Applying for residency Class of 2012

1. Applying for residencyClass of 2012 Jean Lantz, Assistant Dean June 2011

2. Today’s topics • Electronic Residency Application System (ERAS) • Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE) • “Help-seeking” behavior

3. Specialty poll • OSA use only, not a commitment • Tell us in what specialty you plan to apply • If uncertain, provide best guess(es) • http://chicago.medicine.uic.edu/student_services/osa/m4/ • Please do by Friday July 1

4. Electronic Residency Application System (ERAS) www.aamc.org/eras opens Friday July 1 Please register ASAP! access token provided by OSA no charge to register OSA can then begin to upload documents must be viable candidate to graduate in May 2012 (finish everything by June 16, 2012) to receive ERAS token and enter the Match

5. ERAS • Beginning July 1 – work on your application • even if have not decided on your specialty • even if do not know where you are applying • save your work, make changes until certify application and apply to programs • ERAS Q&A session Wed July 20 5:30 pm Room 106 • work on your application BEFORE this session • recorded but need students to come with questions

6. ERAS – pieces you do • Common Application Form (CAF) • Demographics, experiences, awards, etc • Info already on your CV • 2011 application worksheet; 2012 on July 1 • http://chicago.medicine.uic.edu/student_services/osa/m4/

7. ERAS – pieces you do • Personal statement(s) • Careers in Medicine • https://services.aamc.org/careersinmedicine/ • If applying more than one specialty, need second statement (except Prelim year and Transitional) • Have it reviewed by OSA advisor, OSA dean, mentors, faculty, residents, family, friends

8. ERAS – pieces you do USMLE transcript – authorize release scores Step 2 release decision – automatic or not July Step 2 CK examinees cannot “hold” Step 2 score apart from Step 1 score in ERAS Examinees after early Aug, OSA recommends no automatic release release in ERAS when you decide to do so see details on this in ERAS when it opens

9. ERAS – pieces we do together • M4 photo • remaining sitting dates – July 6, 26; Aug 8, 17 • sport coat & tie, plain blouse/sweater • also used for class composite photo at graduation • OSA uploads by Aug 31 • College of Medicine transcript • you review for accuracy and completeness • OSA uploads late Aug unless you request later date • make request to OSA advisor to delay transcript upload • all transcripts must be uploaded by October 1

10. ERAS – pieces we do together • Letters of recommendation • you solicit; “do you feel comfortable writing me a strong letter of recommendation?” • give writers CV and personal statement if available • give writers ERAS cover sheet with instructions http://chicago.medicine.uic.edu/student_services/osa/m4/

11. Letters of recommendation • OSA does not review and advise you on which letters to use • OSA will tell you whether a specialty is mentioned in the letter – if cross-applying you may want to know so ask your advisor • OSA uploads letters as soon as they come in • Ask advisor if any questions about LORs

12. Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE) • previously known as Dean’s Letter • summary evaluation of your academic record; not a recommendation letter • required part of your ERAS application • OSA prepares, you review it, OSA uploads • prepared by OSA advisor • any questions, ask OSA advisor

13. MSPE • national standards and guidelines • nationwide release date November 1 • MSPE Addendum if an incident – academic or professional - after Nov 1 • before Match sent to all programs applied to • after Match sent to your Matched program

14. MSPE- Required contents • Identifying information, unique characteristics • Academic history • Dates (matriculation, grad date) • Explanation of leaves, gaps, remediation, adverse action • Preclinical academic – Grades Outstanding in courses noted • Clinical – through M3 and early M4, grades & comments • NBME quartile – Step 1, shelf exams, all 4 sites • Outstanding, Excellent, Very Good, Good

15. MSPE- contents • Appendix A-D (bar graphs of class performance years 1, 2 & 3, quartiles) • Appendix E , Medical School Information Page • School description • Evaluation system

16. Sample UIC MSPE http://chicago.medicine.uic.edu/student_services/osa/m4/

17. MSPE: you review MSPE • Have MSPE coordinator in OSA • MSPE production is a major OSA project • Proof and approve when received Sept/Oct • Know your academic record • Know your clinical comments, they are not edited for MSPE • There should be no surprises when you review your MSPE in Sept/Oct

18. ERAS - what program directors do Begin downloading your materials on Sept. 1 Download regularly (usually daily), picking up newly added documents Specific programs might have deadlines Some published, some not Another reason to apply early Offer interviews until all spots taken, then waitlist

19. Applying to programs • Do your research on residency programs • FREIDAhttp://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/education-careers/graduate-medical-education/freida-online.page • Talk to faculty, mentors, residents, recent grads • Goal - apply Sept 1 even if not all documents in • Once you apply, can view activity in “Applicant Document Tracking System” (ADTS) • See documents downloaded by programs • See LORs that have been uploaded by OSA

20. Applying to programs • You control timing of your application • ERAS has no official deadline • OSA goal, no M4 left behind, especially in competitive specialties

21. ERAS fees • Based on number programs applied to • minimum $85 for 10 program • charges per program per specialty • https://www.aamc.org/students/medstudents/eras/residency/ • can be a significant amount • charges incurred when apply Sept 1, no charge to register July 1

22. Date first applied in ERAS

24. Specialty decision not made? • Early M4 clerkships – electives, career, Sub-I, away • Careers in Medicine (CiM) exercises • https://services.aamc.org/careersinmedicine/ • Verbally rehearse “why specialtyis for me.” • Discuss your specialty decision and Match strategies • Mentor(s) in your specialty, LOR writers, OSA advisor, OSA deans, OSA faculty advisor, family, friends

25. Specialty decision not made? • Review your specialty’s Match data • http://www.nrmp.org/ • Assess your candidacy • Gather information on residency programs • Programs’ web sites, ERAS, FREIDA, mentors, clerkship directors, UIC program directors • Goal of at least 10 interviews; more interviews = longer rank order list= better chance of matching • Cross-apply from the beginning, don’t wait!

26. Your help-seeking behavior • OSA advisor • assist with specialty decision process • review your Common Application, personal statement; upload your letters of rec in ERAS • Jean Lantz deanlantz@uic.ecu student use only • Mentor(s) in your specialty, LOR writers, OSA faculty advisor, family, friends

27. National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) • Register www.nrmp.org beginning Sept 1 • $50 one time charge; learn the terminology • Match Participation Agreement; policies, violations • Register with the Match IN ADDITION to ERAS • Rank Order List due February 22, 2012 • Match Day Friday March 16, 2012 • Must be a May 2012 grad to enter 2012 Match

28. Register other match programs • Military match http://militarygme.org/ • Results Dec 2011 • Ophthalmology – www.sfmatch.org • Results January 12, 2012 • Urology – www.auanet.org • Results January 23, 2012

29. Advising on Step 2 Take CK and CS exams early Strategically choose your exam dates Travel schedule and study/exam schedule Interview season ~Nov thru Jan No time off requests for Step 2 and interviews in same clerkship; may be required to make up time Residency interview absence policy http://chicago.medicine.uic.edu/student_services/osa/policies_and_procedures/

30. Advising on Step 2 Postponing Step 2 due to Step 1 score is considered outdated advice “You are doing a disservice if you are not advising your students to have Step 2 scores in the Match – programs will not rank them.” Mona Signer, Executive Director National Resident Matching Program Regional meeting April 17, 2009 Chicago, IL

31. CK results reporting • Usually reported every Wednesday • Usually within 4 weeks of testing • Reporting scores for Aug 3 to mid-Sept exams on Sept 28 • Routine modifications to test item pool • Changing number items from 352 to 346

32. Step 2 CS reporting schedule May 15– July 16 = August 17 July 17 – Sept 10 = October 12 Sept 11 – Nov 5 = December 7 Nov 6 – Dec 31 = February 1, 2012 Jan 1 – Jan 28 = February 29, 2012 Jan 29 – Mar 24 = April 25, 2012 Mar 25 – May 12 = June 13, 2012 Dates in red are estimates

33. Your July-Aug to-do list • Work on your ERAS application • Decide on letter of recommendation writers • Provide them ERAS cover sheet, CV and personal statement (if available) • Write personal statement; seek feedback • Picture taken; review your med school transcript • Decide programs to which you will apply on Sept 1 • Firm up your USMLE Step 2 exam dates

34. Important dates July 1 – ERAS opens to begin your application July 20 – OSA Q&A workshop on ERAS 5:30 pm Aug 15 - Review “Charting Outcomes in the Match” Expected Class of 2011 release date www.nrmp.org Sept 1 – register National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) $50 www.nrmp.org need this and ERAS Oct – Residency Directors interview workshop Oct – Optional mock interviews

35. M4 year timeline by month • http://chicago.medicine.uic.edu/student_services/osa/m4/ • M4 Resources, OSA resources in Blackboard and M4 OSA website • Dates and tasks through Commencement • Please read and follow it • Any questions, contact Dean Lantz deanlantz@uic.edu

36. Class of 2011 poll on what was “useful in residency application process” • “My OSA advisor was especially helpful in getting me started on my personal statement and then helped me through the whole interview season” • “UIC program director was a great resource” • “M4 checklists were super helpful, probably wouldn’t be graduating without them” • “Get advice from current residents” • “The program directors’ interview workshop might be the most helpful resource out there”

37. Summary Do ERAS application and apply to programs early Apply in second specialty early Use OSA advisor, OSA deans, faculty, LOR writers, mentors, residents as resources early Take Step 2 CK and CS early Stay tuned for “URGENT M4 checklists” next 10 mos. ~ once a month; 8-12 “to-do” items each time

38. Quotable: “I will prepare and someday my chance will come.” Abraham Lincoln “The will to win is important, but the will to prepare for it is vital.” Joe Paterno “Chance favors those who plan.” Louis Pasteur

39. Quotable: “You will prepare and someday your MATCH will come.” Jean Lantz “The will to MATCH is important, but the will to prepare for it is vital.” Jean Lantz “The MATCH favors those who plan.” Jean Lantz