New York Chapter American College of Physicians (NYACP)



Residency Application - A Guide for Students

Class 2019

Applying for residency training programs during your senior year is stressful. Much of the stress can be relieved by learning about the process and working with your advisors.

To help guide you, please see the timetable below and FAQs sections of this guide. There are also online resources that will allow you to learn more about the National Residency Match Program (NRMP) and the Electronic Residency Application System (ERAS).

It will be helpful to recognize that this process is, in essence, a job application. Your professionalism will be judged by your CV, personal statement, your interview, and other interactions you may have with the residency training program. Make a good start by taking time to create professional documents before submitting them on the ERAS. Learn about the programs before going to your interview, and prepare for your interview. Much of the advice you receive will be individualized so it is crucial to meet with your advisor about your application strategy.

Timetable for Selecting a Residency in Internal Medicine and a Preliminary Year

|DATE |EVENT or TASK |

|November through April |If your Dean’s Office has advisors available, set up a meeting |

| |Request a Departmental Advisor |

| |Personal meeting with advisor |

| |Prepare your CV and Personal Statement |

| |Request an ERAS token from your SOM’s Registrar |

| |Begin doing research on different programs, ask you advisor where students from |

| |your school have matched in Medicine over the past few years. |

|April through June | |

| |Learn about ERAS and the NRMP (noting important deadlines*) MyERAS opens in June.|

| |Review CV and personal statement with advisor |

|June and July |Request letters of recommendation from individual faculty members. |

| |Offer to send your CV, personal statement, and meet one on one with each letter |

| |writer. |

|August |Check –in with letter writers to offer any more information or set up a meeting |

| |if necessary. Goal for all letters to be uploaded into ERAS by September 1st |

| |giving you time to react to problems. You should have already uploaded your CV |

| |and Personal Statement. |

|Early September |Submit ERAS application early (well prior to deadline). NRMP opens for |

|(September 15, 2018)* |registration |

|September |Meet with advisor to prepare for interviews |

| |Register with the NRMP |

|October through January, 2018 -19 |Interviews. Frequently check your emails for interview offers and schedule |

| |interviews. |

|January 1 to January 31, 2019 |NRMP Match Rank Order List opens |

| |If you like, discuss your rank list with your advisor |

|Late-January to February, 2019 |Prepare final match list and submit it prior to the deadline |

|February, 2019* |NRMP Match Rank Order List deadline* |

|March 12, 2019* |Log in to the NRMP’s R3 system on Monday of Match Week (the third week of March) |

| |to see whether you matched to a program. If you did not match contact your |

| |advisors, you may be eligible for the Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program |

| |(SOAP) |

| |Participate in the Match Day Ceremony |

|April - June |Sign the contract with your residency program |

| |Prepare to start your residency training program (i.e. moving, credentialing) |

* Projected Soap & Match dates based on 2018 Match scheduling, dates for 2019 are not yet posted so please check.

FAQ’s for Medical Students:

How important is it for students to have a faculty advisor?

Having an involved mentor is critical. Students require professional feedback on the CV, personal statement, and interview strategy. This is a stressful time and you need a sounding board.

How many programs should I apply to? Interview with? Rank?

The answer depends on many personal factors. Important variables include geographical preferences, if you decide to participate in the “couples match,” training program competitiveness, your medical school performance, etc….It is best to review the number of programs you will apply to, interview at and ultimately rank with your advisor. They can help guide you or direct you to an appropriate resource (e.g. Program Directors) to help inform your decision. The average number

How many letters of recommendation do I need (how many from within the Department and how many others)?

Three personal letters of recommendation plus a Chair’s letter is recommended. At least two personal letters should be from within your field of interest. When requesting a letter of recommendation, provide a copy of your CV and personal statement to the letter writer. You may receive feedback on the documents and it will allow the faculty member to write a more personal letter. Also, offer to meet with the faculty member. It is better to select faculty members who know you well. If you are applying to a special track, (i.e. a research track) one personal letter of support should be focus on your qualifications for that track.

What makes a good or bad personal statement?

Do not rehash your CV. Do provide the basis for your desire to study in a certain field and include your mid to long term goals. Consider including a philosophical approach or a seminal event that led you to desire training in a specific field. Get someone else to read it.

How do I select a program?

The variables that matter most include: geography, desire for fellowship placement, research opportunities, and methods of teaching (“hands-on” or heavier on didactics). The rank order of these variables differs for each student. Once again, engage your Advisor in the process early. The US News and World Report ranking for medical schools does provide a general idea for ranking of training programs but is not rigorous in methodology. Community training programs tend to be less competitive. Programs in California and the Northeast tend to be more competitive. You should focus on the types of programs that are best for you.

So what if I don’t match?

The key here is prevention and you should rank all desirable programs. The supplemental “scramble” match is offered to students but it would be unwise to rely on this system. Programs must list all available spots in the match and can no longer “save” a spot for a student who does not match. If you do not match, the Department and Dean Tewksbury will work with you to find a solution.

Should I perform an away elective at a program?

If you have special interest in a program, an away elective can be valuable to obtain first-hand information about that training program. Unlike other specialty programs, an away elective is not considered a crucial part (or an audition) of your medicine or preliminary year application process.

What if I have not done well or had major problems during medical school?

You may not be able to match at the most competitive residency training program but you can still do very well during residency training and have a rewarding career. Residency training will mark a new start for you.

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