Overview of Match Process, Documents & Timelines Class of 2009

1. Overview of Match Process, Documents & TimelinesClass of 2009

2. Advisors for Residency Process(available anytime for any question!)HOTLINE: matchadvising@mednet.ucla.edu Meredith Buck Allison Fran Linda ERAS/SF ERAS/SF CV/PS CV/PS Away Elec. x53970 x57007 x71104 x58020 x60245 Dr. Parker x56774

3. Definitions and Timelines

4. Definitions • AAMC – Association of American Medical Colleges (governing body of US medical schools and residencies) • ERAS – Electronic Residency Application Service (online program used to submit applications for residency for specialties in the regular and Urology match) • NRMP – National Residency Matching Program (entity through which regular match applicants rank, and match at, open residency positions) • SF Match – San Francisco Match (early match program used by Ophthalmology applicants – currently mail/paper-based application service) • MSPE – Medical Student Performance Evaluation (formerly the “Dean’s Letter,” this document follows the AAMC guidelines for all medical schools and is written by Dr. Parker. The MSPE contains your clinical evaluations and is released nationwide on November 1st)

5. Match Timelines • July 1: ERAS Token emailed • July 1: MyERAS website open to all applicants • August 15: NRMP registration open • October 10: Deadline for evaluations to be included in MSPE (including revisions) • November 1: MSPE released via ERAS • November 30: NRMP applicant registration deadline @ 9 p.m. P.T. • January 15: Rank Order List open • February 25: Rank Order List Deadline Early Match Notification • January 17: Opthalmology • January 21: Urology Match • March 16, 2009: Unmatched applicants notified by SAO * Unmatched students report to SAO for Scramble instructions that evening • March 17, 2009: Scramble Day in SAO • March 19, 2009: Match Day! Match Results will be given out at The Faculty Center at 9 am PT. Family & Friends are invited to attend.

6. UCLA MSPE Timeline Overview • June-September • Meet with Dean Parker • You will receive an email notification when to schedule your appointment with Dean Parker from Buck • Please note this process is alphabetical and all MSPEs will be released on November 1st • Dean Parker will go over your MSPE questionnaire and MSPE draft with you at your meeting and then submit his letter to the SAO for processing • October • Review/Edit MSPE • November 1 • All MSPEs are uploaded and released nationally for both regular and Early Match

7. Drew Students • Dean Calmes will meet with all Drew students to write the MSPE • Sign-Up Sheet on Dr. Calmes door • Meetings during Foundations Week in July/August • Editing with be done in October in the SAO • Students will be notified by email when their MSPE is ready to be edited

8. Applying to Programs • Cost of application p/ # programs on ERAS: Up to 10 $60 11-20 $8 each 21-30 $15 each 31 or more $25 each • Cost to register on NRMP: $40 • Cost to register with San Fran Match: $100

9. ERAS • Your electronic “token” will be emailed to your BOL account from the ERAS post office on July 1st at which point you can log onto ERAS to begin the application process. • You will input your CV and personal statement directly into ERAS. • Your photo, LORs, transcript, and MSPE will be uploaded by the SAO as they become available. • A professional photographer will take your photo during College Foundations. • You do not need to follow up with the SAO regarding your LORs, as you will be able to track them on ERAS. • You must create “shells” for each LOR. Your letters cannot be attached toyour application until you have assigned them to a program and clicked “submit.” • Once you log into ERAS, you can browse programs and assign documents individually to each program (including assigning different LORs/personal statements to different programs). • All MSPEs and transcripts will be uploaded and released on November 1st. • If requested by a program, unofficial transcripts can be uploaded sooner than November 1st (the updated transcript will be re-uploaded on November 1st). • After you click “submit,” you can still go back and update your application, although programs may have seen what you’ve submitted.

10. Quirks about ERAS

11. MyEras

12. Adding LORs to ERAS • Create a “Shell” • You create and name a folder on ERAS with the name of the Letter Writer and Specialty • You assign the “Shell” to a program and click “Submit” • The SAO drops the LOR in this “Shell” • You can see on ERAS when your LORs are received-you do not need to contact the SAO

13. A word of caution…. • Once you have hit “Submit” technically, a program can download whatever you have sent • You can go back and make changes to items you have submitted

14. AOA Elections: October 2008 • If elected, be sure to go back into ERAS and update AOA status, until then your AOA status is: “AOA Elections Held in Senior Year”

15. Submitting Your Photo • You click a box that says “send photo” when applying to each program Photos do not automatically get sent when you apply

16. Professional Photo…it will follow you everywhere!

17. A few words on the photo… • Get a haircut • Wear your interview suit • Minimal make-up and jewelry • Smile!

18. USMLE-to submit or not? • Step 1 is automatically submitted as per an agreement ERAS has with the NBME • Step 2 you must choose to submit or not. You only have one opportunity to select “yes” or “no.” • Most programs will ask for Step 2 scores at some point in the application process, so easiest to have them automatically submitted Advice from Dr. Parker: SELECT “YES”

19. CV and Personal Statement • Advisors: Fran Kissel and Allison Jones Make an appointment: http://www.medstudent.ucla.edu/CVPSCounselor Personal Statement Workshops Wednesdays 4-6pm in the SAO Everyone Welcome!

