Q&A Tuesday - Developing The Residency "It Factor."

"How to set yourself apart during the residency match process"

I love this question!

While most students are looking for shortcuts to set themselves apart, this one is looking for real solutions.

By following any—or better yet all—of the ideas I’m about to lay out, you’ll set yourself apart from the crowd and boost your chances of success on match day.

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My answer today will be a condensed version of a few details found inside our Roadmap To Residency MasterClass. The options for setting yourself apart are endless… The six I’m about to detail have the rare combination of simplicity and leveragability.

Before we go “above and beyond” to set ourselves apart, remember that none of it matters if you haven't properly executed the basics:

👉🏼 A first-time pass on Step 1 and an above-average CK score (depending on your specialty’s level of competition).

👉🏼 No “red flags” on your CV, including medical school class or rotation failures, disciplinary actions, etc.

👉🏼 Evidence that you’re interested in the specialty (additional rotations, LORs, or experiences in the specialty to which you’re applying).

Once the foundation is in place, we can begin the process of rising to the top.

In theory, setting yourself apart from the competition is simple… But not easy.

Simple because what I’m about to lay out is straightforward…

Not easy because is requires a bit of extra effort…

Most people’s unwillingness to put in the extra effort is your golden opportunity!

These recommendations will not only help you set yourself apart from the competition but also give you something interesting to talk about during interviews—bonus!

While the other interviewees are stuck answering the same old baloney like “Why do you want to be a pediatrician?” and “What were your favorite and least favorite rotations, and why?” You’ll be talking about all the cool stuff you’ve done. Not only does this improve your chances of matching, it’ll make the interview process more enjoyable and genuine.

So… If you’re ready and willing to go the extra mile to set yourself apart from the competition, here’s a list of six ideas to help you get started.

6 WAYS TO SET YOURSELF APART FROM THE COMPETITION: