RxPG - 10 Top Tips for applying to the 2006 Match to start residency in July 2006

Get done with all your steps by September 1st i.e. Step 1, 2 CK, 2 CS and 3 if you want H1 or as early as you can manage.

Make sure you have a well written curriculum vitae and personal statement .Don’t leave the two to last minute. Grammatical mistakes are an absolute killer.

Make yourself familiar with ERAS and the match process by going through the websites www.ecfmg.org and www.nrmp.org to make sure you know all the rules and deadlines.

Apply intelligently. Make sure your list contains programs that are your “dream to go”, good programs likely to call you for interview as well as back up programs where you are sure you’ll be accepted but might not really want to go if you are getting something better but will go just in case you don’t get anything better.

Apply as early as possible (within 1st week of September would be great).

At the interviews: Be honest and be your best.

Follow up the interviews with thank you letters. Make the people who interviewed you remember you – for the right reasons of course.

Be clear about your priorities and chances you want to take with issues like accepting a pre-match and what kind of visa you’ll accept. The last thing left to blame for not succeeding should be wavering mind.

Rank your programs well in advance of the deadline. Rank a program higher only if you want to be accepted there more. Don’t rank a program higher just because you think you have a better chance of being accepted there.

Keep your fingers crossed and prayers going till you start Day 1 as PGY1

GOOD LUCK

Dr Aarti Sarwal