Specialities

"Anesthesiology is dedicated to the complete medical and anesthetic care of the surgical patient. It is a precise, technical, and intellectual specialty that requires high standards and attention to detail. Anesthesiologists care for the whole patient before, during, and after the operation. They administer powerful anesthetics, render patients insensible to pain and stress, provide respiratory support, and manage every medical need of the patient throughout the surgical experience. To do so, anesthesiologists closely monitor and treat the acute pathophysiology of multiple organ systems: cardiac, pulmonary, renal, endocrine, hematologic, and neurologic. It is a specialty that ties together the cerebral nature of internal medicine with the procedural interventions and life-support of critical care medicine."
— Freeman, B. (2013). The Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Medical Specialty. 3rd Ed. Lange Medical Books/McGraw-Hill: New York, p.159.

“How to get involved” from Medical Student Education Director, Dr. Nguyen 

 

• Anesthesiology Interest Group
• Shadow an anesthesiologist - M1, M2
• Perform research in anesthesiology 
• UMN MSARF Summer program - MS1 8 week program 
• FAER’s Medical Student Anesthesia Research Fellowships 
• Anesthesiology Conference - October 
• Midwest Anesthesia Resident’s Conference - April 
• Minnesota Society of Anesthesiologists - February

• Embrace the variety of core clerkships
• Review the Clinical Immersion Approach to Anesthesiology Prerequisites 
• See the Specialty Specific Transition Designs for recommendations and timing
  • As you move into match preparations, consider taking USMLE Step 2 before the first Wednesday of September in the academic year you plan to participate in the Match to ensure your score is available for programs that you intend to apply.

Consider the below UMN departmental insights to help strengthen your application and review the Program Directors Association Guide for Residency Applicants for cycle-specific specialty details.

• Demonstrate clinical competency by doing well in the ICU, completing basic and advanced anesthesiology rotations, honors grades, MSPE comments, and letters of recommendation.
• Demonstrate commitment to specialty by participating in anesthesiology rotations, ICU experience, research on anesthesiology topics, and relevant electives.
• Research & Publications experience is recommended and important.
• Volunteering or other service experience - speaks to a person’s humanitarian approach and also ability to manage time and multitask, so it is important. There is no specific time requirement.
• Electives Away are not necessarily important, but could do up to 2, connect with advisors to navigate
• Passing USMLE Step 1 on the first attempt is important
• USMLE Step 2 CK is very important, and applications are viewed holistically so there is not a specific number
• Letters of Recommendation (LoR)- 3 needed (2 from anesthesiologists, 1 from a mentor during medical school years and knows you well). Looking for description of how an applicant performs in the operating room, general description of medical profession specific qualities, including professionalism and ethical behavior. 
• Honors and Awards can help differentiate between 2 equal applicants. We do not look for AOA or Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS) membership.
• Application advice - ensure you know anesthesiology is a specialty for you, ensure manual skills come easy and you enjoy them, ensure you know anesthesia is not for people who dislike communication. In fact, on any given day you need to communicate effectively and lead many different individuals from different teams. Aim to apply to 15-20 programs and signal programs in which you are interested

Cardiology is the practice of medicine concerned with disorders of the heart and circulatory system. The field focuses on diagnosing, treating, or managing patients with cardiovascular conditions such as, myocardial infarctions (heart attacks), heart arrhythmias, hypertension, coronary artery disease, heart failure, heart defects, infections and related disorders. Cardiology is unique as it is constantly evolving, intellectually stimulating, and provides a plethora of research opportunities. Today, cardiologists use a combination of non-invasive tests, such as ECGs, Echocardiograms, stress tests and CT scans, and invasive procedures, such as coronary angiography and electrophysiology studies, to provide their patients with comprehensive care. There are multiple distinct subspecialties within cardiology that provide a wide array of career opportunities. In broad terms, these subspecialties can be divided into electrophysiology, interventional, heart failure, nuclear, imaging, obstetric, sports and preventive cardiology. In clinical practice, the boundaries among the different subspecialties are not fixed. Most cardiologist use a combination of two of more types of tests and work closely with other cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, and healthcare providers to treat their patients. In terms of training to become a cardiologist, it is important to note that adult cardiology is a subspecialty of internal medicine and pediatric cardiology is a subspecialty of pediatrics. 

-- Freeman, B. (2013). The Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Medical Specialty. 3rd Ed. Lange Medical Books/McGraw-Hill: New York.p.239.

Cardiology Resources

• UMN Department of Medicine – Cardiovascular Division
• UMN Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship Program
• UMN Division of Pediatric Cardiology
• UMN Research in Cardiology
• UMN Department of Surgery – Cardiothoracic Surgery
• UMN Visible Heart Laboratories

"Dermatology is the branch of medicine concerned with the skin and skin-related diseases and disorders…. Dermatologists see people of all ages who present with skin diseases (either benign or malignant) involving the mouth, hair, nails, sweat and sebaceous glands, external genitalia, and mucous membranes."
— Freeman, B. (2013). The Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Medical Specialty. 3rd Ed. Lange Medical Books/McGraw-Hill: New York. p.177.

“How to get involved” from Vice Chair of Faculty and Academic Affairs, Dr. Boull 

 

• Join the Dermatology Interest Group
• Join a national dermatology society. Several offer free or discounted student memberships and provide educational and mentorship opportunities. Examples include the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), Pediatric Dermatology Research Alliance (PeDRA), and the Society for Pediatric Dermatology
• Shadow a Dermatologist for exposure before clinical rotations
• Perform research in dermatology
• Submit research abstracts to local and national meetings
• Network with faculty and students, and ask for mentorship
• Attend Grand Rounds
• Join the Student National Medical Association - Dermatology Specialty Interest Group

• Embrace the variety of core clerkships
• See the Specialty Specific Transition Designs for recommendations and timing
  • As you move into match preparations, consider taking USMLE Step 2 before the first Wednesday of September in the academic year you plan to participate in the Match to ensure your score is available for programs that you intend to apply.

Consider the below UMN departmental insights to help strengthen your application and review the Program Directors Association Guide for Residency Applicants for cycle-specific specialty details.

• Demonstrate clinical competency by strong performance on dermatology rotation(s), honors grades, MSPE comments, and letters of recommendation.
• Demonstrate commitment to specialty with extensive research in the specialty and having specific volunteer experiences in addition to seeking shadowing opportunities for exposure prior to clinical rotations, joining the Dermatology Interest Group, attending Grand Rounds, seeking out research projects and/or dedicate time to perform research within the field.
• Research & Publications are essential. Most dermatology residency programs emphasize research and publications as an important part of well-rounded application; there is no minimum number of publications required, but a suggested number is 3 or more.
• Volunteering or other service experience are essential; applicants must be well-rounded, and a commitment to volunteerism and service is preferred. Longitudinal experiences and those outside of medicine tend to be favored.
• Electives Away are important, and typically valuable for an application because they build connections with programs other than the home program and likely increase chances of matching with that program. They may also generate letters of recommendation. However, having an away rotation does not in itself make an application stronger. Typical number is 1-2 (and we discourage more than 2), connect with advisors to navigate
• Passing USMLE Step 1 on the first attempt is important; some programs may filter out those who failed a Step exam on the first attempt
• USMLE Step 2 CK is very important; we do not filter applicants based on scores, but some programs may filter out low Step 2 scores (e.g., 240).
• Letters of Recommendation (LoR)- 4 needed (3 from dermatologists, 1 from a mentor from another specialty who knows you well or a research mentor). 
• Honors and Awards - AOA status is known to have some embedded bias, but our program does look for Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS) membership.
• Application advice - we discourage applicants from broadly applying to programs to which they don’t give a signaling token. However, some programs may not use tokens in their application process, so one could consider applying to those programs without a token.

"Emergency medicine involves the immediate care of urgent and life-threatening conditions found in the critically ill and injured. These physicians are really specialists in breadth — their broad-based training encompasses acute problems that span several clinical disciplines. No other specialty can match the astounding variety of patients found within the emergency room. You will see, hear, and smell things that most doctors will not. In just one shift, an EP may care for patients presenting with asthma attacks, atrial fibrillation, gunshot wounds, dislocated shoulders, and even cockroaches stuck in their ears."
— Freeman, B. (2013). The Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Medical Specialty. 3rd Ed. Lange Medical Books/McGraw-Hill: New York. p.189.

“How to get involved” from Health Partner Institute/Regions Hospital Emergency Medicine Residency Program, Dr. Cullen Hegarty and the University of Minnesota's Director of Medical Student Education, Dr. WIlliam Peterson 

 

• Check out the EMRA and CORD Student Advising Guide 
• Join the Emergency Medicine Interest Group
• Shadow an Emergency Medicine physician - M1, M2
• Get involved in EM research or other interesting projects
• Find a mentor, such as through the EMIG Mentorship Program
• Get involved with the EMRA and other related groups such as the Ultrasound Interest Group 

• Embrace the variety of core clerkships
• If considering EM residency, take required EM clerkship at Regions or Hennepin
• See the Specialty Specific Transition Designs for recommendations and timing
  • As you move into match preparations, consider taking USMLE Step 2 before the first Wednesday of September in the academic year you plan to participate in the Match to ensure your score is available for programs that you intend to apply.

Consider the below UMN departmental insights to help strengthen your application and review the Program Directors Association Guide for Residency Applicants for cycle-specific specialty details.

• Demonstrate clinical competency by doing well in all clinical rotations, letters of recommendation and MSPE comments.

• Demonstrate commitment to specialty by showing interest, taking EM-relevant courses, involvement with local or national EM groups (EMIG, EMRA, etc), letters of recommendation from the specialty (not all, but like to see at least 2 SLOEs from EM rotations). We understand that everyone’s path is different and some students find EM later in the MS3 and MS4 years.
• Research & Publications experience is less important, but depends on the specific EM program.
• Volunteering or other service experience is strongly encouraged; we like seeing passion or involvement with things that are important to you.
• Electives Away are not necessarily important, unless you do not complete both intro and advanced EM rotations at Hennepin or Regions. They are important if you want to leave MN/the Twin Cities for residency (in this case, taking 1 away).
• Passing USMLE Step 1 on the first attempt is important
• USMLE Step 2 CK is very important, take it early enough for scores to be available prior to interviews and is especially important to have a passing score before programs put you on their rank list.
• Letters of Recommendation (LoR) - 4 total needed; 2 from eSLOE (the SLOE from an EM residency site rotation like Regions or Hennepin) and 2 from other specialties or rotations (including EM subspecialty rotations).  As reported from the Program Directors Association Guide, "emergency Medicine requires a minimum of one EM Standardized Letter of Evaluation (eSLOE) obtained after completing an EM audition rotation and recommends obtaining up to two eSLOEs.  An eSLOE should be written by the Clerkship Director, EM residency program leadership, or be a Group SLOE following the completion of an audition rotation.  These rotations may occur at the student's home institution or other qualifying institutions with an EM residency program.  With few exceptions, students are not recommended to obtain three or more SLOEs.  An EM department chair letter is not required.  Additional LORs may come from any faculty supporting the applicant's fit in Emergency Medicine."  
• Honors and Awards - We do review all honors and awards including preclinical or clinical honors, and things like AOA and GHHS. We do look for AOA or Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS) membership.
• Application advice - strategy and advice is individual to the applicant and based on an overall body of work (should be discussed with the EM clerkship director or HCMC/Regions program director). Aim to apply to 15-20 programs and signal programs in which you are interested.
• Other advice - consider checking out the ERMA Match Website

“Family medicine is the medical specialty that provides first contact as well as continuous, comprehensive health care for individuals, families and communities across their entire lifespan, while also including care of all genders and reproductive stages. This specialty is distinctive in its broad integration of biological, clinical and behavioral sciences, ensuring a holistic approach to patient care. Family medicine engages in education and advocacy efforts to promote the health and well-being of all individuals while removing barriers to equitable care for all populations.” 

