{"id":19059,"date":"2019-09-16T16:57:27","date_gmt":"2019-09-16T21:57:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/blog\/prep\/?p=19059"},"modified":"2020-09-11T20:40:37","modified_gmt":"2020-09-11T20:40:37","slug":"5-ways-to-stand-out-to-residency-programs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/usmle\/5-ways-to-stand-out-to-residency-programs\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Ways to Stand Out to Residency Programs"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>You\u2019ve found the residency programs that fit your interests. Now you want to stand out for the best chance to match with your top-ranked choices. There are a number of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/medical-prep\/usmle?utm_source=medschoolinsight&amp;utm_medium=kaplan-blog&amp;utm_term=us-med&amp;utm_content=blog-article&amp;utm_campaign=med-usmle-general-2015\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">things you can do throughout med school<\/a>\u00a0that can influence a residency program director\u2019s decision to invite you to interview.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h3    avia-builder-el-0  el_before_av_iconlist  avia-builder-el-first  '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >What do residency programs look for?<\/h3><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\nIt\u2019s no surprise that residency programs consider\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/blog\/med-school-insight\/2014\/05\/23\/how-to-use-kaplans-usmle-qbank\/?utm_source=medschoolinsight&amp;utm_medium=kaplan-blog&amp;utm_term=us-med&amp;utm_content=blog-article&amp;utm_campaign=med-usmle-general-2015\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">USMLE scores<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/blog\/med-school-insight\/2014\/02\/28\/applying-to-residency-letters-of-recommendation\/?utm_source=medschoolinsight&amp;utm_medium=kaplan-blog&amp;utm_term=us-med&amp;utm_content=blog-article&amp;utm_campaign=med-usmle-general-2015\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">letters of recommendation<\/a>, and the personal statement among the top factors when choosing residency candidates. However, doing one or more of the following five things could help you improve your competitive position.<br \/>\n<div  class='avia-icon-list-container   avia-builder-el-1  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_sidebar '><ul class='avia-icon-list avia-icon-list-left av-iconlist-big avia_animate_when_almost_visible avia-iconlist-animate'>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue816' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Apply for away rotations<\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p>Working an\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/blog\/med-school-insight\/2015\/05\/05\/three-things-i-learned-on-away-rotations\/?utm_source=medschoolinsight&amp;utm_medium=kaplan-blog&amp;utm_term=us-med&amp;utm_content=blog-article&amp;utm_campaign=med-usmle-general-2015\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">away rotation<\/a>\u00a0gives the faculty a chance to see you in action. This can be very beneficial because it lets the residency program find out about you. Away rotations also give you the chance to convince the house staff and your attending physician that your knowledge and work ethic make you a perfect match for their program.<br \/>\n<b>Stand-out tip:<\/b>\u00a0Try to meet with the program director a second time when you\u2019re about to complete your away rotations. Not only is it a courtesy, it also helps remind the director about your interest in the program.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue816' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Gain research experience<\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p>In certain specialties,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/blog\/med-school-insight\/2015\/12\/10\/how-important-is-research-in-medical-school\/?utm_source=medschoolinsight&amp;utm_medium=kaplan-blog&amp;utm_term=us-med&amp;utm_content=blog-article&amp;utm_campaign=med-usmle-general-2015\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">research experience<\/a>\u00a0that leads to peer-reviewed presentations or publications can positively influence the choice of candidate. The\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.nrmp.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/PD-Survey-Report-2014.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><i>2014 NRMP Program Director Survey<\/i><\/a>\u00a0stated that 43 percent of survey participants cited \u201cdemonstrated involvement and interest in research\u201d as a factor when selecting applicants to interview. This can be especially true at institutions where faculty members are highly productive researchers who value ongoing scholarly activity.<br \/>\n<b>Stand-out tip:<\/b>\u00a0If you don\u2019t have the research experience or time to execute it effectively, consider putting your energy into improving your core clinical skills instead.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue816' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Become a leader in student organizations<\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p>Think about joining an Interest group in the specialty you\u2019re considering. The\u00a0<i>2014 NRMP Program Director Survey\u00a0<\/i>shows that 63 percent of program directors value leadership qualities. Joining a student group is an excellent way to learn about a field, show initiative, and demonstrate your commitment to the profession. Better yet, if your school doesn\u2019t have a group, start one! Then add the activity to your applications for residency programs.<br \/>\n<b>Stand-out tip:<\/b>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/blog\/med-school-insight\/2015\/06\/02\/how-to-choose-your-medical-specialty\/?utm_source=medschoolinsight&amp;utm_medium=kaplan-blog&amp;utm_term=us-med&amp;utm_content=blog-article&amp;utm_campaign=med-usmle-general-2015\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Haven\u2019t decided on a specialty?<\/a>\u00a0You can still become active in your medical school\u2019s student government or in a student-run organization such as the\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.amsa.org\/about\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">American Medical School Association<\/a>.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n\t<div  style='background:#c5c5c5;color:#ffffff;border-color:#c5c5c5;' class='av_promobox  avia-button-no   avia-builder-el-2  avia-builder-el-no-sibling '>\t\t<div class='avia-promocontent'><\/p>\n<div class='avia-iframe-wrap'><iframe width=\"1500\" height=\"844\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/jO01w-4AwXs?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue816' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Pursue a dual degree<\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p>If you have an interest in the big picture of health care\u2014especially health care finances\u2014you may want to consider getting a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/blog\/med-school-insight\/2013\/06\/25\/mdmph-dual-degree-program\/?utm_source=medschoolinsight&amp;utm_medium=kaplan-blog&amp;utm_term=us-med&amp;utm_content=blog-article&amp;utm_campaign=med-usmle-general-2015\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">dual degree<\/a>\u00a0in public health or business administration. It could also make you a standout when it comes to selection for residency programs. Some residency programs rank dual degree students higher overall, even in non-business attributes.<br \/>\n<b>Stand-out tip:<\/b>\u00a0When group projects and case studies are the norm, as they are in MBA programs, it can help mold you into a better leader and problem solver in med school as well.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue816' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Be a medical volunteer<\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p>Residency programs are attaching greater importance to community service, whether it takes place close to home or\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/students-residents.aamc.org\/attending-medical-school\/electives-and-make-courses\/global-health-learning-opportunities-ghlo\/about-ghlo\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">internationally<\/a>.\u00a0Fifty-four percent of residency program directors indicate community service as a factor in selecting applicants for interviews.\u00a0With that in mind, you\u2019ll want to make medical volunteer work a prominent part of your CV. Volunteering allows you to work\u00a0with diverse patient populations,\u00a0develop an understanding of various cultures, and learn about health systems and approaches to medical care in other parts of the nation or world.<br \/>\n<b>Stand-out tip:<\/b>\u00a0If you have an\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.nrmp.org\/3-ways-medical-students-can-excel-residency-interviews\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">interview with a residency program<\/a>, you\u2019ll probably be asked to discuss the volunteer work you stated on your CV. Be prepared to talk\u00a0about the vision and mission of organizations where you\u2019ve volunteered, and their impact on constituents and on you as a volunteer.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div><\/p>\n<div id=\"med-advis-sess\" class=\"v2\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col-md-8\">\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You\u2019ve found the residency programs that fit your interests. Now you want to stand out for the best chance to match with your top-ranked choices. There are a number of\u00a0things you can do throughout med school\u00a0that can influence a residency program director\u2019s decision to invite you to interview. &nbsp; It\u2019s no surprise that residency programs [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":28584,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[145],"tags":[157],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19059"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19059"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19059\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":34172,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19059\/revisions\/34172"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/28584"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19059"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19059"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19059"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}