Choosing Pediatrics as a Specialty Caring for children and
working with their families Breadth of opportunities Primary care
Subspecialty Cognitive Procedural Outpatient and inpatient
opportunities Variable schedules, work load, income, etc. Further
discussion is welcomed by advisors
Slide 5
Overall Perspective on Pediatrics Training You will be able to
match somewhere if you list enough programs Significant variability
in competitiveness of individual programs Prediction of who could
match where is difficult programs rank using different
priorities
Slide 6
Pediatric Career Advisors Dr. Byerley, Dr. McNeal-Trice, or Dr.
Hamrick will be your advisor S/he will meet with you regularly,
give individualized advice, and write your departmental letter
Slide 7
The Fourth Year Schedule at UNC Rotations completed in
September should be in the Deans letter Do at least one hard core
rotation (AI or critical care) before interview season It doesnt
have to be in Pediatrics If you want a letter from a fourth year
rotation plan that to be completed by the end of September
Slide 8
The Fourth Year Schedule at UNC Contrasting opinions Get
started on Pediatrics This is your last chance to take
non-pediatric courses that interest you: take advantage of that Do
a critical care unit Consider radiology and other electives
Consider traveling Signing the forms Byerley, McNeal-Trice, and
Hamrick
Slide 9
A New Elective Transition to Pediatric Internship Offered only
one block Combination of didactics and clinical work Not
required
Slide 10
Away Rotations Performance here will outweigh the application,
positively or negatively Not necessary to match at any given place
Helpful if your heart is set on one program or one geographic area
If you do one, complete it by the end of January
Slide 11
Deciding Between Two Fields Ok to apply to two fields but
decide on one preference by the interview if possible Be careful
with your ERAS letters Programs do not want to match applicants who
are not committed to a given field Be honest
Slide 12
Considering Where to Apply Use FREIDA to choose programs for
applications http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/2997.html
Start with geography
Slide 13
Where to Apply Geography Size Reputation Academic or community
setting? Childrens hospital or not? Presence of fellows Board pass
rates
Slide 14
How Many to Apply To Individual question your advisor can help
Generally not more than 20 Couples match candidates should apply to
more places than individuals
Slide 15
The Application Process Use ERAS to apply
http://www.aamc.org/students/eras/start.htm
Slide 16
Application Components General ERAS Application Personal
Statement CV Transcript Deans Letter (MSPE) Letters of
Recommendation USMLE Transcript Photograph
Slide 17
Personal Statement Statement of one page or less that clarifies
why the student is choosing pediatrics Sincere, individualized Why
pediatrics suits your talents Gives the interviewer something to
talk about Everyone entering pediatrics loves children be sure it
says more than that Choose safe over bold
Slide 18
Essentials about the Personal Statement Assure that there are
no spelling or grammatical errors Dont try to be too unique Be sure
your career goal advisor reads it before its finalized to ERAS Dont
hurt your application with your personal statement
Slide 19
CV Outlined by ERAS Include elements from college and medical
school, and other previous work Be sure your CV looks sincere and
not filled with meaningless one time activities Longer doesnt
necessarily mean better Have it reviewed by your career advisor
before submission
Slide 20
Letters of Recommendation Deans Letter Pediatric Departmental
Letter Written by your assigned career advisor Is the chairs
letter, which may or may not be required Two to three others Choose
someone you worked with clinically Inpatient is generally more
valuable than outpatient Dont have to all be in pediatrics Research
mentor letters are okay as long as there are adequate clinical
letters Be sure to thank those who write for you
Slide 21
USMLE Transcript: When to Take Step II Early if your Step I is
low Whenever if Step I is high As required by the Deans Office When
it fits your schedule
Slide 22
Interviews Schedule as early as you are invited Season is
November - February Try to group geographically talk directly with
programs so they can help you do that Be very, very nice to
coordinators Go to all the socials Remember -they are part of the
interview
Slide 23
The Interview Day Remember the whole visit is a job interview
Meet as many people as possible Be yourself, but on your best
behavior This is not the time to complain Be professional at all
times Have questions prepared to ask, and ask multiple people
Slide 24
The Faculty Interview Show your enthusiasm for learning and
patient care Show respect for research, opportunities in primary
care, subspecialties, etc. regardless of your own interests They
should have read your application remember what you wrote Be
prepared to ask good questions (not the details about call
schedules, maternity leave, etc.)
Slide 25
Follow Up After Interview Day Send thank you notes routinely,
but dont go overboard Its ok to tell your top choice you love them
It is NOT required Always be honest Near the top of my list doesnt
many anything to programs Complete whatever communication you
intend before mid-February Dont expect follow up communications
from the programs to you No news is NOT bad news
Slide 26
Second Visits Scheduled visits after the interview day arranged
by the coordinator at the students request Much less formal An
opportunity for shadowing Done only if the student needs to see the
program again, but can be very helpful Definitely NOT required
Slide 27
How Programs Rank Highly variable and hard to predict Interview
Clinical performance academic ( based on grades, deans letter )
USMLE scores, step 2 > step 1 Deans letter, class rank Letters
of Recommendation Preclinical performance ( based on grades, deans
letter ) School reputation Extracurricular experience ( leadership,
service ) Research experience
Slide 28
How to Rank Programs Geography Feel Resident satisfaction,
friendliness, support Breadth of experiences offered, patient
population Affiliated sites Strength of faculty Resident
responsibility Fellowship opportunities Board pass rate
Stability
Slide 29
How Many to Rank Your advisor can help Generally people
entering peds rank 8-12 programs Rank anywhere you interviewed that
you would rather be an intern than jobless
Slide 30
Subsequent Meetings May: meeting with this years MS4s who
matched in peds July: you should have met with your advisor at
least once September/October: social
Slide 31
Last Bits Please let us know when your career decision is
finalized Stay organized along the way
