Application and Interview Frequently Asked Questions
I. The following are some of the questions frequently asked by prospective applicants.
1. What are the application deadlines? Do you consider applications through ERAS and the NRMP?
Please see the “Information for Interviewees” section of this site.
2. Does the program have specific cut-off USMLE scores?
No, there is no specific cut-off score, we evaluate the entire application. However, given the competitive nature of the application process, most of the students who match with our program have done very well on the USMLE.
3. How many letters of recommendation do you require?
We require three letters of recommendation in addition to the Dean’s letter. More letters are welcome, but not required. Pleased be advised that letters from individuals who can provide meaningful information about you is of much more value to your application than a volume of superficial letters from individuals who are barely familiar with your work.
4. Do you require a preliminary year?
Yes, we require an internship year as mandated by the American Board of Radiology:
The first postgraduate year must be accredited clinical training in internal medicine, pediatrics, surgery or surgical specialties, obstetrics & gynecology, neurology, family practice, emergency medicine, transitional year, or any combination of these. No more than a total of three months may be spent in radiology, radiation oncology, and/or pathology. All clinical training must be in an ACGME-, AOA- or RCPSC- approved program (or equivalent).
5. Do you consider the “year of graduation” during the application review process?
The year the applicant has graduated from medical school is very important in the context of how the interim time has been used. Historically, most of our house staff have applied to our program as fourth year medical students; several, after one year of training.
6. Do you accept International Medical Graduates? Do you sponsor H1 or J1 visas?
Yes we do accept International Medical Graduates in our program. We sponsor both H1 and J1 visas.
7. Do you offer Observerships or Externships?
No. We do offer electives to medical students and non-radiology NYU house staff.
II. The following are some of the questions frequently asked by interviewees.
1. Is there a brochure with detailed information about the residency?
Very detailed information about the residency and fellowships is available on our web site; we no longer provide printed brochures.
2. How much does a first year resident earn?
First year residents (PGY-2) earn approximately $52,420/year. PGY-5's earn approximately $59,970/year.
3. How much time is spent at each of the three hospitals?
Residents spend approximately 70% of the time at Bellevue. The balance of the time is spent at Tisch, HJD or VA.
The following is an overview of rotation location assignments:
NYU Hospitals Center
(NYU School of Medicine is the sponsoring institution of the residency program)
Tisch Hospital Rotations
MR, thoracic imaging, neuro-imaging, abdominal CT, US, pediatric imaging, musculoskeletal MR, vascular-interventional radiology, nuclear medicine/PET, cardiac imaging
Hospital for Joint Disease Rotation
Musculoskeletal imaging
Bellevue Hospital Rotations
Primary teaching hospital: exposure in each of the radiology subspecialties
Manhattan VA Harbor Health Care System Rotations
Thoracic imaging, abdominal CT, US, neuro-imaging
Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP) Rotation
Four week course in radiology-pathology correlation, usually in 3rd year. The Department pays the AFIP tuition and gives each resident a $1500 stipend for room and board.
4. Is there any elective time?
In addition to the 4 weeks at the AFIP, the Department maintains a very flexible policy concerning elective time.
The department is also very flexible about arranging special time for residents to pursue professional interests. Resident research is now a program requirement of the ACGME.
5. What is the call schedule like?
Residents will be on call an average of once a week. On call coverage is at either Bellevue or Tisch. Residents are free of clinical responsibility on post-call days. Residents rotate out of the call pool during the latter part of the fourth year.
6. How do residents get OB US experience?
During the US rotation at Bellevue, residents spend time with radiology faculty in the OBGYN department high risk ultrasound clinic where they receive intensive one-to-one hands-on training. Our Woman's Health Imaging section headed by Dr. Genevieve Bennett provides additional avenues for providing residents with broad experience in the imaging aspects of woman's health issues.
7. What is the fourth year like?
During the fourth year the residents have diminished clinical responsibilities and no call responsibilities after March 1. During the latter part of the year, the residents receive intensive board review sessions from the faculty.
8. How do the NYU residents perform on the radiology boards?
Our residents uniformly do very well on both the written and oral boards and pass on the first attempt.
9. Is the presence of fellows a disadvantage?
No, they provide an excellent additional teaching resource. The clinical volume is such that there is no competition for cases. The residents elect a “Fellow Teacher of the Year Award”.
10. Is there an opportunity to participate in research?
Residents are now required to perform research, as per ACGME program requirements. They are actively encouraged to become involved with ongoing projects or develop their own projects. The faculty is always very happy to have residents participate in research. Selected residents present their projects at a Resident Research Seminar Day held at the end of June.
11. When will PACS be implemented?
PACS has been fully implemented at all of our institutions.
Digital mammography at Bellevue is in the process of being completely integrated into the PACS.
Direct voice recognition methods are used to dictate almost all cases. Specialized documentation software is used for reading out mammograms.
12. How many residents are in the program?
We have 10 residents each in of the four training years (40 residents total).
