4th Year Planning

Terms

ERAS

Electronic Residency Application Service

provides uniform application process – everyone MUST enter this

NRMP

National Residency Matching Program

Matches you to a residency program – everyone MUST enter this

Terms

FREIDA Online®

Fellowship & Residency Application Service

database with over 9,400 graduate medical education programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, as well as over 100 combined specialty programs

VSAS

Visiting Student Application Service

Online program used by many medical schools to schedule 4th year electives

MSPE

Medical Student Performance Evaluation

Part of the documentation sent to residency program

A compilation of clerkship director evaluations, your transcript and other academic data.

A designated MSPE writer writes an opening and summary paragraph that gives an overview of you as a person and student.

MSPE writers: Dr. Taylor, Dr. Gresham, Dr. Kezar, Dr. Sorrentino or Dr. Hughes Evans

Terms

FYSH

Fourth Year ScHeduling:

You create your own list of courses

It’s time consuming but very important to list everything you dream you might take

Advice from…Kent & Brittney

February

Draft CV Meet with career advisor and assess your competitiveness Should bring academic summary so advisor can see scores/rank

and give honest advice Fourth Year Scheduling FYSH opens (plan with career advisor)

March FYSH closes Begin applications for visiting electives

Timeline

June

Obtain ERAS login code from MSS (B’ham) Optho and Urology applicants begin registration

July

Begin application process on ERAS Request letters of recommendation

August Register online for NRMP UASOM OSCE’s begin Recommended target date for Step 2 CK

Timeline

September

September 1: NRMP is open to register for the match September 5: Target date for Optho and Urology applications September 15: Medical Schools begin transmitting

applications and residency programs may begin to download applications from ERAS.

October October 1: MSPE are released to programs Recommended time frame for Step 2 CS

Timeline

4th Year Requirements

24 weeks of elective credit (2 or 4 week courses)

4 week Medicine AI (must be done in Tuscaloosa)4 week Surgery/Critical Care AI (tri-campus) ~ 32 weeks of coursework in 4th year

http://www.uab.edu/medicine/home/current-students

B’ham electives

• Surgery: must have Chair letter from Birmingham

• Emergency Medicine: must have official department letter from Birmingham

• Feedback from surgery electives –you are treated the same whether you sign up for AI or elective

• If needed, 4th year electives can be done in Birmingham prior to completion of clerkships

- this may help you make career decision- this may help you with scheduling around a life event

Visiting Electives

Must complete all MS3 clerkships including scholarly activity

Why do a visiting elective?- Competitive specialty- Shop residency programs- You need a letter from an away program (Emergency, ENT)

Plan early if you need a letter from an away program

Visiting Electives

Timeline

February receive VSAS token from UASOM and can start applying to programs

March-May schools begin accepting applications

Check institution see when they open elective scheduling

Institutions often the review applications only a few months before the elective date

VSAS / Non VSAS

https://www.aamc.org/students/medstudents/vsas/119290/article_for_host_institutions.html

Non VSAS school? Check individual program website for information onvisiting elective application process (use FRIEDA to help you find programs)

Applications can be time consuming – record request for transcript

Visiting Electives

Take Step 2 CK as soon to completion of 3rd year clerkships as possible • programs may not interview you without a score• Take up to 4 weeks off to study (less if medicine or FM is last clerkship)

Step 2 CS • growing in importance to some programs. • must take by December, 31 2014 • If taken by July, a passing score can replace senior OSCE

STEP 2 CS & CK

Career Choices

Talk to a career advisor http://www.uab.edu/medicine/home/images/current_students/career_advisors.pdf

Think about parallel applications

Use Careers in Medicine: https://www.aamc.org/cim/