Fourth Year of Medical
School
… what I wished I had known!
Your focus right now …
Working hard to finish your 3rd year!!
 Be thinking about LOR’s !!
 Step 2 CK and CS
 Fourth Year Electives

Disclaimer

All Info is to the BEST of our knowledge
 However:
– Always Double Check Information
– Double Check Deadline Dates
– This is a guide and not an exhaustive list
Working Hard

If you have slacked- shame on you… step it
up!!
– You will be asking for LOR’s soon and NEED
great letters
– Your evaluation comments are listed on your
MSPE!
STEP II  CK and CS

CK
– Same registration process as step I (www.ecfmg.org)
– Board review classes- Kaplan Intense Prep, USMLE World
question bank, Kaplan Q-bank…
– Scheduling exam… if you did poor on Step 1 take CK early so a
great score will increase # of interviews.
– You will have get school certification w/ orange card (like Step 1)

CS
– Register and Schedule NOW- Dates are filling!!!
– Try to take before interview season begins (Oct.)
– MUST be reported to ECFMG/NRMP before final rank list
submission- February!!
Now that boards are out of the
way …
Get organized and know your dates! …
Time to start the residency process…
WHERE TO START???
Your CV

Get this done now!
– Use the format in the “green book” (next slide)

Submit with all LOR requests!
 Keep a copy on file with GME.
 Don’t forget to send it to Steve Orkin for
your MSPE!
Name
Address
Phone
Email address
Personal:
Birth Date:
Birth Place:
Education:
Dates… Medical School name
location of med school
Cumulative GPA:
MD Degree expected May 2007
Dates… Undergrad name(or graduate school if attended)- same format as med school with NO GPA!
Dates… Highschool name and location
Certifications:
Date
USMLE I: passed
Date
USMLE II CK: to be taken
Date
USMLE II CS: to be taken
Date
any other certification you have
Honors and Awards:
Date
list
Extracurricular Activities:
Date
List name; position held if any
Research Experience:
Date
Position, Name of institution
Title of Article/ abstract
Work Experience:
Date
Position held, name of company
Outside Interest:
List hobbies…
Letters of Recommendation

Start asking SOON (the earlier the better)
 Most programs require 3 LOR’s.
– Try to obtain at least 4-5!

Chairman Letters- IM, Peds, Surgery, OB/GYN…
– Not sure if you need a chairman letter- get one anyway!

DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE !!
 Consider opening a Fed-Ex account
– Able to track LOR’s and ERAS must sign for document
Letters of Recommendation

What you want to give to your attending:
– Place in a file folder the following

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Personal Cover letter
CV
Personal Statement if completed- if not- state in your cover
letter that it is not finalized.
ERAS Cover letter- instructions for letter writer
3 Addressed and Stamped envelopes
– ECMFG-ERAS Documents
– SGU: Attn. Steve Orkin
– GME office at your hospital (Nancy)
Personal Cover letter example
Date
From: Your Name
To: Dr. XYZ
Subject: LOR
Dear Dr. XYZ,
Thank you so much for agreeing to write a strong letter of recommendation on my behalf for the Match
Process. Having finished my third year core clinical clerkships at *your hosp*, I found my *specialty*
medicine experience extremely satisfying and have decided that *specialty* is a good career fit for me.
Therefore, I am excited at the prospect of pursuing a *specialty* residency position for 2006.
To assist you in writing a personal letter on my behalf, I have enclosed my curriculum vitae and
personal statement. Also, you will find instructions on the ERAS coversheet as to their format.
Thank you again for taking the time out of your busy schedule to write a recommendation letter. Upon
completion of your letter, please enclose one copy of your letter and the ERAS cover sheet in the FedEx envelope addressed to ECFMG-ERAS Documents, send a copy to *your hosp.* Graduate Medical
Education office and mail one copy of your letter in the addressed SGUSOM envelope.
If there is any other information you might require to help you in this process, please don’t hesitate to
contact me at your earliest convenience.
Sincerely,
Your Name
MS IV SGUSOM
Your Email Address
ERAS Request for LOR Cover Sheet
Letters of Recommendation

Follow up with Attendings
– They are very busy.. Thus get info to them early!
– Don’t be annoying!

