Getting into medical school is not easy, but it is definitely doable. Many have done it and there is no reason why you could not do it as well. It is all about following the right strategies and making sure that your application has all the necessary requirements. If your goal is to get into a fellowship program, you need to understand that the competition is tough, but that does not mean that the other applicants are better than you. Here are some of the best tips to help you gain a competitive advantage as a medico. Do additional work When you are in med school, one of the best things you can do is to work on a side project in your field. You can use this project as an addition to your application. If you decide to go this route, it is important to find a great mentor to work with. This can be someone who is an expert in the field you are trying to work on, or a fellow student. Getting a publication in your field is a great advantage and allows you to use some of your connections to write you letters of recommendation. To do a gastroenterology fellowship personal statement might seem like a difficult task, but with the backup of some great recommendation letters, you might make your job a little easier. Apply for the right program Before you can even think about applying, it is important to consider which program is best suited to you and your goals. There are many options out there and you might start to doubt if you’ll get into any of them. In moments like these, you have to stick to your gut feeling and the direction in which you want to go. Do not just randomly apply for every fellowship program in the hopes of getting in. If it is not aligned with your goals, you will merely be wasting your time. Go for what you truly want and everything else will fall into place. Unique proposal One thing that committees look for is something or someone who stands out from the rest. If you want to be a competitor, you have to be willing to get out of your comfort zone. This does not necessarily mean that you have to break any application rules, but add something authentic to your application. Is it possible for your project ideas to be applied in a real world scenario? If so, you might be on the right track. Forget all the clichés when writing your proposal. By the time you apply for a fellowship program, the committee won’t take a liking to overused phrases, so be unique as only you can. A gi fellowship application will test you, but not defeat you if you do your best and be yourself. Time management I am not sure why we tend to wait for so long before we start important projects. If you want to gain a competitive advantage over the other applicants, you need to give yourself enough time to do a great job. There needs to be time for research, planning and executing. A rushed job is never going to be as good as one that was planned and structured. You are also giving yourself enough time for unexpected delays, such as recommendation letters from other. Revision You always want to have enough time to do revisions on your first drafts. Do not even consider sending in your first draft (rough work). This is where you let your ideas and thoughts flow without hesitation. After you read it a few times, you might find a need for some corrections and changes. Ask a few people to read over your application and give you their honest opinions. If you are doing a eras fellowship application does not exonerate you from the process. It is exactly the same as those who are using a postal or courier service. Interview practice It may seem far away to your interview, but it is something you have to start working on early. Practice your answers to common questions, but be careful to not come across as too rehearsed in your actual interview. You want to be as natural and calm as you possibly can in that moment and only show your confidence and great personality. Do not think that you have to be stiff to get into a fellowship program. It is all about the knowledge you’ve gained and the value you can add to the field. Conclusion Being a competitive expert is all about knowing who you are and what you want. Then you have to be willing to go after it at all cost. If the first one is not successful, you try the next one, but never sacrifice your end goal. Source
