2019 MATCH Experience
WARNING, this is long!
Step 1 : 243
Step 2 : 253, pass
Step 3 : 234 (TIP -took it in September 2018, once I got my result 3 weeks later, I used it as an excuse to contact programs via phone and email so they can revise my application again, 7 IV came after step 3 was uploaded - I think this was a smart move for me instead of writing “letters of intent” which they dont usually answers anyway)
No attempts
Step 2 : 253, pass
Step 3 : 234 (TIP -took it in September 2018, once I got my result 3 weeks later, I used it as an excuse to contact programs via phone and email so they can revise my application again, 7 IV came after step 3 was uploaded - I think this was a smart move for me instead of writing “letters of intent” which they dont usually answers anyway)
No attempts
1 Poster publication ( I’m just not that into research but community programs don’t generally care about research that much anyways)
YOG 2013 **** because of this and lack of research I did not get ANY university program invites.
WANT H1 VISA
ACLS/BLS/PALS currently valid
Applied to 120 IM programs and 15 PEDS ( backup plan).
Applied to only North east, Chicago and Florida. PTAL tooo expensive and I had no SSN
Interviews received : 15 (14 IM 1 PEDS)
Interviews attended : 14
Ranked : 13
Matched in my first choice, YUPPEE YAY YAY! ( for personal privacy I will not say where)
Interviews received : 15 (14 IM 1 PEDS)
Interviews attended : 14
Ranked : 13
Matched in my first choice, YUPPEE YAY YAY! ( for personal privacy I will not say where)
3 years experience as a General Practitioner in my home country ( no residency done)
1 year study gap ( TIP - I did locum work 2-3 days a week via a locum company so it looked like I was employed continuously and so it didn’t look like I had a gap and no one asked during my IVs- YAY!)
LOR : Two strong US LOR and two strong home country LOR ( why do I know its strong LOR ? I drafted them myself and the attending read them, agreed and signed and uploaded them- yes, Im gangster like that,YOLO !)
USCE : No externships : only did 3 observerships
1)Einstein medical centre ( 2 weeks = 800dollars - apply via their website- its easy and takes about 6 months in advance to organize and book so don’t delay). PD will give everyone who does observership an informal IV (looks at your scores and weakness) after 2 weeks so it will help you get a real IV in the IV season if you impress him during the observership.
2)University of South Florida :1 month - 2000 dollars a month, expensive BUT they will give LOR ( attending dependent , some allow you to clerk patients and present , others dont) apply online, need scores of more than 240 for step1 and step 2 to be considered for observership apparently but I don’t think its a hard fast rule. The don’t have many IMG in the IM program ( like 2 in the past 3 years so don’t expect them to give you an IV)
3)Cleveland Clinic Florida : cheapest, 400 dollars for 1 month- apply via their website. They do offer LOR but attending dependent too
1)Einstein medical centre ( 2 weeks = 800dollars - apply via their website- its easy and takes about 6 months in advance to organize and book so don’t delay). PD will give everyone who does observership an informal IV (looks at your scores and weakness) after 2 weeks so it will help you get a real IV in the IV season if you impress him during the observership.
2)University of South Florida :1 month - 2000 dollars a month, expensive BUT they will give LOR ( attending dependent , some allow you to clerk patients and present , others dont) apply online, need scores of more than 240 for step1 and step 2 to be considered for observership apparently but I don’t think its a hard fast rule. The don’t have many IMG in the IM program ( like 2 in the past 3 years so don’t expect them to give you an IV)
3)Cleveland Clinic Florida : cheapest, 400 dollars for 1 month- apply via their website. They do offer LOR but attending dependent too
INTERVIEWS ( If you have similar credentials as me, hopefully you will also get invited to these programs - keeping in mind I had NO externship USCE! I will just write about few of them which were the most memorable for me, all interviews start to blur into one big marshmallow mesh in the end anyway and I ranked by GUT feeling and location after my top 3)
Einstein Medical Centre : Philadelphia : 9/10 . Very busy hospital in an underserved area.
