The Residency Match: 101 Biggest Mistakes And How To Avoid Them

Will you be a winner on Match Day?

In late March, a life-changing day occurs for students at medical schools across the United States. On Match Day, students learn where they will be pursuing their residency training. For some, it is a time to rejoice. For others, however, there is bitter disappointment when the match does not turn out as expected.

Every year there are medical students who do not match at any residency program. There are many others who do match but are disappointed to learn that they did not match at one of their top programs. These outcomes often leave students wondering what went wrong along the way.

During every step of the residency application process, mistakes can be made that prevent you from matching with the residency program of your choice. Although these errors have been well known to those involved in the resident selection process, they are not well recognized by students applying for residency.

This book identifies the 101 all-too-common mistakes students make during the residency application process. It shows you how to avoid them so you don't fall into the same traps. Here are some of the mistakes you'll learn to avoid:

Mistakes made
On the CV
On the personal statement
When interviewing
When ranking residency programs
And much more

Take charge of the residency application process, instead of letting it take charge of you.

Customer Reviews:

Very helpful book that saves you time

By jw - August 7, 2003

The fourth year of medical school can be a stressful, demanding time. This books cuts down on the amount of necessary reading that you must do in order to match well. The book is a fast read that highlights the most important mistakes that others have made during the match process. It lets you in on tips on all subjects - from forming your CV to obtaining your letters of recommendation to developing your personal statement and preparing for interviews.
I found the sections about the CV and personal statement very helpful and much easier to read than those same sections in a larger book about the match. The section on letters of recommendation was important because it directed me on the proper way to ask for and to attain the best letters of recommendation. The interview section contains good reminders of things that seem common sense but which you don't necessarily think about. It also has several tips about subjects I had not thought about (for example, you should have a case... read more

An exellent and a must read book

By Alireza S. Ardali - October 26, 2005

I participitated in the match last year and got 7 interviews(attended 6), but unfortunately didn't match due to lack of experience and inadequate preparation. When I read "The Residency match", noticed, the several mistakes that I made about my CV, personal statement and during my interviews were completely avoidable by following Dr Desai's recommendations. I believe he has done a wonderful job, I woud have memorized the book word by word if I had seen it before my interviews. I would rate this book 5+ Stars with no doubt.

How to prepare for residency match

By Craig B. Brown - January 11, 2007

this book is a great overview of how to organize your thoughts and the paperwork in preparation for NRMP. This book does not give you the specifics about each individual residency program, but does provide a timeline that should be followed.

One chapter describes what items to bring to the interview, how to act, and more importantly what are the DO NOTS!!

Highly recommend for thrid and fourth medical students.