.jpg)
.png){kind=logo}
RESIDENCY & FELLOWSHIP MATCH PLATINUM PACKAGE
Thank you for your interest in our Platinum Residency/Fellowship Match Package. 2026 marks my 20th year working intensively with residency and fellowship applicants. Over that time, I have been privileged to partner with hundreds of applicants, including USMDs, USDOs, and IMGs, seeking positions in competitive specialties and programs. My student and resident partners have successfully matched into a range of specialties and subspecialties. I have worked with applicants who have sought positions in Ivy League residency or fellowship programs as well as talented applicants with red flags (e.g., low Step scores, course failures, long gaps, etc.). Together, we have been able to achieve tremendous success.
You may be wondering what it will take to land the residency program or specialty you covet. To be sure, your success will be partly determined by all the hard work you’ve put in to get to this point. But hard work is not enough. It’s about being highly knowledgeable, making informed and strategic decisions, and standing out from the crowd. That’s where I come in. I bring to every client a deep wealth of knowledge in residency and fellowship selection. I am the author of The Successful Match, a book that has been named a high-value resource by the AAMC Group on Student Affairs. The book has been used by many of our nation’s medical schools as an advising tool for their USMD and USDO students. I stay current on selection practices by attending conferences and I have been the keynote speaker at multiple universities on these topics.
I’m someone who sets high standards for myself in everything that I do, and I bring that same high standard to my partnership with you. I know how much this means to you and I take your trust and faith in me very seriously. My former clients will tell you that I am incredibly detailed in my approach, that I am always thinking about them, and that I bring relentless energy to help them reach their goals.
I don’t want you to blend into the crowd like most applicants. I want you to stand out. I want residency programs to see you as I do, as someone who has so much to offer. It would truly be a privilege to be your partner in this process.
​
- Dr. Samir Desai
"If you are looking for someone who knows the ins and outs of getting a residency, then you have the right person. I worked with another company without success, but what makes Dr. Desai different is that he truly cares. He is so detailed that he leaves nothing to chance. With his help, I matched. I only wished I had found him earlier."
Read below to learn about every aspect of the Platinum and what our clients have had to say about our service.
Strategy for Success Session
Our Platinum Package begins with our Strategy for Success Session. Dr. Samir Desai will put forth tremendous effort to present you with a strong plan for success in the residency match. You will first present your credentials, including any available documents, for review by email along with your desired professional goals (specialty and/or program of your choice). You will also answer a series of questions developed to help Dr. Desai understand the factors that could prevent you from reaching your professional goals.
Following a comprehensive review of this material and information, Dr. Desai will offer you detailed and specific recommendations to help you overcome these challenges during an in-depth one-on-one session. Dr. Desai is known for his attention to detail and highly individualized approach. You will end the session with a well-thought-out plan for success, including clear, actionable steps to take to maximize your chances of securing a position in your chosen specialty.
As you implement the success plan, you will meet regularly with Dr. Desai to review with the results of your efforts. As new data emerges or obstacles arise, the plan will be modified to ensure that you will be positioned for match success by the time it is ready to submit your application.
"The best part of the Strategy for Success Session is that you'll know exactly what to do. And knowing what to do and knowing that you can do it were incredibly helpful to me in terms of reducing my stress and anxiety. Thank you so much for being there for me and helping me reach my dreams!"
"Before my Strategy for Success Session, Dr. Desai went carefully over all my materials. He asked me to answer lots and lots of questions. By the end of it, he knew me better than I knew myself! He used that knowledge to create a plan for me. The end result - I matched with my # 1 choice.”
"After going through the Strategy for Success Session with Dr. Samir Desai, I knew exactly what to do. I put into action our plan, and the rest is, as they say, history. I got into neurosurgery!"
Networking Meetings
Due to the record-breaking numbers of applications that residency programs receive every year, it can be difficult for programs to identify the 10-20% of applicants from the total pool that should be granted interviews. The reality of the situation is that, often, qualified applicants who are sincerely interested in programs are overlooked simply because they do not stand out from the crowd.