PROs- offers H1 visa , in house fellowship, excellent match rate for fellowship for GIT, HAEM/ONC/ and CARDIO gunners out there. Very experienced and well-connected PD who will get you what you need for fellowship match. You work with BEST from each country and be amongst nerds ( they win medical jeopardy often). They DO NOT care about YOG and they do not care if you DONT have USCE ( so big pros) but they care if you have MSPE and they care what university you came from ( PD is very worldly and knows the universities that are top for each country, from my impression, he cared more about where you graduated then what score you have).
CONS- NO golden weekends in internship, you work hard. Not a very nice neighbourhood to live in, unfortunately. Expect to work HARD, there are no slackers in that program!
Interview: Had one with PD and one blind date with a senior resident. Very informal, no medical questions asked. Pd asked what visa I would prefer and what I want in fellowship and general life questions.
PROs- offers H1 visa , in house fellowship, excellent match rate for fellowship for GIT, HAEM/ONC/ and CARDIO gunners out there. Very experienced and well-connected PD who will get you what you need for fellowship match. You work with BEST from each country and be amongst nerds ( they win medical jeopardy often). They DO NOT care about YOG and they do not care if you DONT have USCE ( so big pros) but they care if you have MSPE and they care what university you came from ( PD is very worldly and knows the universities that are top for each country, from my impression, he cared more about where you graduated then what score you have).
CONS- NO golden weekends in internship, you work hard. Not a very nice neighbourhood to live in, unfortunately. Expect to work HARD, there are no slackers in that program!
Interview: Had one with PD and one blind date with a senior resident. Very informal, no medical questions asked. Pd asked what visa I would prefer and what I want in fellowship and general life questions.
Mount Sinai St Lukes , Manhattan New York : 8/10
PROS- Location, its in Manhattan so if that's your kind of scene - go for it. Lots of activities to do, a good mix of IMGS and AMGS but mostly IMG. Guaranteed housing across the road ( you pay of coarse). Good salary compared to similar NY programs ( probably the highest paying I know of in NY). Fairly good fellowship placements. Offers H1 visa
CONS- you are expected to work hard, lots of scut work ( poor ancillary support) , long hours, if you have a family, this is not the program for you, child care is like 3000 dollars a month for day care ( like 75% of salary) . Expensive neighbourhood.
Interview: Very strange, One IV only with a faculty member, 15 minutes of general questions - who I am, where I see myself in 5 years.
PROS- Location, its in Manhattan so if that's your kind of scene - go for it. Lots of activities to do, a good mix of IMGS and AMGS but mostly IMG. Guaranteed housing across the road ( you pay of coarse). Good salary compared to similar NY programs ( probably the highest paying I know of in NY). Fairly good fellowship placements. Offers H1 visa
CONS- you are expected to work hard, lots of scut work ( poor ancillary support) , long hours, if you have a family, this is not the program for you, child care is like 3000 dollars a month for day care ( like 75% of salary) . Expensive neighbourhood.
Interview: Very strange, One IV only with a faculty member, 15 minutes of general questions - who I am, where I see myself in 5 years.
Greenwich hospital, Yale-affiliated : Connecticut: 9/10
PROS : FREEEEEEEEEEEE HOUSING for categorical ( you just have to 1400 a year for the tax). The Pay is AMAZING - take home 4500/ month. FREEEEEEEE medical and dental for you and Child stipend (they give you extra money every year for every child you have) . FREEEEEEEEEE FOOOD everyday (they give you 125 dollars a WEEK). OMG, say no more, where do I sign up??? This is an EXCELLENT program for people who have family
CONS: they only take 5 categoricals a year, all the interesting cases get sent to the bigger hospitals like Bridgeport etc so you don’t get to see HARD core cases. It's an affluent population so they expect to be very very pampered and bedside etiquette and class is absolutely essential for this hospital(it even looks and feels like a hotel). Lots of celebrities from NY come here for medical admissions or live in the area for their privacy—- oooooo~~~ fancy huh?
IV : one with PD and one with a random attending - informal and general, no medical questions.
DID I mention the free housing and free food and free medical coverage? The only question you will have is What are you gonna do with alll that money you save!!!???
