Is Completing a Residency Really Worth Dealing with the Application Process?

Marcie Lepkowsky, PharmD Director, PGY1 Acute Care Pharmacy Residency Program

So, Is Completing a Residency Really Worth Dealing with the Application Process?

MATCH

MATCH MATCH MATCH MATCH MATCH MATCH MATCH MATCH MATCH MATCH MATCH

n  Sponsored and supervised by ASHP n  Administered on behalf of ASHP by

National Matching Services Inc. n  Fees: $125 to register for the Match (non-

refundable) n  http://www.natmatch.com/ashprmp n  Couples: each applicant registers for the

Match as an individual, but ID’s as couple when submitting Rank Order List

The Match

Important Dates n  November, 2013

Ø  able to register for the Match Ø  Use online registration portal shared by

the NMS and PhORCAS (new) Ø  https://portal.phorcas.org/ Ø  List of participating programs available on

NAS website

Important Dates

n  January 10, 2014: Recommended date by which applicants should register for the Match

n  February 7, 2014: By this date instructions for submitting Rank Order Lists and obtaining Match results will be available

n  February 17, 2014: Start to submit Rank Order List n  March 6, 2014: Final date to register for the Match n  March 7, 2014: Final date for submission of

Applicant and Program Rank Order Lists n  March 21, 2014: Results of the Match are released

Match Mentions n  Don’t play mind games with yourself n  The Match favors the applicant n  Rank only where you are willing to go n  Do not rank anywhere you are not willing to

go n  Check out the Matching Algorithm n  https://www.natmatch.com/ashprmp/

aboutalg.html

Match Stats https://www.natmatch.com/ashprmp/stats/2013applstats.html

n  4928 Enrolled in Match (4508) n  3933 Participated in Match (3706) n  2495 Matched (2268) n  1438 Did not Match (1438) n  2694 Positions offered in Match (2413) n  199 Positions unfilled; 17 did not rank any

applicants (145; 23)

Rank Stats n  1: 1495 (60%) [1332

(58.7%)] n  2: 530 (21%) [532

(23.5%)] n  3: 261 (10.5%) [221

(9.7%)] n  4: 122 (5%) [112 (5%)] n  5 or >: 87 (3.5%) [71 (3%)]

What if I don’t match? n  March 21, 2014 Ø  9:00 AM PT: list of unfilled programs

posted on Match web site Ø  No action to fill positions is to be taken

prior to 9:00 AM Ø  Applicants may start to use PhORCAS

to prepare applications

When can I apply again?

n  Applicants who do not obtain a position in the Match will be able to use PhORCAS to prepare applications beginning on March 21, and to submit applications to programs participating in PhORCAS beginning on March 24

n  Programs should not make offers before March 31, 2014

n  Scramble

Scramble Offers n  Programs not to make offers before

March 31, 2014

MATCH ?’s

PhORCAS

n  Pharmacy Online Residency Centralized Application Service

n  Fees: $75/first 4; $25 each thereafter9/11 n  https://portal.phorcas.org/

PhORCAS PhORCAS PhORCAS PhORCAS PhORCAS PhORCAS PhORCAS PhORCAS PhORCAS n  Chaos or Control? n  Confusion or Improved Communication?

Three Portals

n  Applicant

n  Program

n  References

Login

Extracurricular Activities

My Sort Options

Extracurricular Activities

n  Did I lead, follow or just show up? n  What did I learn from this experience? n  Consider key words found in program

description n  Opportunity to expand on CV and

Letter of Intent

Personal Statement/letter of Intent

Curriculum Vitae

Some

standardization

Curriculum Vitae

CV “Musts”

n  Aesthetically pleasing n  Ordered in order of importance n  Include NMS Match # n  Reviewed by at least 2 people (in addition to your mom!)

CV “No’s”

n  No spelling/grammatical errors n  No fluff but be complete n  No lying n  “Know” your CV

References

•  November 19th: references may be uploaded •  How many references – 3 or 4? •  Different references for different programs? •  Standardized forms +/- separate letter? •  3 references required to submit application

As of 9/12/13 (most likely change to 11/18/13)

Add Reference

Deadline: 1/3/14

ID Reference

Add Additional References/ Add Additional Request for each Reference

Multiple references/multiple sites

Electronic Signature Creates Legal Document

Supplemental

Confirm Supplemental Requirements just prior to finalizing application

Possible Supplemental Requirements

n  Application forms n  Additional demographic Information n  Photos n  Interview availability n  Additional reference information

Residency Program Designations

Residency Program Designations

PhORCAS ?’s

What’s in YOUR Phorecast?

How Many Programs is Enough?

n  Too many: 1,000,000,000,000,000 Ø  Time away from rotations Ø  Cost to apply and travel to interview Ø  Time commitment for reference writers

n  Too few: 0 n  Your thoughts…

Choosing Where to Apply n  Good fit

v  Number of residents v  PGY2 opportunities v  Patient care/Teaching/Research v  Electives available

n  Preceptors n  Flexible n  Staffing n  Location àExplore the possibilities

Take Home Points n  Be Organized n  No spelling/grammatical errors -

anywhere n  Communicate well with references n  Know your deadlines n  Don’t miss your deadlines n  Apply to “good fit” programs

Possible changes for 2014 n  Improved ease of uploading n  Improved process for reference writers n  Pre-pharmacy school transcripts not

required to apply

Wishful thinking n  Consolidation of sections n  Consolidation of reference letters and

comment sections n  Standard order of components n  No cost for scramble n  Scramble improvements

Marcie Lepkowsky, PharmD marciel@ucsd.edu