Randy Davis, National Coordinator
Pack your bags – 4th year has begun! So you worked hard during your 3rd year: you finished your Level 2 boards, you endured the rotations you never want to experience again, and now you are trying to find your place in the world. Should you return to where you were last year during your core rotations? Should you return to your roots and go back to wherever home may be? Or perhaps you want to experience something entirely different and see what the world might offer you in new surroundings? These are the challenges every student faces when applying for residency.
The first Still Point of each year is typically dedicated to welcoming students to the new year – this is something I do not want to discount by any means! So, welcome if you are new amidst the ranks of officers or members! But I also wanted to offer something that I never had: a guidebook on how to get by away from home. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy? Nay. This is the Med Student’s Guide to Living out of a Trunk. I propose this as a compendium of my experience and advice from current residents (please note, I am applying AOA only, so this may not be as helpful for those pursuing ACGME).
Phase 1: the Planning. Choose your electives wisely. Depending upon your school, you may have up to 6 months of electives during “Golden Months” – those coveted months between August and December your final year. What separates these months from others? They offer you the chance to “show your stuff” – to truly display what you can offer to a residency – before match date. I challenge this notion, and I raise the proposal that they offer you the chance to see what the program has to offer you. When looking at a program, each person will find different criterion that are meaningful to them. Perhaps higher ED turnover will mean a greater amount of revolving pathology? On the other hand, some say that lower bed occupancy and fewer residency programs mean more time spent with each patient and greater access to care provision. The faculty at a given facility may be great – but what insures that these great faculty members will actually be there when you are at the program? Many variables exist to guide your choice, but I strongly recommend tallying your options by reviewing, objectively, the different residency programs in the Osteopathic Opportunities website. Once you have reviewed the objective data, you are ready to apply for a chance to review the data subjectively during your rotations. Apply on VSAS for your rotations, or, more commonly for Osteopathic programs, contact the program and see if they can host you.
Phase 2: the Roadtrip. I am currently 1,400 miles from my medical school, and I have not been any closer than 200 miles for any extended amount of time in the past year. Unless you are pursuing a residency in a bustling city, chances lend that you may have to embark on your journey with your trusty car. When I packed a few months ago, I had no idea what to bring; I decided to aim for the goal of fitting my life into a trunk. I bought a set of Sterilite drawers to act as a dresser for the 5-month journey at hand, and a couple crates from Walmart. I brought a dozen dress shirts (but I wish I had only brought 7), short sleeves for the heat, long sleeves for the cold, and a few pairs of jeans and shorts. Bring a suit or a dress for interviews, and a suitcase in the case that you land interviews away from where you are. Do NOT forget workout gear! In your 4th year, you have a lot more time to do what you want instead of constantly reviewing material (as you have just finished your boards and everything is still very fresh). I brought camping equipment, climbing gear, hiking boots, and an assortment of books to keep my brain fresh as I explored the country. Load your smartphone with podcasts and playlists to carry you on your trip – I suggest Medicine Bursts for the gym or short commutes! My ex-DJ life brought about Bruce Springsteen for the Northeast, Sufjan Stevens for the Midwest, and early 90s grunge for any where in between.
Phase 3: the Audition. Of course, use your head. Do not show up unshaven and looking like death, unless your specialty of choice prefers this (I know there are some surgeons out there!). Show up on your first day crisp, clean, and early. The old adage states that sugar draws more than lemons – be kind and you will get further than if you are a grouch. Do not ask if you should come in on weekends – ask if you may. While a large part of auditions is common sense, what about the other stuff? One of my first actions when I get to a new site for a month is finding my neighbor and offering to pay for half of their internet for the month in return for access. Usually people will say yes for a small amount (~$20/mo.), and this means that you will not have to wander around to save data or check emails.
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