Rear View Mirror
Current M4 at a USMD school here. Idk who needs to hear it but I only had one invite my application cycle like so many people who frequent these forums. I felt on top of the world for turning it into an acceptance, but also so insignificant compared to all the people who had multiple amazing acceptances. Four years later, I'm done with my interviews for neurology residency, of which I'm proud to say I have a safe number, including some from top programs.
I used to hate the phrase at the time, but now I get it: "all it takes is one". Your GPA, MCAT, undergrad school and activities, even all your acceptances but one - everything gets checked at the door when you don the white coat, and from then on you and everyone start again from square one. In my four years I've been able to:
- obtain awards for leadership and research
- start annual events for our student body, one of which is now a part of orientation
- help A LOT of patients, both on rotations and in our free clinic
- make spreadsheets to help my whole class study (which also made their way to admin -> influenced some good changes in our school's curriculum)
- teach neurology to students from younger classes + taking some of them on as mentees when they finally realize neurology is the best specialty :P
- interview finalists for the new dean of the med school after the last one stepped down
- wife up my best friend >u<
Interviewing is hard. The wait is hard. Beating the odds of one interview is hard.
But it only takes one. From then on, you can grow into the doctor and person you want to be. Put your best foot forward when you get that one interview, get ready for the world to know your name when you get that one acceptance :) Good luck future docs!