Next year match applicants Aamir Laghari

My few words for next year match applicants that might be helpful to someone

I got much help from this forum so thought to give back my few words what I learned through my experience, mistakes in this journey. I was not a that much active participant but a silent reader of this forum.
⚫ Having patience and continuous struggle is an integral part of USMLE journey and Match especially.Many people just think that everything will be fine just because they have got a great score, just because they have contacts, just because someone said to you that he will help you in matching, just because of your thinking that everything will be smooth. No, everything is not smooth in this world. Everything will be only fine when you have above things plus your continuous struggle to improve yourself daily in every aspect.

⚫ Give more focus to your CV and don't rely on just scores. In my view,'' Scores are keys to open your application and whether they will select you for an interview depends on your CV." CV can be improved by multiple ways. Most important are 1. Publication 2. Abstract 3. Poster presentation 4. Research experience without even publication is better than no experience at all 5. volunteer work of your interest is very important part as American like it and it shows how versatile type of personality you might have. 6. any Sports achievement 7. any extra quality which you might have. After making CV, the most important thing is its proofreading by a senior or a resident. Many people give more focus to the personal statement but not CV. I would advise that give more time t your CV compared to PS. presentation of CV is the very important aspect because even red flag can be compensated by choosing good words and doing things in response to that red flag in your in match.

⚫ While in match , communication is very important part of this journey. In the start, even I was unaware of it. For example, a match applicant send a request to a resident and he accept it and next day that applicant says, ''hy bro, can you recommend me in your program, I have these credentials." Another match applicant does the same with a resident but says to a resident, " Hello brother, Good morning, I hope you will be fine. I am a match applicant of 2019. I know your schedule is very busy but I will be brief. I need the information that, does your program takes IMG with CS attempt. Let me know whenever its easy for you. Thank you.Best Regards."
A good question has an answer in it and tells how genius and perfect the next person is. Ask your all queries but you must have a valid question that can be answered instead of open question which leaves the adviser, "what should I tell him" and seeker thinks how arrogant the adviser is.

⚫ Communicate with programs by Email and calls and improve your writing as you progress through match. When you spoke the words of the person you emailing then it definitely gets the attention of concerned person and you get the reply but patience is the key even if you don't get the reply but always stay optimistic, it will give you some experience at the end.

⚫ Prepare well for the interview even if you are much sure that you will not come into this program and will get a match in way better program. I have seen people who went unmatch who did not perform well in the program just because they considered it not well. I took every interview as my first and last interview and gave my best when I got the chance.

⚫Fact: People with less than 5 Interview who took the match very seriously just because of fewer interviews, matched more compared to the people who got more than 5 interviews in between 5-15 who took match very easy with the exception. The point I want to make here is, ''Take things seriously whatever you do"

⚫ An interview is just not the guarantee that you will get a match. A ranking is an extremely critical point in Match. again here your interview performance + Score + CV + contacts + luck + communication will decide where you will be ranked. give your best for this phase of Match. very important.

⚫ Even if no one helps you, just stay humble throughout this journey and especially during the match. many people promised me to help but they did not. They are still my best friends and have same respect from my side. Its just understanding of their circumstances which changed my thinking and feeling of acceptance. Be nice to everyone not just because you have some kind of personal interest or benefit but because you have intrinsic good nature. In this way many unknown people will come to help you way more than known, that's the reward of your patience and humbleness.

⚫ To improve my CV I also did online courses from John Hopkins and Harvard. I think just one course from a reputable University is enough to get the attention of a reader and your CV should not be full of this. Main point here is a balance of everything.

This is all I can tell each applicant even if he asks me 100 times my answer will be from above description but in different angles.

⚫ For those who want to know my credentials.Here it is,

Nishtar Medical University 2015 Grad
255/240/CS first Attempt/Step 3 post-match 227
USCE: 3 month
Visa: Needed
Program Applied: 120
IV: 14
First Match of IM
Forum help: yes
Publication: None
Matched at University of Illinois at Urbana for IM

Good luck to every seeker. Remember in prayers if possible.

Questions: 

Exactly!! the point about CV is so much more important. I know we have all heard and can't emphasize more the importance of Personal statement which everyone will get right and is working on right from the start. But pls give due time to CV as well, have it proofread. I almost missed an important point bcx i was making it at the last moment. Be precise but cover all parts well.