Anesthesiology

Anesthesiology

This online repository houses relevant resources and contact information for students seeking career advice. We encourage you to review the career-related materials provided (e.g. Specialty Webinar, Interview Questions, Research, etc.) as you seek support in your journey through medical school.

If you have further questions that are not addressed on this page, please feel free to contact a Specialty Faculty Mentor for further guidance.

Match Preparation and Charting Outcomes Heading link

You are more than your Step Scores! Use the NRMP page to look at the qualifications of applicants who have successfully applied to your specialty.

Should applicants do away rotations?

If the student has a strong interest in a particular program, an away rotation is likely to improve their chance of matching at that program. However, the student has to be sure to make an excellent impression as anything less than that will hurt the student’s chance of matching at that program. The candidate should be prepared to work hard and be proactive during the away rotation.

Research

Research is not required but most candidates have participated in some research. If the student has a genuine interest in the research process or has performed meaningful research, it is considered a favorable part of the application. It is very clear to the selection committee when the student is engaged in research to improve their application. If the student is going to do research, it should be in an area that is meaningful to them and they should be prepared to discuss it in some depth during the interview.

Recommendation

  • Number of letters recommended 3-4
  • Chair’s letter required? If possible. It always helps to know the letter writer and chairs are usually well known.
  • Number of letters from within specialty? 1-2
  • Number of letters from away rotations/institutions? Not necessary unless the letter is very strong and the author is well known.
  • Do you require the MSPE before offering interviews? No

Strong letters of recommendations should come from someone with whom the candidate has a relationship or has worked closely with. It is helpful to schedule a time to meet with the letter writer to express your interests/goals. Give your letter writers a copy of your personal statement and CV. This will help them write an informative and sincere letter. Selection committees look for comments that highlight the candidate’s strengths relative to their peers. For example, “one of the best students I have worked with… Saw more patients than her peers…. Worked at a senior level… connected with patients at a level higher than his training…”

The most important thing is to have a STRONG letter from someone who knows the applicant well and can comment on his/her strengths as an aspiring physician. Ideally, letter will come from within the specialty but also from medical subspecialties (cardiology, pulmonary, ICU, renal, neurology).Luckily, anesthesiology incorporates all aspects of medicine (pediatrics, OB, etc.) so any strong letter is appropriate. If a letter writer hesitates or does not seem comfortable writing the letter, consider asking someone else.

Letters from the chair are helpful if the chair knows the applicant and can write a meaningful letter. Students can try to schedule a time with the chair at the beginning of the rotation and schedule clinical time with them. The Chair may be more comfortable writing a letter after such encounters.

Personal Statements

The majority of personal statements express the candidates interest in the field. Interviewers look to the personal statement to formulate questions during the interview. It is helpful to write about a meaningful experience that impacted the applicant’s decision to pursue anesthesia or become a doctor. Statements that highlight a candidate’s growth as an individual or professional always stand out. We read hundreds of personal statements about pharmacology and being on the other side of the drape. It is always better to be safe than outrageous. Have multiple people read your statement and make sure it is grammatically correct. If there is a particular experience that really shaped who the applicant is as a person (or the applicants outlook on life/career), it would be meaningful to write about it.

Application Timing

  • When do programs in your specialty generally begin reviewing applications?
    As soon as ERAS open. We download all the applications then and DO NOT DO IT AFTER. So if your application is NOT in by day one… we do not look at it
  • When do programs in your specialty begin offering interviews?
    October 1 after the Dean’s letter comes out
  • When does your program  generally offer interviews?
    Fall into December.
  • Do you require the MSPE before offering interviews?
    No, we put rely on the Dean’s letters heavily.

Interview Advice

  • Candidates should be able to speak intelligently about anything in the application.
  • Candidates should be prepared to discuss things they have learned or how they have developed as an individual/professional from the experiences they describe in the application.
  • We typically have 3-4 interviews per candidate.
  • Anesthesiology is very competitive and depending on the applicant, students may commit to twenty interviews.

Post-Interview Advice

If the candidate is really interested in a program, they should inform the program and potentially schedule a second look. At UIC, we really want applicants that want to be here. Obviously, you can’t schedule a second look at multiple sites. An email expressing your genuine interest can go a long way. Also, thank you notes should be sent within a few days, ideally the next day.

For further guidance, contact our specialty faculty liaison:

Edina Kim, MD
ekim33@uic.edu

or contact coordinator
Sherri Cunningham
sherrim@uic.edu

Helpful Resources Heading link

  1. The NRMP publishes a survey of Applicants each year. This report presents the results of selected items from the NRMP Applicant Survey. The report documents factors that applicants weigh in selecting programs (1) at which to interview and (2) to rank in the Main Residency Match.
  2. The NRMP Publishes a survey of Residency Program Directors. This report examines the factors program directors use to select applicants to interview and rank. Data are reported for 22 specialties and the transitional year in the Main Residency Match.
  3. The NRMP Publishes a survey of Residency Program Directors. This report examines the factors program directors use to select applicants to interview and rank. Data are reported for 22 specialties and the transitional year in the Main Residency Match. It can be found HERE.
  4. Looking for residency programs?  The AAMC interactive, Careers in Medicine Website is where you should be! LINK
  5. Having difficulty deciphering this information?  Contact your Student Affairs Career Advisor on your campus!!!

Below you will find resources to help you get started when applying for residency.