Applying to Residency

The Residency Application Process

Students typically apply through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). In most cases they will submit their application in late September, which includes their personal statement, letters of recommendation, USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examination) scores, medical school transcript, and other supporting documents. Sending applications through ERAS has an associated fee and depends on the number of programs the applicant applies to (click here for more information). Graduating medical students research residency programs, often using tools like FREIDA (Fellowship and Residency Electronic Interactive Database) and the LMSA Residency Guide (!) to explore different programs and their requirements. Based on their application, students are invited for interviews by residency programs. Interviews are usually conducted from late October through January, and candidates may attend multiple interviews across different programs. After interviews, applicants rank their preferred programs in order of preference through the NRMP (National Resident Matching Program) Match system.