Some are required (e.g. UMass) but most are just casual events with residents. Try to get a feel from the coordinator about how formal it is, who is going to be there, etc. Lots of people aren’t able to make it to them due to busy travel schedule. I think (hope) program directors understand.

That being said, they represent a nice opportunity to meet the residents in an informal setting and give you some good material to discuss during your interviews the next day.

My gut says yes.

From my experience last year, as an applicant you WANT to go to these. The are an excellent way to see how the residents and faculty interact with each other. It also shows how commited the program is to recruiting future residents. If there are only a couple residents and no faculty, that says something.

If you didn't rotate at the program I would especially try and make it.

In my opinion, having 20 half-ass interviews in not as good as having 10 fully commited ones.

My gut says yes.

From my experience last year, as an applicant you WANT to go to these. The are an excellent way to see how the residents and faculty interact with each other. It also shows how commited the program is to recruiting future residents. If there are only a couple residents and no faculty, that says something.

If you didn't rotate at the program I would especially try and make it.

In my opinion, having 20 half-ass interviews in not as good as having 10 fully commited ones.

I agree with your sentiments, but with the increasingly competitive nature of ortho residency selections I wouldn’t give up an interview to attend one of these events unless I got the feeling that it was an important part of the selection process.

I agree with your sentiments, but with the increasingly competitive nature of ortho residency selections I wouldn’t give up an interview to attend one of these events unless I got the feeling that it was an important part of the selection process.

That's the million dollar question! Given the competitiveness, isn't it all important?

I hate politics

I agree with your sentiments, but with the increasingly competitive nature of ortho residency selections I wouldn’t give up an interview to attend one of these events unless I got the feeling that it was an important part of the selection process.

That's the million dollar question! Given the competitiveness, isn't it all important?

I hate politics

True. The whole process sucks.

FYI, after not matching last year, the feedback I got from residents at a couple local programs was the extra stuff like attending dinners, thank you letters, second visits, etc. may not drop you down the list but it can move you up.

The problem is, if everyone else is doing it and moving up, that means you are moving down if you don't (ie. we are our own worse enemies)

in regards to thank you correspondence, which do you think is preferred?

Email vs. snail mail? Only wondering because programs have generally been contacting us via email, so I was thinking email thank-yous are ok...

in regards to thank you correspondence, which do you think is preferred?

Email vs. snail mail? Only wondering because programs have generally been contacting us via email, so I was thinking email thank-yous are ok...

Hand written notes on some decent stationary have a far more personal touch. Emails make it seem like you’re just checking something off your to-do list.

in regards to thank you correspondence, which do you think is preferred?

Email vs. snail mail? Only wondering because programs have generally been contacting us via email, so I was thinking email thank-yous are ok...

I honestly have no idea. Almost every program I interviewed at last year specifically told us not to send thank you letters. So I didn't and well...

I say if you are going to take the time to do it, send it snail mail.

in regards to thank you correspondence, which do you think is preferred?

Email vs. snail mail? Only wondering because programs have generally been contacting us via email, so I was thinking email thank-yous are ok...

Hand written notes on some decent stationary have a far more personal touch. Emails make it seem like you’re just checking something off your to-do list.

I’d recommend carrying some stationary with you to all of your interviews and just writing the thank you notes while you’re sitting in the airport and the interview day is fresh in your mind.

What's everyone's experience with bringing spouses/significant others along to these events?

I'm bringing mine to the ones she can make.

if he or she is *really* ugly.. I wouldn't do it.. otherwise.. probably okay hehe