. Write down your good moments, bad moments, if someone appreciates you or gets mad at you. What was the thing that touched your heart so much or influenced your perspective. Not everything gets a chance to come in your personal statement. Something fundamental in your life, anyone who affected you so dramatically to make you what you are right now. This is what comes in the personal statement. Copying the personal statement of anyone else is not justified. No two persons are identical, even twins. You cannot put points from other people into your statement. You are you. Remember, at the end, when you read your PS or anyone close in your family or friends, maybe your brother/ sister/ partner/ friend/ parent should say that -  “YES, Dear, this is you. I see you in this statement.” Once you receive this reaction, you are ready. 
 
I wish all of you a very heartfelt all the best! I have been there and done that. Keep your eyes open.. mind open.. write your story.. More to come on interview preparation! Good luck! I wish all of you a well-deserved spot!
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Dr. Bharati Nikhare