For “Junior” Medical Students: What You Can Do Now to Improve Your Chances of Matching
Matching to a residency program through the NRMP® (National Resident Matching Program) is a competitive endeavor. Even strong candidates – especially IMGs (international medical graduates) – can have difficulty getting PGY-1 (post graduate year one) positions in many specialties. Those that do match may not get their first or second choices, leaving them in suboptimal locations or programs. Read more ›
The Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS®) is a program that transmits applications, letters of recommendation, Medical Student Performance Evaluations, medical school transcripts, board scores and other supporting credentials from a residency applicant and his or her designated dean’s office to program directors using the Internet. The ERAS application has multiple sections, including demographics, academic record, experience and personal statement. The experience, or activities, section is where applicants describe their accomplishments – research, clinical, volunteer, teaching, paid work. The ERAS experience section allows the applicant to demonstrate his or her distinctiveness as a candidate. Read more ›
The National Resident Matching Program (NRMP®) Scramble is an oftentimes confusing process that tends to generate a lot of questions. The Scramble is a system used to fill unfilled residency positions. Some medical residency programs will have available residency slots even after the NRMP has completed the Match; these positions become available during the Scramble period so that those applicants who did not get a residency position can vie for them. Please see my article entitled, “What is the Scramble” for a complete calendar of the Scramble 2010. Read more ›
Matching to a residency program through the NRMP® (National Resident Matching Program) is a competitive endeavor, especially for International Medical Graduates (IMGs), formerly called “Foreign Medical Graduates.” These applicants, who graduate from medical schools outside of the United States, face difficult odds. In 2009 only 47.8% of United States citizen IMGs obtained first year positions through the Match. Of those IMGs who were not U.S. citizens, only 41.6% matched (Source: Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates).
Furthermore, some IMGs complete their third- and fourth-year rotations in locations that are geographically distant from their base schools. Therefore it is more difficult for them to attain application guidance through their institutions or through senior students who have experience with the process. Because of these challenges and the poor odds, professional residency admissions consulting has become increasingly important in optimizing residency applications for IMGs and improving the odds that these candidates get into residency programs. Read more ›
Because matching to a medical residency program continues to get harder each year, the submission of a strong residency application is critical. Following a timeline and getting your materials in early can assist you in improving your candidacy and thus, your chances of success.
Getting your ERAS® and residency personal statement in early is essential. ERAS opens in July and materials can be assigned to residency programs in early September. I recommend submitting your written materials as early as possible, while maintaining quality. Some residency admissions officers have more time to carefully review residency applications earlier in the season before the onslaught of application submissions. You should also move quickly on interview requests. Invitations for interviews warrant a quick response for two reasons: First, you want to demonstrate your appreciation and responsibility. Second, the faster you respond the more likely you are to procure a time slot that works best for you. Read more ›
Dr. Finkel is a graduate of Stanford University and Harvard Medical School. On completing her residency at Harvard, she was asked to
stay on as faculty at Harvard Medical School and spent five years teaching at the world-renowned Massachusetts General Hospital.
She was appointed to the Assistant Residency Director position for the Harvard Affiliated
Emergency Medicine Residency where she reviewed countless applications, personal statements and resumes. Read more
