This email comes in three forms. The first is short. The second is longer. The third is fairy tale.
Short
Longer
For many, applying to residency is a scary thought. It's like applying to medical school all over again, but for the rest of your life. You have to decide on away rotations. You have to take Step 2. You have to choose programs. You have to interview…again…and again…and again.
Short
- The attached document will help you apply to residency.
- You can find other information on the AAMC OSR site.
Longer
For many, applying to residency is a scary thought. It's like applying to medical school all over again, but for the rest of your life. You have to decide on away rotations. You have to take Step 2. You have to choose programs. You have to interview…again…and again…and again.
The whole thing is a mess. It's stressful in a time when you were about to sail away on the M4 vacation cruise. This is where the AAMC OSR Communications committee can help. They put together the "Advice on Applying to Residency Programs" document, which is attached. The 14-page document might not ease all your worry, but it'll put you on the right track.
In case you're wondering, there are other documents available at the AAMC OSR site. Give it a look.
Fairy Tale
Once upon a time in a galaxy far, far away, there was a village with a girl. The girl wasn't like other girls or even like the boys. She didn't play with dolls, marbles, or any other games children play. She stared at clouds. She stared at dirt. She stared at everything. People always wondered what she was so fascinated by. To most, a cloud is a cloud, dirt is dirt, and things are things. But not to our hero. Our hero was fortunate. She didn't want to be like all the others. She wasn't satisfied with simple answers. She wasn't satisfied. But, remember, our hero was fortunate. Our hero found a place where she could be different, a place where questions were asked, a place that had seemingly simple answers with unquestionably complex meaning. She found science.
Science. The wonderful place, so different from everywhere else, where questions are asked. It was with science that she found books. Wonderful books with paper and words. Books that did more than provide answers; they provided questions. It was in these books, in those questions that our hero first realized the truth of medicine. Medicine was the secret practice of the village physician. For most, the physician practiced magic, but for her, he practiced science. Science she needed to understand. Science that could help everyday people. Science that would help generations and generations.
When she asked to be his apprentice. He promptly replied "no." She wasn't swayed; neither was he. It took two years and over 700 "no's" before he agreed…with conditions. It was here where our hero learned of the trials. The trials must be faced by all physicians. Her first trial was the mighty beast MCATicus. She slay it swiftly. Next were the wee Shelvators. These little beasts were knockout versions of the great Stepicus One. But much like the MCATicus, she slay the Shelvators, one by one by one. Bloodied, battle-worn she prepared for the mythical Stepicus One.
There were rumors of Stepicus One. It gobbled some whole, but if you survived, you could survive the rest of the trials. Our hero prepared. She practiced. She trained. She used every review course she could find. When the day arrived, she stepped into the ring with the Stepicus One, and it, too, fell. Pleased with herself, she embarked on her next trial. There she learned secret practices of the physicians. She learned of different specialties. It was all wonderful, but something wasn't right. There was a dark cloud approaching. Soon this trial would be complete, and she would face the Match.
The Match was another trial, but not like the others. This trial dictated your specialty. There were rumors about the Match and the terrifying SOAPy scramble. Despite the rumors, there was no review course. No way to practice. Our hero became despondent. Her years in training didn't prepare her for the mystery of the Match. She couldn't think her way through it. There were no formulas to remember; no magical potions to administer. Our hero began doubting herself.
Doubt is an under-appreciated emotion, but doubt is the hidden trial of science and the hero. Heroes become heroes when facing their doubt. Our hero returned to books in her doubt. She scoured for knowledge until she found a hint of a hidden text. A text that might provide the answers she desperately needed. A text that might even provide the questions. So, she began her journey. She trekked through the realm of Google and climbed the hills of AMMC until she reached the valley of OSR. Here in the valley she found an ancient text. The text was called "Advice on Applying to Residency Programs." This concise text provided some answers, more questions, and a direction. It was wonderful. The advice on away rotations, the bits on Stepicus Two, the hints for interviews…magical.