PLEASE write thank you notes !
 Once you match  let your respective
Attendings know where and thank them
again!
Your MSPE !!!

Make sure your file is complete at SGU
– All evaluations must be in- comments listed on MSPE
– You will receive info from Steve Orkin around May/June
– Submit to Steve Orkin:
 MSPE information form
 CV
 Personal statement (can be in draft stage)
 ALL letters of rec.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF ABOVE IS
AUGUST 1st!! DO NOT BE LATE!!!
– If you miss this deadline- your MSPE WILL go out LATE! And
that is NOT GOOD!!!
Your MSPE …

REQUEST A COPY TO REVIEW
– request must be made in writing
– review for errors … please do this !!!

Just remember to have all of this done
BEFORE NOVEMBER 1, 2005 !!
MSPE and Official Transcript

These documents will be submitted by SGU
– Request must be made in writing to SGU-Steve
Orkin
– SEND $5 check sent (to SGU) for the transcript
to be released to ECFMG
– Send request Early: August 1st!!!

MSPE not sent by SGU until Nov. 1st.
Personal Statement

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

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Ironically, the hardest part of the application!
Edit, Review, Edit, Review!!
If not sure of specialty, may need multiple
personal statements.
Have many, many people review it  nonmedical
opinions are GREAT
This is the only “personalized” part of your
application so really try to make it personal
ERAS … yes it’s finally time !
ERAS  Electronic Residency Application
Service
 www.aamc.org/eras will become your best friend!


First- Request Token through ECFMG
– June/July 2007- www.ecfmg.org request token through Oasis link- you
will need your USMLE/ECFMG ID number
– Cost $75
– Token will be emailed to you prior to the July 1st opening of ERAS
What you need to know about
ERAS

Token to register will be emailed to you
– You will NOT have an AAMC ID # so leave this field
blank when you register

Once registration is complete, you will receive
your AAMC ID#
 Brand this # into your brain!
 ECFMG acts as our Dean’s Office!!

ERAS opens on July 1, 2006! This is the date you
can register and begin your application!
ERAS Application

A long process… complete in segments
– Proof read multiple time
– Have someone else look for errors

You may NOT change anything on the
application after you certify your common
application form (CAF)
– You can change your Personal Statement and LOR’s
Documents to be sent to ERAS
Can be sent after July 1, 2007!

To be sent by YOU
– Wallet size CURRENT photo
– Letters of recommendation

To be sent by SGU
– MSPE
– Official Transcript
Documents take a few days to be scanned into your file
ERAS Document Submission Form
Researching Programs

Please research ALL programs you are applying
to!
 Tools to use 
–
–
–
–
FREIDA online (link from ERAS homepage)
www.scutwork.com
www.medfools.com
www.residentcafe.com
Do NOT hesitate to contact programs  request
info
 Different deadlines, different requirements, etc.

How many programs to apply to??
Average number of applications per US Applicant by specialty in 2003 (info from
ERAS/AAMC)

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Anesthesiology
Dermatology
Emergency Med
Family Practice
IM-Peds
Internal Med
OB/GYN
Ortho. Surgery
Pathology
20
41
25
12
13
15
22
42
14

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Peds
PM&R
Plastic Surgery
Psych
Radiation Onc
Radiology
Surgery
Transitional
Urology
16
14
23
14
24
37
19
8
38
Number of programs to apply to

The previous slide is based off US Students!!!
– Thus you should expect to apply to more as a FMG

A number of factors play into the number you
should apply to
– Location, couples matching, USMLE scores/ grades,
competitiveness of specialty!
SEPTEMBER 1, 2006

FIRST DAY PROGRAMS ACCEPT
APPLICATIONS !!
 Try to submit your application on this day !!
SEPTEMBER 1, 2006

Do I have to be ready to apply by this date?
– # of interviews
– Deadlines to apply