— (1984) (September 2024 COD) AAFP

“How to get involved” from Family Medicine and Community Health Medical Student Education Director, Dr. David Power

 

• Join a Family Medicine Interest Group- Join the UMN FMIG Mailing List button
• Connect with Family Medicine mentors: FMCH Specialty Mentors Page
  • Join Family Medicine Societies (free for students)
  • American Academy of Family Physicians AAFP
  • Society for Teachers of Family Medicine STFM
• Attend a Family Medicine Conference
  • AAFP Future Conference (for students) 
  • MAFP Innovations Forum
  • Family Medicine Midwest
  • STFM MSE Conference
  • STFM Annual Conference
  • AAFP Annual Family Medicine Experience (FMX)
  • Consider working with a faculty mentor and applying for an MMA or MAFP Research Project

• Specialty Spotlight: Family Medicine with Dr. David Power
• Specialty Spotlight: Family Medicine with Dr. Sandy Stover

• Embrace the variety of core clerkships
• Consider enrolling in the Acting Internship in Family Medicine to experience the life of a family medicine resident in their residency program (even if you have already satisfied this curricular requirement in an LIC). Enrolling in other family medicine electives will give a sense of the broad scope of the specialty.
• See the Specialty Specific Transition Designs for recommendations and timing
  • As you move into match preparations, consider taking USMLE Step 2 before the first Wednesday of September in the academic year you plan to participate in the Match to ensure your score is available for programs that you intend to apply.

Consider the below UMN departmental insights to help strengthen your application and review the Program Directors Association Guide for Residency Applicants for cycle-specific specialty details.

• Demonstrate clinical competency from course evaluations (especially clinical medicine courses) as well as letters written by physicians who have worked with the students; these show in MSPE comments and letters of recommendation.
• Demonstrate commitment to specialty by performing well on Family Medicine clerkship, and demonstrate passion and desire for the specialty both in their personal statement as well as during interviews.
• We encourage enrolling in the Acting Internship in Family Medicine to experience the life of a family medicine resident in their residency program (even if you have already satisfied this curricular requirement in an LIC). Enrolling in other family medicine electives will give a sense of the broad scope of the specialty.
• Research & Publications are a bonus, but not required; they can be a way to show your commitment to and interest in family medicine. There is no minimum amount of research or publication required.
• Volunteering or other service experience are important; you can show where you invested your time and effort. Include all experience on your application form; there is no minimum amount required.
• Electives Away are not required, but can be helpful if done at programs you are interested in; connect with advisors to navigate.
• While passing USMLE Step 1 AND USMLE Step 2 CK on the first attempt is important, students who have taken more than one attempt to pass may still be offered interviews if they have other desirable qualities and skills and may successfully match. Most program directors are not looking for a particular numerical score on Step.
• Letters of Recommendation (LoR)- 3 needed (2 from family medicine, 1 from a physician who has worked directly with you). If anyone ever offers to write you a letter, always say, “Yes, please!” 
• Honors and Awards - Membership in Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS) is valued.  AOA is of less importance.
• Application advice -  In general it is important for students to take advantage of opportunities to meet with our department through interest groups, workshops, lunch lectures, specialty mentors, and visiting rotations/electives. In addition, the Acting Internship in Family Medicine is a great opportunity to get to know residents and faculty at one of our residency programs.  More information is available here: U of M Family Medicine application process.
  The number of programs you need to apply to depends on the competitiveness of the applicant.  Most "average" applicants in good academic standing will match into one of their top 3 preferences and may not need to apply to more than 10-15 programs in a region. Signaling helps secure an interview at all programs.  Some regions are moderately competitive, including the Twin Cities. Less competitive applicants and those with red flags on their application should meet with a specialty advisor, apply more widely and include less competitive residencies in their rank list. 

"Internists take care of the general medical problems of adults. In a single day, they can act as a diagnostician, an educator, a director, an advocate, a motivator, a healer, and a comforter. In the clinic, they treat their patients' aches, pains, and sniffles. They also come to their bedsides in the hospital and manage their inpatient care. Some internists spend their time providing acute and chronic primary care; others become sub-specialists in cardiology, gastroenterology, endocrinology, and more."
— Freeman, B. (2013). The Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Medical Specialty. 3rd Ed. Lange Medical Books/McGraw-Hill: New York.p.239.

“How to get involved” from Internal Medicine Residency Program Director, Dr. Melissa Plesac

 

• Internal Medicine Interest Group
• Shadow an Internal Medicine physician - M1, M2
• Research is a valuable option but not required for most students.   Best framed broadly (clinical research, quality improvement, health services, or subspecialty-based research) with IM faculty
• Summer programs are appropriate, especially for structured early exposure to research or clinical work.
• Research fellowship/years are less common and generally only relevant for students with a strong interest in academic medicine or competitive subspecialties.  This is NOT necessary to match into IM for even the most competitive programs. 
• Conferences and professional societies (e.g., ACP): Good for exposure and networking, though typically optional rather than essential. 
• Volunteer in student-run or community clinics.  This provides meaningful clinical exposure and aligns closely with the core mission of Internal Medicine.
• Connect with a faculty or resident mentor as this is one of the most impactful ways for students to explore the field and navigate 

• Specialty Spotlight: Internal Medicine with Dr. Amy Greminger
• Internal Medicine Subspecialty Zoom Panel, organized by Internal Medicine Interest Group
• Internal Medicine Specialty Spotlight with Dr. Nersi Nikakhtar

• Embrace the variety of core clerkships
• See the Specialty Specific Transition Designs for recommendations and timing
  • As you move into match preparations, consider taking USMLE Step 2 before the first Wednesday of September in the academic year you plan to participate in the Match to ensure your score is available for programs that you intend to apply.

Consider the below UMN departmental insights to help strengthen your application and review the Program Directors Association Guide for Residency Applicants for cycle-specific specialty details.

• Demonstrate clinical competency by doing well in general as seen in letters of recommendation, honors grades in applicable electives, and MSPE narrative comments. There is variability across the ~400 IM programs nationally.

• Demonstrate commitment to specialty in several ways - no single formula; well written personal statement that clearly conveys WHY you are drawn to IM, can be helpful to have letters of rec from internists or to have volunteered in IM-related settings, research experience valuable but doesn’t need to be in IM (unless you’re applying to a research-heavy program). Programs prioritize different aspects, whether research, community service or alignment with the institution's mission, so it helps to understand the culture of the programs in which you are applying. Extra electives in IM aren’t usually necessary, as most students complete at least an 8wk core rotation and a MICU sub-internship. Programs often appreciate seeing a diverse and well-rounded M4 year-- this is your opportunity to explore areas that excite you or complement the foundational skills you’ll continue to build during residency.
• Research & Publications experience is important, but not essential. Research is a way to demonstrate a dedication to learning and willingness to engage in projects outside the classroom. It can also help you develop valuable skills, such as critical thinking and data analysis, that can be helpful during residency. Publications are not required but can be helpful depending on the type of program and how the rest of your application looks. For those applicants interested in research careers, many University-affiliated programs have PSTP or ABIM research tracks and often recruit medical students with a PhD or other advanced degree who have extensive research backgrounds. The program’s website can help you discern how much they value scholarly activity. The applicant should emphasize whatever in their application is unique to them and explain how they spent their time.
• Volunteering and other service experiences are very important; IM is rooted in longitudinal, one-on-one relationships with patients, many of whom come from diverse backgrounds and navigate complex health systems. Applicants who have engaged in service work develop foundational experience and skills in empathy, cultural humility, and an understanding of the social determinants of health - all of which are essential to being an effective internist.
  • Successful applicants typically have either a few meaningful service experiences or one significant, longitudinal involvement often with evidence of leadership or growing responsibility. These experiences don’t need to be clinical, but they should show sustained engagement and a commitment to helping others. Ultimately, the goal is not to check a box, but to show that you’ve cultivated a service-oriented mindset that aligns with the mission and patient-centered nature of internal medicine.
• Electives Away are not important and not expected; connect with advisors to navigate if you want experiences available elsewhere or building connections elsewhere
• Passing USMLE Step 1 on the first attempt is important, but not a dealbreaker (program dependent). Explanation and context can be helpful if you have a failure, consider addressing if it is relevant to your narrative (advisors can help)
• USMLE Step 2 CK is important; since you must pass to start your internship. Programs are variable on viewing it as pass/fail, or having strict cut-offs for consideration, and others use USMLE testing as one of many factors in a holistic review. 
• Letters of Recommendation (LoR)- 4 needed (2 from IM preferred- at least 1 from the inpatient experience [should be from Sub-I or AI, but 7500 works if Sub-I/AI not possible]) Many programs require a “chair” letter - the department will share details and instructions on obtaining this, your faculty advisors will help with this process. The remainder of letters do not need to be from IM - other good options include FM, Ped, Primary Care clinic, EM or a research mentor (when applicable). Keep in mind that letters can come from IM-related subspecialties including cardiology, GI, ID, nephrology etc. 
• Honors and Awards - Due to historical racial and gender disparities in the selection process, some schools no longer have AOA, so most IM programs are fine without having it. Some programs will look for it, but in general IM programs are moving away from utilizing AOA as a selection criteria. Not all schools have GHHS, so again, programs do not consider it a requirement. If it is available, as it is at UMN, then it’s a plus, but not a requirement.
• Application advice - The key is to apply intentionally rather than broadly—quality over quantity, with a focus on programs where you’re most likely to thrive. For most applicants, a rank list of 10–12 programs provides over a 95% chance of matching into internal medicine. With that in mind, applying to around 15–20 programs is generally sufficient. Be strategic in selecting from the more than 440 IM programs nationwide—talk with internal medicine faculty to help you identify programs that align with your goals, strengths, and preferences.
  • There are exceptions. If you're couples matching, you may need to apply to significantly more programs, depending on your partner’s specialty and geographic flexibility. Similarly, if you have academic challenges on your record—such as failed coursework or board exams—you should broaden your application pool and apply thoughtfully to programs that may be a good fit for your background and growth trajectory.

"Blending together the principles of internal medicine and pediatrics, med-peds (or IMP) is the largest and most popular combined program. ...IMP offers an alternative choice for physicians-in-training who wish to treat patients of all ages but do not want to become family practitioners. ...After completing the four year program, they are eligible to sit for board certification examinations in both internal medicine and pediatrics. ...Family practice has a wider scope, while IMP has a greater depth. ...Instead of rotations in obstetrics, gynecology, and surgical subspecialties, [as in family medicine residency programs] IMP residency provides additional training in inpatient and critical care experiences involving both adults and children. ...It is possible for patients and families to meet all their health care needs in the same setting with the same doctor. ...This continuity of care is particularly beneficial for children with chronic illnesses, such as cystic fibrosis, Down syndrome, or congenital heart defects, as they transit into adulthood.”

— Freeman, B. (2013). The Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Medical Specialty. 3rd Ed. Lange Medical Books/McGraw-Hill: New York. p. 81-82.

“How to get involved” 

 

• Join Med-Peds Interest Group
• Connect with a faculty or resident mentor as this is one of the most impactful ways for students to explore the field and navigate
• Volunteer in student-run or community clinics, the longitudinal exposure is highly valuable and mission aligned for this field
• Follow @MedPedsUMN on instagram
• Shadow a physician - M1, M2
• Get involved in research if that is of interest to you
• Conferences and professional societies: Good for exposure and networking, though typically optional rather than essential

• Embrace the variety of core clerkships
• See the Specialty Specific Transition Designs for recommendations and timing - IM and Peds
  • As you move into match preparations, consider taking USMLE Step 2 before the first Wednesday of September in the academic year you plan to participate in the Match to ensure your score is available for programs that you intend to apply.

Consider the below UMN departmental insights to help strengthen your application and review the Program Directors Association Guide for Residency Applicants for cycle-specific specialty details.

• Demonstrate clinical competency through excellent grades, clinical comments, and letters of recommendation from all core clerkships, but particularly medicine and pediatrics.

• Demonstrate commitment to specialty isn’t as big of a deal for UofM students as there are many ped-peds providers, a very strong and large med-peds community and a large program.
• Research & Publications experience is of little importance; research focus varies by institution, but is generally not heavily weighted. Longitudinal commitment is valued over one-off endeavors, but applications are holistically reviewed so there are opportunities to express interest in research.
• Volunteering or other service experience - is very important; med-peds program often value service and volunteerism; longitudinal commitment is valued.
• Electives Away are not important; opportunities for away rotations are limited and are therefore not a major determinant.
• USMLE Step 2 CK is of little importance, and applications are viewed holistically; we emphasize flexibility of requiring scores in terms of offering interviews.
• Letters of Recommendation (LoR)- 3 required, 4 allowed (2 from medicine / pediatrics, otherwise a writer who can comment on students’ clinical performance). 
• Honors and Awards are one piece of an application, and their importance entirely depends on the entirety of the application. AOA or Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS) membership is not important.
• Application advice - look at the AAMC recommendations and follow them. Connect with mentors to explore programs and application numbers.

"Neurology is the practice of medicine that concentrates on the human brain and nervous system. From higher cognitive disorders (such as Alzheimer dementia) to diseases of nerve and muscle (neuropathies and myopathies), neurologists serve as nervous system specialists at every level. With compassion and dedication, neurologists take care of patients presenting with a wide variety of complaints: headaches, numbness, weakness, tremors, seizures, speech difficulty, and changes in consciousness."

— Freeman, B. (2013). The Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Medical Specialty. 3rd Ed. Lange Medical Books/McGraw-Hill: New York. p. 263.

“How to get involved” from Clerkship Director, Dr. Kelsey Gagesch 

 

• Join Neurology's Student Interest Group - NSIGN
• Connect with a faculty or resident mentor 
• Shadow a neurologist and consider neurology electives 
• Get involved in research (not necessary but can be helpful) 
• Attend Neurology's annual conference through the American Academcy of Neurology (AAN) as it is a great experience for applicants for networking, gaining knowledge, and gaining experience 
• Attend Neurology Grand Rounds (contact Cathie Witzel, [email protected]- all UMN medical students welcome)

• Embrace the variety of core clerkships
• See the Specialty Specific Transition Designs for recommendations and timing 
  • As you move into match preparations, consider taking USMLE Step 2 before the first Wednesday of September in the academic year you plan to participate in the Match to ensure your score is available for programs that you intend to apply.

Consider the below UMN departmental insights to help strengthen your application and review the Program Directors Association Guide for Residency Applicants for cycle-specific specialty details.

• Demonstrate clinical competency with letters of recommendation. Our program performs a holistic review of applications, considering experiences, attributes and metrics (academic data). Academic metrics are important, specifically in the neurosciences domain, but are not the singular defining characteristic of a strong applicant.

• Demonstrate commitment to specialty by completion of electives in neurology, participation in SIGN, neurosciences-based research activities.
• Research  is important & Publications are less important. Again, following the experiences-attributes-metrics model, research can be helpful. Extensive research can stand out, however, minimal research experience is ok as long as you bring other experiences and attributes to the program. If you tell us in your essay, for example, that you are interested in doing research in your career, then you should have significant experience documented to support that. Otherwise it’s just nice to see a little as all trainees complete a scholarly activity during training.
• Volunteering or other service experience is important. We like to see that you have service experience and leadership outside of medicine. Every resident helps shape the program they match in. What unique skills and perspectives do you bring? How will you shape the future of neurology? Diversity, equity, and inclusion are important topics, so demonstrating a commitment to underserved populations and addressing health disparities are experiences and attributes we look for. 
• Electives Away are not important, it is rare and generally not a factor.
• Failure on any USMLE Step can be a barrier
• USMLE Step 2 CK is important, and is considered alongside other academic metrics. Strong scores can strengthen an application. 
• Letters of Recommendation (LoR)- 3 needed (1 from neurology, and others like IM, neurosurgery, psychiatry, rehabilitation medicine). Looking for information about your work style, attitudes, stress tolerance, teamwork skills, etc. Residency programs are designed to teach medical knowledge and patient care. It can be more challenging to address other skills that contribute to success, such as communication, professionalism, and the culture residents create within the program. Information about your innate characteristics is harder to ascertain from CV data. These are things we try to learn about in interviews, however, if a letter writer can attest to your great attitude and teamwork, as well as your skill and fit within neurology, it is helpful.
• Honors and Awards - AOA or Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS) membership is not important, but can help applicants stand out; both are viewed within the global context of the application.
• Application advice - From the program perspective, the trend of applicants applying to a large number of programs (15-20) has made it more difficult to review applications and determine who is truly interested in your program. We have seen a 30% increase in the last two years. It becomes challenging to read hundreds of applications and turn around invitations quickly enough to satisfy applicants. Apply to programs you truly wish to match at, and then tell each program in your essay what it is about that program that appeals to you.
  • Also, assume programs are reviewing reddit.
  • When I applied, the consensus was 10-12, although you didn’t necessarily need to interview at all of them. More for IMGs or if scores/grades are on the lower end.

Neurological Surgery constitutes a medical discipline and surgical specialty that provides care for adult and pediatric patients in the treatment of pain or pathological processes that may modify the function or activity of the central nervous system (e.g., brain, hypophysis, and spinal cord), the peripheral nervous system (e.g., cranial, spinal, peripheral nerves), that autonomic nervous system, the supporting structures of these systems (e.g., intracranial, extracranial, and spinal vasculature).  
Treatment encompasses both non-operative management (e.g., prevention, diagnosis - including image interpretation - and treatments such as, but not limited to neurocritical intensive care and rehabilitation) and operative management with its associated image use and interpretation (e.g., endovascular surgery, functional and restorative surgery, stereotactic radiosurgery, and spinal fusion  - including its instrumentation). 
— American Board of Medical Specialties

“How to get involved” from Professors & Co-Directors, Dr. Andrew Grande & Dr. Michael Park

• Get involved and engaged with the Neurosurgery Department as soon as possible
• Join the Neurosurgery Interest Group (NSIG)
• Work in the lab
• Connect with a faculty or resident mentor 
• Shadow a neurosurgeon- M1, M2
• Perform research in neuroscience or neurosurgery 
• Participate in Grand Rounds (i.e., attend Friday conferences)
• Complete a research fellowship
• Attend a national conference 
• Become a member of a neurological surgery society

• UMN Neurosurgery Vision 2033

• Embrace the variety of core clerkships
• Reference elective pre-work on department website 
• See the Specialty Specific Transition Designs for recommendations and timing 
  • As you move into match preparations, consider taking USMLE Step 2 before the first Wednesday of September in the academic year you plan to participate in the Match to ensure your score is available for programs that you intend to apply.

Consider the below UMN departmental insights to help strengthen your application and review the Program Directors Association Guide for Residency Applicants for cycle-specific specialty details.

• Demonstrate clinical competency with honors grades, MSPE comments, and letters of recommendation; taking clinical rotation and/or Sub-I and demonstrating through daily performance the potential in the field of neurosurgery.

• Demonstrate commitment to specialty by an investment of time in sub-I rorations (at home institution and at an outside institution), research related to neurosurgery, and participation in departmental educational activities. Showing extensive research in specialty, lots of electives in specialty, all letters of recommendation from the specialty.
• Research & Publications are important, highly recommended and are valued; research experience related to neuroscience and neurosurgery is highly valued. Meaningful academic productivity in terms of publications (especially as a first author) and presentations are often used as objective measures of academic potential.
• Volunteering or other service experience is important; service to the community and the field is generally positive.
• Electives Away are important; completing 2 (sub-I) in a well-respected program or your program of interest is important.  More than 3 electives away are not advised.  
• Passing USMLE Step 1 on the first attempt is important
• USMLE Step 2 CK score is very important
• Letters of Recommendation (LoR) - 3 to 4 are needed (3+ from neurosurgery) all in the SLOE format. 
• Honors and Awards are helpful. Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS) membership is a bonus; it has become standard for most of our applicants. However, not all schools have AOA, and not everyone has the opportunity to compete for these honors and awards.  We do not specifically look for it.  Especially with the schools going to pass/fail, we are not sure what the significance of the AOA would be in the future.
• Application advice - application numbers are difficult to answer as each applicant has unique strengths, but in recent years, successful applicants have applied to 25+ programs (this number aligns with the number of signals in neurosurgery).
  • Additional application advice: 
    • Check out the SNS Recruitment Guidelines for the most comprehensive and up-to-date information.  
    • Neurosurgery offers the use of 25 signals.  All applicants should signal programs where they have rotated (both home and away programs) if an applicant remains strongly interested.  

"These multidisciplinary specialists practice preventive medicine, deliver new lives into the world, and perform life-altering surgery. Half of their patients are healthy young women who come for prenatal care or annual physical examinations. However, with the longevity and desire for a healthier life, the rest of the practice consists of physically active mature women who are concerned about ‘life surrounding and after menopause.’ More than just experts on the pelvic region and reproductive tract, obstetrician-gynecologists must handle problems that require highly technical medical and surgical skills, and, at the other end of the spectrum, be sensitive observers who can give psychological support.” 
— Freeman, B. (2013). The Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Medical Specialty. 3rd Ed. Lange Medical Books/McGraw-Hill: New York. p. 297.

“How to get involved”  from Program Director, Dr. Burn

 

• Make a CV
• Meet with the OBGYN Clerkship Director
• Research - email Erin Zielinski to ensure appropriate training is complete to participate in research. Your name will thereafter be shared with interest faculty and in the newsletter.
• Advocacy
• Community involvement (ie. free clinic)
• Shadow
• Join interest groups (ie local district representation)
• Join national societies (ie ACOG, SMFM, APGO, CREOG) with opportunities for medical students: SMFM Medical student scholars program, SMFM future physician program
• Attend local or national conferences (ie. ACOG MN Section Annual Meeting, APGO/CREOG, SMFM)

• Embrace the variety of core clerkships
• See the Specialty Specific Transition Designs for recommendations and timing 
  • As you move into match preparations, consider taking USMLE Step 2 before the first Wednesday of September in the academic year you plan to participate in the Match to ensure your score is available for programs that you intend to apply.

Consider the below UMN departmental insights to help strengthen your application and review the Program Directors Association Guide for Residency Applicants for cycle-specific specialty details.

• Demonstrate clinical competency by honors grades, MSPE comments, and letters of recommendation.

• Demonstrate commitment to specialty by extensive research experiences in the specialty and specific volunteer experiences.
• Research & Publications - it is important to have exposure and participate in research during medical school. It is helpful to be on projects that are OB/Gyn related. It is still good though to have any research. Publications are a bonus but not required. 
• Volunteering or other service experience is essential.
• Electives Away are not required, but can be advantageous for students who are couples matching or attempting to target specific geographic location or program (as it would be important to do electives at that institution).These should be completed prior to application submission. It is important to stand out on these rotations as this is essentially a four week long interview.
• Passing USMLE Step 1 on the first attempt is important
• USMLE Step 2 CK is important; sit for it by the end of August to receive a score before applications are sent to programs. A competitive score is 250-260.
• Letters of Recommendation (LoR) - recommend obtaining 4 letters of recommendations. For most programs, you will require:
  • An OBGYN Department Chair Letter. At UMN, the OBGYN Clerkship Director and Department Chair write a joint letter for each applicant. It is important to schedule a meeting early with the Chair. Sessions are typically held May-July.
  • SLOE (Standardized Letter of Evaluation) is a new standardized letter that is optional. It should be done by SubI faculty. Requests are made early in the rotation and filled out by faculty who have interacted with the student.
  • Two additional letters of your choice. Typically these letters are from an OBGYN or specialist within the field. Alternatively, faculty from adjacent specialities (ie General Surgery, IM, and Urology) are also acceptable. It is important that the letter writers speak to your strengths as a candidate, rapport with patients, ability to work in a team setting, work ethic, etc. 

• Honors and Awards improve an application but are not necessary. Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS) membership is important, AOA is not.

  Application advice - 

• It is important to determine what type of program (i.e. academic, community, mixed) you are interested in applying and to ascertain your own competitiveness.
• Based on the 2024 OBGYN residency match - the number of interviews needed for a high probability of matching is approximately 8 interviews for a 75% chance, and 11–12 interviews for a >95% chance. The number of interviews applicants receive varies widely, but aiming for 10–12 is a common recommendation to significantly increase the chances of a successful match.
• Signaling. Each applicant is allotted 18 signals (3 Gold which designate highest interest and 15 Silver which designate very high interest). Interview likelihood by type: gold (50-60%), silver (30-40%), and no signal (10%; often from community programs). If you are interested in staying at your home program it is recommended that you signal to ensure interview consideration.
• Application process takes place on ResidencyCas
• It is important to meet with your advisors to discuss if dual application would be beneficial.
• Residency Application resources:
  • APGO - Preparing Your Residency Application 
  • ACOG - Guidelines for Pursuing OB/Gyn Residency edited and compiled by the members of CREOG Executive Council 
  • Right Resident, Right Program, Ready Day One: Applicant Resources 
  • Program Signaling Guidelines for OBGYN
    
    
• Match List
• Residency fit assessments:
   - FREIDA
  - TexasStar (Seeking Transparency in Application to Residency)
  - ResidencyCas ALIGNMENT

"Ophthalmology is the branch of medicine that provides the complete medical and surgical care of the eye and related structures of the visual system (extraocular muscles, eyelids, orbit, nerves, visual pathways, and more). Yes, they can (and often do) prescribe glasses and contact lenses. But their spectrum of care extends much further. It requires mastery of the anatomy, physiology, microbiology, and pathophysiology of the eye, as well as an understanding of optical physics. To treat ocular and visual disorders, ophthalmologists are really both internists and surgeons."
— Freeman, B. (2013). The Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Medical Specialty. 3rd Ed. Lange Medical Books/McGraw-Hill: New York. p.311.

“How to get involved”  from Program Director, Dr. Armbrust & Director of Medical Student Education, Dr. Vollman

 

• Join the Ophthalmology Interest Group
• Shadow an ophthalmology - half day in Comprehensive Ophthalmology (MS1)
• Perform research summer after ms1 and during ms2 (research elective)
  • Produce an abstract or poster at a national meeting (can be done as a flex year prior to SST)
• Identify a faculty member in the department who can serve as a mentor/letter writer
• Present at Ophthalmology Research Day
• Participate or attend Grand Rounds

• Embrace the variety of core clerkships
• Half days shadowing in Comprehensive Ophthalmology during MS1; research (summer after MS1 and during MS2 (research elective)) productive of an abstract or poster at a national meeting--can be a flex year (one prior to SST); identify a faculty member in the Department of Ophthalmology who can serve as a mentor/letter writer
• See the Specialty Specific Transition Designs for recommendations and timing 
  • As you move into match preparations, consider taking USMLE Step 2 before the first Wednesday of September in the academic year you plan to participate in the Match to ensure your score is available for programs that you intend to apply.

Consider the below UMN departmental insights to help strengthen your application and review the Program Directors Association Guide for Residency Applicants for cycle-specific specialty details.

• Demonstrate clinical competency with honors grades in elective courses, MSPE comments, and letters of recommendation.

• Demonstrate commitment to specialty by extensive research in the specialty, specific volunteer experiences, and lots of relevant electives.
• Research is essential & Publications are very important; expected and often applicants have a paper (and more) that has been accepted or submitted.
• Volunteering or other service experience is very important and expected. 
• Electives Away are very important, and are encouraged if you are a weaker candidate and/or you know where you would like to match as an audition. If you are a strong candidate, then you may look better on paper than you do in person; connect with advisors to navigate
• Passing USMLE Step 1 on the first attempt is important
• Scoring well on USMLE Step 2 CK is very important and expected. You should take the exam early enough for the score to be part of your ophthalmology residency application.
• Letters of Recommendation (LoR) - 3 needed (2 from ophthalmologist, and 1 from someone who has worked with you and knows you well). 
• Honors and Awards are important; we look for AOA or Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS) membership.
• Application advice - the average ophthalmology applicant applies to 70-80 programs, though this may not be the best strategy as the data supports 46 programs as enough for the typical applicant to match; connect with advisors for more information.

An orthopedic surgeon specializes in caring for patients with problems affecting the musculoskeletal system. This includes surgical and non-surgical management of conditions affecting bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and nerves. Their primary goal is to help patients manage pain, recover from injuries, and improve mobility and function.  Common characteristics and skills possessed by orthopedic surgeons include problem-solving, 3 dimensional spatial ability, hard-working, mechanically inclined, and enjoy working with tools and their hands.

Responsibilities of an orthopedic surgeon include seeing new, follow-up and post-operative patients in the clinic setting, performing surgery, and on-call duties.  There are many optional sub-specialties within orthopedic surgery including Hand & Upper Extremity, Shoulder & Elbow, Foot & Ankle, Orthopedic Trauma, Arthroplasty (joint replacement), Spine, Pediatric Orthopedics, Sports Medicine, Musculoskeletal Oncology, and Geriatric Trauma.

- Dr. Deborah Bohn 

“Becoming a competitive Ortho Applicant”  from Clerkship Director, Dr. Bohn

• MSY1

  • Learn anatomy and focus on academic success and knowledge 

  • Get involved and attend career and skill-building activities 

  • Attend Crack the Code 

  • Complete volunteer opportunities 

  • Join the Ortho Surgery Interest Group

  • Attend a Perry Initiative Outreach Program

  • Seek opportunities to perform ortho research 

  • Consider a summer research internship 

  • Find and mentor and develop a relationship 

• MSY2

  • Develop leadership skills 
  • Anatomy TA
  • Volunteer 
  • Complete Ortho research 
  • Continue with Ortho Surgery Interest Group 

• MSY3

  • Attend Boot Camp to gain knowledge and skills to be ready for away rotations 
  • Surgery rotations, honors 
  • Plan 2-3 away rotations from July to October 
  • Start to schedule away rotations (VSLO) 
  • Other potentially helpful rotations (ER, radiology, PM&R, anesthesiology, plastics)
  • Continue to work on your CV and update it accordingly 

• All Years:

  • Attend Crack the Code 
  • Attend Grand Rounds or other Ortho conferences when able 
  • Scrub cases whenever you can 
  • Become known by those in your home program 
  • Read about ortho topics 
  • Join a national organization as a student member

• Embrace the variety of core clerkships
• See the Specialty Specific Transition Designs for recommendations and timing 
  • As you move into match preparations, consider taking USMLE Step 2 before the first Wednesday of September in the academic year you plan to participate in the Match to ensure your score is available for programs that you intend to apply.

Consider the below UMN departmental insights to help strengthen your application and review the Program Directors Association Guide for Residency Applicants for cycle-specific specialty details.

• Demonstrate clinical competency by academic excellence, and having some leadership activities, some volunteer activities and some orthopedic surgery research., honors grades in related elective courses, MSPE comments, and letters of recommendation.

• Demonstrate commitment to specialty by extensive research in the specialty, all their letters of rec from the specialty, specific volunteer experiences; in a typical year, each student does 1-2 acting internships at their home institution and 1-3 acting internships at other programs through VSAS.
• Research & Publications experience is an important aspect of the application; research in the specialty is preferred but significant research in other fields is accepted and valued in the absence of ortho research.
• Volunteering, leadership, or other service experience are important and are useful in demonstrating a student’s outside interests.
• Electives Away are essential; 3 are recommended, connect with your advisors
• Passing USMLE Step 1 on the first attempt is important
• USMLE Step 2 CK is important; generally recommend 250 or above (~50th percentile)
• Letters of Recommendation (LoR) - 3 needed (all from orthopedic surgery, unless a student has a significant extensive research experience with another physician in which case that letter of recommendation would be valuable). 
• Honors and Awards are important. We look for AOA or Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS) membership.
• Application advice - most applicants apply to approximately 30 programs.  This aligns with the number of signals in Ortho Surgery.  
• Other Application advice 
  • Clinical performance across all rotations should be excellent and reflected in MSPE comments. 
  • Almost all ortho interview are in-person 

"The official name for this specialty is Otolaryngology-head and neck surgery. This specialty involves both the medical and surgical care of all structures related to the head and neck (basically, above the clavicles and excluding the brain and eye). … Although most physicians and patients still refer to these surgeons simply as ‘ENTs,’ this specialty is, in reality, so much more than ears, noses, and throats. Otolaryngologists are also experts in the management of head and neck tumors (e.g., oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, thyroid, salivary gland, skin cancers), chronic pediatric infections (tonsillectomies, adenoidectomies, and tympanostomy tube placement), pediatric congenital deformities, facial trauma and cosmetic deformities, and diseases of the airway and phonation (laryngoscopy, bronchoscopy, palate surgery for snoring and sleep apnea), and assessing and treating hearing loss in adults and children (medical and surgical)."
— Freeman, B. (2013). The Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Medical Specialty. 3rd Ed. Lange Medical Books/McGraw-Hill: New York. p.340.

“How to get involved”  from Dr. Hamlar

 

• Join the Otolaryngology Interest Group

• Half day shadowing - M1, M2
• Make a CV 
• Pursue research 
• Volunteering is not mandatory 
• Consider joining the National Otolaryngology Interest Group (NOIG), Society of University Otolaryngologists (SUO), Student National Medical Association Otolaryngology SIG, or the American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology (ASPO) Conferences
• Attend local and national conferences (Minnesota Academy of Otolaryngology [MAO] Annual Conference or Combined Otolaryngology Spring Meetings [COSM])

• Embrace the variety of core clerkships
• See Department website for subspecialty course expectations
• See the Specialty Specific Transition Designs for recommendations and timing 
  • As you move into match preparations, consider taking USMLE Step 2 before the first Wednesday of September in the academic year you plan to participate in the Match to ensure your score is available for programs that you intend to apply.

Consider the below UMN departmental insights to help strengthen your application and review the Program Directors Association Guide for Residency Applicants for cycle-specific specialty details. Head Mirror (resource for info on residency and match process in Otolaryngology)

• Demonstrate clinical competency in letters of recommendation. Otolaryngology is a great field, but with that unfortunately extremely competitive. Clinical competency is key to demonstrate and comments from faculty and rotation leads about a student’s clinical performance is key. This is why it is very important to have letter writers know the student and have observed them either in clinic or the operating room. Most students applying in this specialty have stellar academic records, it is the clinical acumen that distinguishes them when applying. 

• Demonstrate commitment to specialty by taking electives and Sub-I, letters of recommendation from within the specialty who work closely with the student and extensive research in the specialty.
• Research & Publications are essential. These should be meaningful projects that the student understands well and can speak intelligently about. Publication is seen as a favorable aspect of an application. (Most programs receive from 400-500 applications for 2-5 spots and all of these students have Honors in their rotations. Research, and productive research that results in publication, is highly valued when reviewing applications.) One publication at least, (to check off the box) but competitive students have around 3. Poster presentations and meeting presentations are also valuable.
• Volunteering or other service experience - encouraged but not a necessity.
• Electives Away are essential (2 recommended), and should be done at an institution where the student has significant interest in training. Can be quite influential for residency recruitment as a way to assess the applicant better - clinical skills and acumen for surgery. They demonstrate significant interest to a program, viewed as a month long interview and a letter from that program is very valuable as it can show how the student can adapt and perform in an unfamiliar environment. We expect to hear specifically why the program was chosen and what qualities about the program were of interest.
• Passing USMLE Step 1 on the first attempt is important
• USMLE Step 2 CK is essential.
• Letters of Recommendation (LoR) - 3-4 needed (ideally all from otolaryngology, with one from the department chair). If not from our specialty it should be from someone the student has worked very closely with and can speak specifically and highly positively about them (maybe general surgery or neurosurgery).
• Honors and Awards are important and favorable as it distinguishes an applicant from the 400 other great applicants. It is quite standard for our applicants to have both AOA or Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS) membership.
• Application advice - connect with advisors, apply to 30-40 and aim to get interviews at 12 or more.

"The practice of pathology involves the detection, analysis, and understanding of disease process. As the only branch of medicine considered both a basic science and a clinical specialty, pathology is somewhat unique. By studying tissues, cells, and fluid samples, pathologists unravel the mysteries of how a particular disease arises and develops. To do so, they draw on a variety of methods, ranging from microbiology to molecular biology …The practice of pathology is divided into two primary areas - anatomic and clinical. Anatomic pathologists examine organs, tissues, and cells to diagnose or further characterize a disease process. They make exact diagnoses on specimen from sources including biopsy, fine-needle aspiration, body-fluid analysis, exfoliation, autopsy, and surgery--and the information they provide in the pathology report is used for patient prognostication and management. . ….Clinical pathologists analyze blood, body fluids, or other patient specimens. They are experts in the scientific principles and techniques of laboratory medicine as well as administrative aspects of overseeing a laboratory."
— Freeman, B. (2013). The Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Medical Specialty. 3rd Ed. Lange Medical Books/McGraw-Hill: New York. pp. 354-355.

“How to get involved”  from the Department of Pathology

 

• Join a Pathology Interest Group

• Take part in the Pathology Summer Internship
• A student can participate in the FlexMD program and do a Post-Sophomore Fellowship year
• Shadow a pathologist - M1, M2
• Perform research in pathology
• Attend professional conferences (e.g., USCAP, CAP, ASCP)
• Society / memberships (e.g., USCAP, CAP, ASCP)

• Embrace the variety of core clerkships
• See the Specialty Specific Transition Designs for recommendations and timing 
  • As you move into match preparations, consider taking USMLE Step 2 before the first Wednesday of September in the academic year you plan to participate in the Match to ensure your score is available for programs that you intend to apply.

Consider the below UMN departmental insights to help strengthen your application and review the Program Directors Association Guide for Residency Applicants for cycle-specific specialty details. 

• Demonstrate clinical competency by honors grades, MSPE comments, and letters of recommendation.

• Demonstrate commitment to specialty by completing 2 or more pathology clerkships.
• Research & Publications experience is recommended and important.
• Volunteering or other service experience is not required.  
• Electives Away are not required; may be considered for students with a specific outside residency interest, specific geographic interest, or specific research interest.
• Passing USMLE Step 1 on the first attempt is important. 
• USMLE Step 2 CK is preferred at time of application and required prior to rank list
• Letters of Recommendation (LoR) should include 1 from a practicing pathologist who can speak to your clinical strengths; other letter writers can be research mentors or from other specialties.  
• Honors and Awards are beneficial, but not required.  

• Application advice- The personal statement should provide insight into you as a person and the experiences that have led you to choose pathology as a specialty.  

   

Pediatrics is a dynamic and deeply rewarding field of medicine dedicated to the physical, emotional, and developmental health of children.  Pediatricians care for patients across every stage of growth, from newborn nursery and neonatal intensive care through adolescence and transition to adult medicine, while building long-term relationships with patients and their families.  The field combines preventative care, acute illness management, chronic disease treatment, and advocacy, with a strong emphasis on communication, education, and developmental support.  Because children are constantly growing and changing, pediatrics requires physicians to think not only about the disease processes, but also how illness, treatment, and social factors affect a child's lifelong health and development.  A residency in Pediatrics offers broad clinical exposure and opportunities to pursue a wide range of career paths, including primary care, hospital medicine, and public policy.  There are unique opportunities in the field of pediatrics, including early identification and intervention for genetic conditions.  The specialty is the right fit for individuals who value meaningful patient relationships, multidisciplinary collaboration, and the opportunity to make a lasting impact on children, families, and communities.  

“How to get involved,”  from Dr. Emily Hause, Specialty Specific Transition Designer

• Check out the Pediatric Interest Group (PIG) website 

• Join the Pediatric Interest Group (PIG) - email [email protected] to join the Listserv & check out the Instagram
• Volunteer 
  • Gopher Buddies & Hope Kids 
• Talk to residents & pediatricians 
  • Find a Mentor - BURST Mentorship 
• Participate in the Summer Observership in Pediatric Subspecialties - SOPS 
• Engage in
  • Advocacy
  • Community health opportunities
  • Research

• Embrace the variety of core clerkships
• See the Specialty Specific Transition Designs for recommendations and timing 
  • As you move into match preparations, consider taking USMLE Step 2 before the first Wednesday of September in the academic year you plan to participate in the Match to ensure your score is available for programs that you intend to apply.

Consider the below UMN departmental insights to help strengthen your application and review the Program Directors Association Guide for Residency Applicants for cycle-specific specialty details.

• Meet with one of our pediatrics specialty mentors to discuss all aspects of your application and how to be prepared for a career in pediatrics.  Burst mentorship sessions, and information sessions hosted by the pediatrics department are other excellent sources of information and mentorship

• Demonstrate clinical competency - 
  • through performance on clinical rotations (comments documented on the MSPE)
  • Completing additional rotations (ie. acting internship) demonstrates advanced skills and readiness for residency.
  • Letters of recommendation can also help to describe clinical competence. (ask letter writer to specifically comment on your clinical competence in their letter) 
• Demonstrate commitment to specialty 
  • Clinical rotations
  • Participation in activities that relate to children and families. (ie. volunteer/paid work through local organizations such as a school or community).  The Pediatric Interest Group may have a list of some opportunities.  
  • Research with a pediatric mentor, or another mentor in an area that impacts child or family health (helpful, not required)
  • Imagine someone reading your residency application when you are a 4th year student--they should be able to glean from your list of activities that you are interested in caring for children.  If you become interested in pediatrics later in medical school, it is not necessary to add many additional activities.  Please consult one of our pediatric specialty mentors if you would like to review your CV and discuss possible activities related to pediatrics that can strengthen your application.
  • Letter of recommendation from Pediatrics  
• Research & Publications is not required.  It’s nice, but not a necessity.  If you think you might be interested in a pediatric subspecialty, participating in research can be a great way to gain exposure. 
• Volunteering or other service experience is essential. We definitely like to see a well-rounded applicant.  Volunteer, extra-curricular activities, or paid work tell us about your interests and passions.  Make sure to use ERAS to explain your activities, and use it as an opportunity to give a brief description of what you learned from participating in the activity.   Your unique characteristics portion of your MSPE and your personal statement can be another place to highlight activities that have been important to you during medical school or prior to medical school. 
• Electives Away are not required; If there is a very special circumstance (i.e. desire to match in a specific program for personal reasons) your local pediatric faculty will be happy to help brainstorm and advocate for you. 
• Passing USMLE Step 1 on the first attempt is important to keep many options open for you as you apply to residency.  However, if you have a setback on Step 1, you can still be a strong candidate for pediatric residency.  
• Passing USMLE Step 2 CK is important but score is not; The Association of Pediatric Program Directors (APPD) has made recommendations for holistic review of applications with de-emphasis on Step scores.  The residency program at the University of Minnesota Pediatric Residency does not use Step 2 to make selections for interviews or ranking. 
  • There is no requirement to have completed Sub-I and/or Step 2 prior to application review.  
  • Very few pediatric programs have required Step 2 before interviews, and that will likely continue to be the case.  Step 2 should be taken in time to have the score reported by early February so that programs can see a passing score before the rank lists need to be finalized.  Please note that some programs are choosing to close their rank list early to allow for second looks.  
  • You should plan to have your Step 2 score available by January of your 4th year (and ideally, by October).
• Letters of Recommendation (LoR) - 3-4 needed (1 from pediatrics and 2 letters from primary care, potentially need a department chair letter for some programs) The pediatric department will be happy to provide a department chair letter for any student who would like one, and our core clerkship site directors are also available to provide an additional pediatric letter of rec.  It is good to have a letter from someone who got to know you well, and can speak to your strengths—their specialty field is less important.
• Honors and Awards - Awards and honors, including induction into AOA or GHHS are not required but can help bolster an application. GHHS is helpful.
• Application advice - Suggested to limit # programs applying to, allows programs the time to give each app a holistic review. You should plan to apply to 10-12 programs.  In pediatrics, it is absolutely not necessary to apply to 50 or 60 programs.  If there are special circumstances, such as couples match, the pediatric specialty mentors would be happy to discuss with you on a case by case basis.  
  • General advice- If no failures (course or USMLE) or other academic setbacks, you need to rank only 10 programs to have a 99% chance of matching. You DO NOT need to apply to more than 15 programs. 

"Physical medicine and rehabilitation is the discipline concerned with preventing, diagnosing, and treating a variety of neurologic, musculoskeletal, and cardiopulmonary disorders through rehabilitative measures. A typical patient base can include, but is not limited to, those with conditions such as strokes, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, burn injuries, postchemotherapy and cancer deconditioning, sports injuries, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and in children, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, and postoperative orthopedic procedures. Because of the vast spectrum of disease, physiatrists can focus on one (or more) of these medical problems."
— Freeman, B. (2013). The Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Medical Specialty. 3rd Ed. Lange Medical Books/McGraw-Hill: New York.p. 389-390.

“How to get involved”  

 

• Join PMR Interest Group

• Talk to residents and physicians
• Engage in
  • Advocacy
  • Community health opportunities
  • Research
  • Conferences / Societies

• Embrace the variety of core clerkships
• See the Specialty Specific Transition Designs for recommendations and timing 
  • As you move into match preparations, consider taking USMLE Step 2 before the first Wednesday of September in the academic year you plan to participate in the Match to ensure your score is available for programs that you intend to apply.

Consider the below UMN departmental insights to help strengthen your application and review the Program Directors Association Guide for Residency Applicants for cycle-specific specialty details.

• Demonstrate clinical competency - Because we are a smaller specialty, it is simply most important that students have done a rotation in our specialty.  Clinical competency would best be demonstrated in a letter of recommendation from the attending that they worked with on that rotation.  Next would be the medical school transcript, MSPE comments and other letters of recommendation.
• Demonstrate commitment to specialty by doing a rotation or rotations in our specialty.  Membership in one of our main national organizations (AAP, AAPMR) and even attending one of the national meetings. Be involved with SIG events or have leadership positions, specific volunteer experiences, taking lots of electives in the specialty.
• Research & Publications can be important; without direct contact in courses, students must find other ways to get involved (research is a great opportunity), and if your project involves any writing then we could expect an end product such as a poster or manuscript.
• Volunteering or other service experience are very important.
• Electives Away are not necessary, but can be used as auditions at specific programs of great interest due to geography or something specific in that program. (connect with advisors) 
• Passing USMLE Step 1 on the first attempt is important
• USMLE Step 2 CK is not that important; you don’t need a score in hand for interview offers
• Letters of Recommendation (LoR) - 3 minimum, but plan for 4 (1 from PM&R, 2-3 other strong letters potentially from neurology, orthopedic surgery, and sports medicine) Dept is willing to write a "Chair" letter for interested students as an additional letter and way to enhance your application though it is not typically done. Please reach out to the department for details.
• Honors and Awards - AOA or GHHS are not important; Medical school scholarships, medical school awards for leadership, volunteering, or that were voted on by your peers.  Best research, best poster, etc. would also be great.
• Application advice - Target  12-15 interviews, which would probably take 30-40 applications, depending on how competitive the application is. Reach out early to the department, the program director, other residents, etc to get the best information. 

"It has been said that plastic surgeons operate on 'the skin and its contents,' alluding to the fact that on any given day plastic surgeons might find themselves operating on the face, on the hand, inside the cranium, or inside the abdominal or thoracic cavities. The field has developed from the contributions of people from many different backgrounds, including general surgery, orthopedics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, dermatology, neurosurgery, and otolaryngology. Plastic surgery encompasses all of aesthetic surgery, yet it also deals with clinical entities, including chronic wounds, limb replantation, and head and neck reconstruction…..The breadth of anatomy seen within a typical week (or even within a single day) often includes the head, neck, chest, abdomen, lower and upper extremities, breast, and hand. Some may view this as a liability. Most plastic surgeons, however, welcome the variety and tend to become bored if repeatedly faced with the same types of clinical problems. They enjoy the beauty of anatomy, especially that of the more intricate regions, such as the hand and face."
— Freeman, B. (2013). The Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Medical Specialty. 3rd Ed. Lange Medical Books/McGraw-Hill: New York. p. 407-409.

“How to get involved”  

 

• Join Plastic Surgery Interest Group

• Shadow
• Get involved in plastic surgery research
• Network and find mentors (local or national)

• Embrace the variety of core clerkships
• See the Specialty Specific Transition Designs for recommendations and timing 
  • As you move into match preparations, consider taking USMLE Step 2 before the first Wednesday of September in the academic year you plan to participate in the Match to ensure your score is available for programs that you intend to apply.

Consider the below UMN departmental insights to help strengthen your application and see if there is information for Plastic Surgery added to the Program Directors Association Guide for Residency Applicants for cycle-specific specialty details. 

• Demonstrate clinical competency - honors grades, MSPE comments, letters of recommendation
• Demonstrate commitment to specialty -
• Research & Publications experience is important and recommended; some students choose to do a research year
• Volunteering or other service experience -
• Electives Away are important; do 2 and approach as extended interviews; connect with advisors
• Passing USMLE Step 1 on the first attempt is important
• USMLE Step 2 CK is very important
• Letters of Recommendation (LoR) -
• Honors and Awards - we look for AOA or GHHS 
• Application advice -

"Psychiatry is the field of medicine dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of mental illness. The diseases psychiatrists treat include depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, addiction, delirium and dementia, anxiety, and personality disorders. As physicians who treat the mentally ill, psychiatrists have some of the most rewarding long-term relationships with their patients. This is an interdisciplinary specialty, well-suited for doctors who wish to use the broadest of all skills - psychosocial, scientific, and clinical. Historically, psychotherapy has always formed the core of psychiatry. But with remarkable advances in neuroscience and drug therapy, this field of medicine has shifted to a more biological-based approach. Now, psychiatrists draw on the latest research in brain imaging, genetics, and psychopharmacology to treat many debilitating disorders."

— Freeman, B. (2013). The Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Medical Specialty. 3rd Ed. Lange Medical Books/McGraw-Hill: New York. p. 419.

“How to get involved” from Dr. Jeremy Chaikind

 

• Connect with mentors - it is recommended to have at least 2 in the field (Consider emailing Dr. Chaikind as an option to discuss interest in psychiatry including future course scheduling, ways to get involved, and preparing for applications.)

• Join PsychSIGN 
• Email [email protected] to enroll in the “Psychiatry Interested” email distribution list 
• Consider the AMA Summer Medical Student Program 
• Pursuing a research fellowship
• Join American Psychiatric Association (APA)
• Attend the Minnesota Psychiatric Society (MPS) Conference 

• Embrace the variety of core clerkships
• See the Specialty Specific Transition Designs for recommendations and timing
  • As you move into match preparations, consider taking USMLE Step 2 before the first Wednesday of September in the academic year you plan to participate in the Match to ensure your score is available for programs that you intend to apply.

Consider the below UMN departmental insights to help strengthen your application and review the Program Directors Association Guide for Residency Applicants for cycle-specific specialty details.

• Demonstrate clinical competency - Clinical competency would best be demonstrated in a letter of recommendation from the attending that they worked with on one or more psychiatry rotations.  Next would be the medical school transcript, MSPE comments and other letters of recommendation. In our competitive specialty it is good to show a strong work ethic and competency in non-psychiatry rotations such as Internal Medicine through LOR or MSPE.

• Demonstrate commitment to specialty by doing multiple rotations in our specialty. Trying electives like CAP, forensics, consults, or outpatient clinic will help deepen your understanding of the field.  Membership in one of our main national organizations (APA) and even attending one of the national meetings. Be involved with PsychSIGN, Minnesota Psychiatric Society, and/or NAMI events or have leadership positions, and specific volunteer experiences.
• Research & Publications can be helpful , and if your project involves any writing then we could expect an end product such as a poster or manuscript. Academic programs may expect research experience, but many programs do not.
• Volunteering or other service experience are very important.
• Electives Away are not necessary, but can be used as auditions at specific programs of great interest due to geography or something specific in that program. (connect with advisors) 
• Passing USMLE Step 1 on the first attempt is important
• USMLE Step 2 CK is not that important; you don’t need a score in hand for interview offers
• Letters of Recommendation (LoR) - 3 minimum, two of which should be from psychiatrists, and one of which should show your work ethic and skills outside of psychiatry.  The Department is willing to write a "Chair" letter for interested students as an additional letter and way to enhance your application though it is not typically done. Please reach out to the department for details.
• Honors and Awards - AOA or GHHS are helpful but not required.  Medical school scholarships, medical school awards for leadership, volunteering, or that were voted on by your peers.  Best research, best poster, etc. would also be great.
• Application advice - Target  12-15 interviews, which would probably take 30-40 applications, depending on how competitive the application is. Reach out early to the department, the UME psychiatry directors, the program director, other residents, etc to get the best information. Applicants to psychiatry can signal their top 10 programs. A small subset of programs get the most signals. Be strategic with your signals so that you are not only signalling competitive programs, otherwise you will get less than 10 interview invites.

"Radiation oncology is the specialty of medicine that uses radiant energy for treating usually malignant disease and occasionally benign disease. Radiation oncologists are a fundamental component of the interdisciplinary practice of cancer treatment and may act as both consultants to referring physicians and primary oncologists to patients. Using a broad oncologic fund of knowledge, the radiation oncologist approaches the treatment of cancer with meticulous application of his/her technical expertise. If their knowledge base and relationship to the patient is like that of the medical oncologist (doctors who prescribe chemotherapy), the approach is more akin to the surgeon."

— Freeman, B. (2013). The Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Medical Specialty. 3rd Ed. Lange Medical Books/McGraw-Hill: New York. p. 435.

“How to get involved” by Dr. Carlos Rodriguez-Russo
 

• Join the Radiation Oncology Student Interest Group 
• Shadow a radiation oncologist -MS1, MS2
• Perform research in an oncology-focused field: radiation oncology, surgical oncology, medical oncology 
• Consider summer programs: ASTRO Medical Student Fellowship (MSF program), Summer Research with UMN Radiation Oncology Mentors 
• Attend a conference: ASTRO, ACRO, ARS
• Become a member of a professional society: ASTRO, ACRO, ARS 

• Embrace the variety of core clerkships
• See the Specialty Specific Transition Designs for recommendations and timing
  • As you move into match preparations, consider taking USMLE Step 2 before the first Wednesday of September in the academic year you plan to participate in the Match to ensure your score is available for programs that you intend to apply.