PROS : FREEEEEEEEEEEE HOUSING for categorical ( you just have to 1400 a year for the tax). The Pay is AMAZING - take home 4500/ month. FREEEEEEEE medical and dental for you and Child stipend (they give you extra money every year for every child you have) . FREEEEEEEEEE FOOOD everyday (they give you 125 dollars a WEEK). OMG, say no more, where do I sign up??? This is an EXCELLENT program for people who have family
CONS: they only take 5 categoricals a year, all the interesting cases get sent to the bigger hospitals like Bridgeport etc so you don’t get to see HARD core cases. It's an affluent population so they expect to be very very pampered and bedside etiquette and class is absolutely essential for this hospital(it even looks and feels like a hotel). Lots of celebrities from NY come here for medical admissions or live in the area for their privacy—- oooooo~~~ fancy huh?
IV : one with PD and one with a random attending - informal and general, no medical questions.
DID I mention the free housing and free food and free medical coverage? The only question you will have is What are you gonna do with alll that money you save!!!???
St Barnabas Medical Centre: New Jersey : 8.5 /10
PROS : will merge with Rutgers biomedical health system so you will become a Rugters resident (will become a university based program by the time you finish as a resident). 600 bed hospital (this is large, wealthy and fancy place) . Daily conference. Excellent Nephrology section with lots of renal transplants for those interested in nephro ( largest renal transplant and burns centre in US apparently) . Good range of Infectious disease exposure and strong stroke team. Good fellowship opportunities.
CONS : wards rounds not too academic, more like working rounds. Expect to work hard, large patient volume. Continuity clinic is once a week.
IV : one with PD and one with attending: general life questions. Easy going. PD is nice.
PROS : will merge with Rutgers biomedical health system so you will become a Rugters resident (will become a university based program by the time you finish as a resident). 600 bed hospital (this is large, wealthy and fancy place) . Daily conference. Excellent Nephrology section with lots of renal transplants for those interested in nephro ( largest renal transplant and burns centre in US apparently) . Good range of Infectious disease exposure and strong stroke team. Good fellowship opportunities.
CONS : wards rounds not too academic, more like working rounds. Expect to work hard, large patient volume. Continuity clinic is once a week.
IV : one with PD and one with attending: general life questions. Easy going. PD is nice.
Medstar Washington Hospital centre : DC : 8.5/10
PROS: has primary care tract, can switch half way, night float. Get weekends off for OPD weeks . Excellent PD who attends every morning report, very exam orientated and residents do daily MCQ from MSKAP or uworld in the morning rounds. Subsidy for conferences if you present. Good fellowship opportunities. Pre intern training in June. Residents look happy and content and supported.
CONS - pay is not the best considering how expensive it is to live in DC, more than half of the salary will go into housing. Q4 calls in ICU. Expect to work hard in internship.expect to work hard 6-6:30 pm on inpatient days
IV- one with PD and one with random attending, general life questions to look at your personality.
PROS: has primary care tract, can switch half way, night float. Get weekends off for OPD weeks . Excellent PD who attends every morning report, very exam orientated and residents do daily MCQ from MSKAP or uworld in the morning rounds. Subsidy for conferences if you present. Good fellowship opportunities. Pre intern training in June. Residents look happy and content and supported.
CONS - pay is not the best considering how expensive it is to live in DC, more than half of the salary will go into housing. Q4 calls in ICU. Expect to work hard in internship.expect to work hard 6-6:30 pm on inpatient days
IV- one with PD and one with random attending, general life questions to look at your personality.
Memorial Healthcare System : Miami Florida 8.5 /10
PROS - new program ( only 1 year since starting) so the faculty is very open to suggestions and is malleable to meet residents demands. Good faculty to resident ratio and mentorship. Discounted gym onsite, wellness days , has good in house cardio and hem onc fellowships. Work most weekend but finish early most days ( they don’t have a heavy work load). Weather and location are very good. The residents look super happy and chilled there.
CONS : new program, not many seniors to guide you.
IV : one with PD and one with attending : general life questions.
PROS - new program ( only 1 year since starting) so the faculty is very open to suggestions and is malleable to meet residents demands. Good faculty to resident ratio and mentorship. Discounted gym onsite, wellness days , has good in house cardio and hem onc fellowships. Work most weekend but finish early most days ( they don’t have a heavy work load). Weather and location are very good. The residents look super happy and chilled there.
CONS : new program, not many seniors to guide you.
