Learn & Explore
We use a 4-phase model to organize career development throughout medical school: Understand Yourself, Explore Your Options, Choose Your Specialty(s)-Optimize and Preparing for Residency-Apply. Our programming and support aligns with the goals of each phase and is built to be flexible as we know that you are each at different points in the process. We encourage you to utilize the resources when needed whether the general guidance, detailed checklists or this map of the discernment process to help identify the best actions for your point in the journey.
Career Development FAQs may help navigate your development path and decisions.
Learning About and Understanding Yourself
What matters to me most? What are my strengths? What are my interests and how do they relate to specialties? How do I navigate class and other opportunities?
Broad guidance
In general, this year you should learn about your career development resources and the process, self explore, look into specialty options and build your skills. These are some of the top actions and resources for a strong foundation for career exploration during medical school.
- Attend and embrace the career sessions of your Student Affairs Course (CANVAS)
- Utilize self-assessments as points of reflection and ideas (during Student Affairs-Careers workshops and independently) and chat with your Faculty Advisor about these learnings
- Consider your summer opportunities and plans
- Attend summer information session in January
Detailed Checklist for MS-1
CAREER DEVELOPMENT CHECKLIST YEAR 1 : Understand Yourself
(R) Required
BUILD YOUR SKILLS
- Maintain your wellness (Connect with your wellbeing) Continuous
- ATTEND CPD WORKSHOP: Introduction to Writing a Curriculum Vitae (CV) Spring
- Complete a rough draft of your CV Continuous
- ATTEND CPD WORKSHOP: Networking: Informational Interviews (yr 1 or 2) Spring
- BECOME A Peer Mentor Continuous
- BECOME A DEI mentee Continuous
- ATTEND/APPLY for Medical Student Opportunities as interested: https://medopps.ahc.umn.edu/ Continuous
SELF EXPLORATION
- (R) WITH YOUR FACULTY ADVISOR: Explore general career goals, current specialty interests, specialty discernment Fall, Spring, Summer
- ATTEND CPD WORKSHOP: Explore your Values and utilizing PVips Assessment Fall
- Or complete AAMC CiM Assessments: Values (PVIPS) on your own Fall
- ATTEND CPD WORKSHOP: Attend DEI in Medicine Careers panel discussion Consider your desired impact Fall
- (R) WITH YOUR FACULTY ADVISOR: Understand self through assessment: Medical Specialty Preference Inventory Spring
- Complete AAMC CiM Assessments: Interests (MSPI) (take on your own and talk with Faculty Advisors) Spring
- ATTEND CPD WORKSHOPS: Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) Series Spring
LEARN ABOUT RESOURCES
- ATTEND Careers in Medicine (CiM) Overview Fall
- Read UMN Career and Professional Development’s Vital Signs newsletter with current events and career development topics, Continuous
- (R) WITH YOUR FACULTY ADVISOR: Planning your summer Spring
- ATTEND Summer Opportunities Fair Spring
- Search for summer research fellowships, clinical shadowing, and other community engagement /enrichment opportunities Winter Break, Spring
- Search the AAMC Clinical & Research Opportunities Database
- Sponsored programs at other institutions Opportunities Calendar
EXPLORING SPECIALTIES
- Attend Specialty Spotlights - by specialty interest groups, Calendar Continuous
- Join a Student Interest Group/ Organization Continuous
- Attend Residency Brown Bag Sessions on primary care specialty with a focus on practicing medicine in rural and tribal communities Duluth, Continuous
- Participate and explore specialties during the Career Fair Fall
- Connect with alumni and mentoring network in specialty interest areas Continuous
- Research specialties, view profiles and spotlights, and compare Continuous
Explore: Discover and Learn About Your Options
What specialties are out there? What are the differences between specialties? What specialties do my own interests and abilities align with? How do I become competitive for a specialty?
Broad guidance
In general, this year you should explore specialty options, utilize your resources, continue your self exploration and build your skills.
These are some of the top actions or resources for expanding your specialty information to inform your decision making and transitioning to clinical experiences.
- Review Specialty Pages
- Join or lead Student Specialty Interest Groups
- Participate in specialty related events and opportunities
- Access articles, recordings, and other resources
- Attend information sessions and meetings around clinical scheduling options in winter (longitudinal integrated clerkships, lanes, faculty advisor and academic advising meetings)
Detailed Checklist for MS-2
CAREER DEVELOPMENT CHECKLIST YEAR 2 : Explore Your Options
(R) Required
EXPLORING SPECIALTIES
- Attend Specialty Spotlights - by specialty interest groups, Calendar Continuous
- Research specialties, view profiles and spotlights, and compare Continuous
- Join a Student Interest Group/ Organization Continuous
- Attend Residency Brown Bag Sessions on primary care specialty with a focus on practicing medicine in rural and tribal communities Duluth, Continuous
- Explore specialties and network during the Specialty Series and Virtual Specialty Forum Spring
- Connect with alumni and mentoring network in specialty interest areas Continuous
- ATTEND/APPLY Medical Student Opportunities as interested: https://medopps.ahc.umn.edu/ Continuous
BUILD YOUR SKILLS
- Maintain your wellness (Connect with your wellbeing) Continuous
- BECOME a leader within a specialty interest group or the Advisory Board Fall
- ATTEND CPD WORKSHOP: Writing a Curriculum Vitae (CV) Fall
- Update and strengthen your CV Continuous
- ATTEND CPD WORKSHOP: Networking: Informational Interviews (yr 1 or 2) Spring
- BECOME a Peer Mentor Continuous
- BECOME a DEI mentee Continuous
- (R) WITH YOUR FACULTY ADVISOR: Preparation for clinical rotations and learning effectively for discernment and optimization Spring
SELF EXPLORATION
- Maintain your wellness and ( resource) Continuous
- (R) WITH YOUR FACULTY ADVISOR: Explore general career goals and specialty discernment Fall, Spring
- Review/Retake AAMC CiM Assessments: Values (PVIPS) (on your own or with CPD workshop) Fall
- ATTEND CPD WORKSHOP: Explore your Values and utilizing PVips Assessment Fall
- Review/Retake AAMC CiM Assessments: Interests (MSPI) to help discern specialty interest that may influence Year 3 schedule choices Winter/Spring
- ATTEND CPD WORKSHOP: Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) Series Spring
UTILIZE YOUR RESOURCES
- Read UMN Career and Professional Development’s Vital Signs newsletter with events and career development topics, Continuous
- Consider potential specialties for elective options for year 3 Winter
- MEET WITH YOUR TC ACADEMIC ADVISOR: part of the clerkship phase transition planning to discuss elective courses, scheduling, clerkship/ LIC selection, career goals Winter
- (R) WITH YOUR FACULTY ADVISOR: Explore yr 3 clerkship options (ie. lanes, LICs) and plan elective scheduling Spring
- (R) After taking STEP 1, give yourself a break and celebrate by investing in your personal wellbeing before year 3 begins
Career Vital Signs Newsletter
Quarterly professional development newsletter full of info and resources for all four years
