I recently finished submitting my rank list and am anxiously awaiting my match results on March 19th. I plan to share all my detailed tips for each step of the process, stay tuned! Until then, here are some things I have learned along the way.

1. Residency is competitive. I know most of you have heard this already, but it is true. Take a look at the latest match statistics if you don’t believe me. If you already know you want to do a residency or you are thinking about it, know that even if you hit all the “categories” that programs look for, you still may not match. Even if you go to a top-ranked school. Even if you have connections. Prepare to humble yourself, and then some.
2. There is no way to be the “perfect candidate”. And there is likely no perfect program out there for you. At least there wasn’t for me. What it really comes down to (in my opinion) is fit. Programs look for students who would do well at their site and match the culture of the institution. You can’t force something that isn’t there. So, take your time to really think about what kind of person you are, what type of career path you want to pursue, and what type of program characteristics you fit best with. They will be able to tell if you try to apply to many programs without really taking the time to see if it is a good program for you.
3. The application process is very lonely, and not many people talk about this. There is this awkward feeling of not wanting to discuss applications and interviews with friends in fear of causing each other stress and trying to avoid the comparison game. We aren’t allowed to share specific details from our interviews with each other to avoid jeaporidzing interview integrity. There is so much unknown to the whole process, which causes anxiety and paranoia to run free. You constantly self-analyze your performance looking for flaws, while also not feeling comfortable to share it with others in fear of being even more vulnerable. At one point I thought I wouldn’t get any interviews because I had a formatting error on my CV, and I lost it for a hot minute. I am so thankful for those few, both pharmacy and non-pharmacy, that I was able to confide in that made the process more bearable. I’d highly encourage you to not go through the process alone if you can help it. Talk to people you trust, even if it is just to say your thoughts out loud.
4. Residency is not the end all be all. Pharmacists work in so many different areas (one reason why I love this profession). Soon, you will be graduating with your Doctorate of Pharmacy and that is something to be proud of! If you don’t match, it is okay to be sad, crushed, and/or disappointed. You worked hard for months (and some could say years if you count all the different things that went into your application). Take the time you need to grieve. But know it won’t be the end of the world. There are many ways to find a meaningful career in pharmacy. It might take some creativity and perseverance, but it can be done.
5. Your life =/= pharmacy. I know that it is really easy to get way too invested in goals, plans, and next steps. Especially for something you have worked so hard on for the past 6-8 years. Even worse for Type A people like me and many others in the pharmacy profession. But it is so important to have a life outside of your career. This is only the beginning. We will be working for literally the rest of our lives until we retire. Instead of always thinking of the next step, remember to take care of yourself along the way. Pursue your hobbies, spend time with your loved ones, and remember that your worth is not defined by your career.