Pathway to Residency

• 1. USMLE Step 1 (Pass/Fail after January 2022)

• 2. USMLE Step 2CK (3 digit score)

• 3. USMLE Step 3 (Either before residency or at the end of intern year)

• Register for Pathways for ECFMG Certification for 2022 Match ($900 USD) - in 2021, we registered under "Pathway 3". This is to replace the retired Step 2 CS 

  • Under Pathway 3 documents needed:

    • UCD will complete the "Clinical Mini-CEX" form​

    • You have to register to take the OET (essentially a medical english test) by December 31st to ensure enough time for the ECFMG to determine applicant status.

      • We suggest you take this by mid-November in case it needs to be repeated if you fail.

      • Some choose to take the test in the summer so that they the Pathways Application for ECFMG Certification for 2022 Match is "Approved" before submitting ERAS (most programs however just need you to be approved before the match in march)

      • To send your OET results to ECFMG see this page

• See our Electives Page for more details

• Obtain strong LORs

• Use FRIEDA, Residency Explorer, Match a Resident and Doximity to help you navigate all of the programs and specialties

Other helpful tips:

• The road to residency videos created by AMA are helpful!

• Review 4 tricks to a successful residency program search

• Use the AAMC Residency Cost Calculator  (excel file) to determine how much it will cost to apply to your desired number of programs

• Review a med student's fourth year essential checklist

• How many residency programs US people apply to - take this with a grain of salt as IMGs usually apply to more programs!

• Many programs also have an Instagram account - this is another tool to give you an idea of what it is like to be a resident at their program

• AAMC facilitates ERAS (online application portal for residency)

• In June: Obtain your ECFMG Token (14-digit number) through OASIS (in the support services tab) which is required for ERAS registration

• Documents needed in ERAS: Experiences (essentially re-writing your CV), Personal statement, LORs, MSPE...

• Apply broadly!!

• The 2021 ERAS Guide

• Top questions before submitting your applications answered by the AMA

• All applications certified and submitted by September 28th will be stamped "September 29th" (the day that residency programs may begin reviewing ERAS applications in 2021). So you do NOT need to rush to submit your applications on Sept 1st!

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• Some specialties (in 2021: Dermatology, Internal Medicine (categorical and preliminary) , General surgery (categorical ONLY) have a free supplemental application (separate form ERAS)  that is ONE application for all programs. You only need to complete and submit the supplemental application once, even if you are applying to multiple programs or multiple specialties. Here is guide (from 2021)

  • The Association of Professors of Dermatology has created a nice document with all the details about the supplemental application including general info, dates and how to fill out the particular sections.

  • If you save any program (eg. IM, gen surg, derm..) that requires the supplemental application before Sept 1, you will receive an email to complete the application. If you save the programs after Sept 1st you will have to wait ~24h after saving a program to receive the email for the link to the application. 

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• Some Specialties (eg. Internal Medicine and ObGyn in 2021) have implemented a "Structured Evaluative Letter" (SEL)

  • ​The goal of this SEL from the AAIM:
    • "The IM SEL provides an opportunity to highlight clinical competencies and professional skills not assessed on standardized exams, providing a more holistic view of an applicant’s possible strengths and areas for improvement."
    • "The IM SEL is intended to replace the Chair/Departmental Letter and can also replace a standard LoR"

  • Click here to find more info for Internal Medicine​ from the AAIM and here for FAQs for IMGs

  • Click here for a IM SEL template that we provided the international office  in 2021-2022 (this may need to be updated for the subsequent years)

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• Some 2021-2022 residency guidelines posted for each specialty

  • Family Medicine

  • Emergency Medicine​

  • Surgery

  • ObGyn

  • Peds (May, and updated in Aug)

  • Anesthesiology

  • Psychiatry

  • Neurology

• You decide which and how many interviews you attend - if you purchase an account with "Match a Resident", they have a built-in interview manager to keep you organized!

• Always have about 2-3 questions prepared to ask the program, examples include:

  • ​What is the most unique aspect of the program in your opinion?

  • How are residents given feedback (informal and/or formal)?

  • What is something you want applicants to know about the program that may not be experienced since it is a virtual interview?

  • How much (or little) research is expected of residents?  

  • What do the program didactics look like (are they resident led, or faculty led)?

  • Are there elective rotation or  global health opportunities there?

  • What fellowships does the institution have?

  • Where do your graduates go after residency? Private practice, fellowship, academics...?

• The NRMP facilitates the residency Match - in 2021 it opened September 15 ($85 USD)

  • If you have a "Match a Resident" account - it has a match assist function​!

• Generally speaking in most specialties, you are very likely (>90% or more) to match to one of your top 3 choices if you have 10‐12 interviews and rank those programs.

• Only rank programs that you interviewed at

• If applying to an advanced program you have to make "supplemental ROL" with your prelim programs. So you will only match to a prelim IF you match first to that advanced program. See this video for more explanation. 

• To participate in the match you must see the word "verified" beside your verification status (see image). This will appear once  you have met the clinical and communication skills requirements for ECFMG Certification for the 2022 Match (MiniCex, OET, Step 1, Step 2CK, paid $900.00USD)

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• Congrats to those who matched!

• If you didn't match you have a second chance at the SOAP for unfilled positions