2016-17 IMG Residency Timeline and Checklist

IMG U.S. Medical Residency Application Timeline and Checklist

The Main Residency Match application season can confusing and difficult to navigate, below is a timeline of events for the Main Residency Match® from start to finish.  

June 2016: Start Your Program Research

June 21, 2016: ERAS® Tokens available to IMG applicants

  • Have you applied and paid for your ERAS token through ECFMG®?
    • You can find this under ECFMG’s OASIS® ERAS Support
  • Have you used your token serial number to register for MyERAS?
  • Have you started researching residency programs that are best suited to your professional criteria?
    • Be aware free databases and program websites aren’t always up-to-date, check for timestamps and verify the information!
    • Annually updated and personalized Specialty Program Requirements Lists are available at Match A Resident
  • Are you applying to a California programs and need the PTAL?
    • Start this now! The process can take up to two months or more
  • Are you completing your USMLE® Exams in good time?
    • It is ideal to have the USMLE Step 1, Step 2 CK and Step 2 CS completed before applications open in September

July – August 2016: Prepare Your Documents

  • Have you spoken with your Letters of Recommendation (LoRs) writers?
    • Learn about the submission process through ERAS’ LORP® before talking to your Letter Writers
    • Make sure you confirm with the writers and give them the Letter Request Form from MyERAS
    • Have a one-on-one meeting to discuss their feedback about your performance and your expectations about the letter
    • If you do not waive your LoR, you may upload them to OASIS
  • Have you started your medical residency Personal Statements?
    • At least ONE Personal Statement per specialty
    • If you need help editing or completing a statement from scratch, see Residency Statement
  • Are you working on your ERAS Application?
    • Preview the application with the ERAS Worksheet
    • Fill out your Contact Information (This is the only part of the application you can change after certifying)
    • You can work on the application and come back to it
    • You will not be able to certify now, but when you can, DO NOT CERTIFY until the application is complete and error-free, after certifying your answers will be set in stone
  • Have you asked for your USMLE transcript?
    • Make sure you authorize the release of this document
    • If you haven’t taken the Step 2 CK, take it before September! (scores take about 8 weeks to come back)
  • Have you uploaded a photo?
    • As professional as possible!
  • Have you requested an MSPE from your medical school?
    • They will not do this automatically, you must ask
    • If you cannot get an MSPE, you will need to let ECFMG know so you can upload a placeholder document that explains you were unable to get this document

August 23, 2016: Suggested OASIS documents submission date to have the documents ready before the application start (2 weeks prior)

  • Are your documents in?
    • Follow up with your LoR Authors and make sure to thank them!
    • Check with OASIS, MyERAS, and your medical school for the status of your documents

September 2016: Apply to Programs

September 6, 2016: ERAS allows residency applicants to certify and submit their applications to residency programs. (Programs will not receive the applications until September 15th)

  • Have you certified your application?
    • (Please Note: Do not Certify your ERAS Application until it is 100% completed. If you click “Certify” with incomplete or incorrect content, this document will be unchangeable and set in stone for the rest of the residency season.)
  • Have you assigned documents to residency programs?
  • Have you double checked your program choices to ensure you are only applying to programs you qualify for?
    • (Please Note: ERAS will not refund any money paid to incompatible programs. Choose which programs you apply to wisely based on the state requirements, and individual program requirements.)
  • Have you submitted your applications?
    • You may continue to find programs and submit applications throughout the rest of the Residency Application Season

September 15, 2016: Residency programs begin receiving applications previously submitted by residency candidates. NRMP® registration opens at 12:00 p.m. (EST).

  • Have you double checked your program choices to ensure you are only applying to programs you qualify for?
    • (Please Note: ERAS will not refund any money paid to incompatible programs. Choose which programs you apply to wisely based on the state requirements, and individual program requirements.)
  • Have you submitted your applications?
    • You may continue to find programs and submit applications throughout the rest of the Residency Application Season
    • Apply to at least 100 programs per specialty (if applicable)
  • Have you registered with NRMP?
    • Remember, registration with ERAS does not mean you are registered with NRMP. Register with NRMP before November 30th to avoid late fees.

October 2016: Applying Continues and Interviews Start

Oct. 1, 2016: MSPEs released to programs from ECFMG

  • Are you checking on or following up the status of your applications?
    • Be sure to check your messages on MyERAS

November 2016: NRMP, Applying, and Interviews

  • Have you registered for NRMP?
  • If you’ve obtained interviews and completed them, did you send a Thank You Letter after?

Nov. 30, 2016 Last day for NRMP early registration ($50 late fee after this date)

January 2017: NRMP®

Jan. 15, 2017 NRMP Ranking begins

February 2017: NRMP

  • Have you registered with NRMP? (required for Post-Match SOAP® eligibility)
  • Have you created and certified your Rank Order List?
    • You may make changes to your Rank Order Lists after certifying until the deadline

Feb. 22, 2017: NRMP Rank Order List Deadline (9 p.m. EST)

March 2017: MATCH Week

March 10, 2017: All regular Match applicants will receive their Post-Match SOAP® eligibility email

March 13, 2017: Match Week® begins and Post-Match SOAP kicks off

  • Have you checked your Match status?
    • You will be either Matched, Partially Matched, or Unmatched

March 17, 2017: If you were Matched, your residency location will become available

May 2017 2016-17 ERAS Application Season ends

May 31, 2017 2016-17 ERAS Application Season Ends

  • Do you have copies of EVERYTHING you may want in the future? If not, your documents will be purged from ERAS’ system (some documents in OASIS carry over).

This is a timeline and checklist for the Main Residency Match. Information about the Post-Match SOAP will be released after January 2017.

**Please Note: Dates and times are subject to change. Always keep informed by visiting the websites.

Official Websites Resources:

  1. ERAS:  https://students-residents.aamc.org/attending-medical-school/how-apply-residency-positions/applying-residencies-eras/
  2. ECMFG: http://www.ecfmg.org/
  3. NRMP: http://www.nrmp.org/
  4. USMLE: http://www.usmle.org/

 

The NATIONAL RESIDENT MATCHING PROGRAM®, The NRMP®, SUPPLEMENTAL OFFER AND ACCEPTANCE PROGRAM®, and SOAP® are registered trademarks of National Resident Matching Program. THE MATCH™ is a trademark of National Resident Matching Program. ResidencyPrep, LLC and this page are not sponsored by, endorsed by, or affiliated with National Resident Matching Program.

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