Armed with her new found weapon, our hero returned a hero. Hardened in the shadow of doubt, she conquered the Match and slay Stepicus Two and Three with graceful ease. Completing her residency apprenticeship, she moved back to her village. There she maintained a comfortable yet modest life and helped those she could happily ever after.
Respectfully,
AAMC-OSR Communications Committee
Robert Guglielmo, Central Region
Manny Maccalli, Northern Region
Daniel Weinberg, Southern Region
Laura Muscianese, Western Region
Leland Husband, National Delegate
In case you're wondering, there are other documents available at the AAMC OSR site. Give it a look.
Fairy Tale
Once upon a time in a galaxy far, far away, there was a village with a girl. The girl wasn't like other girls or even like the boys. She didn't play with dolls, marbles, or any other games children play. She stared at clouds. She stared at dirt. She stared at everything. People always wondered what she was so fascinated by. To most, a cloud is a cloud, dirt is dirt, and things are things. But not to our hero. Our hero was fortunate. She didn't want to be like all the others. She wasn't satisfied with simple answers. She wasn't satisfied. But, remember, our hero was fortunate. Our hero found a place where she could be different, a place where questions were asked, a place that had seemingly simple answers with unquestionably complex meaning. She found science.
Science. The wonderful place, so different from everywhere else, where questions are asked. It was with science that she found books. Wonderful books with paper and words. Books that did more than provide answers; they provided questions. It was in these books, in those questions that our hero first realized the truth of medicine. Medicine was the secret practice of the village physician. For most, the physician practiced magic, but for her, he practiced science. Science she needed to understand. Science that could help everyday people. Science that would help generations and generations.
When she asked to be his apprentice. He promptly replied "no." She wasn't swayed; neither was he. It took two years and over 700 "no's" before he agreed…with conditions. It was here where our hero learned of the trials. The trials must be faced by all physicians. Her first trial was the mighty beast MCATicus. She slay it swiftly. Next were the wee Shelvators. These little beasts were knockout versions of the great Stepicus One. But much like the MCATicus, she slay the Shelvators, one by one by one. Bloodied, battle-worn she prepared for the mythical Stepicus One.
There were rumors of Stepicus One. It gobbled some whole, but if you survived, you could survive the rest of the trials. Our hero prepared. She practiced. She trained. She used every review course she could find. When the day arrived, she stepped into the ring with the Stepicus One, and it, too, fell. Pleased with herself, she embarked on her next trial. There she learned secret practices of the physicians. She learned of different specialties. It was all wonderful, but something wasn't right. There was a dark cloud approaching. Soon this trial would be complete, and she would face the Match.
The Match was another trial, but not like the others. This trial dictated your specialty. There were rumors about the Match and the terrifying SOAPy scramble. Despite the rumors, there was no review course. No way to practice. Our hero became despondent. Her years in training didn't prepare her for the mystery of the Match. She couldn't think her way through it. There were no formulas to remember; no magical potions to administer. Our hero began doubting herself.
Doubt is an under-appreciated emotion, but doubt is the hidden trial of science and the hero. Heroes become heroes when facing their doubt. Our hero returned to books in her doubt. She scoured for knowledge until she found a hint of a hidden text. A text that might provide the answers she desperately needed. A text that might even provide the questions. So, she began her journey. She trekked through the realm of Google and climbed the hills of AMMC until she reached the valley of OSR. Here in the valley she found an ancient text. The text was called "Advice on Applying to Residency Programs." This concise text provided some answers, more questions, and a direction. It was wonderful. The advice on away rotations, the bits on Stepicus Two, the hints for interviews…magical.
Armed with her new found weapon, our hero returned a hero. Hardened in the shadow of doubt, she conquered the Match and slay Stepicus Two and Three with graceful ease. Completing her residency apprenticeship, she moved back to her village. There she maintained a comfortable yet modest life and helped those she could happily ever after.
Respectfully,
AAMC-OSR Communications Committee
Robert Guglielmo, Central Region
Manny Maccalli, Northern Region
Daniel Weinberg, Southern Region
Laura Muscianese, Western Region
Leland Husband, National Delegate