Most programs will not view applications
until 5-7 days after September 1 but it
varies.
 Your best bet … PLEASE DON’T WAIT!
Residency Interviews

Be smart about scheduling interviews
–
–
–
–

Cost
Time of year
JET LAG !!
Absence schedule of particular hospital- TBHC allows
3 days off per 4 week rotation.
Interview Season- Oct through Feb.
– Most November through end of January
– No interviews btwn Xmas and New Years
Residency Interviews

Preparing for interview
– Be Prepared! Read up on program
 Freida website; program website
 SGU Alumni

Read over your CAF- you WILL be asked
questions from your application/PS
 Interview Questions- think about typical
questions asked
Interview Questions

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Why are you applying to this program?
Why did you go to St. George’s?
What will you bring to our program- strengths and weaknesses?
Tell us something that is not listed in your application.
Talk about your path toward this specialty
Tell us about an interesting case you have seen.
Talk about your clinical experience at SGU- in Grenada and Vinny’s
How do you learn best/ what is your learning style.. What is your
education philosophy?
What are you looking for in a residency program?
Your biggest challenge in Medical school
Group interview- what separates you from the others in this group?
How do you plan to pass … board exam?
Expect to be asked about your Personal Statement and Common
Application Form- do not list anything you are not comfortable
discussing!
Residency Interviews

Traveling
– CARRY ON!! You do not want to be stuck without
your interview suit!
– Try to make it to the resident dinner the night before.

Correspondence after interview
– Send Thank you notes!
– Consider second look
– Letters expressing interest to top 3-5 programs send out
late Jan to early Feb
Second Looks

Not required, but looks VERY good!
– Go to top 2-3 programs if time allows.

Try to meet with program director briefly
– Ask any last questions you have
– Express sincere interest in their program

Try to complete second looks by end of January to
beginning of February!
– Programs submit their rank list prior to our submission date

Be ready to go on rounds  clean white coat and
stethoscope!
NRMP

National Residency Matching Programthey conduct the actual match
 Register by December 1st regardless if
doing an early match (SanFranciso Match
or AUA)
 Cost- $100
–
Additional fees if couples matching.
The Rank List

Rank list certification deadline …
– February 21, 2007 (your date will be different)

Most programs meet in early February to
certify lists!
 Please try to have your lists certified at least
one week before deadline!
 Remember  no CS means no rank list!
Rank List

Rank ONLY those programs you would be
happy at!
– The match is a legal contract and you CAN
NOT get out of it once you Match!!!
– The more you rank, the more chance you have
to match
– When NOT listing a program… would you
rather scramble than work at that program??
Other Matches

San Francisco Match www.sfmatch.org
– Programs: Neurosurgery, Ophthalmology,
Plastic Surgery

Urology www.auanet.org

Rank list for these matches are due by early
January with match results at the end of
January.
MATCH WEEK !!

The culmination of medical school and all
your hard work

Be calm … you have no control over the
match!
Match Week!

Monday
– Noon- email sent stating Match vs. Unmatched

Tuesday
– Scramble begins -have everything ready

Wednesday
– Scramble continues

Thursday
– If you matched on Monday

Noon- find out where you matched!!!!
But …

Be prepared to scramble !
– Find an attending to act as your Dean/Mentor

Have all your documents in case!
– CAF, USMLE scores, Photo, PS, Dean’s Letter and
Transcript (sgu will send them to you in Feb), LOR’s
(GME file)

You will need a team!
 You will need all phones, faxes, etc. available!
– GME Office at TBHC
– Programs now using ERAS to scramble- no longer need
to fax applications
Scramble Resources

www.electronicresidency.com

www.imgresidency.com
Other Resources …

SGU Website- Office of Career Guidance
site, clinical news site, Angel.
 Iserson's Getting into a Residency: A Guide
for Medical Students, Sixth Edition

First Aid for the Match

OTHER STUDENTS/RESIDENTS!
Relax, you are an M.D. now!

Hope this helped!!
 Questions/comments …let us know!
 Contact info:
Neelay Gandhi - GreatSoul7@aol.com
Good Luck … we know you
will do well !!!