There are several good strategies for a medical student filling out a residency application. Making sure that all of the core requirements are completed within the paperwork is perhaps the largest item that applicants overlook. If the reviewer sees that one of the requested documents is missing, the entire application could be discarded. Likewise, the essay part of the residency application is often the only chance that a student has to convince the panel to grant an interview. Another good tip for students filling out a residence application is to apply to multiple hospitals at once since the open slots are usually extremely limited.
Many students see a residency application as a major obstacle in obtaining employment, and hospitals often have such stringent guidelines to encourage applicants to give up. They see it as an initial test to determine if an applicant has the work ethic and desire to complete a complex process in order to gain employment, and any mistakes in the process are viewed critically. Students filling out a residency application should begin this paperwork well in advance of the deadline to ensure that the paperwork is perfect in every possible way. The individual should deliver the application as early in the review process as possible, preferably on the first day of enrollment.
The essay part of a residency application is by far one of the most important factors in receiving an interview. A review board sees hundreds of nearly identical applications each enrollment period, with the only major differences being elective credits and grade point averages. Students who complete a compelling, original essay make an immediate impression that often drastically raises their chances of being accepted into the program. Residency application essays should be one to two pages long with interesting details and a focus on why the student would be the optimal selection.
Another tip for filling out a residency application is to apply to multiple hospitals at once. Since there are dozens of applications filed for almost every single residency slot available, students should prioritize which programs would provide the largest benefit to their future employment. By creating a list of the top ten programs within the field and applying to each of them, the student's chances of acceptance are much greater overall. Using this method also allows the student to have some additional flexibility if chosen for multiple programs. Instead of being forced to accept the first offer, he can negotiate things like salary, shift preferences, and starting dates.
