Life After Match Day
The big day is just one weekend away. Let’s picture together that you land a DI of your dreams on Match Day! After so much time invested in this one day, the question becomes … what next?
Reach out to Your New DI Director
In the midst of all the laughing, crying, celebrating, and sharing of great news, don’t forget this essential step! You only have about 24 hours between when the Match is released and your deadline for accepting the offer (give or take, since the deadline to accept is at 6 PM local time for the program on Monday, April 9th).
You can call, email, reach out immediately after you come down off your Match Day cloud, or wait until business hours the next day … but don’t wait too long. Personally, I love checking my voicemail on the evening of Match Day and listening to lots of excited newly-matched interns. Hearing that level of joy and enthusiasm always gets me so revved up for working with my incoming cohort. You can be professional while still showing your passion and joy, so my biased advice is to let it all out!
Ask Questions, but Be Prepared to Be Patient
If you’re like most newly-matched interns, you no doubt have a lot of questions – some will be driven by eagerness and others by logistics. Both motivations are valid, and I think most DI Directors are happy to field any questions we can, especially while we’re already chatting about your acceptance of the match.
On the other hand, keep in mind that most internships are still in high gear this time of year, and some directors won’t have answers for all your questions yet and/or won’t be able to prioritize sending all the information you’re seeking right away (unless it’s truly urgent). Please trust that we have systems in place and you’ll have the details when you need them.
Connect with Your Incoming Cohort
One of the most fun ways to revel in the excitement of your upcoming internship year is to get to know your peers-to-be as soon as you’re able by connecting with the other students matched to your internship. Over the years, I’ve seen groups of interns connect over Facebook or though apps such as WhatsApp and GroupMe. However you make it happen, this is one of the most significant ways you can work towards shaping your DI experience early. I know my current interns were adamant about the role these initial connections played in making this such an incredible year founded on strong friendships and a devoted support network.
Make the Most of Your Summer
Regardless of what your life, schedule, and commitments are like now, the DI year is bound to be a bit of a culture shock. I strongly encourage you to spend the summer preparing for what’s ahead.
One part of that is to find some downtime when you can rest and rejuvenate. In whatever way works best for you, make time for yourself this summer. It will help prepare you for the rollercoaster ahead.
For many interns-to-be, the summer can be a very important opportunity to save up some money for the DI year. Though interns can hold down a part-time job while completing the program, it’s even better when they don’t need to. If you’re able to save up enough to at least get started in your internship before taking on a job, you’ll probably find it much easier to get your year off on the right foot.
In most internships, you’ll be given assignments to complete over the summer. These are designed to prepare you for a successful internship year. Your work on these assignments is also often your first real opportunity to make a terrific impression regarding your work ethic, level of attention to detail, and applied critical thinking. Take these assignments seriously, and give them the attention they deserve.
Finally, this is the perfect time for some deep self-assessment. If there’s an aspect of practice where your hands-on experience is limited, land a short-term job or seek out a volunteer opportunity in that area. If you know some key concepts are eluding you or beginning to blur together, find those old DPD notes and organize the content that you might need to refresh on. Consider what will best strengthen you, and come up with a game plan to keep growing your skills and experience. This will serve you well in your internship and far beyond.
Best of luck to everyone on Match Day!
