What are the requisite materials that one needs to take to the interviews. Please give genuine opinions.

Good question.  Should you bring a leather bound portofolio to hold papers so you can write notes? a small briefcase (does that make you look like you’re trying to hard)?

yourself, clothes and shoes, tooth brush and tooth paste.

any genuine replies

Bring a pen, something to write on, a picture of yourself to give to the residency coordinator, copies of any recent letters of recommendation, and wear normal, conservative clothes, with neat hair.

i’m not fucking kidding about the assless chaps, those are key. genuine reply

portfolios are gay, bring your trapper keeper

seriously, I hate portfolios. A CV might be a good thing to bring, but usually have already been solicited and redundant unless you have something new.  Photos are usually asked for ahead of time or taken at the interview.  I have seen some guys bring extra LORs, though I prefer to have them mailed directly.

trapper keeper and plastic folders are cheap and make you look like a college kid. Buy a decent leather case and keep your notepad, photograph, publication reprints etc in it. On a couple of occasions, I’ve handed over reprints to research faulty while interviewing.

David,
The sincere, detailed reply is very much appreciated.  I hate when people post crap.  Thanks

Anxious MSIII

Just a quick question - how exactly do you get copies of letters of recommendation that were written for you? Is that pretty much the standard when applying for a residency?

i am assuming they meant any additional or supplementary LORs beyond what you submitted to CAS. If this is the case, does anyone have any advice on what is the proper mode for getting these? i.e. if i did an away and asked for a rec, should i politely ask the secretary to copy it and place in 5-10 signed/sealed envelopes? or just get one copy, take it to my registrar/student affairs office and ask them to open/copy/sign and reseal them? Thanks

-Leather (or leather-looking vinyl) portfolio

-several extra copies of CV and articles

-paper in the portfolio to take notes while people are explaining things

-Tylenol or Advil

-breath mints

Anonymous User - 23 October 2007 04:32 AM

i am assuming they meant any additional or supplementary LORs beyond what you submitted to CAS. If this is the case, does anyone have any advice on what is the proper mode for getting these? i.e. if i did an away and asked for a rec, should i politely ask the secretary to copy it and place in 5-10 signed/sealed envelopes? or just get one copy, take it to my registrar/student affairs office and ask them to open/copy/sign and reseal them? Thanks

I asked had pre-addressed and stamped envelopes to give to the secretary with a thank you card and chocolates to follow. Granted, I had much more than 10 envelopes. I think the thank you card is mandatory.