Applying to residency programs is unlike applying to any other job or training program. First you fill out an extensive application that includes a personal statement and three letters of recommendation plus lists of accomplishments, publications, and any other information that a program director may want to know.
The application goes to a central application service which sends it out to each program to which you apply. Each program to which you apply costs $10 - $35. One in three applicants to ophthalmology don't get accepted to ANY programs, so applying broadly is adventageous (and expensive).
Next programs start inviting you out for interviews (hopefully) to which you must travel at your own expense. Finally, at the beginning of January when interviews are over, you subit a "rank list" to the central application service. This means that you rank in order of preference the programs that you would like to attend (of the ones you interviewed at). At the same time, the program directors submit a "rank list" of the applicants they interviewed, in the order that they prefer them to come to their program. A computer "matches" you up and then everyone finds out on the same day where they will be going! Once you have "matched" you are under contract and can't change programs. It is exciting and stressful all at once.
So now we begin the interview trail. As the interview invitations arrive I can't help but wonder/obsess about where will will be living for the next four years!
I have been thinking about you guys so much the last couple months as we are just starting this journey that you guys are totally used to! Now you guys are preparing for the next step and I am s excited for you guys to figure out where you are heading too! Keep us updated and we will keep you guys in our prayers over the next few months that you guys match!! This is so exciting (and nerve wracking :)!!!!! Hope things are going well with everything else
ReplyDeleteI had no idea this process was so intense! I can't imagine how anxious you must be to find out. Good luck, I look forward to hearing the big news!
ReplyDeleteWe'll start praying you go to Hawaii, any good programs there?
ReplyDeleteHa ha no ophtho in Hawaii. Maybe so. Cal though?
ReplyDeleteI hear that Tuesdays are the best days out of the week to find killer deals on flights. So exciting! It's kind of nice to be right on your tail...we submit Thursday. Yikes.
ReplyDeleteAhh, that is stressful and exciting! Good luck, I am excited to hear how it all goes! We've used Travelocity a lot, but Southwest sometimes beats them (on just flights). Good luck :)
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