The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences “Guide to the 4th 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) ............................................................................................................