Consider the below UMN departmental insights to help strengthen your application and review the Program Directors Association Guide for Residency Applicants for cycle-specific specialty details.

• Demonstrate clinical competency by performance on clinical rotations and oncology-focused research as well as letters of recommendation, honors grades, comments on the MSPE, and commitment activities demonstrating prior interest in Radiation Oncology. 

• Demonstrate commitment to specialty by having a majority of their recommendations from radiation oncology. 
• Research in oncology, specifically in radiation oncology, is very important.  Publications in radiation oncology are helpful in conveying your commitment to radiation oncology (although they are not required). Abstracts & poster presentations are also helpful.
• Volunteering or other service experience is important as it demonstrates good citizenship within a competitive applicant.  
• Electives Away are important.  If you are interested in a specific geographic area, you should complete away electives in that part of the country.  Although away electives are important, if it is not possible, it is important to show commitment to the specialty by completing a rotation at your home institution or in your geographic area.  
• Passing USMLE Step 1 on the first attempt is important
• USMLE Step 2 CK is important.  
• Letters of Recommendation (LoR) - 3 needed (2 from radiation oncologists); other specialties most appropriate include internal medicine, other oncology specialties, or surgery.  Our program looks for letters of recommendation from people who know that applicant well and can attest to their genuine interest in the field of radiation oncology, investment in community, and long-standing track record or hard work.  
• Honors and Awards are not important, but can be helpful.  
• Application advice - We are looking for well-rounded students who want to deliver outstanding care for cancer patients using the most up-to-date research and literature and positively impact the medical and larger community.  
  • A preference signal is not a requirement to receive an interview; however, if you are particularly interested in our program, you should signal us.  We also consider geographic preference while reviewing applications. 
  • Commitment to the specialty as shown by research and rotations is very valuable; however, we do not base our decision on one sole factor.  Invitations to interview are made after a holistic assessment of a candidate's entire application. 

"Interventional radiology (IR) is a medical specialty that performs minimally invasive treatment using radiologic imaging to guide procedures. Interventional radiology treatments have become the primary method of care for a variety of conditions, offering less risk, less pain, and less recovery time, compared to open surgery... Interventional radiologists use x-rays, ultrasound, CT, MRI, or other imaging guidance to navigate small instruments like catheters and needles through the body into blood vessels and/or organs to treat a variety of diseases.  Examples of treatment administered by interventional radiologists include angioplasty, stenting, thrombolysis, embolization, image-guided thermal or cryoablation, and biopsies.  These minimally invasive treatments can cure of alleviate symptoms of many diseases, including vascular disease, stroke, uterine fibroids, or cancer.  Intervention radiologists are also experts at interpreting x-rays, ultrasounds, CTs, MRIs, and other forms of medical imaging."

-RadiologyInfo. org (2004, May 1). Professions in Radiology.  https://radiologyinfo.org/en/info/professions-interventional-radiology 

“How to get involved” 
 

• Join IRIG (Interventional Radiology Student Interest Group) 
• Enroll in the IR elective as an MS3 followed by IR sub internship (the elective is the required prerequisite)
• Connect with an IR attending physician mentor and pursue research  
• Join the medical student section of the Society of Interventional Radiology & consider attending the annual meeting (preferably through submission & acceptance of a research abstract) 

• Embrace the variety of core clerkships
• See the Specialty Specific Transition Designs for recommendations and timing
  • As you move into match preparations, consider taking USMLE Step 2 before the first Wednesday of September in the academic year you plan to participate in the Match to ensure your score is available for programs that you intend to apply.

Consider the below UMN departmental insights to help strengthen your application and review the Program Directors Association Guide for Residency Applicants for cycle-specific specialty details.

• Demonstrate clinical competency through grades and/or favorable comments in clinical rotations/MSPE.  

• Demonstrate commitment to specialty by doing dedicated research within the field of IR, have mentors/LOR from mentors within the specialty, and enrolling in home and away electives within the specialty.  
• Research & Publications within the specialty itself are preferred, but understand that students may decide to pursue the specialty later in their clinical experience, and research in other specialties is favorable as well.  
• Volunteering or other service experience is a positive, but a lack of this experience will not be considered a detriment.
• Electives Away are not important or required.  Consider one elective away if it fulfills a personal goal, such as getting to know a specific program you are interested in matching with or spending time near family, etc. 
• Passing USMLE Step 1 is essential.
• USMLE Step 2 CK is considered essential in helping us stratify and rank candidates.  Although there is no threshold score, a competitive score is an important objective measurement of demonstrating clinical fund of knowledge.  
• Away Electives are highly recommended to demonstrate commitment to our specialty, given the overall lack of required exposure within the standard curriculum.  
• Letters of Recommendation (LoR) are very important, and obtaining at least one within the specialty is recommended, whether at your home or away elective.  Three LoR's are needed, and candidates should obtain letters from mentors with strong working relationships, whether clinical or research.  
• Honors and Awards are not essential.
• Application advice - please apply early as invitation invites are sent soon after application opening.  Starting from 2026 on, interviews will be held in person only - as per the recommendation of the Associate of Program Directors in Interventional Radiology. 

"Radiology is the branch of medicine in which radiologic images are interpreted for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease. Technological advances in medical imaging - and its growing role in the diagnosis and management of disease - have transformed radiology into one of the premier fields of modern medicine. Many of the greatest achievements in health care have come from radiologists."

— Freeman, B. (2013). The Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Medical Specialty. 3rd Ed. Lange Medical Books/McGraw-Hill: New York. p.453.

“How to get involved” from Radiology Residency Director, Dr. Noelle Hoven
 

• Join Radiology Student Interest Group 
• Shadow a radiologist - M1, M2
• Perform research by connecting with a radiologist that is currently involved in research if you are really interested
• Society / memberships (often free for members in training)

• Embrace the variety of core clerkships
• See the Specialty Specific Transition Designs for recommendations and timing
  • As you move into match preparations, consider taking USMLE Step 2 before the first Wednesday of September in the academic year you plan to participate in the Match to ensure your score is available for programs that you intend to apply.

Consider the below UMN departmental insights to help strengthen your application and review the Program Directors Association Guide for Residency Applicants for cycle-specific specialty details.

• Demonstrate clinical competency by letters of recommendation, honors grades in relevant electives, and MSPE narrative comments.  

• Demonstrate commitment to specialty by doing research or scholarly activity in the specialty, having at least one letter of recommendation from the specialty, and taking electives in the specialty.  
• Research & Publications are important.  Scholarly activity in Radiology is encouraged and can include research, quality improvement projects, case reports, educational presentations, etc.  Scholarly activity can be a great way to get to know the radiology department faculty and learn about radiology.  Research rotations and publications are not required.  
• Volunteering or other service experience is important.  All extracurricular experience will be considered as a valued part of your application.  Examples include volunteer work, global health, and community clinics, etc.  
• Electives Away are not important or required.  Consider one elective away if it fulfills a personal goal, such as getting to know a specific program you are interested in matching with or spending time near family, etc. 
• Passing USMLE Step 1 on the first attempt is important.
• USMLE Step 2 CK is very important.  A passing score is the minimum but a competitive score is at least >230-240.  
• Letters of Recommendation (LoR) are very important to the review processes.  We look for specific examples that describe your work ethic, professionalism, reliability, and attitude (among other qualities) that will add value to our program.  3 LoR’s are needed with one being from a radiologist; otherwise, specialty does not matter.  Letters from required rotations and preceptors who know you well are always welcome.  
• Honors and Awards are important.  Any award is favorable as it distinguishes an applicant from the 400 other great applicants.  The challenge is that it is quite standard for our applicants to be both AOA and GHHS.  
• Application advice - Nationally, the average number of applications per applicant is around 70.  Additional advise is as follows: 
  • Increase your application volume.  Given the competitive nature of the field, consider applying to a broad range of programs to enhance your chances.  
  • Strengthen your application by: 
    • Step 2: Aiming for a score of 230-240 or higher, as this is increasingly important to program directors
    • Clinical Experience: Engage in radiology electives and clerkships to gain exposure and demonstrate commitment
    • Research:  Participate in radiology-related research to bolster your CV
  • Utilize your resources 
    •  Advisors & Mentors: Seek guidance from faculty and mentors in radiology to navigate the application process effectively.  
    •  Program Information: Review program websites and attend virtual or in-person information sessions to understand each program's focus and culture
  • Given the increased number of applications per program it may be to your advantage to use the last paragraph of your personal statement to indicate what you are looking for in a radiology residency. You may consider making program specific personal statements for your top 3 programs.
    How does your specialty use preference signaling or not? (program, geographic) Gold and silver signals are used.  The number varies year to year.  Geographic preferences can be helpful if you want to be in a specific location.  If you are open, it is acceptable to leave blank or to describe that you are interested in a program in any region.  
    Other -
    Make the most of your personal statement.  Tell us about YOU and make it a story that someone would want to read.  
    Hobbies and interests- provide some detail.  What do you like to cook?  Do you like to travel... where? 
    Bulleted points are fine throughout your application.
    Be yourself and please be respectful to anyone your encounter along the interview process. 

"Surgery, the treatment of disease by operation, is often definitive therapy — many times curative — for a broad range of conditions affecting all organ systems. The general surgeon treats diseases of the entire body, from the skin to the blood vessels, to the liver, and beyond. The surgical subspecialties focus on specific body regions, that is, cardiothoracic surgeon address problems of the heart, lungs, and other organs within the thorax (chest), whereas other specialties focus on certain body systems or patient populations, that is, vascular surgeons operate on arteries and veins and pediatric surgeons operate primarily on infants and children. No matter the subspecialty, surgeons are knowledgeable in critical care, and often care for their own critically ill patients in the ICU.”

— Freeman, B. (2013). The Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Medical Specialty. 3rd Ed. Lange Medical Books/McGraw-Hill: New York. p. 223.

“How to get involved” from Dr. Paula Termuhlen
 

• Join Surgery Interest Group 
• Perform research
• Society / memberships
• Take on leadership roles and activities

• Embrace the variety of core clerkships
• See the Specialty Specific Transition Designs for recommendations and timing
  • As you move into match preparations, consider taking USMLE Step 2 before the first Wednesday of September in the academic year you plan to participate in the Match to ensure your score is available for programs that you intend to apply.

Consider the below UMN departmental insights to help strengthen your application and review the Program Directors Association Guide for Residency Applicants for cycle-specific specialty details.

• Demonstrate clinical competency by having strong letters of recommendation, Step Score, and honors in appropriate electives.

