| Matching to a residency program through the | | | | a LOR from an accomplished, known colleague will be |
| NRMP® (National Resident Matching Program) is a | | | | weighed much more heavily than one from someone |
| competitive endeavor. Even top-tier candidates can | | | | deemed less successful and unfamiliar. If you are |
| have difficulty getting PGY-1 (post graduate year | | | | better connected to someone without a title (for |
| one) positions in many specialties. Those that do | | | | example, a resident), consider asking a more senior |
| match may not get their first or second choices, | | | | person who has a weightier title if s/he would |
| leaving them in suboptimal locations or programs. | | | | consider writing a LOR with significant input from |
| Consequently, the submission of an excellent | | | | your closer contact. |
| residency application is crucial. | | | | To improve your residency candidacy fully, consider |
| The Electronic Residency Application Service | | | | working with a professional. Because applicants can |
| (ERAS®) is a centralized program that transmits | | | | unknowingly undermine their chances of success with |
| applications, letters of recommendation (LOR) and | | | | poorly compiled application materials and |
| other supporting credentials from the applicant to | | | | underdeveloped residency personal statements, a |
| program directors using the Internet. Most residency | | | | qualified, personalized residency admissions consultant |
| programs now use ERAS®, although a few use | | | | provides a great advantage. |
| individualized applications. | | | | Residency consulting companies come in a variety of |
| Some of the most useful residency application advice | | | | forms. Some are bigger businesses that focus on |
| I can offer includes ensuring that your letters of | | | | admissions to several types of graduate programs |
| recommendation are optimal, as these evaluations are | | | | – not just medicine. Others are smaller and |
| one of the most critical aspects of applying to | | | | provide a medical focus, but have a pool of |
| residency. | | | | consultants of varying quality. Finally, elite companies |
| One way to do this is to choose the right person to | | | | offer both the medical focus and a highly |
| author your LOR. A wish list for an evaluator would | | | | experienced consultant who works one-on-one with |
| be the following: | | | | clients. These professionals are ex-admissions officers |
| 1. S/he is senior faculty with a weighty title who is | | | | from highly respected medical institutions. They have |
| well known in his/her field. | | | | the inside knowledge of how residency admissions |
| 2. S/he is in a specialty that is the field to which you | | | | work, providing individualized guidance to optimize |
| are applying or a closely related one. | | | | Residency application personal statement, ERAS® |
| 3. S/he has spent significant time with you. | | | | and interview skills. |
| 4. S/he is an experienced letter-writer. | | | | When choosing a residency admissions consulting |
| 5. S/he has explicitly stated s/he will write you a | | | | company, a candidate should verify the |
| strong LOR. It is important to directly ask any | | | | company’s references and research its |
| potential author, “Can you write me a very | | | | consultants. Elite companies that offer both the |
| strong letter for residency?” | | | | medical focus and a highly experienced consultant |
| Of course all of these qualifications are not possible | | | | who works one-on-one with clients offer a large |
| for all letter writers. But the more of these you can | | | | advantage for applicants, especially during these |
| garner the better. With regard to (a), residency | | | | competitive times. |
| directors are human just like the rest of us: Receiving | | | | |