The Resident's Guide to the Fellowship Match: Rules for Success

What does it take to secure a position in the subspecialty and fellowship program of your choice?


As the years have passed, subspecialty training has increased in popularity. In some specialties, such as radiology and pathology, over 90% of residency graduates pursue fellowship training. Competition is intense, and some applicants are unsuccessful. In the 2013 NRMP Specialties Match (Fellowship Match), nearly 25% of applicants failed to match into one of 48 participating subspecialties. As you might expect, some subspecialties are more competitive than others. In competitive fields such as gastroenterology and gynecologic oncology, over 40% of applicants failed to match.


As an applicant, you seek to secure a position in your preferred subspecialty. You also hope to gain acceptance into your most coveted program. That makes the process even more challenging. We review approximately 400 fellowship applications every year, writes the Division of Hematology & Oncology at the University of Pennsylvania. There are 8 fellows accepted per year.


What does it actually take to secure a position in the subspecialty and program of your choice? In this book, we answer this important question. As with our book, The Successful Match: 200 Rules to Succeed in the Residency Match, we provide specific evidence-based advice to maximize your chances of success.


Inside find the answers to the following questions:

• Who are the decision-makers and what do they care about? We present data for every subspecialty so you can make informed decisions.
• Your residency program director will have significant impact on your chances of success. What can you do to make the director a strong advocate?
• In one study, letters of recommendation written by known specialists were ranked # 2 in importance out of 18 fellowship selection criteria. What can you do to ensure that the best possible letters are written on your behalf?
• What are fellowship programs looking for in the personal statement? Understand the differences between the residency and fellowship personal statement so that you can develop a compelling statement.
• Involvement in your specialty's professional organizations can benefit you in many ways. Learn how you can make the most of these opportunities.
• Fellowship programs value research that leads to publication. However, residents face major barriers in completing projects. How can you overcome these obstacles to be productive?
• The interview is the most important factor in the selection process. What are the personal characteristics that are most highly valued, and how can you emphasize these qualities during interviews?