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Residency Match & Applications

40 categories · 240 articles

Subinternship Choice Strategy: Maximizing Impact on Your Application

Plan subinternships strategically to earn specialty LORs, treat aways as auditions, and time rotations for ERAS to maximize residency application impact.

Residency Applications

What If My Top Choice Never Emails Me Back After the Interview?

Silence after your top-choice residency interview? Learn what it means, when to send thank-you or letters of intent, and how silence affects match chances.

Residency Applications

Reapplicant Year Roadmap: 12-Month Plan to Rebuild Your Application

12-month reapplicant roadmap to rebuild your residency application: month-by-month plan to boost Step 2 CK, clinical experience, letters, and interview success.

Residency Applications

What If a Program Asks About My Rank List? Navigating Awkward Questions

How to respond when programs ask about your residency rank list: follow NRMP rules, use tactful noncommittal replies, and protect your Match success today.

Residency Applications

Holistic Review in Practice: What Match Data Shows About Low Scores

Holistic review & residency match: learn how low Step/COMLEX scores impact interview/match odds, typical score cutoffs, and when context offsets low scores.

Latest in Residency Match & Applications

Residency Applications

Holistic Review in Practice: What Match Data Shows About Low Scores

Holistic review & residency match: learn how low Step/COMLEX scores impact interview/match odds, typical score cutoffs, and when context offsets low scores.

Residency Applications

Step 2 CK and ERAS Timing: When to Test and When to Release Scores

Plan Step 2 CK test dates and score release to maximize ERAS impact—when to test, release scores, and rescue Step 1 before interviews.

IMG Residency Guide

Are PDs Biased Against Certain IMG Regions? What They Actually Say

Explore PD bias toward IMG regions, NRMP data, and actionable tips to boost your residency match chances as an IMG.

IMG Residency Guide

12‑Month Countdown for IMG Graduates Preparing to Re‑Apply

12-month re-application plan for IMG graduates: a month-by-month sprint to strengthen USMLE, USCE, research, and letters of recommendation to match quickly.

IMG Residency Guide

LOR Source vs Match Success for IMGs: US vs Home‑Country Data

LOR source matters for IMGs: U.S. specialty letters boost interviews and match rates versus home country letters. Data-driven advice for residency applicants.

IMG Residency Guide

Which Regions Host the Most IMG‑Friendly Programs? A State‑Level Breakdown

See which U.S. regions and states host the most IMG-friendly residency programs. Use state-level data to target applications and boost your match odds.

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Residency Applications

What If a Program Asks About My Rank List? Navigating Awkward Questions

IMG Residency Guide

Are PDs Biased Against Certain IMG Regions? What They Actually Say

IMG Residency Guide

12‑Month Countdown for IMG Graduates Preparing to Re‑Apply

IMG Residency Guide

LOR Source vs Match Success for IMGs: US vs Home‑Country Data

IMG Residency Guide

Which Regions Host the Most IMG‑Friendly Programs? A State‑Level Breakdown

Personal Statement Writing

Do Applicants Who Mention Specific Programs Match More Often? The Numbers

Personal Statement Writing

The Truth About Humor in Personal Statements: What Evidence Shows

Personal Statement Writing

Should You Mention Fellowship Plans in a Core Residency Personal Statement?

Personal Statement Writing

How to Address a Step Failure Thoughtfully in Your Personal Statement

Letters of Recommendation for Residency

Research-Heavy CV, Few Rotations: Maximizing Non-Clinical LORs

Letters of Recommendation for Residency

Can a Strong Research LOR Substitute for an Extra Clinical Letter?

Letters of Recommendation for Residency

If You Failed a Course or Exam: Choosing LOR Writers Wisely

Letters of Recommendation for Residency

Does LOR Length Matter More Than Writer Reputation?

Residency Ranking Strategy

Terrified to Rank Community Programs Above Academic Names: Is It Safe?

Residency Ranking Strategy

Can One Emotional Interview Day Ruin My Rank List Decisions?

Residency Ranking Strategy

Two Weeks Before the Deadline: Final Rank List Revisions Checklist

Residency Ranking Strategy

Anxiety About Couples Match Rankings: How Often Do Both Partners Match?

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Pre-Med & Medical School Preparation

13 categories · 78 articles

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Pre-Med Guidance

Pre‑Med While Caring for Family Members: Preserving GPA and Sanity

Discover effective strategies for pre-med students balancing caregiving and academics. Preserve your GPA and sanity with actionable tips.

