Several weeks ago, we wrote a post about seven actions to take if you did not match for a residency program. In the article below, we delve deeper into three of those suggestions – taking and passing the USMLE Step 3, improving your interview skills and staying connected to your medical community.
These three considerations are often overlooked by medical students and have room for huge growth. More focus in these three areas may change the results in a positive way on your next Match Day.
Why Take (and Pass) USMLE Step 3 Prior to Residency
A note to start, the USMLE Step 3 is NOT required to enter your residency program. However, a passing score on Step 3 is necessary to earn your license to practice medicine in the U.S. That’s the main reason to consider taking it now. While you wait for your next chance to apply through the National Residency Match Program (NRMP), you can study for and take Step 3, keeping the terms and concepts you learned during medical school at the forefront of your mind.
You can click this link for more information about the USMLE Step 3 and best ways to prepare.
The Importance of Practicing for Interviews
Many in the medical field and in medical education emphasize the critical role interviews play in matching. (In fact, several sources report that interviews are the most important part in the matching process.) Medical students, though, often question the significance of interviews and focus on the stress they feel due to the process.
We encourage you to see interviewing in a positive light. First, interviews are for you as much as they are for the residency programs. You must determine if the program itself is a good fit for you. If possible, talk with current residents and look for an honest assessment. Remember, no program is perfect so ask questions about things you care about – patient care, learning opportunities, etc.
Second, recognize that interviewing for resident programs is DIFFERENT than interviewing for medical school. Now, as a graduate of medical school, you have more life and school experiences so most residency programs treat interviews a lot like a job interview. Prepare as you would for a job interview. You can find great questions for preparation at this link. Be upfront about not matching, your theories for why you didn’t and how you’ve addressed these issues. A program director will appreciate your candor.
Lastly, since this is like a job interview, be sure to review what you wrote in your application and listed in you curriculum vitae. You want to be familiar with your own words.
Building Strong Connections in the Medical Field
The old saying, “It’s who you know,” is often true in life. While it’s devastating and often embarrassing that you didn’t match, keep strong ties with your professors and medical professionals you met through school. Let them know that you didn’t match so they’ll be listening for other opportunities for you.
Also, expand your network while you go through the match process again. In the programs you’d like to attend, reach out to residents there who are alumni of your medical school. Email them or find them on social media to strike up genuine conversation about the programs. When program directors are sifting through hundreds of applications, a good word from a current resident may go a long way! Furthermore, be sure to attend any second looks or open houses at your programs of interest. Seeing your face multiple times tells program directors that you’re interested.
Education Litigation Group is Cheering for You
There’s a strong chance you entered the medical field with a mission. You want to be a doctor because a great cardiologist saved your mom’s life. Or you watched your grandfather battle cancer and want things to be different for other patients. Each step of becoming a licensed, practicing physician is difficult. Don’t let not matching derail your mission. There are steps to take to increase your likelihood of being matched in the next cycle.
Contact us or call 1-800-580-9167 if you have legal concerns regarding your education. You already have enough to do, let us help with legal issues.