The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences th “Guide to the 4 Year” (Transition to Advanced Clinical Practice) Everything You Need to Know about Senior Year and Successful Residency Matching Prepared for the Class of 2022 by The Offices of Student Affairs & Curricular Affairs Table of Contents Introduction ................................................................................. 4 Timetable ..................................................................................... 5 Career Decision-Making ............................................................. 7 What Should I be Doing/Thinking? .......................................................................................................... 7 Considerations in Specialty Choice ............................................................................................................ 7 Changing Residencies ................................................................................................................................ 8 Planning the Fourth Year ............................................................ 9 Goals ........................................................................................................................................................... 9 Scheduling .................................................................................................................................................. 9 Graduation Requirements .......................................................................................................................... 9 Independent Study .................................................................................................................................... 10 Electives ..................................................................................................................................................... 10 On-Campus Electives ................................................................................................................................ 10 Off-Campus Electives (“away” or “extramural”) ..................................................................................... 11 Visiting Student Application Service (VSAS) ............................................................................................ 11 Advantages and Disadvantages of Off-Campus (Away/Extramural) Electives ...................................... 12 Timetable for Arranging Off-Campus Electives ....................................................................................... 12 Off-Campus Living Arrangements ............................................................................................................ 12 Arranging Away Electives ......................................................................................................................... 12 Documents Required for Away Electives (in order) ................................................................................. 13 International Electives .............................................................................................................................. 14 Military Active Duty Tours ........................................................................................................................ 14 Electives at The National Institutes of Health ......................................................................................... 14 USMLE STEP-2 CK & CS Overview ........................................................................................................ 15 Exam Failure and Consequences .............................................................................................................. 15 Exam Format ............................................................................................................................................. 15 Scheduling ................................................................................................................................................. 15 Advisors ..................................................................................................................................................... 16 Advisors and Letters of Recommendation ................................................................................................ 16 Mechanics of Selecting an Advisor ........................................................................................................... 16 Applying for Residency .............................................................. 17 How do programs select residents? .......................................................................................................... 17 How to decide and where to apply ............................................................................................................ 17 How do you know if you are competitive? ................................................................................................ 18 Competitiveness: Strategies to Protect Yourself ....................................................................................... 21 The Application Process............................................................................................................................ 21 The Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) .......................................................................... 22 Interviewing .............................................................................................................................................. 22 How to Assess a Program During your Interview? .................................................................................. 23 Supporting Materials ................................................................................................................................ 24 New Trends in the Application Process .................................................................................................. 25 The Match ................................................................................. 27 The National Residency Matching Program ........................................................................................... 27 Types of Programs .................................................................................................................................... 28 Alternative Matching Possibilities in the NRMP .................................................................................... 28 The Military Match ................................................................................................................................... 28 Canadian Students .................................................................................................................................... 29 Specifics of Planning your Fourth Year ..................................... 31 Lottery ........................................................................................................................................................ 31 Consultation with your career advisory dean ............................................................................................ 31 Specific Scheduling Issues ........................................................................................................................ 31 Appendix A: Fourth Year Calendar 2021-22 .............................. 34 Appendix B: Interview Tips for the Residency Process ........... 35 Advance Planning:.................................................................................................................................... 35 The Interview Day: ................................................................................................................................... 36 After the Interview: ................................................................................................................................... 37 Appendix C: Residency Program Evaluation ........................... 43 Inpatient Experiences: ............................................................................................................................. 43 Ambulatory Experiences: ......................................................................................................................... 43 Special Educational Opportunities: ......................................................................................................... 43 Residency Outcomes:............................................................................................................................... 44 Miscellaneous: .......................................................................................................................................... 44 GUT CHECK (circle one)........................................................................................................................ 44 Appendix D: Tips for Career Selection during Year III ........... 45 Overview: .................................................................................................................................................. 45 Tips for Career Selection: ......................................................................................................................... 45 Appendix E: 2020 NRMP Match Data (link) ........................... 46 Appendix F: Writing a Curriculum Vitae.................................. 49 Writing a Curriculum Vitae (CV) ............................................................................................................