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A thread for Residency Applicants: Deciding Where to Apply to Residency - when you canât actually visit IRL! A Thread of some thoughts 
First, the good news about virtual residency interviews: A lot of money saved by applicants who donât have money to spend! 1/15
This will be a great leveling of the playing field! I think back to all of the couches I slept on, belonging to people who were friends of friends. They didnât even know me, but took time to feed me and give me a place to sleep for free (Thanks - I remember you!).
Another Plus - 
saved on dry cleaning! I saw the term âtorso formalâ circulating on Twitter, and itâs brilliant! You can be comfortable enough to focus on letting your personality shine through, and not worrying about the comfort of - or scrutiny over - your outfit 
saved on dry cleaning! I saw the term âtorso formalâ circulating on Twitter, and itâs brilliant! You can be comfortable enough to focus on letting your personality shine through, and not worrying about the comfort of - or scrutiny over - your outfit
So thatâs all good news, right? But I wonder about the intangibles (and all the programs out there hoping to attract your talent are, too):
1. Will you still get that GUT feeling? The surprise at the place you initially considered to be your âpractice interviewâ but actually
?
1. Will you still get that GUT feeling? The surprise at the place you initially considered to be your âpractice interviewâ but actually
?
Or the sense that your âtop pickâ might actually not be a good fit for you? The feeling you get walking into the building, outside the building... or when youâre driving into or flying over the town. My example: I didnât realize how much surrounding beauty mattered to me â
No matter how âprestigious,â I needed some nature in the immediate surroundings. Oh, and when I couldnât find parking for 20 minutes, and realized I didnât feel like dealing with *that* in residency. None of this is on âthe listâ and I felt silly admitting it mattered to me -
but it did matter (and still does). Be honest with yourself. If it matters to YOU, it MATTERS! 2. And while we are on the topic â letâs talk about âprestigeâ. You might as well decide now how much the name of the institution matters to you.
Real question: Will that ârankâ change if you encounter (or not) faculty who seem truly invested in your success more than their own? âPrestigeâ and caring faculty do coexist - but you better make sure they coexist at your institution of choice, right?
3. Be aware of the âromanticismâ trap. Are you being sold on a bunch of cool aspects of the culture or events that you wonât be able to partake in on a resident salary? Are you going to need to take out MORE loans during residency just to cover food and housing?
4. The BIG question: Since I donât have to travel, should I just apply everywhere? Probably not a good idea! BUT - is there a place or two youâve always dreamed of maybe living, but in a ânormalâ interview season the flights might be too expensive? Go for it!!
If you donât have constraints keeping you 100% locked into one region, now is your chance to explore! A Guarantee: Youâll be amazed at the opportunities and growth that are OUTSIDE your âcomfort zone.â Take it from a Northeast gal, who found herself in the Midwest, then West!
One last thing if youâre still with me: 5. It takes a village to raise a doctor. 
Your colleagues are one part of your village in residency. But if there are others in your life who you want with you on this next challenging part of your career, communicate with them.
Your colleagues are one part of your village in residency. But if there are others in your life who you want with you on this next challenging part of your career, communicate with them.
Seek their input early and often. They may surprise you in supporting a move, especially if they can see how excited you are! For my partner and I, I made a short list of the programs where I thought I could be happy and successful, and handed that list to him to rank. Why?
I needed to know he was invested in the decision, and could be happy if I was working late hours. Every opportunity for either of us since, weâve had a similar discussion about how it would work for our family. So if you are fortunate to have a partner/family/loved one -
consider adopting this strategy early, if you want that relationship to last ;) Mutual respect, right? 
Thatâs all - Hope it helps. Youâve got this!! #MedTwitter and #MedStudentTwitter Colleagues, Add your thoughts?
Thatâs all - Hope it helps. Youâve got this!! #MedTwitter and #MedStudentTwitter Colleagues, Add your thoughts?
