Optimize and Apply/ Match
Optimizing Your Application
In order to have a successful residency match, there are many steps along the way, both internal and external. You have a good understanding of who you are and why you want to practice medicine. You are expanding your skills and experiences through clerkship learning and reflection. You have a more robust idea of the options that intrigue you and the details related to those paths.
MS-3 Year (detailed checklist)
MS-4 Year - Applying and Matching (detailed checklist)
Optimizing Your Application
Optimizing Your Application
In order to have a successful residency match, there are many steps along the way. Use the information below to help strategically guide you throughout the process.
Broad Guidance
- Discuss elective scheduling with your Academic Advisor
Specialties Page - Review specialty specific residency application information
- Begin gathering letters of recommendation (LoR)
How to ask for a LoR
Specific considerations and process for requesting a LoR - Register with ERAS
Early in your MS-3 year, you will receive a token from [email protected] to be able to activate your account so that you can begin compiling letters of recommendation. ERAS (Electronic Residency Application Service) is the online system used for applying to residencies that are in the main residency match. It is used to compile official documents and materials (including personal statements, letters of recommendation, official transcripts, Medical Student Performance Evaluation, USMLE transcripts, and your photo) and to apply to specific residency programs.
ERAS User Guide - Review the Very Short Guide
- Develop Relationships
Meet with Residency Directors of specialties you are interested in pursuing - Assess competitiveness and fit
Charting Outcomes in the Match - NRMP Report
Residency Explorer Tool
Careers in Medicine Assessments and Specialty Comparison Tool - contact [email protected] if you need help accessing.
Advance Data Tables 2022 Main Residency Match - 2022 Ophthalmology Residency Match Summary Report Urology Match Statistics
Detailed Checklist for MS-3
CAREER DEVELOPMENT CHECKLIST YEAR 3 : Choose a Specialty
(R) Required
OPTIMIZE YOUR RESOURCES & NAVIGATE THE PROCESS
- (R) Attend Becoming a Doctor (BaDr) Intersession Course Fall, Spring
- Career Development Process sessions with Student Affairs
- Register with ERAS (token emailed by [email protected])
- Review the Very Short Guide to residency application and match process
- Individualized career development sessions with Faculty Advisors
- Begin gathering letters of recommendation Continuous
How to ask for a LoR, Considerations and process
- Career Development Process sessions with Student Affairs
- (R) MEET WITH FACULTY ADVISOR Fall, Spring
- Specialty discernment (narrowed options)
- MS4 Scheduling
- Elective selection
- Residency plans and application preparation
- Submit your Noteworthy Characteristics to [email protected] one week before summer FA meeting Spring/Summer
- (R) Sign up and study for Step 2 CK
- (R) Attend and Review Residency Launchpad guidance on residency match process Spring
- MEET WITH ACADEMIC ADVISOR: begin planning your 4th year schedule with elective selection (Specialties Page) Spring
UNDERSTAND YOURSELF
- Maintain your wellness (Connect with your wellbeing) Continuous
- PARTICIPATE with Student Interest Group(s) - leadership, mentorship, events Calendar Continuous
- Connect with Department-Specific Specialty Experts and mentoring network as part of your specialty discernment process Continuous
- Meet with Residency Directors of specialties you are interested in pursuing
- Review specialty specific residency application information
- Utilize CiM routes to choosing your specialty Fall
- Complete/Review AAMC CiM Assessments Fall
EXPLORE AND CHOOSE YOUR SPECIALTY
- Use the following tools to help you narrow down your specialty interests, assess competitiveness and research best fit residency programs: Spring
- UMN specialty pages
- Careers in Medicine Specialty Profiles
- Residency Explorer Tool NRMP
- Program Director Survey (At a Glance)
- ERAS Statistics (Specialty Specific Data, Cross Specialty Applicant Data, and quick reference Data Shots) and Data for NRMP Match
- 2022 Ophthalmology Residency Match Summary Report
Urology Match Statistics - ATTEND Medical Student Opportunities as interested: https://medopps.ahc.umn.edu/ Continuous
- Review specialty and program specific processes Continuous
- FREIDA (Fellowship and Residency Electronic Interactive Database) and Video Tour
- ACGME (Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education)
- Internal UMN Specific Specialty and Program application requirements
Applying and Matching
Applying and Matching
We will keep you up-to-date with the process and deadlines through Residency Launchpad, BaDr sessions, and Info Exchange newsletters from [email protected].
