your application and papers

Your Application and papers

After your exam … you got the results … Now what?

How to prepare your application to get the highest number of interviews

Dr. Mohammad IbraheemDr. Altayyeb Yousef

Preparation

Preparing for a postgraduate program application begins as soon as you start your clinical years in your medical school

Documents required by MOH to apply for scholarship

Completed application form

CV

At least 3 letters of recommendation from consultants of your specialty

Language test certificate

Photograph

Transcript of your MCCEE/USMLEs

Your transcripts and diploma (in English)

Current status letter*

Statement letter

Documents required bY CSC

Same papers package you handed to MOH

Any supporting document you want to send

Letter of MOH

Anticipating Interview Offers

There are no guaranteed methods for getting an interview.

For different speciality, there are different Universities that

offer places for IFS:

Medicine: All Universities but Calgary, New foundland and

Queen’s Universities

Surgery: McGill, Manitoba and McMaster

Ob-Gyne: McGill (most students), Western Ontario and

Manitoba.

Pediatrics: Dalhousie, McGill, Toronto and McMaster

Increase your chances by:

Working HardDoing electivesForming good relationsStrong CVWell written Personal StatementBeing on timeBeing optimistic

Working Hard

Fresh graduates should aim to:

Get good USMLE/Canadian examination scores, and more importantly Pass from FIRST attempt.

Do exams while in Medical School

Get good grades in your medical school.

Increase your chances by:

Working Hard

Doing Electives/ClerkshipsForming good relationsStrong CVWell written Personal StatementBeing on timeBeing optimistic

Electives

Apply to Electives in N.America/IFMSA

Try to rotate with the PD

During last yr of Medical School

Some need Malpractice Liability Insurance

Bring back GOOD LORs

Try to do research while doing elective

Make friends in that institute

Electives

Elective >>> Observership > Short term research

Electives

American Medical Schools known to provide good elective programs:

Harvard Medical School – Boston

Mayoclinic – Minnesotta

U penn – Philadelphia

Johns Hopkins Hospital – Baltimore

Cleveland Clinic – Ohio

Duke University – North Carolina

Weill Cornell – NY

Yale University - Connecticut

Electives

Useful websites:

http://www.gwumc.edu/library/eresources/inetres.cfm?subject=Fourth%20Year%20Electives

http://services.aamc.org/eec/students/

Electives

Canadian universities offer summer electives to medical students for a certain fee:

Toronto

Mcgill

Vancouver

McMaster

Post Grad. Dr…?Electives

Observerships

Limited availability

?? Important

Ministry issues

Increase your chances by:

Working HardDoing electivesForming good relationsStrong CVWell written Personal StatementBeing on timeBeing optimistic

Forming Good Relations

4 GOOD LORs are needed (preferably at

least 1 from a faculty member with

specialty of choice)

MSPE

Have a research publication from your

school and from those you did electives

in

LOR

Take 2 sets .... One sealed!

Best to choose graduates of North America institutes

LOR

Opening: Dear PD

Include student name and AAMC ID #

Indicate the nature and length of your relationship

Body:Use specific examples

Closing - reiterate the strength of your overall recommendation.

Would you recruit this person if you were a residency director?

Signature in color OTHER then black

MSPE

Dean’s Letter

For the US

Includes:Explanation of curriculum

Grading System

Academic Achievements

Rotations with comments

Publication(s)

Research is important but not a must!

Mainly those published

Have a research publication from your school and from those you did electives in.

Shows Academic interest

Increase your chances by:

Working HardDoing Electives/ClerkshipsForming good relationsStrong CVWell written Personal StatementBeing on timeBeing optimistic

CV

Include all the certificates, and any credentials you’ve received

Mention every extracurricular activity you’ve participated in

Non medical activities help build up your social image- remember, you will not only be considered as a doctor, but as a fellow colleague

Electives abroad

OB GYN: Any surgeries you’ve done- mention them

Surgical log book

Major points in CV

Good scores in the USMLE and/or MCCEE

Elective in North American Health Institute

Medical research (especially published)

Other imp. points

Undergraduate performance overall and

mainly in specialty of your interest*

Courses (eg ACLS, ATLS, PALS, etc)

Extra Degree (s)

Postgrad exams (eg. MRCP)

Being a graduate from abroad (eg UK/Ireland)

Undergraduate Performance

For UK/Ireland grads!

GPA system

Mention in understandable language!

Ranking

Increase your chances by:

Working HardDoing electivesForming good relationsStrong CVWell written Personal StatementBeing on timeBeing optimistic

Personal Statement

Generally should be no more than two pages.

Explanation of why you developed an interest in the specialty

Discussion of what makes you unique as an individual

Discussion of your future plans if known

Description why you want US/Canada program

Increase your Chance by:

Working HardDoing electivesForming good relationsStrong CVWell written Personal StatementBeing on timeBeing optimistic

Being on time

Finish your paper work early

ECFMG certified

Apply on time (July)

Matcharesident.com

Negative points but…

Year of graduation

Being currently (or was) in a board!

Not passing from first set!

Late applications!

Increase your chance by:

Working HardDoing electivesForming good relationsStrong CVWell written Personal StatementBeing on timeBeing optimistic