IV : one with PD and one with attending : general life questions.
Presence St Jospeh Hospital : Chicago : Illinois 8.5/10
PROS : good location, excellent morning ward rounds, supportive PD and very academically driven. Residents look happy and supported.
CONS : no formal mentorship, really can’t remember much about cons, the weather I guess can get pretty bad but otherwise the overall feel of the program is good.
IV : two attendings, general life questions. Just checking out my personality
PROS : good location, excellent morning ward rounds, supportive PD and very academically driven. Residents look happy and supported.
CONS : no formal mentorship, really can’t remember much about cons, the weather I guess can get pretty bad but otherwise the overall feel of the program is good.
IV : two attendings, general life questions. Just checking out my personality
Lincoln Med Cetre: New York Bronx 7/10
PRO: you are gonna be a hands on hard working resident for 3 years and learn lots. IMG friendly. Good fellowship placements
CONS : not a nice neighbourhood, the residents all look a bit unhappy and tired. ( they just didn’t seem as motivated and interested in the morning ward rounds as other residents in other programs). This is the main reason I score them low. The residents just didn’t look happy to be there.
IV : with 1 attending and 1 PD. General life questions about interest, hobbies and life goals.
PRO: you are gonna be a hands on hard working resident for 3 years and learn lots. IMG friendly. Good fellowship placements
CONS : not a nice neighbourhood, the residents all look a bit unhappy and tired. ( they just didn’t seem as motivated and interested in the morning ward rounds as other residents in other programs). This is the main reason I score them low. The residents just didn’t look happy to be there.
IV : with 1 attending and 1 PD. General life questions about interest, hobbies and life goals.
UCF COM/GME Orlando : Florida : 8 /10
PROS : excellent caring PD who does morning report and case presentation. Nice area to live and awesome weather. DISNEY LAND ! Some good fellowship opportunities (about 30-50%) pursue fellowship . Fast expanding program with very good supportive staff ( from what I saw). FREEEE FOOOD.
CONS : young program ( less than 3 years) so in house fellowship is still developing. Average pay (very good for the area I guess but half of the salary will go to housing)
PROS : excellent caring PD who does morning report and case presentation. Nice area to live and awesome weather. DISNEY LAND ! Some good fellowship opportunities (about 30-50%) pursue fellowship . Fast expanding program with very good supportive staff ( from what I saw). FREEEE FOOOD.
CONS : young program ( less than 3 years) so in house fellowship is still developing. Average pay (very good for the area I guess but half of the salary will go to housing)
IV : 4 people, 2 chiefs, 1 PD and 1 Attending. Very general life questions, no medical stuff. Tell me a little about yourself, what are your hobbies and where you see yourself in 5 years.
TIPS ON interviews
YOU HAVE 15 minutes to make a good impression that DECIDES your fate, do NOT be stupid or arrogant and end up on the DNR ( DO NOT RANK LIST). If they have invited you, they are interested in you, NO program does “courtesy” interviews, AIN’T NOBODY GOT TIME FOR DAT!
Most programs have a tick sheet and scoring system that gives you a score at the end of the interview, they tally that up and rank about 75% of the people that they interviews . i.e the top 75%. (this is just what one of the chiefs residents I know told me but obviously, every program is different). Some competitive programs only rank 60% of the people they interview but the point is, don’t end up in that bottom 25%.
1. For goodness sake, BE INTERESTED! Sit up straight, make eye contact and watch your manners. Don’t just Sit there expect people to come up with all the questions. MAKE questions - be attentive when they present the program powerpoint and write down key things of the program - trust me, they notice everything you are doing ( from yawning, to taking notes and interacting with residents). I can't tell you how many times I saw other applicants yawning and looking at their phones or watches. What the hell?
2. COME UP WITH QUESTIONS to ask in the interview - google a list if you have to and doesn’t matter if you ask the same thing to different interviewers. The point is to LOOOOK like you are VERY interested in the program, please DO NOT give off that attitude like “ I have so many interviews, what can your program offer me” . For every Interview, not only was I genuinely interested I also made sure I looked interested by saying things like “ I met Tracy, one of the residents and while chatting to her she mentioned bla bla bla, can you explain more?” Or “ I am very curious of the living area, I am hoping to start my family here, what do you think of this area for building a family?"
