IMG U.S. Medical Residency Application Timeline and Checklist

IMG Residency Timeline and Checklist 2017-18 Residency Application Cycle

IMG U.S. Medical Residency Application Timeline and Checklist

Know what you need to do and when to do it!

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 for International Medical Graduates (IMGs).  

June 2017: Start Your Program Research

June 20, 2017: 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 Customized Residency Program 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 2017: Prepare Your Residency Application

  • 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 through OASIS
  • Have you started your medical residency Personal Statements?
    • You will need 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 MyERAS 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 as many times as you need
    • 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

July 31, 2017: Standardized Interview Video (SVI) submission due today for all Emergency Medicine residency candidates.  

  • Emergency Medicine applicants only! Have you recorded and submitted your SVI before July 31, 2017 at 9 p.m. (EST)?

August 23, 2017: 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 2017: Apply to Residency Programs

September 6, 2017: 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, 2017: 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 2017: Applying Continues and Interviews Start

Oct. 1, 2017: 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 2017: 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, 2017: Last day for NRMP early registration ($50 late fee after this date)

January 2018: NRMP®

Jan. 15, 2018: NRMP Ranking begins

February 2018: 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. 21, 2018: NRMP Rank Order List Deadline (9 p.m. EST)

  • Have you registered with NRMP? (required for Post-Match SOAP® eligibility)
    • Please Note: Registration with NRMP is required to participate in the Main Residency Match and Post-Match SOAP

March 2018: MATCH Week

March 9, 2018: All NRMP-registered applicants will receive their Post-Match SOAP® eligibility email

March 12, 2018: 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 15, 2018: Post-Match SOAP concludes at 11 a.m. (EST).

March 16, 2018: If you were Matched, your residency location will become available at 1 p.m. (EST)

May 2018: 2017-18 ERAS Application Season ends

May 31, 2018 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 beginning January 2018.

**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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