Networking is a means to open doors, increasing the chances that an interested candidate will be recognized as such by the residency program. Networking is a complex process full of pitfalls. However, if it’s done well and in an organized and strategic manner, it can lead to increased numbers of interviews. Through your networking meetings with Dr. Samir Desai, you will create and implement a strong networking plan to greatly improve your chances of securing interviews.
*As part of the Platinum Package, Dr. Desai will help you begin your networking by introducing you to three residents or established physicians whom he feels would be appropriate for your goals. Please note that this introduction does not mean that they will endorse you or advocate for you. But it will be valuable opportunity for you to practice your networking skills and develop relationships which is at the heart of networking.
“The idea of networking always scared me. I had heard how important it was, but I could never get started. I wasn’t sure how to do it and I was afraid that I would come across bad. Dr. Desai’s networking meetings reduced my stress, gave me a blueprint on how to move forward, and I have to say, once I got into it, it was actually enjoyable. I met some great people along the way that really helped me out.”
Letter of Recommendation Drafting/Editing
We have tremendous experience writing powerful letters of recommendation. Year after year, our applicants are told on the interview trail that letters written by us are among the best letters the programs have received. Attending physicians who are willing to write letters of recommendation often ask students to provide them with a letter draft. For students, this is a golden opportunity to help the attending include key content that will resonate with programs and result in residency interviews. Unfortunately, few students have experience in writing these letters. Therefore, many letter drafts that are written are suboptimal, preventing applicants from securing the interviews that they deserve.
No matter which specialty you have chosen, we can ensure that your letter draft highlights the type of information that program directors in your field seek. Of note, we do not use templates or examples from the Internet. We write each letter from scratch, utilizing the information you provide to us in a very detailed questionnaire. To obtain a sufficient level of detail, we may ask you to provide additional information, sometimes again and again until we have what we need. We do that with your best interests in mind because we want to help you draft the type of letter that you deserve—one that enhances your chances of securing an interview. Please note that there is no limit to the number of revisions for our letter of recommendation editing service.
"I went from 4 interviews and not matching to 17 interviews and matching. I owe a big thanks to you, especially for the 3 letters you wrote me. Time and time again, I got lots of comments about my letters."
ERAS Application Editing
We have considerable experience reviewing ERAS Applications and can make sure that your application is polished, professional, and powerful. We are not a service that will make minor, cosmetic changes to the application. We have an intensive process that leads to a complete transformation of the descriptions used to describe an experience or activity. The content that we include is carefully chosen to create an impression in a program director’s mind of everything you have to offer as a future resident.
In our experience, errors are surprisingly common in the ERAS Application. Although spelling and grammatical errors are frequently seen, equally common—and particularly dangerous—are other types of errors. Chief among these errors is the use of language or words that makes an applicant's experiences and accomplishments seem unimpressive or generic. The words that you use in your description need to make a powerful impact and leave an impression on application reviewers.
"Many faculty members believe, deep in their souls, that the care with which you treat your ERAS application (a pretty important document) corresponds with the care you will treat your residency and your patients," writes Dr. David Overton, Program Director of the Emergency Medicine Residency at Michigan State University Kalamazoo Center for Medical Studies.
Please note that there is no limit on the number of revisions made to your ERAS Application. We will work with you until you are completely satisfied with the final result.
"I had no idea how much better my ERAS CV could be until Dr. Desai reviewed and edited it. I shouldn't have been surprised after having read his book - The Successful Match."
"For some crazy reason, everyone in my class decided to go for ortho. Okay, not everyone but 15 of my classmates. I knew that it would be hard for all of us to match so I signed up for Dr. Desai's service. He was easily able to elevate my application, and I knew that I sounded different than other applicants. Working with him turned out to be one of the best things that I did."
"After reading my common application form, Dr. Desai showed me how I could make it stronger. I had the right background and experiences, but I didn't present it properly. He really knows how to make things stand out."
