Development of a guidebook for senior students applying for residency training in obstetrics and gynecology

This article describes a detailed residency guidebook that I developed over the course of 4 years based on interaction with 42 student advisees. Questions most frequently asked by the students were recorded, and comprehensive written responses were prepared that addressed their specific concerns. The completed guidebook contains several major sections. The introductory portion provides a general description of the discipline of obstetrics and gynecology, outlines the format of residency training programs, and assesses the competitiveness of residencies in obstetrics and gynecology compared with other disciplines. The second section lists deadlines for completing various tasks, such as selecting an adviser, planning the senior curriculum, requesting and submitting applications, preparing the curriculum vitae and personal statement, and soliciting letters of recommendation. The next section of the guidebook provides suggestions for the senior curriculum and specifically addresses the issue of "audition electives" in obstetrics and gynecology. The next two sections present formats for the student's personal statement and curriculum vitae. Next, guidelines for requesting letters of recommendation are presented. Thereafter, information is provided to help students determine the number of applications they should submit, and training programs targeted by the student are classified by size, type, and competitiveness. Finally, the guidebook addresses questions related to scheduling and preparing for interviews.