Interviews
The most difficult part in your application will be securing an interview. Many program directors find it difficult to evaluate foreign graduates, so are reluctant to make the effort to interview them: there is certainly little doubt that there is substantial variablility in the quality of graduates from disparate medical schools.
There are no guaranteed methods to getting an interview at any of the top hospitals. However you can increase your chances by
- doing an elective
- getting good USMLE scores
- doing well in your own medical school
- having a research publication
- having very strong letters of reference from your dean and referees
Never assume that your application is actually being reviewed by the hospital you applied to. Make sure you get in touch with the program coordinator after you have seen them download your items from ERAS, asking when you can expect to hear about whether you will be given an interview. All program directors are listed in the AMA green book, and online at FREIDA. It is true that planning international travel is more complicated than local travel, so you really will benefit from an early decision. If you do get an interview, you should be able to negotiate a day that works in your interviewing schedule, but this can be variable.
The interview day itself usually starts the night before, where you’ll be hosted to a casual dinner with members of that residency. This is where you get to ask all the hard questions about what life is really like working in that hospital and program. Many residency programs do look for feedback from those who have met you at these dinners, so be on your best behavior.
The actual interview day will usually involve hearing a presentation about the program, going to morning report/conference, and then meeting individually with some of the selection committee during the day. You may not be scheduled to meet with the program director themself, but it is worth asking (given you have travelled so far) to meet directly with them at the end of the day, to find out how you got on, and whether you’re in with a good chance at this program.
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