Meaningful Experience Editing
Applicants are able to designate three of their ERAS experiences as being the "most meaningful". For each experience, you will have the opportunity to describe why it was so meaningful and how it has shaped you into the person and professional you are today. In a recent survey of program directors, 70% felt that this section allowed them to get a better picture of the applicant. We will help you determine which experiences to identify as most meaningful and edit the descriptions for maximum impact.
Geographic Preferences Discussion/Editing
In this section of the residency application, applicants can identify up to three geographic divisions as their preferences for training. Since some programs give greater interview consideration to applicants who have identified their division as a preference, the choices you make here can have a significant impact on your chances of securing interviews. Through a discussion with Dr. Desai, you will have the knowledge necessary to make an informed decision regarding your geographic division preferences. Once you have made your decision, you will then have the opportunity to describe your reasoning. We will ensure that your description is written in an appealing way.
Program Signaling Discussion
Through program signaling, you will be able to express interest in individual residency programs. Although the number of available signals varies from specialty to specialty, using your signals wisely can significantly increase the number of interviews you receive. You will determine the best strategy for signaling through a discussion with Dr. Desai. Dr. Desai's recommendations will consider his deep knowledge of your individual situation, strengths, and goals as well as consideration of program-specific factors, including the alignment of your goals and mission with the programs you are considering signaling.
Personal Statement Development/Editing
In a recent NRMP Program Director Survey, 84% of program directors cited the personal statement as a factor in selecting applicants to interview. A powerful and compelling statement can significantly strengthen your application. Our experience has shown that, unfortunately, many statements are bland and lacking impact. Submitting a generic or lackluster personal statement represents a lost opportunity to impress. Our goal is to partner with you to create a powerful and compelling statement that makes program directors say, "I really want to meet this applicant."
Utilizing the insight and perspective of Dr. Samir Desai, an expert in the residency match process, and the expertise of our expert writing team, we will help you create the high impact statement that you deserve.
The Residency Platinum Package includes statement editing for a single specialty with no limits on the number of revisions.
"I was told by a chief resident that my psychiatry personal statement was among the top 10 personal statements the program had received during my application cycle."
"I had it reviewed by my department's program director, and he said it was one of the best statements he has ever read."
"It seemed like interviewer after interviewer wanted to talk about my personal statement. I'm convinced that my statement is why I got so many more interviews than my classmates."
Letter of Interest Drafting/Editing
Following submission of the application, applicants will send letters of interest to residency programs. The goal is to express interest in and show fit with the program so that the program will be more inclined to offer the applicant an interview invitation. Although this is a common practice, many applicants send suboptimal letters of interest, preventing them from making a strong impression on the program. We will help you draft a powerful letter of interest for a single program that you can use and adapt as needed for other programs.
Residency Interview Course Access
Through access to our Residency Interview 101 Course, you'll learn how to craft powerful and unique answers to the most important interview questions. Our step-by-step approach will have you prepared to deliver answers that will not only resonate with your interviewers but will help you stand out from the typical answers that residency applicants provide.
Mock Interview Sessions
A successful interview is one that moves you higher on the program's rank list to a favorable match position. Successful interviewing requires a considerable amount of preparation. During your mock interview sessions, you'll gain the insight and information you need to shine during your residency or fellowship interview. You will work directly with Dr. Samir Desai, author of The Successful Match, who has written and lectured extensively about interviewing successfully. He has interviewed hundreds of applicants and is an expert on developing stand-out answers to interview questions based on an applicant's unique background and experiences.
Rank-Order List Discussion
The last step in the residency application process is the creation and certification of your rank order list (also known as the rank list, or ROL). On the official rank list, you list the programs you are willing to attend, in order of preference.
Match results may not be favorable for a whole host of reasons. However, we’ve seen some students who do everything else right, only to make critical errors when it comes to creating and submitting their rank order list. Errors at this final step in the process can undo all of your previous efforts, and lead to one of two unfortunate outcomes: not matching at all or matching with a less desirable program on your list.
Your rank order list meeting with Dr. Samir Desai will ensure that you do not make these all-too-common errors.