Broad Guidance
- Become familiar with The Match Timeline
General Timeline - NRMP
Pdf of timeline and milestones - Review Guides and Presentations
Class 2023 Residency Match Guide
Attend Residency Launchpad and Review Materials
Attend Becoming a Doctor and Intersession - Learn about Match Programs
A. NRMP (Main Match)
Video of the process for medical students
B. San Francisco Match (For Ophthalmology)
C. Urology Match
D. Military Match - Access Data and Tools
A. NRMP Data
B. San Francisco Match Data
C. Urology Data
D. Residency Explorer
E. Texas STAR: Each year, UT Southwestern provides a crowd sourced database as a resource for medical students to assess competitiveness and inform residency application strategies. Access is provided by the Office of Student Affairs and the Career and Residency Match Coordinator. Monitor your email and other forms of announcements to be able to access the current data. - Get to know specialty and program specific applications and requirements
A. FREIDA (Fellowship and Residency Electronic Interactive Database) and Video Tour
B. ACGME (Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education)
C. Internal UMN Specific Specialty and Program application requirements - Register with ERAS (Electronic Residency Application System)
Applicant Worksheet
User Guide - Understand the MSPE (Medical Student Performance Evaluation)
Overview of the MSPE document slides
Noteworthy Characteristics - Create Personal Statements
Meet with your Faculty Advisor and other trusted mentors for feedback on your Personal Statement, an important part of the residency application. - Prepare for Interviews - It is important to invest time preparing for residency interviews in order to shine. Take advantage of the online system, Big Interview Medical, to review curriculum and practice. Login using your UMN credentials to access this resource that is provided free of charge to you by the Office of Student Affairs.
Detailed Checklist for MS-4
CAREER DEVELOPMENT CHECKLIST YEAR 4 : Prepare for Residency
(R) Required
OPTIMIZE YOUR RESOURCES & NAVIGATE THE RESIDENCY APPLICATION AND MATCH PROCESS
- Maintain your wellness (Connect with your wellbeing) Continuous
Core Resources - May - late September
- Become familiar with The Match Timeline (General Timeline - NRMP) Summer
- Learn about Match Programs Summer
A. NRMP (“Main” Match) Video of the process for medical students
B. San Francisco Match (For Ophthalmology)
C. Urology Match
D. Military Match - Review Residency Match Guide and Launchpad Materials Summer, Fall
- Register with ERAS (Electronic Residency Application System), Applicant Worksheet, User Guide Summer
- Understand the Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE)
- Create Personal Statements
- Utilize the Writing Center Late summer/prior to ERAS deadlines
- Share draft with your Faculty Advisors during your MSPE appointment Summer
- Take advantage of the Personal Statement session during BaDr Fall
- (R) Read Info Exchange newsletters from [email protected] for up-to-date information on residency application process, dates and deadlines Continuous
- Review specialty and program specific processes Continuous
- FREIDA (Fellowship and Residency Electronic Interactive Database) and Video Tour
- ACGME (Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education)
- Internal UMN Specific Specialty and Program application requirements
Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE, part of residency application)
- (R) Individual Faculty Advisor Meeting Summer
- Write a draft of your Noteworthy Characteristics (at least one week prior to the meeting) and send them to R[email protected] .
- Review MSPE document
- Discuss residency application process, preparation, and parallel plans
- FA writes summary paragraph for MSPE
Other Resources and Support
- (R) Attend Becoming a Doctor (BaDr) Career Development Sessions Fall, Spring
- Residency Match Strategies for Success with Student Affairs
- August- residency application and interview preparation
- January- rank lists, interview debriefs, preparing for residency
- Individualized career development sessions with Faculty Advisors
- Review operational steps to Match success
- Residency Match Strategies for Success with Student Affairs
- Practice interviewing with Big Interview Medical tool (UMN login credentials) Fall
- Celebrate Match day! Spring
- Participate in SOAP week if needed
- Communicate directly with your residency program regarding completion of background check, hiring paperwork, moving, etc. Spring
- Celebrate Commencement! Spring
BUILD YOUR SKILLS
- Participate in Student Interest Group(s) and mentor Continuous
- ATTEND Medical Student Opportunities as interested: https://medopps.ahc.umn.edu/ Continuous
Connect with Alumni Relations to stay in touch and help support future physicians Spring
Specialty Experts
Contact info for Specialty Experts in each specialty available as a resource
Questions?
Contact the Residency and Match Coordinators
[email protected]