4. apply for fellowships
“Competition is for losers”
DISCLAIMER: This advice is solely our opinion and does not reflect the opinion of any pharmaceutical company or fellowship program. Following this advice does not guarantee an interview or fellowship, but rather is meant to inform and prepare you.
magic number
In our opinion, since most of the interview process takes place over months and is mostly virtual, the magic number is between 10-12 applications. This number allows you to deeply research and understand the company and position you are applying for. It also allows you to remember the people you meet during your interviews, all while still giving you enough leeway if your top choice doesn’t work out.
How many fellowships should you apply for? The truth is there is no magic number! It’s up to you to decide what you are most comfortable with as you prioritize and research programs. See below for our advice and some of our experiences:
12+ Applications:
Advantages
Increase odds of landing a fellowship
Allows you to compare multiple programs to determine the best fit
Practice makes perfect - by the end, you will be a master at your elevator pitch
Challenges
Time management - you will be stressed, have multiple back to back interviews, and will have less flexibility in scheduling later round interviews
Less knowledge about program specifics and company products - it’s not uncommon for a candidate to mix up company names or product brands if they overextend at midyear
Real fellow experience
“I applied to 12 fellowships. By the end of Midyear, I had a good sense of what type of fellowship/company I wanted to be in. I was able to make comparisons that helped me determine the type of fellowship I wanted.”
“Be careful what you ask for…I had ten first-round interviews and five receptions. I was exhausted. You can make yourself feel stretched thin. The individual experiences can blend into one another.”
~7 Applications
Advantages
Allows time to focus on your top programs - will show through your in-depth knowledge of the program and company
Personal connection - allows you to put in extra time to build connections with fellows/preceptors
Energy and personality comes forward in each interview
Challenges
Seeing is believing - brochures can only tell you so much about what a fellowship has to offer. Sometimes it takes meeting the program in-person to realize it is the best fit
Pressure builds - as programs begin to dwindle, the pressure to land one of the few options can build
No control group - without multiple programs to compare, it becomes difficult to determine if your top programs are the best option for you
Real fellow experience
“I applied to seven fellowship programs and had first round interviews with all of them. By narrowing the scope of my applications, I was able to focus more attention on each company and their respective program.”
“I did not compromise on any of my ‘wants’ when selecting programs I applied to.”
“I had six final round interviews at Midyear which kept me very busy but I spent the extra time I had prior to final rounds preparing for any targeted questions about each program.”
curriculum vitae
This is what gets you invited to the party (the party being the interview - wow so fun). 🎈
We suggest using the following section headers, in roughly this order. The only two that are really required are ‘Education’ and ‘Work Experience’:
Page 1:
Education,
Work Experience,
Industry Rotations (optional) OR Relevant Rotations (also optional)
Page 2:
Leadership Experience,
Research Experience,
Publications and Presentations,
Additional Clinical Experience (optional, ex: relevant Oncology APPE)
Page 3: Freeform jazz - there are a ton of things that can go here and we have really seen it all, here are some examples of good headings:
Awards and Honors,
Specialized Training OR Certifications (there are some training programs out there that end in relevant certifications. For example, if you are GCP certified from working at a clinical trial site or did the HEOR short courses with IPSOR, these may be worth adding. Please, please, please do not put your BLS certification, intern license, or technician license (💀) on your CV.),
Professional Engagement,
Programming Proficiencies,
Community Involvement,
Relevant Coursework (this one can be very fluffy so be careful, your required biochem course from P1 year isn’t going to make you stand out on your CV),
Meetings Attended (we lean toward not including this one, but it’s viable. Consider bundling this in with the professional engagement section if you feel like it adds value to your CV),
Extracurricular Activities (again, we strongly air on the side of not including this one unless you have something really good, or if this is a big part of your story)
How many pages long should my CV be?
Now that you have a start, read these articles:
And here is a bare-bones CV template 💁 to get you started.
cover letter / letter of intent
You won’t secure a fellowship because of an incredible cover letter. But typos and errors will be used against you. Protect against the downside. Find inspiration in other people’s cover letters but try not to sound generic.
Try this this crisp letter of intent template 💁 to get you started.
letters of recs
People don’t write letters of rec in the real world. Especially three of them. Real reference checks are done via phone. Why do programs require them? Anyway, use something like this crisp email template 💁 to request letters from your references. Your job is to make your recommender’s job as easy as possible.
final application tips
The more people that read your application package the better.
Suggested edits to your CV or LOI are exactly that, suggestions. At the end of the day, you should feel most confident and comfortable with your CV and LOI so if you disagree with feedback you received that’s okay (unless it is from someone who is involved in reviewing your application).
“All my life, been grindin' all my life. Sacrificed, hustled, paid the price” - Nipsey Hussle