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Medical Student Council President’s Message: The EM Interview: Advice from Your AAEM/RSA Resident Board
The EM Interview: Advice from Your AAEM/RSA Resident Board
Lauren Lamparter – Medical Student Council President
We are now entering the thick of interview season in a very unique application cycle! COVID19 has resulted in a massive shift in the residency application cycle, and now you can interview at a program on the East Coast in the morning and the West Coast in the afternoon, all from the comfort of your home. It is more important than ever to try to show a program who you are and assess if they are the right fit for you… How do we do this well through our computer screen? As a fellow applicant myself, I decided to utilize my resources and poll the AAEM/RSA resident board about their past interview seasons. So here I present to you, my interview with the AAEM/RSA board about how to succeed on the virtual EM interview trail! Good luck to you all.
What advice do you have for approaching the interview season?
In the beginning you are focused on performing well during the interviews, but as you feel more comfortable you will realize that you are also interviewing the program. Ask the program about your interests, and do not be afraid to ask a challenging question if it is something you are looking for. They gave you the interview, this program already likes you. Be yourself and discover the program that is the best fit for you.
Because of the new format of online interviewing, try to find a quiet place with a chair that does not move. Use headphones to maximize your sound clarity instead of just the computer speakers. Dress professionally despite being in your home. Try to suspend disbelief and act like you would in an in-person interview.
In the interview, make sure that you highlight your strengths and unique application aspects. Despite COVID-19 making your final medical years different, programs want to get to know the opportunities you took advantage of or the interests you explored.
What did you wish you had known prior to interviewing?
The interviews are mostly relaxed conversations. Try to know what you are looking for in the program and be able to discuss your hobbies genuinely.
• Where do your residents go after residency? • What changes are going on in the program? • What are you most proud of about your program? • What sets you apart from other programs? • What is the role of the emergency department in the rest of the hospital?
• What culture exists amongst residents? • What is your favorite and least favorite thing about the program? • Is the program what you expected while interviewing? • What types of activities does the residency set up for wellness? • Does the residency provide scheduled time for you to be together (even over Zoom!)? • If you could change one thing about your residency what would it be?
How did you ultimately know a program was right for you?
I assessed my future goals and looked to see if the culture of the program lent itself to what I wanted to do. At your interview, meet the residents and see what their goals are and what past residents have been able to accomplish with their training. A good way to decide, is to think about what is most important for you to find in a program. Pick the place where you will thrive geographically and best contribute to your overall happiness and long-term goals. Look at the patient population, where the residents come from, what they do after residency, and what your time will look like outside of the hospital.
You can get the contact information from the residents you meet on your interview to reach out and ask questions if you have any lingering thoughts or concerns.
How does a student continue to show interest in a program if they are at the top of your rank list?
Send thank you letters after your interviews and be specific about the aspects of the program that interest you. It is reasonable to let your top program know they are your first choice by emailing them at the end of the interview season. Be true to your number one program though, as they will find out if you lied to them. If you want to express interest to your top choices, you can use the phrase “top choice” without committing one to “number one.” Just be careful with telling multiple programs they are your number one. It is unclear if these emails actually have an impact, but if you use the right language it would not hurt you. Be yourself and discover the program that is the best fit for you.
What advice do you have for people who have a red flag in their application?
Know that the red flag will likely be addressed in the interview. Be prepared to address whatever the red flag is, and to speak about how it impacted you, how you changed as a result of it, etc. If you want to bring it up, do not be afraid to acknowledge it. Just be able to show how you have improved as a result of it.
