Upon completion of the specialty selection process, you can move on to the next phase, namely, securing a residency. At the outset, you should recognize that you need to make choices as to which residency programs to apply to among those available in your specific field. However, there may be a major obstacle to being accepted in the field you prefer. Competition among applicants, although varying among different specialties, frequently is very intense. Moreover, competition for placement has also increased because the number of residency openings in some areas has been gradually diminishing due to fiscal pressures.

The challenging situation regarding securing a residency appointment raises the question, what can you do to significantly improve your chances? The answer is that it is essential to learn how best to market yourself and thus enhance your potential in the eyes of prospective program directors. How to achieve this vital goal is the subject of Part Two of the book. It covers in detail the various components associated with enhancing your chances of securing a residency.

It is true that competition makes obtaining a residency a challenge. This obstacle, however, can be successfully overcome, as proven by the fact that generally over 90% of NRMP candidates do secure residency positions. During your lengthy residency selection process you should bear in mind that you were faced with a comparable competitive situation when you applied to both college and medical school, and you obviously were successful.