Which programs should I apply to?
There are tons of residency programs for each specialty and many medical students get caught up in rankings and finding the most rigorous academic institution. While this maintains true for some individuals, it may not be the right fit for you. Can you cut away from the noise, sit down quietly and think - what do I want my life during residency to look like? Determine whether that means more time off, more outpatient clinic than inpatient floors, more opportunities for teaching, or possibly less work with medical students or doing social work tasks. You must determine what life you envision for yourself during residency, meaning work life and personal life to accurately assess to which programs you should apply.
Here are general buckets I’d consider when reviewing which programs are right for you:
Academia, Prestige
Research or Tech Opportunities
Rotations
Patient Population
Time Off
Pay
Location
Lifestyle
Take each of these categories and within each write out which components of it matter, or don’t matter to you. Don’t worry about the names of the programs or what your parents will think when you make this list. You are the one who will have to endure residency, no one else.
Once you’ve created your list, start researching programs to determine which ones match up to your bucket list. You may be surprised to find what places do end up on your list. It may mean a smaller community program where you’ll have more one on one time with attendings, meaning more opportunities to be the resident doing the surgery. It may mean staying at your home program because change and leaving family would be too difficult for you, even if a more prestigious place is calling your name. Having your bucket list helps you anchor into reality and what options are right for you.