A New Norm: The Amplified Stress of Applying to Residency

“Promise me you’ll stay near the computer until I’m done, in case I get another invite today!” My Ob-Gyn residency interview started in 10 minutes. I should have been mentally preparing; instead, I was going over instructions with my mom (again) for watching for other residency interview invitations. My mom kept her promise, but there was still a 15-minute period during which my inbox was unwatched and an invitation arrived. By the time my mom saw it, all the interview spots had filled, and I was automatically waitlisted. I was devastated, and my mom was torn with guilt. Two months (and a lot of email checking) later, the interview season was seemingly finished, and I was on a much-needed vacation. On New Year’s Eve, I woke to the warm Mexican sun on my skin and was shocked when I glanced at my phone: I was off the waitlist, and my interview was in 5 days. I spent the last day of 2018 frantically searching for a strong Wi-Fi connection. I repeatedly ran through a checklist in my head: confirm the interview; call the airline to change my flight itinerary; text a list of clothes and belongings for my parents to express mail; tell my attending I’d miss three days of work unexpectedly; book an appointment to change my tropical orange nails to a neutral, professional color… I could not sleep that night for fear of forgetting something. Distracted by the complicated logistics, the one thing I did forget was to feel excited for the interview. The co...
Source: Academic Medicine Blog - Category: Universities & Medical Training Authors: Tags: Featured Guest Perspective residency the Match trainee wellness Source Type: blogs