th
4
Year Planning
Terms
ERAS
Electronic Residency Application Service
provides uniform application process – everyone MUST enter this
NRMP
National Residency Matching Program
Matches you to a residency program – everyone MUST enter this
Terms
FREIDA Online®
Fellowship & Residency Application Service
database with over 9,400 graduate medical education programs accredited by
the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, as well as over 100
combined specialty programs
VSAS
Visiting Student Application Service
Online program used by many medical schools to schedule 4th year electives
Terms
MSPE
Medical Student Performance Evaluation
Part of the documentation sent to residency program
A compilation of clerkship director evaluations, your transcript and
other academic data.
A designated MSPE writer writes an opening and summary paragraph
that gives an overview of you as a person and student.
MSPE writers:
Dr. Taylor, Dr. Gresham, Dr. Kezar, Dr. Sorrentino or Dr. Hughes Evans
FYSH
Fourth Year ScHeduling:
You create your own list of courses
It’s time consuming but very important to list everything you dream you
might take
Advice from…Kent & Brittney
Timeline
February
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March
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Draft CV
Meet with career advisor and assess your competitiveness
Should bring academic summary so advisor can see scores/rank
and give honest advice
Fourth Year Scheduling FYSH opens (plan with career advisor)
FYSH closes
Begin applications for visiting electives
Timeline
June
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July
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August
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Obtain ERAS login code from MSS (B’ham)
Optho and Urology applicants begin registration
Begin application process on ERAS
Request letters of recommendation
Register online for NRMP
UASOM OSCE’s begin
Recommended target date for Step 2 CK
Timeline
September
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October
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September 1: NRMP is open to register for the match
September 5: Target date for Optho and Urology applications
September 15: Medical Schools begin transmitting
applications and residency programs may begin to download
applications from ERAS.
October 1: MSPE are released to programs
Recommended time frame for Step 2 CS
th
4
Year Requirements
24 weeks of elective credit (2 or 4 week courses)
4 week Medicine AI (must be done in Tuscaloosa)
4 week Surgery/Critical Care AI (tri-campus)
~ 32 weeks of coursework in 4th year
http://www.uab.edu/medicine/home/current-students
B’ham electives
• Surgery: must have Chair letter from Birmingham
• Emergency Medicine: must have official department letter from
Birmingham
• Feedback from surgery electives –you are treated the same whether you sign
up for AI or elective
• If needed, 4th year electives can be done in Birmingham prior to completion
of clerkships
- this may help you make career decision
- this may help you with scheduling around a life event
Visiting Electives
Must complete all MS3 clerkships including scholarly activity
Why do a visiting elective?
- Competitive specialty
- Shop residency programs
- You need a letter from an away program (Emergency, ENT)
Plan early if you need a letter from an away program
Visiting Electives
Timeline
February
receive VSAS token from UASOM and can start applying to programs
March-May schools begin accepting applications
Check institution see when they open elective scheduling
Institutions often the review applications only a few months before
the elective date
Visiting Electives
VSAS / Non VSAS
https://www.aamc.org/students/medstudents/vsas/119290/article_for_host_institutions.html
Non VSAS school? Check individual program website for information on
visiting elective application process (use FRIEDA to help you find programs)
Applications can be time consuming – record request for transcript
STEP 2 CS & CK
Take Step 2 CK as soon to completion of 3rd year clerkships as possible
• programs may not interview you without a score
• Take up to 4 weeks off to study (less if medicine or FM is last clerkship)
Step 2 CS
• growing in importance to some programs.
• must take by December, 31 2014
• If taken by July, a passing score can replace senior OSCE
Career Choices
Talk to a career advisor
http://www.uab.edu/medicine/home/images/current_students/career_advisors.pdf
Think about parallel applications
Use Careers in Medicine: https://www.aamc.org/cim/