Footnotes - Spring 2023 - 14

or have a skill that most others do not. This is your chance
to explain why you are a great fit for their program, what
strengths and attributes you carry with you, that distinguish
you and what things make you who you are.
Although the overwhelming consensus seemed to be in
favor of in-person interviews in Frisco, Texas (once we were
actually there), the logistics, planning, and financial burden
certainly plays a role. For those of us that attend TUSPM,
we are still on an externship in January when this is all
occurring. As an objective estimate, I spent around $1,000
for the entire trip, including round trip flights, hotel for six
nights, travel to and from the airport, and necessary food
expenses. It is important to communicate with your January
externship well in advance, be clear on the days you will
be unavailable for interviews (CRIP or otherwise), and
plan accordingly. I shared a hotel room with a close friend
from podiatry school which a way to reduce cost, but also
to spend time around someone I trusted and would work
well with during the stressful interview process. I had asked
multiple current third-year residents about their lodging
recommendations since they were the most recent class to
experience an in-person CRIP. Many of them had a variety
of different recommendations, but the one commonality
of them all was that if you plan to stay with someone,
make absolutely sure that they will be respectful of your
time, reduce your stress (not heighten it), and provide an
environment you know will support you throughout a very
difficult stretch of time.
I flew to Texas the day before my first interview and
flew back to my January externship the day after my last
interview. CRIP is split into two " sections, " the first section
being programs in the eastern portion of the US and the
second section being programs in the western portion of
the US. After you apply for residency interviews in late
October, a list of all programs attending CRIP will be
published along with whether they are in section 1 (east)
or section 2 (west). From here, you can determine how you
want to schedule your interviews once offers come out in
14
early December. For me, I was interviewing at programs in
both sections so I spread out my interviews across a period
of 6 days, with 1-2 interviews per day. I have friends who
had 4 interviews per day, often not by choice, but because
many of their programs only offered interviews on one
specific day. Many programs also host evening socials,
which are typically a time for you to spend time with the
attendings and residents who will be interviewing you at
CRIP, as well as other students from across the country who
are also interviewing at this program.
For me, CRIP itself was an incredible experience.
Attendings at programs I was interviewing at would ask me
how things were going in Frisco, I would tell them I loved
it, and they never believed me. They would ask " how can
a student love being peppered with questions in a hotel
room in front of 10 people? " While that is a very valid and
truthful question, the in-person CRIP experience involves
a lot more than interviews themselves. Yes, that is the most
important part of course, but mixed in are so many other
enjoyable things that you would not be able to experience
if the process was virtual. Although naturally the entire
process can be terrifying - waiting outside of a hotel room
to be called in, interviewing in front of anywhere from 5-10
or more people watching your every move, completing
hands-on tasks while being asked questions on a variety
of subjects - but for those like myself whose personality
comes out of the woodworks when talking to people face to
face, having CRIP in Texas is a huge asset. Not to mention,
you get to stay in a hotel with your closest friends and see
students that you've externed with across the country. I saw
so many people that I had not seen in months, and it truly
made the entire experience feel like a big reunion.
My advice on the art of interviewing itself is simple: be
confident in what you do know and recognize the
things you don't. Being able to hold yourself high with
confidence from the second you walk into a room, shaking
everyone's hand, and beginning to answer questions truly
garners respect amongst the interviewers. It is okay to be
SPRING 2023
Footnotes - Spring 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Footnotes - Spring 2023
