When I reflect on my experience as a medical student applying for ophthalmology residency, I realize how much I did not know about this challenging process when starting out. It is crucial to begin the application process armed with as much information as possible. This article outlines eight tips for heading into the ophthalmology match cycle with confidence.
BEFORE APPLYING
1. Understand What Ophthalmology Entails
Exposure is the name of the game. Eyeballs are not for everyone, so if you are considering ophthalmology, first confirm that this niche is your cup of tea. Clinicals and electives can offer hands-on exposure to all the subspecialties, from cataract surgery to beyond.
Research the lifestyle of ophthalmology residents. Ophthalmology is a good field for work-life balance, but it is still advisable to look at the year-to-year schedules and understand how they might fit in with your life plans. Ophthalmology residency includes 1 preliminary year, which can differ from program to program and range from difficult to relatively manageable. The remaining 3 years are dedicated to ophthalmology and include primary and secondary call. The amount of on-call shifts you take determines your lifestyle in residency.
“Exposure is the name of the game. Eyeballs are not for everyone, so if you are considering ophthalmology, first confirm that this niche is your cup of tea.”
Last, do you want more trauma exposure and experience with globes or more clinic-based training? These intricacies are important to understand before going into the match process so that you can align with a program that fits your best interests as a future physician.
2. Seek Advice From Everyone
Ophthalmology is truly a family, and your colleagues are likely willing to guide you through the match process if you reach out. Although academic advisors provide a great resource, practicing physicians can also provide a lot of insight.
Reaching out to residents at specific programs is a great way to gain an insider’s perspective. Understand that this is not to network and get an interview or to get ranked. Instead, talk to the residents purely to listen and learn. They may also provide insight from their time going through the match process and may shed light on other programs of interest.
Also, talk to experienced practitioners in the field. They may be removed from the match process itself, but they can provide advice about what matters and what parts of residency did or did not shape their careers as ophthalmologists.
WHEN APPLYING
3. Understand That the Ophthalmology Match Is Unique
Remember that the ophthalmology match process is unique and that your timeline will not mirror most of your classmates’. There is an earlier match in ophthalmology, which trickles down to an earlier application due date as well. Further, ophthalmology match is also on the SFMatch platform, not the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS), and most schools and resources are aligned with the ERAS interface. Keep in mind the word limits and formatting for SFMatch when preparing your CV. Talk to your letter writers ahead of time, as they may be used to the ERAS deadline, not SFMatch’s. Last, in terms of interviewing, ophthalmology does not allow preference signaling, and there is an interview cap of 15 (although this may change in the next year).
4. Make the Most of Away Rotations
Away rotations are a great way for applicants to gain exposure to the field. They also function to help you land an interview or receive a letter for your application. When deciding on which programs to apply to, approach this decision with those factors in mind. Do you want a letter, an interview, or both? Asking yourself these questions will help you to classify programs as your reach or safety programs. You may not get an interview from your reach programs, but you can still get a strong letter.
5. Understand the Importance of Letters of Recommendation
The purpose of letters of recommendation (LORs) is twofold. One, LORs provide a valuable review of you from a clinical perspective and depict an image of you as a future resident from the perspective of a practicing physician. Two, LORs are an unspoken network, as the individuals who write yours attended medical school or residency and may play a role in where you secure interviews. If the author’s alma mater receives a positive recommendation for a student, it is likely that they will want to get to know you better. Consider what your letter writers can add to your application and how they can help you make a connection for residency.
UNDERTAKING INTERVIEWS AND RANKING
6. Determine a Game Plan Before Interviews
Prior to my interviews, I received the advice to call the same person after each one. Another person told me to record voice notes to listen to later, while another told me to type my notes in a Google document. Whatever you decide to do, have a plan beforehand so you go into your interviews knowing how you will assess the program after each interview day. This will be extremely helpful 3 months later when you are trying to rank the programs and need to recall how you felt about each.
7. Prepare a List of Questions
This point cannot be emphasized enough. You will need to be prepared with enough questions to drive a 30-minute interview. Some programs and faculty don’t ask for many, but some may, and you don’t want to run out of questions early.
Additionally, have one or two questions that are specific to that program and one or two that you ask every program with which you interview. The ability to compare how each program answered your recurrent questions will help with ranking.
8. Prioritize Your Personal Life if You Wish
Medical students give up a lot of their 20s and maybe 30s to study to become a doctor. We are almost wired to put our careers first and work hard for the best outcome. The twist with residency is that sometimes the best outcome isn’t the “top” program. After toiling over my rank list for weeks and speaking with countless mentors, one point became clear: It is perfectly acceptable to prioritize your personal life over your professional one when determining a rank list. Choosing a location where I’d be happier or closer to family versus a top-10 program is more than OK.
“We are almost wired to put our careers first and work hard for the best outcome. The twist with residency is that sometimes the best outcome isn’t the ‘top’ program.”
CONCLUSION
Ophthalmology is competitive, and the match cycle is not the easiest process. With some thorough planning and preparation, it is possible to make the process go more smoothly. In the end, when you finally write that “I Matched” sign, your hard work will have been worth it.
