MAKING THE MOST OF OBSERVERSHIPS / EXTERNSHIPS...

If your residency application were a Cheese-Sandwich, then there is no arguing over the fact that externships and observerships add more cheese to your sandwich ;-) ! At the same time, do not underestimate your potential at the very place where you do the clinical term . Though not always, but often, an observership or an externship is not only an investment that YOU make, it's also a mini-investment that the program makes - because, for them, you could be a potential candidate in their program! Keep this in mind and work on improving your chances for a position in that program.

How do you do this ? Here are some ways :

1. Towards the end of your Observership term, shoot an email to the program director telling him how much you are impressed with the program, the work atmosphere for residents, quality of didactics, seminars or teaching your attending does on rounds, etc. etc. etc.

2. At the end of your observership term, drop in a direct or indirect hint to your attending doc, i.e. the one under whom you did the observership, that you are really keen on the program and would be great if he/she could communicate that to the Program Director.

Trust me, the program director and most faculty will already know about you through all those informal conversations and jokes that attendings exchange when they meet each other over coffee or lunch - but an active interest in the program from you can easily land you an interview in the program.

The Downside ?

Now, agreed that the specific program may not be your first choice and that you may have your eyes set on another program. Yet, you wish to have backups without hurting anyone - how would you handle that ?

Well, schedule your interview in that program towards the end ..or atleast AFTER your better interviews. That way, you will have a fair idea of your chances at the prevous programs and should a Pre-match offer come by, you are in a better position to handle things.

So, if you are already doing a US clinical term and not already doing the needy, it's time to get on to your act :-)