Pre-Med Guidance

Do Medical Schools Care Where I Take My Prereqs More Than My Grades?

Discover how medical schools prioritize grades over course location for prerequisites. Learn what truly matters for your application success.

Pre-Med Guidance

How International Students Can Strategically Prepare for US Med School

Discover strategic steps for international students to prepare for US medical school. Maximize your chances with tailored advice and insights.

Pre-Med Guidance

How Many Science Courses Should I Take Each Semester as a Pre‑Med?

Discover how many science courses to take each semester as a pre-med. Balance GPA, rigor, and MCAT prep for success in medical school.

Pre-Med Guidance

Do I Need a Formal Pre‑Med Program, or Can Any Major Work?

Discover if a formal pre-med program is necessary for med school. Learn how any major can work with the right planning and prerequisites.

Pre-Med Guidance

Is It Okay to Take a Gap Year Before Medical School, and How Many?

Medical School Applications

Do I Need Research for Community-Focused Med Schools? How to Tell

Medical School Applications

If You Took Multiple Gap Years: Turning a Nonlinear Path into Strength

Medical School Applications

Should I Apply This Cycle or Wait a Year? A Med School Decision Guide

Medical School Life & USMLE/COMLEX Exams

10 categories · 60 articles

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Medical School Life

Managing Long-Distance Relationships During Busy Clerkship Months

Practical tips for medical students to sustain long-distance relationships during clerkship months—set realistic schedules and communication systems.

Medical School Life

Scared You’re Behind in Step Prep? Signs You’re Actually on Track

Medical School Life

90-Day Countdown to Step 2 CK: A Detailed Study and Practice Map

Medical School Life

How Many Hours a Day Should MS3s Realistically Study on Rotations?

Medical School Life

First 7 Days of Each Clerkship: Tasks That Set Up Honors Early

How Much Should You Read Up on Patients Outside of Question Banks?

How Many All‑Nighters Are ‘Too Many’ in Medical School?

Is It Normal to Feel Constantly Behind in M1? What’s Truly Typical?

Should I Tell My Dean About My Mental Health Diagnosis in M1?

If You’re the First Doctor in Your Family: Coping Without a Roadmap

How Much Exercise Is Realistic in Med School Without Hurting Grades?

Residency Life & Challenges

10 categories · 60 articles

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Latest Articles

The Impact of Shift Length on Resident Performance: Comparative Data

Residency Life

Month 1–3 of Intern Year: Crucial Habits to Build and Protect

Residency Life

Are Wellness Programs Effective for Residents? Outcomes and Gaps

Residency Life

The Toxic Myth That Burnout Is a Personal Weakness, Not a System Issue

Residency Life

Advanced Inbox Management for Residents: Labs, Messages, Refills

Residency Life

Terrified of Night Float? What It’s Really Like and How to Cope

First Year as an Intern

Intern Rotation Transitions: A 3-Day Preparation Timeline for New Services

First Year as an Intern

I’m Terrified of Night Float: How Bad Is the Fatigue Really?

First Year as an Intern

Time-on-Task: How Much of Intern Day Is Actually Patient Care vs EMR?

First Year as an Intern

Should I Tell My PD If I Can’t Handle My Current Call Schedule?

First Year as an Intern

Rapid Pre-Rounding: Structured Data Gathering for 12+ Patients

First Year as an Intern

How Do I Decide Which Tasks to Do First on a Busy Call Night?

Night Shift Survival

Is Night Float Always Worse for Burnout? What Studies on Duty Hours Show

Specialty-Specific Residency Insights

7 categories · 42 articles

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Choosing a Surgical Residency

ENT Match Data Deep Dive: Step Scores, Research, and Interview Yields

ENT match data deep dive: learn how Step 2 CK scores, ENT research, and interview yields affect match chances and optimize your application.

Choosing a Surgical Residency

Hate Rounds but Love the OR? Practical Filters for Surgical Program Selection

Choose surgical residency programs that maximize OR time and minimize long rounds. Practical filters to spot OR-focused programs and avoid performative rounds.

Choosing a Surgical Residency

Robotics in General Surgery Training: Metrics to Compare Programs Objectively

Compare robotic training across general surgery residencies using objective metrics: console case volume, case mix, curriculum, access, faculty, and outcomes.

