In your final year of medical school, you will finalize your residency application strategy, apply to and interview with programs, participate in the applicable matching services, and more. Find out everything you need to know about the residency application and match process, the best way to manage student loan debt, what to expect if you go unmatched, and easing into residency itself.
Use this checklist to track your progress. Note: Some resources on this page are part of the AAMC Careers in Medicine (CiM) program. Most U.S. and Canadian students have access to CiM. Confirm your access.
|
Task |
Complete? |
|---|---|
| If you haven’t yet, take the USMLE Step 2 CK or the COMLEX-USA Level 2-CE. | |
| Apply to and attend away rotations participating in the Visiting Student Learning Opportunities™ (VSLO®) program. | |
| Meet with your financial aid office or attend a loan repayment session offered by your school to get more information on loan repayment options specific to your individual needs. | |
| Review Electronic Residency Application Service® (ERAS®) Timelines for Residency Applicants. | |
| Read what you need to know about the coming ERAS application season. | |
| See the full list of specialties and programs that are participating in the ERAS program. | |
| Review ERAS Tools and Worksheets for Residency Applicants. | |
| Check out the MyERAS® Applicant User Guide for help in completing your application. | |
| Register for helpful ERAS webinars. | |
| Use the Residency Explorer™ tool to research programs that align with your career and personal goals. | |
| Learn about program signaling and how you can use signals to show your interest to participating residency programs. | |
| Finalize your list of residency programs to which you’ll apply. | |
| Learn how to apply smart for residency and finalize your residency application strategy. | |
| Finalize your application materials. | |
| Submit your residency application materials to your chosen programs through the ERAS system or another application service, depending on the specialty. | |
| Learn how to schedule for residency interviews, including how best to cancel. | |
| Prepare and practice for interviews and review the AAMC's interview resources for residency applicants. | |
| Schedule a mock interview with your advisor or student affairs office. | |
| Learn about second look visits and how to accept, request, or decline these opportunities. | |
| Monitor and keep your advisor informed of the number of interview invitations you receive. | |
| Attend residency interviews and use the CiM Residency Program Evaluation Guide to create your personal review of each program. | |
| Evaluate and compare residency programs using your Residency Program Evaluation Guide interview reviews and your Residency Preference Exercise profiles. | |
| Develop a draft rank order list of all the programs you’re willing to attend. | |
| Meet with your advisor to discuss how to rank all the programs you’re willing to attend. | |
| Finalize your rank order list and submit it to the matching service for your specialty. | |
| Learn about the Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program® (SOAP®) in the event you go partially or fully unmatched. | |
| If you’ve been notified that you’ve not secured residency training for your first postgraduate year (PGY1), collaborate with your advisor(s) and/or student affairs office to work through next steps. | |
| If you’re without a residency position after SOAP concludes, work with your advisor(s) and/or student affairs office to explore your options. | |
| Participate in your school’s Match Day ceremony and find out where you matched. | |
| Sign the contract with your residency program. | |
| Complete the AAMC Graduation Questionnaire (GQ). | |
| Explore your loan repayment options by utilizing the MedLoans™ Organizer and Calculator (MLOC). In the MLOC you can upload your federal loan information, run repayment scenarios, and compare your loan repayment options. | |
| Attend a session or workshop about transitioning to residency. | |
| Attend a residency or specialty boot camp. | |
| Prepare for residency with FIRST (Financial Information, Resources, Services, and Tools) with Financial Tips for Residents. | |
| Ease into residency by learning about managing your finances, time, and life. | |
| Graduate and transition to residency training. | |
| Learn about Training in a Residency or Fellowship to find resources about debt management, career advancement, fellowship opportunities, and more. |