Sara Massey, PharmD, is a senior specialist of participant medication experience at MOBE in Minneapolis.
As you begin your final year of pharmacy school, you more than likely will have a million different emotions. It’s a tough year; you’ll be challenged to try new things, learn more about yourself, succeed and fail multiple times, and grow as a provider. Like “Grace,” many of you will decide to apply for a residency or fellowship, which adds a layer of uncertainty and stress to the year.
Match Day arrives quickly. I remember tossing and turning the night before and checking my email every 5 minutes to see whether and where I matched. It’s important to remember that no matter the outcome of the match, you’re successful and you’re not alone.
“I matched”…Now what?
Congratulations! This is most likely a day of happiness and celebration. I encourage you to take time to share this moment with your family and friends.
Following Match Day, you will most likely receive multiple emails with instructions or tasks to complete prior to starting residency. Tasks could include background checks, submitting intern hours to pharmacy boards, filling out Human Resources paperwork, and more. I recommend setting aside time (and potentially extra money!) to complete pre-residency tasks.
The best part of residency is your coresidents and past residents/residency family. Once you know where you’ll be spending the next one to two years, reach out to your coresidents and the current residents. Before starting residency, you can begin to form friendships and learn about each other. This will make residency much easier and more enjoyable!
“I didn’t match”—time to pivot
If you woke up on Match Day last month to disappointment, please know that everything will work out in the end. As cliche as it sounds, it’s true. I had many friends who didn’t match and decided to go through Phase II, take job offers outside of residency, or take time off to figure out what they wanted to do. They had to pivot quickly, but they have all ended up in a job they love. If you find yourself in this situation, I encourage you to stay positive while you pivot.
Pivoting can look different for everyone, so it is important you spend time thinking about what is best for you. Do you want to enter Phase II? Are you able to move to a different location for a job/residency? Do you want to continue networking to learn about other opportunities? These types of questions will help you make a decision and move forward. One of the most helpful resources available during this time is your network. They can serve as encouragement and help identify or offer opportunities that will support you in accomplishing career goals.
Finding peace, no matter the outcome
“Grace,” I am so happy you are finding joy in your rotation experiences. Applying for residency is something to be proud of regardless of the outcome. You put yourself out there and took extra time to apply. Remember, you’re a successful pharmacist and will make a difference no matter where you end up!