3. DO YOUR HOMEWORK - Start the interview by saying, “I am very interested in your program, when I applied here, this is what I liked…..I found this interesting …. Now that I am here I am even more pleasantly surprised and happy that I applied because your residents look happy and supported and that I can see its genuinely a great program”. I Used it every time, and every time, the interviewers looks happy that I have done my homework and that I didn’t just apply coz its “IMG friendly”.
4. USE YOUR RED FLAGS TO YOUR ADVANTAGE, ADDRESS THEM IN THE INTERVIEW, HEAD ON! Don’t DODGE THEM! for example, I am an old graduate so I said “ I graduated in 2013 but since then I have been practising as a general practitioner and I feel like I know how to treat common things like headache and backache well which I feel I can really contribute to other interns but I’m worried me being older than the residents they would not find that I fit it with them, do you think this would be a problem in your program ?” The interviewers ALWAYS said that it is pro not a con and that I would fit in well and bring experience to help the other interns. If you have an attempt in your exam, don’t shy away from it, ADDRESS IT and turn it into a pro- acknowledge that you were disappointed with yourself but you picked yourself up and its made you stronger as it taught you a very valuable lesson in life and what it taught you, explain how failure has made you better.
5. LOOK CHIC and PROFESSIONAL - Get a dam haircut and sort out the dandruff men! Saw so many scruffy looking guys who looked like they fell out of bed and rolled into the interview setting. Girls, don’t wear sky high heels and do not paint your nails like you from the ghetto.
5. THANK EVERY ONE and LOOK THEM IN THE EYE, REMEMBER THEIR NAMES and MAKE SMALL TALK. Yes, small talk comes a long way, its all about impressions, if the coordinator found you rude or that you were late, it counts against you. Remember, they rank you IMMEDIATELY after the interview ( they give you a score at the end of the day and that's that, no do-overs, so impressions are important). In most interviews, I saw interviewers gather around a table or meeting room or scored me using a tick sheet STRAIGHT after interviews. This is also why I feel post-interview communication plays a minimal part.
5. THANK EVERY ONE and LOOK THEM IN THE EYE, REMEMBER THEIR NAMES and MAKE SMALL TALK. Yes, small talk comes a long way, its all about impressions, if the coordinator found you rude or that you were late, it counts against you. Remember, they rank you IMMEDIATELY after the interview ( they give you a score at the end of the day and that's that, no do-overs, so impressions are important). In most interviews, I saw interviewers gather around a table or meeting room or scored me using a tick sheet STRAIGHT after interviews. This is also why I feel post-interview communication plays a minimal part.
6. How can you make them rank you higher? By creating an impression that YOU are going to rank them high DURING the interview ( most PD don’t factor in post-interview communication, I wrote them but no one replies or simply they just thank you and good luck coz they have already made up their mind about you from the interview day). I made sure in my interviews that they knew I really liked the program - by keep saying the positive things I liked about the program or why I want to be here. I made it PERSONAL.
7. PRACTICE- I practised with many people on Skype ( more than 20) before and during IV season. I was nervous going into the first interview but I had a structure I knew I was going to follow and a plan for each interview and an answer for all top 30 most commonly asked questions. all I had to do was execute after having done my homework. I also trusted and looked confident, I also made sure the programs knew my assets and what positive things I can bring to the program.
Believe it or not, most interviews are General life questions. 60% of the interviews will begin with, “tell me a little bit of yourself” and most will ask what fellowship you want and why you want to be in the program and 100% of all interviews will ask “Do you have any questions?” They might even start with that. They already liked your CV and want to rank you but its your interview that determines whether you are in their TOP 25% , middle 50% or lower 25% or even worse, DNR ( basically it means you are complete psycho and one interviewer found you really weird/rude or wasn’t a good fit /non team player) remember that mostly they also basing your interview personality on a 15 minute chat so keep it together, have a plan, have a certain personality you want to bring to the table, have your answers prepared but not too rehearsed and stick to it. You don’t have to stand out as some shining personality just simply, a nice person that people would want to have around as a team member...
Please place all your questions here in the post, I will not answer any private messages as we can all learn from each other and pay it forward!
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