Shortly after that, I'm heading to the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque to start my Pediatric Residency.
Muddling my way through medical school has been one of the greatest most difficult and rewarding challenges of my life. I love it, but it's made me dig deep for some self-confidence and re-evaluate my priorities and passions every step of the way.
I know some of you may be already in medicine or thinking about entering the field, so if want to compare, relate, give advice, vent, question or anything else, feel free to e-mail, comment, or send a carrier pigeon.
I'm also a contributor for my school's medical student blog. Check it out anytime for more medical-related posts from me, as well as perspectives from several students in different stages of training:
And you can always find my medical school-related posts by clicking "Tachy Med Student" in the tag cloud on the right-hand side.
I'm also a contributor for my school's medical student blog. Check it out anytime for more medical-related posts from me, as well as perspectives from several students in different stages of training:
And you can always find my medical school-related posts by clicking "Tachy Med Student" in the tag cloud on the right-hand side.
_____________________________________
The Match
The Match is the process all medical students go through in order to find a position in residency. It is unique from other job and school application processes because the end result is that you give a set list of options with your preferences, but you don't choose the final program - the computer gives you one place that you must accept, or you don't have a job.
The simple breakdown of the process goes like this:
- Summer of 4th year: Fill in application to programs [ERAS] and get all letters of recommendation.
- Sept 15: Submit ERAS to programs.
~Wait for interview invites~
- Winter [Oct-February]: Accept and go on interviews.
- February: Medical students prepare and submit the "Rank List." This lists all the programs we interviewed at and would be willing to go in order of our preference for matching there. At the same time, programs submit a list of all the students they interviewed and would be willing to have in order of preference.
I've made it through this step, see the post here.
I've made it through this step, see the post here.
- March: The big computer in the sky takes the two sets of lists and tells us where we're going.
- March 15: Match Day, we find out where we're going.
For me, it's Albuquerque - the University of New Mexico!
- March 15: Match Day, we find out where we're going.
For me, it's Albuquerque - the University of New Mexico!
Four years of college, 4 years of medical school, and then the training continues (albeit finally paid) in residency. My specialty - Pediatrics - is a 3 year program, but the length varies from 3 to 9+ years in surgery subspecialties.
