1. The Residency Application Process
By: Donna Palazzolo, Ed. S.
DCOM Department of Career Services

2. During 3rd Year… Assess your competitiveness:
Osteopathic GME Match Report 2011
NRMPs 2011 Charting Outcomes in the Match - characteristics of the applicants who matched into various specialties
NRMPs 2012 Results of Program Directors Survey – specialty specific data from program directors like factors used in granting interviews, ranking, etc
Match stats on the NMS and NRMP websites

3. During 3rd Year…
You can request Letters of Recommendation (LoRs) for your residency application, especially from really good rotations:
Use the DCOM Request for LoR Cover Sheet
Be sure to request a STRONG LoR
Provide your letter writers with your CV and Personal Statement
More LoR info to come…

4. TOMEC Sponsored Programs (DCOM’s OPTI)
Wellmont Health System
AOA accredited Family Medicine Residency Program in SW VA. Opened 7/1/2010.
AOA accredited Orthopedic Residency Program at Holston Valley Medical Center in Kingsport, TN. Opened 7/1/2011.
Holston Valley Medical Center

5. TOMEC Sponsored Programs (DCOM’s OPTI)
Norton Community Hospital Internal Medicine
AOA Accredited
Opened 7/1/2001
Norton, VA

6. Research Residency Programs
American Osteopathic Association (AOA) Opportunities Database
AMA: Fellowship and Residency Electronic Interactive Database (FREIDA)
ACGME Accredited Program Search
Military Graduate Medical Education

7. Research Residency Programs
Confirm the following for each program in which you plan to apply:
ERAS participation status
Program requirements:
COMLEX/USMLE
LoRs
Program DEADLINES

8. “Audition” Rotations
Many residency programs welcome elective rotations during 3rd and 4th year
Some programs only 4th year
Apply early (Spring of 3rd year)
You may increase your chances of Matching into the program with an outstanding performance during the rotation
Towards the end of your rotation, request a STRONG Letter of Recommendation

9. Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS)
Most residency programs use ERAS
You will receive your ERAS E-Token by from me on or before July 1st of your 4th year
Download the MyERAS User Guide and follow the step-by-step instructions
ERAS Opens July 1st
Complete your applications by August/September!

11. ERAS Supporting Documents
You create/upload on ERAS:
Common Application Form (CAF)/CV
Personal Statement
From your Designated Dean’s Office (me):
Letters of Recommendation (LoRs)
Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE)
Medical School Transcripts
Photograph (optional)
NOT from your Designated Dean’s Office:
COMLEX Transcript
USMLE Transcript (optional)

12. Personal Statements
In ERAS, you can have an unlimited number of Personal Statements
Use different Personal Statements for different specialties
Note program requirements
Tip: customize your Personal Statements to reflect your interest in specific programs

13. Personal Statements
Consist of information about your professional background, academic and clinical qualifications, how your decision was made to pursue medicine, your chosen specialty as a career, and career goals
Should reflect information about your personality and style that is relevant to residency training in your selected specialty
Opportunity to showcase your unique qualities, talents, and professional passions and to explain how they might be expressed in a career in medicine and your specialty

14. Personal Statements
Writing tips and samples of Personal Statements can be found at the following links:
AAFP: How to Write a Personal Statement
AMA’s Writing Your Personal Statement
StudentDoc: Writing Personal Statements for Residency Programs
UsmleWEB: Samples of specialty-specific personal statements
Choices: Writing your Personal
Statement

15. Letters of Recommendation (LoRs)
Most programs require a minimum of 3 LoRs, but you can assign up to 4 in ERAS
Different programs will have different requirements.  For example, some programs will require letters from particular departments, others require letters from attendings rather than residents. 
Use the LMU-DCOM Request for LoR Cover Sheet
Fill it out and give it to your letter writers. Check off whether or not you waive your right to view the letter
Also offer your letter writers a copy of your CV and Personal Statement

16. Letters of Recommendation (LoRs)
It is your decision on whether or not you waive your right to see the LoR. 
Many medical schools recommend waiving your right to view the LoR for two reasons:
1. This makes your letter confidential and the letter is then considered more strongly by residency programs.
2. Many program directors see a student’s decision not to waive their right to see a letter as a red flag.

17. Letters of Recommendation (LoRs)
Pay attention to residency program requirements
Focus on quality, NOT quantity
5-6 STRONG letters are better than 10 weak letters
Do NOT request ALL specialty-specific letters
Request some general STRONG letters, too

18. Letters of Recommendation (LoRs)
Ensure your letter writers can provide you with STRONG letters by asking them!!
Tips on obtaining LoRs can be found at:
AAFP Tips on LoRs
Improving Your Medical Residency Application Tips for Obtaining Optimal LoRs
How Should I Get Recommendation Letters for Residency? by Geoffrey Talmon, MD

19. Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE)
Formerly known as Dean’s Letter of Evaluation (DLE)
A comprehensive assessment of your medical school performance through your third year of medical school
DCOM MSPE follows the AAMC Guidelines and Template

20. MSPE The MSPE contains: grade comparison graphs for years 1-3
class rank for top quartile students for years 1-2
preceptor comments from 3rd-year rotations

21. MSPE You will be contacted by email when it is ready for your review
MSPEs must be reviewed in person (it cannot be ed or faxed to you)
Students are permitted to correct factual errors only.  Revision of evaluative statements is prohibited
Released by ERAS to programs on October 1st

23. MSPEs are signed by the Dean. Last 3 pages are Medical School
Information pages – see AAMC MSPE Guidelines and Template for more info

24. Transcript and Photograph
Medical School Transcript
Use the ERAS Transcript Request Form
Registrar will send your transcript to me electronically and I upload transcript directly to the ERAS Deans Office Workstation
Photographs (optional but recommended)
I can upload your on file photo or you can me a professional head shot

25. ERAS Supporting Documents from your Designated Dean’s Office
Do not expect your designated dean’s office to attach or transmit your files at the last minute. Processing may take a week or longer. If there is a problem with transmissions, you may miss a deadline. Give your designated dean‘s office and yourself enough time to meet your deadlines. Ensure documents are sent to your designated dean‘s office as early as possible.

