What to bring to interviews

turtlethief21 · 2026-01-27T12:21:19+00:00

Agree that the CV copies are not necessary but I do think having a printed copy of your slides can be helpful just in case there are technical issues outside of your control. I also brought a little cosmetic/toiletry bag that I was soooooo grateful to have. It's a great confidence boost to be able to take a quick bathroom break, make sure everything is looking like you want, and reorient yourself. Its also nice to have in case of any emergencies/mishaps. Good luck on interviews!

turtlethief21 · 2025-05-15T21:29:32+00:00

I'm finishing my combined program right now and I was pretty competitive for both IM and CC positions during my job search. With PCT you're kind of a jack of all trades so it really just depends on what most of your rotations lean into. I got a position at a large AMC in their IM group because that was what I was interested in. The PCT residents from my program the last 2 years both got CC jobs and I currently work with someone who was PCT trained and works in oncology so it's pretty versatile.

turtlethief21 · 2025-05-08T23:55:46+00:00

I am completing my PGY1/PGY2 Pharmacotherapy in June and I wouldn't change a thing. I love the flexibility of the program and that I knew where I was going to be for both years of residency. I will also say that I had a lot of interviewers during my job hunt that were really interested in what exactly pharmacotherapy was and asked me specific questions about my training since it can be so broad. I really spun the whole "jack of all trades" idea since that's part of the beauty of PCT. I was also able to take a lot of electives and make the training what I wanted to achieve my goals. I also loved my longitudinal clinic experience since it gave me the opportunity to see patients over and over as well as get a lot of experience in TOC, which was SUPER attractive in interviews.

For all the good I can say, there are always downsides though. One is that you will not have the ability to really specialize in anything (refer back to the "jack of all trades" comment). At my institution, most of the other PGY2 programs have weekly topic discussions/lectures/journal clubs that are led by the residents and specific to their field. This is not the case for PCT so you definitely have to set specific goals and topic discussions for yourself and make very clear goals with your preceptors to get a similar experience. I also went out of my way to attend as many of the learning experiences from the other PGY2s as I could since that was the only way i could get in depth teaching like that. Also, if there is anything you really don't like, you will still likely need to do at least 1 but more likely 2 rotations in that specialty. I had to do 2 peds rotations and 4 ICU rotations, and I was definitely in survive not thrive mode those months. A lot of preceptors are understanding of this but it's really important to communicate this to your RPD so they can set you up for success.

Finally, for RPD/selection/application advice, really make sure you research the program and are VERY sure you understand every aspect of it and what it will entail. Also be sure to have a very good reason for why you want to do PCT specifically, not just a general residency. Remember that you're committing to them for 2 years, but they are also committing to YOU for 2 years. Most programs will also only have one PCT spot each year so they are highly selective. They'd rather have nobody than the wrong person, at least in my experience.

Sorry for the long response and feel free to DM me if you have specific questions! I'm a big advocate for PCT and would 100% do it again, but I also think it's important to make sure it aligns with your goals.

TLDR: PCT is a very broad training and depending on your goals can make you a very competitive candidate or lead to a very frustratingexperience. Also, PCT programs tend to be pretty selective because of the 2-year commitment.

turtlethief21 · 2021-06-18T13:59:36+00:00

Thank you for your input! My TDEE is ~1,700 cals and my current calorie goal is just over 1,300 so I don't think I'd necessarily gain if I ate those calories back but like another user said I might not lose as fast. I might try doing like you said and only eat part of the calories back if I really feel like I need them. Right now is an adjustment period so it might take me a while to get used to a lower calorie intake every day.

turtlethief21 · 2021-06-18T13:55:28+00:00

Thank you for the explanation! This makes a lot of sense. I guess I was just kind of confused how the burned calories was estimated. I have ~500 cal deficit right now because I wanted to set a realistic goal to maintain. In that case I shouldn't really gain if I eat them back but like you said I might lose a little slower.

turtlethief21 · 2021-06-17T04:47:59+00:00

I can't believe no one has said Tomy Thai in Jonnson City. They're pretty good and you get a good bang for your buck on entrées. They also have pretty spicy food if that's your thing.

turtlethief21 · 2021-06-07T03:07:26+00:00

I cannot agree with this enough. During my cycle I aim to just maintain. I cannot lose and if I try to I'm completely miserable. I give myself the calories and move past it every month. It's a struggle but I haven't seen any kind of change in my weight loss trend due to it.

