Category: Resident Applicant

Writing a Cover Letter for a Letter of Recommendation

Once you’ve identified mentors to write you a letter of recommendation (LOR), the next step is to reach out to them to ask that they write said letter.  In that process, you might want to write a cover letter which provides them with some information to help them write the LOR. Why write a cover

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Examples of Good Letters of Intent

I’ve spent a lot of time writing about personal statements.  There are general rules, which I’ve written about here and here.  Also, there are important and simple grammar rules to pay attention to, like these and these.  I’ve provided some examples of poor letters of intent, so now it’s time to look at some good

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On Writing

I turned out to be a huge Stephen King fan as an adult.  Growing up, my sister loved his horror stories, but I don’t really like horror, so I never read any King. Until, that is, I read The Dark Tower.  That sold me.  Now Stephen King is a go-to for me, particularly when I’m

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Significant Other’s Job During Academia

With only 38 accredited veterinary schools in the US and Canada- and many of those in small rural towns- starting vet school, internship, residency, or a faculty position can be a distinct strain on a romantic partner’s ability to get a job.  Within the US, I count about 10 veterinary schools in a decent-sized city

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M&M Rounds: Didn’t Match for a Residency

During M&M rounds, we will examine some fictitious cases and evaluate the facts and consider some solutions to these problems. Mark Ashes is a 32-year-old Hispanic male presenting for not matching to an exotics/wildlife medicine specialty for the third time through the VIRMP.  He has wanted to be a veterinarian being paid to work with

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Interviews are More Likely to Harm Your Chances

Except for faculty/real world job positions- where the interview is THE way you get the job– I think the interview does not meaningfully distinguish candidates, except to weed them out.  I think it’s incredibly hard to positively distinguish yourself in the short time vet school, internship, and residency interviews give you (i.e. less than a

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A Tale of Two Interns

I have some bad news.  Life is not a meritocracy.  We all wish we lived in a world where, if you are the best candidate for a position, you get the position.  Unfortunately, that’s not the world we live in.  In our world, who you know has a tremendous impact on your ability to get

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My Ideal Candidate

I do not represent every veterinary professional.  I think that should be obvious, but I have to make that VERY clear for this particular post.  I have spoken with many veterinary professionals and academics, and I have trained dozens of house officers and thousands of students, and there are numerous ways to approach success in

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