How to Boost Your Application for Residency

When we think about applying to residency and having a competitive application, the main factors we consider are board scores and research. These are immensely important factors in being a competitive applicant, but there are more ways to enhance your application and stand out. Below you will find a list of unconventional ways to boost your application and put your knowledge, experiences, and creativity to use.

Tutoring

Tutoring is a great way to enhance your application for several reasons. It not only shows that you are able to handle an extracurricular activity while maintaining high grades in your classes, but it also shows that you have a mastery of the material and are able to help others with your knowledge. You could apply to be a peer tutor at your school, or you could apply for a job with a tutoring service. You do not just have to tutor medical courses either; you can tutor undergraduates in the subject area of your degree, you can tutor for the MCAT, or you can tutor a subject that you feel confident in, such as foreign languages. The possibilities are endless, and you can share your knowledge with others and make your application shine.

Podcasts

Podcasting is a great way to dive into an area that interests you and share it with listeners who are also interested in that topic. If you have a laptop with a microphone, then you can be a podcaster. If you like talking about internal medicine, medical student tips and tricks, study advice, reading EKG’s, or anything under the sun then you can start a podcast. You can also reach out to podcasters that you listen to and ask if you can be a guest on their show. This will be a great topic of conversation during interviews, and you will be well-versed in the field that you talk about. This will also convey commitment and interest in your chosen topic, and it will show that you can handle podcasting while being a medical student.

Writing

Do you like to write? If so, you can use this to create content for blogs, websites, and other educational platforms. You can find sites on surviving medical school, how to study for boards, how to use Anki, how to get through a certain rotation, and so much more. You are a student with valuable insight and experiences, and writing can be an excellent way to share your knowledge and tips while also enhancing your application. You can also find opportunities to publish your writing through SOMA by joining and contributing to the SOMA Research Committee.

Videos

Are you savvy with iMovie and Powerpoint creation? If so, you can create videos in your niche and share them with others. Your videos can be educational, give tips and tricks, show how to study, or provide days in the life of a medical student. You can show your technological skills, share helpful content with others, and boost your application.

Products

Have you noticed areas of need as a medical student that you could fill with a bit of business savvy and creativity? Then you should consider creating a product. Perhaps you have handwritten, illustrated notes that could be turned into a notebook and help students learn for generations to come. If you are on the more artistic side, you could create stickers or cute badge reels. Creation of a tangible product will not only convey your creativity, but it will show that you can start a project and see it through to completion. Your unique solution to a problem can become a great way to make you stand out.

Residency programs get hundreds to thousands of applications each year with many of those students having great scores and plenty of research. These are great ways to stand out and make yourself a unique applicant.