Monday, April 13, 2020

Applying for residency during a pandemic

As we start the second month of sheltering in place (at least where I live), I've been thinking a lot about how COVID-19 will affect medical graduates who want to apply for residency in September 2020.

If you're reading this, you're probably unsure about your chance of matching. USMLE test dates have been postponed, externships and observerships will be more limited for at least a few months, many in-person networking opportunities have vanished, and in general, residency goals may feel more out of reach than ever.

But since every applicant will be in the same situation, you shouldn't give up on your dreams. More than ever, it's important to seek out opportunities to get appropriate work, volunteer, and research experience so you don't have big chronological gaps, and then to use those experiences in your ERAS application and personal statement to increase the possibility of getting interviewed.

I offer a free consultation to all potential clients (American graduates as well as IMGs), so please reach out to me. I will offer an honest assessment of whether I think you ought to apply or delay, potential steps you can take to enhance your application documents, and if I think I'm the right person to help. I hope to provide you with the same level of support that I have given to medical students and graduates for the past twenty years, even during these turbulent times. Please stay safe, and I hope to hear from you soon.