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

Expand all

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

 

  1. Discuss elective scheduling with your Academic Advisor
    Specialties Page
  2. Review specialty specific residency application information
  3. Begin gathering letters of recommendation (LoR)
    How to ask for a LoR
    Specific considerations and process for requesting a LoR  
  4. Register with ERAS
    Early in your MS-3 year, you will receive a token from resapp@umn.edu 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
  5. Review the Very Short Guide 
  6. Develop Relationships
    Meet with Residency Directors of specialties you are interested in pursuing
  7. Assess competitiveness and fit
    Charting Outcomes in the Match - NRMP Report
    Residency Explorer Tool
    Careers in Medicine Assessments and Specialty Comparison Tool - contact resapp@umn.edu if you need help accessing.
    Advance Data Tables 2022 Main Residency Match
  8. 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
  •  (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 resapp@umn.edu 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 

 

EXPLORE AND CHOOSE YOUR SPECIALTY

Applying and Matching

Expand all

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 ResApp@umn.edu.

Broad Guidance

 

  1. Become familiar with The Match Timeline
    General Timeline - NRMP
    Pdf of timeline and milestones
  2. Review Guides and Presentations
    Class 2023 Residency Match Guide
    Attend Residency Launchpad and Review Materials
    Attend Becoming a Doctor and Intersession
  3. 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
  4. 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.  
  5. 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
  6. Register with ERAS (Electronic Residency Application System)
    Applicant Worksheet
    User Guide
  7. Understand the MSPE (Medical Student Performance Evaluation)
    Overview of the MSPE document slides
    Noteworthy Characteristics
  8. 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.
  9. 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.

Big Interview Medical

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

 

Core Resources - May - late September

 

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 ResApp@umn.edu .
  • 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
  • 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 

Connect with Alumni Relations to stay in touch and help support future physicians Spring