20. Types of Personal Statements • You can create and upload as many personal statements as you want • Categorical Personal Statement • Preliminary Personal Statement • Focus should be on how prelim year will help with categorical position

21. Tips for writing the Curriculum Vitae • The majority of programs (except those that use the SF match) will print the CV directly from ERAS. Keep formatting to a minimum since you will be inputting all the information directly into ERAS. If explanations are necessary, limit to one or two strong sentences. • Keep a non-formatted copy you and transfer into notepad as it you can use that version to copy and paste into ERAS • Most of the interview will come from the information you have provided. Make sure that everything you have in your CV is something you can talk about at length. Also, make sure you find a way to include the things you are most passionate about. • It is a good idea to print your CV (and personal statement) on resume paper to bring with you to each interview. • See the class website for more CV tips and a sample CV.

22. C.V. for ERAS FormatName • Email (UCLA Email) Street Address • Phone City, State, Zip • Education • Medical School Name • Dates Attended • Degree, Graduation Date • Undergraduate Institution • Major • Dates Attended • Degree, Graduation Date • Membership in Honorary/Professional Societies • Keep to medical school unless it is an exceptional undergraduate honor. No LOD’s. LOD is listed on MSPE • Year Award • Certification/Licensure • If applicable • State Licenses • If applicable (ex: EMT, RN, etc) • Examinations • USMLE Step 1 Date/Passed • USMLE Step 2 CK Date/Passed • USMLE Step 2 CS Date/Passed • Work Experience • List in descending chronological order • Volunteer Experience • Research Experience • Inclusive Dates (i.e. 7/2005-9/2006) • Name of Institution, Department of…. • Mentor Name (First, Last, Degree) • One strong sentence describing the work you did • Publications/Presentations/Poster Sessions • Published manuscript: give full citation • Accepted manuscripts (in press): list acceptance date and bring the acceptance letter to your interviews • Submitted manuscripts: list submission gate • Manuscript in progress: List research title/hypothesis, time period for the research, & research mentors • Hobbies & Interests • Only include those hobbies that you are truly and passionately interested in. You must be ready to talk at length about anything you have brought up in your C.V. • Language Fluency (Other than English) • Include level of fluency (conversational, written, fluent, etc.) • Other Awards/Accomplishments • List only those from Medical school

23. Elements for Personal Statement • What makes you unique? What strengths, skills, and experience will you bring to this specialty? • What motivates you? • What makes you a good fit for the specialty? • What makes you stand out among applicants? • Why did you choose this specialty? (a brief explanation of your decision process) • What appeals to you about the specialty? • How did you make your choice? • What are your career goals at this time? (the least important of the 3 questions) • Keep it general, don't narrow your goals prematurely. • Signal openness to opportunities.

24. Elements for Personal Statement • Your personal statement is an ideal opportunity to set yourself apart from applicants who may have similar scores, etc. This is your chance to let your personal history, personality and passion shine through. • Do not feel pressed to include everything—your MSPE, C.V., Transcripts are also speaking for you. • Choose a theme that relates to your passion for medicine and, whenever appropriate, that relates to your chosen specialty (although this is not a requirement). • Above all, be honest, be focused and give specific examples and anecdotes that represent you and your chosen theme. • You only have three written documents to convey everything about you so avoid overlap.

25. Tips for Personal Statement • Avoid overlapping information that is already included on the CV and MSPE. • Keep it short (one page if possible), and avoid using jargon/abbreviations/etc. • Avoid pigeon-holing yourself or the program (keep your options as broad as possible) • (example of what NOT to include: “I am planning to continue my research throughout residency in primary cleft lip repair…”) • Avoid name-dropping • Your letters of recommendation and listing of who you have worked with on your CV are sufficient. • Do not use this as an opportunity to explain poor scores, lapses in education, etc. (personal/psychological/academic problems that may have led to poor performance). • Gaps and Leave’s of Absence are explained in the MSPE • Edit your personal statement thoroughly for spelling, grammar, and consistency. • Have an advisor, friend, or SAO staff go over your personal statement with you.

26. Editing Your MSPE/Plan for the Summer

27. What can I edit? • Unique Characteristics Section • Summary Section • Inaccuracies/Spelling

28. What can’t I edit? • Evaluations • The SAO cannot change content • Revisions must be received by October 10th • Name (you will be referred to as your first given legal name) • Years 1 & 2 Section • Academic History Section

29. What do I need to have done by September? • Photo taken • CV Edited by SAO • Personal Statement Edited by SAO • Application uploaded onto ERAS • At least one LOR into SAO

30. Help! I still don’t know what specialty to choose! What do I do? • Continue to work on CV and obtain LORs • Prepare Personal Statements for leading contenders • Utilize time on Sub-I to explore career options • Log onto Careers in Medicine (CiM) and take assessments • Make an appointment with Allison Jones (Career Advisor) ajones@mednet.ucla.edu

31. Which LORs to Obtain • At least one from specialty • One medicine or surgery letter from Yr 3 • One research letter if interested in academics

32. What is a Chair’s Letter? What if I don’t know the Chair of the department? • The Chair’s Letter is a mini-MSPE and a letter of “endorsement” from the Chair. • The Chair will come to the SAO to get your background information needed to write the letter-often they do not meet with students

33. Who traditionally needs a Chair’s Letter? • Internal Medicine • Pediatrics • Orthopaedics • Ob/Gyn Good idea if you are applying to a preliminary medicine or transitional year program List of Chairs found online at: http://www.medstudent.ucla.edu/current/year4/documents/chairlettercontactlist.pdf

34. Class of 2008 Stats(to be used as a guide—for more info come see Meredith)

37. Categorical Programs (Mean  STDev)

38. Preliminary Programs (Mean  STDev)

39. Total Interviews

40. LORs by Specialty

41. Where we matched on our ranklists…

42. Revisiting the competitive specialties

43. Preliminary Programs by Specialty

44. Questions? Watch for more info on: Interviewing Thank you Notes Ranking