Summary: Episode 94: Learn what programs are looking for in an ERAS application.<br> <br> What draws people to psychiatry?<br> <br> * Interest in serving patients with chronic, severe mental illness. Enjoying psychotic patients can be a big determinant.<br> * Fascination with neuroscience.<br> * Strong interpersonal skills. Ability to engage and successfully navigate almost any typeof person.<br> * Introspective types; ability to look within and then MODEL appropriate, mature behaviorto your patients.<br> * Lifestyle. You can’t beat it. Possibility of a cash-only practice with relatively little start-up costs; anytime, anywhere. More people chose psychiatry in 2013.1<br> * Longer appointment slots: 20-30 minutes vs. 10 minute follow-up visits.<br> * In psychiatry, priorities and staying centered in family is respected. <br> <br> What types of programs exist in Psychiatry?<br> (adapted from http://www.psychiatry.org/medical-students/subspecialties-in-psychiatry)<br> <br> * Child and Adolescent Psychiatry<br> * Geriatric Psychiatry<br> * Addiction Psychiatry<br> * Forensic Psychiatry<br> * Psychosomatic Medicine<br> * Research – 2 years<br> <br> Combined Programs<br> <br> * Triple Board Residency (Psychiatry/Pediatrics/Child & Adolescent Psychiatry) – A five-year combined residency which integrates psychiatry, pediatrics and child and adolescent<br> psychiatry.<br> * Psychiatry/Family Practice – five-year combined residency.<br> * Psychiatry/Internal Medicine – five-year combined residency.<br> <br> Psychiatry/Neurology – five-to-six year combined residency.<br> What medical school grades do competitive applicants have for psychiatry residencies?<br> A solid medical school performance is important. Therefore, passing all of your medical school classes the first time is huge, but I don’t have to tell you that. That said, it’s nice if you got a High Pass or Honors in your Psychiatry rotation but that’s not required. That grade isn’t often going to be a deciding factor by itself. So, my answer here is for the student to have an absence of failed classes rather than the presence of Honors grades.<br> <br> <br> <br> <br> What are the Step scores of competitive applicants?<br> Data adapted from http://www.nrmp.org/match-data/main-residency-match-data/.<br> Unscientific research into this question puts the number needed for USMLE Step 1 historically around 208. Don’t let that number “psych” you out. Different programs emphasize different things and an application is viewed in its entirety.<br> How important is research to remain competitive?<br> This depends on where you’re applying. Personally, I interviewed at Duke and UT Southwestern where it is very important. I’m training at Scott & White where it’s not emphasized but I’ve done 20 scholarly activities; far more than I could have accomplished at the other, busier programs.<br> If you have a publication, that stands out because of the amount of dedication required to follow through on it. Otherwise, a few volunteer assignments on someone else’s project isn’t that impressive. If you have no research experience at all, it may appear that you are unmotivated or cocky.<br> How to research, grades and Step scores interplay?<br> Again, the application will stand as a whole and should reflect who you are. If family is a priority and you haven’t done much “extra”, don’t worry about it. Find a way to mention them in your personal essay. In psychiatry, priorities and staying centered in family is respected.<br> Other ways you can shine in your residency application are mission trips, volunteering with the underserved, recommendations for Psychiatry program directors and AWAY rotations.<br> How important are away rotations?<br> Away rotations are KEY if you really want to train at that residency. It’s a 1-month interview! Similarly,