Choosing a Surgical Residency

Didn’t Click on Your General Surgery Rotation? How to Reassess Before Applying

Didn't click with your general surgery rotation? Follow a structured reassessment to diagnose problems, decide before ERAS, and plan your application strategy.

Choosing a Surgical Residency

Trauma-Focused General Surgery Residencies: How to Identify True Level I Training

Identify true Level I trauma general surgery residencies—check volume, penetrating trauma rates, and who leads activations to find real trauma training.

Choosing a Surgical Residency

Overvaluing Robotics in General Surgery: Selection Errors to Avoid

Choosing a Medical Residency

If You Need a Specific City: Adapting Your Specialty Plan to Limited Spots

Choosing a Medical Residency

Which Specialties Offer the Most Geographic Flexibility After Training?

Choosing a Medical Residency

If You’re Drawn to the OR and Clinic: Neuro vs Other Hybrid Pathways

Post-Residency & Job Market

8 categories · 48 articles

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Job Market Post-Residency

The ‘Physician Shortage’ Myth: Why Some New Docs Still Struggle to Find Jobs

Why the 'physician shortage' doesn't help new doctors: learn how geography, specialty, and practice models leave many grads under-employed.

Job Market Post-Residency

How to Pivot From an Unmatched Fellowship to a Solid First Attending Job

Job Market Post-Residency

If Your First Attending Job Is Toxic by Month Three: A Survival Playbook

Job Market Post-Residency

Is This Physician Contract Fair? A Simple Checklist for New Graduates

Job Market Post-Residency

PGY-2 to Graduation: A Month-by-Month Timeline for Your Physician Job Search

Medical Director and Leadership Stipends: How These Roles Really Work

Negotiating Call Schedules: Specific Clauses That Protect Your Time

If You’re Returning Home After Training Abroad: Re-Entering the US Market

Afraid Locums Will Hurt Your CV? How Hiring Committees Actually View It

Anxious About Geographic Limits? Building a Career in a Single City

If Your Spouse’s Career Dictates Location: Crafting a Constrained Job Search

Financial & Legal Aspects

7 categories · 42 articles

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Latest Articles

Divorce While Owing Med School Debt: What Happens to the Loans?

Student Loan Management

Timeline for Switching From Federal IDR to Private Refinance Safely

Student Loan Management

Scared of PSLF Changing Again? How to Protect Yourself If Rules Shift

Student Loan Management

Is It Crazy to Choose Primary Care When I Owe More Than 300K?

Student Loan Management

Quarterly Financial Routines Residents Should Maintain Around Loans

Student Loan Management

What If My Med School Debt Hits 500K? How Bad Is It Really for My Future?

Physician Salaries

Private Practice Exit Scenarios: Valuations, Payouts, and Income Consequences

Physician Salaries

Do Board Certifications Really Improve Your Compensation? Sorting Myth vs Fact

Physician Salaries

If You’re the Main Caregiver at Home: Finding Compensation Models That Fit

Physician Salaries

Single-Income Physician Household: Structuring Your Career and Salary Safely

Physician Salaries

Switching Specialties Mid-Career: How It Impacts Your Long-Term Earnings

Physician Salaries

How Many Job Offers Should You Collect Before Accepting a Physician Position?

Physician Tax Planning

The Myth That Physicians Should Always Incorporate as an S‑Corp

Personal Development & Medical Ethics

8 categories · 48 articles

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Work-Life Balance

Should I Disclose Past Depression or Burnout When Applying to Jobs?

Decide whether to disclose past depression or burnout on job applications: legal and ethical guidance for physicians, when to disclose and how to explain.

Intern Year Month-by-Month: When Burnout Peaks and How to Prepare

Work-Life Balance

Struggling with a Toxic Co-Resident? Protecting Sanity on the Team

Mindfulness in Medicine

Using Mindfulness to Navigate Countertransference in Difficult Encounters

Mindfulness in Medicine

If You’re Crying After Shift but Numb at Work: A Mindful Reconnection Guide

Mindfulness in Medicine

Mindfulness Use Across Specialties: Who Adopts It and Who Avoids It?

Medical Education & Continuing Education

3 categories · 18 articles

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CME Requirements

Is Industry-Sponsored CME Safe to Use for Compliance Requirements?

Learn when industry-sponsored CME meets compliance requirements: verify accreditation, independence from promotion, and keep documentation to avoid risks.