• Demonstrate commitment to specialty by having extensive research in the specialty.  If you are planning on applying to community programs, consider other ways to show your commitment to the specialty (e.g., advocacy).   
• The need for Research & Publications depends on the program. Community surgery programs do not emphasize research.  Academic programs will place a heavy emphasis on research.  Be sure to meet with your specialty advisors to discuss your particular circumstances.  
• Volunteering or other service experience is not considered very important.  
• The importance of Electives Away depends on the applicant.  If the applicant has areas of concern in their portfolio (failed exams, low class rank, no honors, IMG) they should consider an away rotation.
• Passing USMLE Step 1 on the first attempt is important.
• USMLE Step 2 CK is very important.
• Letters of Recommendation (LoR)- 3 needed (at least 2 from surgeons).  LoR’s from other specialties are accepted but generally should be avoided.  They could be appropriate if from someone who knows your work very well (e.g. someone that you have spent years doing research with).  If letters from surgical subspecialists, concern is that General Surgery is a backup plan, and the candidate may not be committed to General Surgery.  The writer should state that the candidate wants General Surgery.
• Honors and Awards - AOA or Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS) membership is considered important.
• Application advice - apply to ~20 programs with the goal of obtaining 12 interviews.  Make sure to practice for interviews as greater weight is placed on interview success.
• Other application advice - While it is good to demonstrate interest via research, summer programs, research fellowships, conferences, and societies, those opportunities may be limited or require additional funds.  While they are beneficial,  they are not required; please connect with the department mentors for further discussion.  

A thoracic surgeon provides the operative, perioperative care, and critical care of patients with pathologic conditions within the chest. Included is the surgical care of coronary artery disease, cancers of the lung, esophagus and chest wall, abnormalities of the trachea, abnormalities of the great vessels and heart valves, congenital anomalies, tumors of the mediastinum, and diseases of the diaphragm. The management of the airway and injuries of the chest is within the scope of the specialty. A general thoracic surgeon treats emphysema, swallowing problems, and gastroesophageal reflux. A congenital heart surgeon performs surgical corrections of heart defects and furnishes cardiovascular support to infants and children. Any of these subspecialists may perform heart, lung, and combined heart-lung transplantations. Thoracic surgeons have the knowledge, experience, and technical skills to accurately diagnose, operate upon safely, and effectively manage patients with thoracic diseases of the chest. This requires substantial knowledge of cardiorespiratory physiology and oncology, as well as capability in the use of heart assist devices, management of abnormal heart rhythms and drainage of the chest cavity, respiratory support systems, endoscopy, and invasive and noninvasive diagnostic techniques.

– Overview: Adapted from the American Board of Medical Specialties' "Guide to Physician Specialties" and the Pathway Evaluation Program for Medical Professionals' "Specialty Profiles," 2003.

“How to get involved” 
 

• Join Student Interest Group 
• Connect with mentors
• Perform research
• Society / memberships
• Take on leadership roles and activities

• Embrace the variety of core clerkships
• See the Specialty Specific Transition Designs for recommendations and timing
  • As you move into match preparations, consider taking USMLE Step 2 before the first Wednesday of September in the academic year you plan to participate in the Match to ensure your score is available for programs that you intend to apply.

Consider the below UMN departmental insights to help strengthen your application and review the Program Directors Association Guide for Residency Applicants for cycle-specific specialty details.

• Demonstrate clinical competency by having strong letters of recommendation, honors grades in surgery electives, and strong MSPE narrative comments.

• Demonstrate commitment to specialty by doing clinical research, having volunteer experiences reflective of understanding and dedication to the field, participating in cardiothoracic surgery interest groups, and attending national meetings. 
• Research & Publications experience is recommended and important.  Any research experience is a plus, but not required for a traditional cardiothoracic residency.  Research from residency will be more germane.  For general thoracic track candidates, surgical research during residency is important.  For an I6 program, students will need some focused publications to be a competitive applicant.
• Volunteering or other service experience - candidates should have some volunteer experience. While not required, it will favorably affect one’s application.
• Electives Away are important for I6 candidates and less so for traditional pathway applicants (i.e. CT surgery fellowship after general surgery residency).
• Passing USMLE Step 1 on the first attempt is important
• USMLE Step 2 CK is very important.  A high score is used as a primary filter when considering applicants and then can be a tie breaker when ranking.  
• Letters of Recommendation (LoR)- 3 needed (1 from a cardiothoracic surgeon, 1 from the chair of surgery, and one Dean’s letter). Letters are used to learn more about the applicant’s learning potential and starting point. These can significantly affect how a candidate is ranked.
• Honors and Awards - Award achievement is not required but can differentiate a student from others. AOA is more important for an I6 program. GHHS is not considered to be important.  
• Application advice - When considering an I6 program, apply to every program.  For a traditional program, apply to 10 programs.  If you are committed to applying to an I6 program, you should meet with at least one of our cardiothoracic surgeons early to discuss how you can become a strong applicant.

"Urology is a surgical subspecialty focusing on the urinary tract of men and women, as well as the reproductive system of men. …Urologists are masters of everything that has to do with the passage of urine, from its production in the kidney to its release through the urethra. They surgically correct problems such as obstructing posterior urethral valves in newborn boys or bladder outlet obstruction caused by benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) in elderly men. Urinary tract infections (UTIs), which affect every age group and can be quite destructive, make up a large proportion of cases seen by urologists, especially if it progresses to a worrisome infection of the kidney itself (pyelonephritis).”

— Freeman, B. (2013). The Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Medical Specialty. 3rd Ed. Lange Medical Books/McGraw-Hill: New York. p. 467.

“How to get involved” from Clerkship Director, Dr. Deepak Agarwal
 

• Join the Urology Interest Group - UroSIG
• Shadow a urologist; most faculty are open to having students with advanced notice 
• Perform research in urology as early as you are interested.  Reach out to Dr. Agarwal or any Urology faculty member to discuss interest/involvement.  
• There are a few summer research programs available to medical students; however, these are not required. 
• Research fellowship considerations are nuanced and require individualized discussion based on experience and application readiness.  This should be discussed with Dr. Agarwal and Dr. Dahm. 
• The Department of Urology holds regular virtual and some in-person conferences, which are a great way to make introductions.  Regional, national, and international conference attendance is an option if not presenting any research.  If you are presenting, it is helpful to go if logistically/ financially able, as many connections can be made.  
• Join the American Urological Association (free) and Society for Women in Urology if applicable.  

• Embrace the variety of core clerkships
• See the Specialty Specific Transition Designs for recommendations and timing
  • As you move into match preparations, consider taking USMLE Step 2 before the first Wednesday of September in the academic year you plan to participate in the Match to ensure your score is available for programs that you intend to apply.

Consider the below UMN departmental insights to help strengthen your application and review the Program Directors Association Guide for Residency Applicants for cycle-specific specialty details.

• Demonstrate Clinical Competency by taking and doing in UROL 7200/7500
• Demonstrate Commitment to Specialty by being involved in UroSIG, finding a mentor, doing Urology research, and coming to Urology
• Research & Publications experience is very important for applications. 
• Volunteering or other service experience is important.  
• Electives Aware are mandatory.  At least 1 is needed, and often, 2 is ideal.  
• Passing USMLE Step 1 on the first attempt is important.  
• USMLE Step 2 CK - it is important to do well.  Some programs have cutoffs (not published who uses cutoff or what the level is).  
• Letters of Recommendation (LoR) - 3 to 4 submitted from each sub-internship
  • The UMN letter is currently a composite signed by Dr. Agarwal, Dr. Dahm, & Dr. Warlick.  
  • You can get a letter from other faculty you have worked with a lot and/or done research with if needed.  
• Honors and Awards - AOA and GHHS are helpful, but lack of them is not a disqualifier.  
• Application Advice - discuss with Dr. Dahm & Dr. Agarwal 

"Vascular surgery involves the arteries and veins of the entire body, from the neck to the distal extremities. Surgical procedures include carotid endarterectomies, arte­riovenous fistulas, abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repairs, bypass procedures to revascularize threatened extremities, angiographic procedures, amputations for ischemia, repair of pseudoaneurysms, and repair of any type of disruption of blood vessels. Vascular surgery is now characterized by procedures including endovas­cular AAA repairs, carotid stent grafting, peripheral endovascular therapies, and advances in vascular technology and research. There is an increasing demand for vascular surgeons given the aging population with vascular diseases. Due to the fact that the vascular disease process is not limited to specific parts of the body, patients often have heart, pulmonary, and comorbid conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and increased cholesterol. Therefore, these patients are very sick and high-risk operative candidates. Vascular surgeons are skilled operators who operate despite dangerous conditions in hopes of improving the lives of their debilitated patients. The fellowship is 2 years in length. If you are confident in pursuing a vascular surgery career, you may want to consider applying to several integrated vascular surgery residencies that now exist. They are 5 years in length and the first 2 years cover core general surgery rotations. The last 3 years are dedicated to vascular surgery training."

— Freeman, B. (2013). The Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Medical Specialty. 3rd Ed. Lange Medical Books/McGraw-Hill: New York. p. 235.

“How to get involved” 
 

• Join Vascular Surgery Interest Group 
• Shadow a vascular surgeon - M1, M2
• Pursue research opportunities
• Join a vascular society - SCVS, VESS, APDVP, or SVS

• Embrace the variety of core clerkships
• See the Specialty Specific Transition Designs for recommendations and timing
  • As you move into match preparations, consider taking USMLE Step 2 before the first Wednesday of September in the academic year you plan to participate in the Match to ensure your score is available for programs that you intend to apply.

Consider the below UMN departmental insights to help strengthen your application and review the Program Directors Association Guide for Residency Applicants for cycle-specific specialty details.

• Demonstrate clinical competency by obtaining honors grades in applicable elective clerkships and have strong MSPE comments and letters of recommendation.  Students should express an interest in vascular surgery in their personal statement, explain how they became interested, and detail any rotations or other hands-on experience they have had with vascular surgeons.

• Demonstrate commitment to specialty by all their letters of recommendation coming from the specialty, extensive research in the specialty, specific volunteer experiences, and taking many electives in the specialty. 
• Research experience is recommended and important.  Publications are less important but evidence of scholarly activity at any level (manuscripts, posters, case presentations, etc.) will help to set them apart from other applicants.
• Volunteering or other service experience - While interesting, this is not a “must have." Yet, volunteer work may help to demonstrate a commitment to patient care beyond regular training cycles. 
• Electives Away are very important with completion of 2 away rotations being recommended.  It is further recommended that applicants should do at least one but no more than three away rotations. These allow the applicant to see the programs first-hand and to expand on their skills that cannot be simply gleaned from the application. 
• Passing USMLE Step 1 on the first attempt is important.
• USMLE Step 2 CK is very important.
• Letters of Recommendation (LoR)- 3 needed and all should come from known or nationally recognized vascular surgeons; however, letters from other specialties are accepted (such as general surgery).  
• Honors and Awards AOA is important.  Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS) is not considered important.  It is also noted that some schools do not have these awards.  
• Application advice - Consider applying to 30 programs.  Apply to a variety of programs, with a few “stretch” programs but most within reason. Should find a mentor in the specialty and pay close attention to his or her recommendations.