26. ERAS Supporting Documents NOT from your Designated Dean’s Office
COMLEX Transcript
Request submitted to NBOME through ERAS when you apply to programs
Be sure to re-request transcript if you have updated scores! (not automatic in ERAS)
One-time transcript fee
No additional fee for updates, but you must resubmit the request

27. Tip from ERAS: Osteopathic applicants only
Before you certify your ERAS application, consider whether you will apply to ACGME and/or AOA-accredited programs. If you apply to ACGME-accredited programs and you have taken the USMLE, you must report that on your CAF. If you only apply to AOA- accredited programs, you do not have to report the USMLE on your CAF.

28. Interviews Schedules are program dependent
Usually are scheduled September-January
Can be as early as August
Invites through ERAS and by
Budget for traveling expenses
We do have an alumni host program!

29. The Match
Administered on behalf of the AOA by National Matching Services Inc. (NMS)
Administered on behalf of the ACGME by the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP)
Determines the final placements into residency programs (separate service from ERAS)

30. AOA Match
You can register for both matches, but if you match in the AOA Match in February, the NRMP drops you from its process so there is no chance of matching in two programs.  If you do not match into an AOA program, you continue in the NRMP Match
Registration begins the end of June and early registration deadline is in October

31. AOA Match
Following interviews, students will identify on their Rank Order Lists, in numerical order of preference (first choice, second choice, etc.), the programs where they would like to be matched
Students should include on their Rank Order Lists only those programs where they would agree to accept a contract
The results of the Match are binding for both the students and the institutions

32. AOA Match Students may list as many or as few choices as they wish
listing too few choices may decrease the probability of a match taking place
Research shows that applicants with longer rank order lists are more successful than those with shorter ones (see NRMP 2011 Charting Outcomes)
List your choices in YOUR true order of preference
Match participants must be fully eligible to begin residency on July 1st
The majority of programs have orientations in June

33. AOA Match
COUPLES: Two students who are participating in the Match at the same time and who wish to coordinate their matches may participate in the Match as a "Couple”
Students who wish to participate as a couple must each register separately for the Match
They then update their profiles to indicate they are part of a couple and identify their partner
More information on couples match can be found on their website

34. AOA Match Program Types Offered in the Match
Traditional Rotating Internship: These programs involve a one-year commitment between the student and the institution for an OGME-1 internship position only
For students pursuing an Option 3 specialty (dermatology, public health and preventative medicine, proctologic surgery)
For students who are undecided
Residency: These programs involve a multi-year commitment between the student and the institution for training in a specialty

35. AOA Match Match Results Released in February Match results binding
Contracts sent within 10 days
Unmatched students who registered with NRMP will continue on to the NRMP Match or they can “scramble” for an AOA position
Unmatched students who did NOT register with NRMP can “Scramble” for unfilled AOA positions
Students will be provided information on programs with available positions
Programs with available positions will be provided with information on unmatched students

36. AOA Scramble We will have a “Scramble Command Center” on campus
Clinical faculty advisors available
Assistance with application and document submission
You will contact programs with available positions and follow their directions for submission of applications and documents
ERAS (regular charges apply)
applications/documents
Fax applications / documents

37. ACGME / NRMP Match
Same process as AOA match with the exception of the Scramble---NRMP has Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP)
Also has couples match
Registration begins September 1st and deadline is late November
Late registration available for additional charge
Rank order list begins mid-January with deadline in mid-February
Match results released in mid-March

38. Advice that applies to both Matches
Rank all of the programs in which you would accept a contract, from highest preference to lowest
Include a mix of highly competitive and less competitive programs
Rank your most preferred programs in an alternate specialty (Back-up plan!)

39. Advice that applies to both Matches
Include all of your qualifications on your application
You must register for ERAS and the Match (NMS and/or NRMP) separately
Register and apply early!
Top 3 criteria used by program directors*:
The student rotated through the program director’s specialty
Personality match with the program (audition rotations and/or interviews) 
COMLEX scores
*According to: Outcomes of the Osteopathic Match, 2009

40. Advice from recent grads…
Take COMLEX Step 2 CE and PE early
Complete applications early and apply early
Budget for interviews, it’s expensive
Take notes during interviews
Rank programs to YOUR preferences (don’t try to game the system!)
Rank as many programs as you can and are willing to go to
4th year goes by fast!

41. Residency Application Process
Formulate a good application and Match strategy with a back-up plan (or 2 or 3!)
Apply as early and broadly as possible!
All of this information and more can be found on our …
Residency Application Guide and Resources WebPages
Timelines
Step-by-step instructions
Application checklist
FAQs
Useful links and required forms (Request for LoR Cover Sheet, ERAS Transcript Request form)
Questions?