Psychiatry

FAQs/Course Recommendations/Additional Info

How do students get assigned a career goal advisor?
Dr. Jimmy Chen assigns the career goal advisors. Students should contact Dr. Chen to set-up a meeting to get basic information and to discuss the career goal advising assignment. We ask that students not seek out advisors on their own, as students may fall through the cracks, and we want to utilize resources effectively. They can email jimmy_chen@med.unc.edu

What should my Individualization Phase schedule look like?
Students should do an AI in Psychiatry, preferably early on, but if the AI is not available, students can do other psychiatry courses.  An AI in internal medicine is asked for by a few competitive programs, but most should just do an AI in medicine or family medicine sometime during the year. There is a longer range for interviews in Psychiatry, so in addition to any blocks designated for interviews, students should avoid critical care, AI, and high-stakes psychiatry courses in November and January.
Recommended Courses:

AI/Acting Internship	CC/Critical Care	ACS/Advanced Clinical Selective	Electives
Psychiatry and one in Medicine or Peds	Neuro ICU, MICU, PICU	Any of the psychiatry ones available; addiction medicine, neurology	Any of the psychiatry ones available; addiction medicine, neurology

Do all my rotations need to be in Psychiatry?
No.  Students should do the AI sometime during the year and add courses to get enough letters of recommendation.

Should I do an away rotation?  What in?
Usually not necessary for psychiatry unless there is a serious geographical restriction.  Discuss with the career goal advisor.

Do I need a rotation at UNC if I spent my time in Charlotte/Asheville/Wilmington?
Yes

When do I need to meet with my career goal advisor?  How do I prepare?
It is most useful as students complete Application Phase, but Dr. Chen can help students with their schedules and assign the CGA to students in the fall of the Application Phase year.

How many letters of recommendation do I need?  From whom should I get them?
Most programs note 3 but accept 4.  We usually advise students to have 4.

When do I ask for my letters?  What do they need?
We suggest discussion of a possible letter as students complete the rotation if it is from an Application Phase faculty member, then follow up after Application Phase.  For individualization phase courses it can be helpful to discuss the hope for a strong letter at the start of the course and asking for feedback to be able to demonstrate skills that would enable the faculty to write a strong letter.

How do I determine the best programs I should apply to?
We recommend a balance of reach, reasonable, and “safety” programs for everyone.  These categories will look different for different applicants based on application components and geography.  We recommend that students discuss with Dr. Chen and career goal advisor.

I just got this great piece of news…do I need to notify programs
Yes—It is a great way to continue to express interest, too.

My LORs aren’t in and ERAS just opened!
Some programs will begin to offer interviews without the LORs, but students should send a reminder to letter writers that they are excited about programs reviewing their application and that the LOR is sure to contribute.

I am waitlisted for an interview at X and I’d really like to see that program.  What do I do?
Discuss with the career goal advisor and Dr. Chen.  Students have received interviews by contacting programs with specifics re: interest (e.g., geographical issues).  It cannot hurt.  Dr. Chen can also contact programs if the student’s contact is not effective.

I didn’t get an interview at X program.  Should I send them a “letter of intent”?
Contact from the student in this case should be brief and specific, as well as gracious.

Should I send thank you letters to programs?
Yes

Should I send a letter to the program I am planning to rank #1?
Yes.  This should be sincere but not very long.

How do I respond if a program reaches out to me after my interview?
Thank them, note that you are considering their program highly (and if it is the #1 it is ok to say that).  It is good to discuss this contact with the career goal advisor and/or Dr. Chen.