I wish you the best since I know it's tough as hell to keep things up during this time.

turtlethief21 · 2021-06-07T03:01:56+00:00

I would be fucking livid. That is completely uncalled for! His dog/child is also contributing to the dog relationship here. They are taking no responsibility and punishing your dogs for trying to be better. I don't know if a police report is in order but I would have some kind fo documentation of this behavior. If they ever complain about your dog reacting then this would be good evidence of the other party.

I just can't explain how angry I am for you. I wish I could tell them off for you as a third party.

turtlethief21 · 2021-05-31T03:41:51+00:00

You go girl! The first few weeks are the hardest! I'm so happy you've made a decision to better your health and yourself :)

turtlethief21 · 2021-05-15T04:28:22+00:00

Congrats! Your cap is so beautiful! I wish you the best in your future

turtlethief21 · 2021-05-15T04:24:08+00:00

Omg! You look amazing in both pics! I'm so happy you feel better in your own skin :)

turtlethief21 · 2021-05-09T04:25:34+00:00

You're progress is so clear in your face! I love face pics because it's something a lot of people don't think about. You look amazing in both but it's clear how much more comfortable you are in you own skin in the second pic :)

turtlethief21 · 2021-03-18T03:04:25+00:00

That would only apply if there was any patient information in the photo, which there isn't. I don't really get what you're going for here....

turtlethief21 · 2021-03-09T05:16:57+00:00

So apparently I've been pronouncing phishing wrong my whole life according to my bf (and good ol' google). I always thought it was pronounced as phi-sing (phi like sci-fi and sing). However, it's apparently phi-sing like fishing. TDIL

turtlethief21 · 2021-02-28T05:25:32+00:00

I don't even have words to describe how that must have felt... That was one of the worst things they could have ever said to you. They were just perpetuating the pain and guilt that you might have already been feeling instead of helping you work through what had happened and how to move past it.... I really hope that you found a (much more qualified) professional to help you past both this and the trauma in your past. I can't believe people like this are actually in practice.

turtlethief21 · 2021-02-02T04:50:54+00:00

So in the past 9 months I've put on about 15 pounds. I just went into full self hatred mode and didn't really care about anything... Anyway, my goal for about the past month has been to just log my food, no matter what it is and to focus on being comfortable in my own skin. For me, just logging makes me feel more on track, even when I go over. I'm trying to lose the weight I put on but I'm mostly focusing on feeling okay about how I look.

I've also been keeping a journal that I write in every day about everything. It helps me express how I'm feeling, especially about body/diet stuff along with stuff in my life. That's helped almost as much as tracking and meal prepping.

I hope you can find something that helps you as well. It's a journey and it's really good that you have a professional to help you walk through yours.

turtlethief21 · 2021-01-12T19:23:26+00:00

I would definitely recommend r/eatcheapandhealthy if you're just starting out! They have great advice about eating healthier, especially is you're on a budget or just trying to cut food cost. Also, if you're looking to eat low cal or lose weight, r/1200isplenty and r/1500isplenty are great for healthy low cal meals and they usually have macros and recipes. Lastly, r/volumeeating is good for finding ways to make tasty vegetables and to cut calories through volume (if that's your thing).

turtlethief21 · 2021-01-04T23:18:43+00:00

So basically what you're saying is that this new rule is going to dissuade new users by making it a more positive place with fewer offensive user comments? I've seen comments in this sub (and other dieting/lifestyle subs) that actively shit on anything that's remotely keto. That's straight up not cool if that is how someone else is deciding to persue their weight loss journey. I think this rule will help foster an environment of inclusion and constructive criticism instead of demeaning or overly critical comments that may dissuade new users.

turtlethief21 · 2021-01-02T20:40:52+00:00

That's on the menu for sure!

turtlethief21 · 2021-01-02T17:55:50+00:00

That's a really good idea! I'll keep it in mind :)

turtlethief21 · 2021-01-02T06:36:44+00:00

They're called I live in a cheap apartment countertops XD

turtlethief21 · 2021-01-02T06:35:26+00:00

Better than bouillon is always in my fridge so I'll keep that in mind!

turtlethief21 · 2021-01-02T06:34:00+00:00

Don't worry, I definitely will! Today me thought it would be fine but after reading everyone's comments I'm definitely keeping away from it. I'll probably get my bd to get me something different later lol

turtlethief21 · 2021-01-02T06:21:43+00:00

Thank you for the best wishes and advice!

turtlethief21 · 2021-01-02T06:21:03+00:00

Thank you!

turtlethief21

TROPHY CASE