![]() ![]() These will often be your strongest letters due to the added independence and responsibility you get as a fourth-year. You can continue sending letters out after you have submitted your application, so don’t hesitate to request a letter from attendings in your fourth-year rotations. In addition, if you are applying to more than one specialty, you can guide the appropriate letters to each program. For example, if you have a letter from a faculty member who has connections to a program you are applying to, you can make sure that letter gets to them. This allows you to individualize your letters for each program. Not signing it will cause program directors to wonder what you are hiding.ĮRAS makes it possible for you to submit and store as many letters as you need, then send certain letters out to each program. It is generally advised to sign the waiver saying you agree to not see your letters. For all letter writers, share your CV and personal statement and ask them to complete the letter within 4-6 weeks. Do not wait until application season begins, as they will have seen many med students by then and won’t have a strong memory of you (as amazing and memorable as you may be). If you feel an attending has seen you at your best, ask for a letter immediately after you finish that rotation. Your letters should come from faculty who have worked closely with you and can attest to your strengths and readiness for residency. Meet with your department chair or another trusted adviser to decide which residency programs you are competitive at and will succeed in. Some applicants apply to two separate specialties with one as a backup if their first choice is highly competitive. ![]() Do you want a program where there are fellows and subspecialists (which may improve your chance of getting a fellowship in that area)? Or would you prefer not to have fellows competing for cases? Do you like the idea of a large program with many personalities and teaching styles, or a smaller one that acts more like a large extended family? Your USMLE scores and letters of recommendation will weigh heavily for most residency programs, so be sure to focus on these and choose residency programs with numbers that match yours. Be sure to apply to programs that are a good fit for you. In September, you get to start choosing programs. Be sure to get feedback, either from your medical school or a medical school admissions expert. Your application should look professional and show the maturity you have gained in the past four years. In other words, it rarely works to recycle your med school AMCAS essay. Your essay should reflect the past four years, rather than rehashing high school or undergraduate experiences. Start working on your personal statement as early as you can. Only this time, you must explain why you are a good fit for your chosen specialty. Just when you thought you had done all the essay writing you would ever have to do (remember getting into med school?), you are faced with the blank page of another personal statement. Here are the parts of the application you will need to complete:ĮRAS opens in July, so you can get your basic info entered during the summer. What are the Components of a Residency Application?ĮRAS is the electronic application shared by residency programs. Let’s take a look at what you need to do so you can stay focused, motivated, and completely on top of your juggling act. You’re busy juggling med school and life, and if you don’t stay organized, one of those balls is going to come crashing down.
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