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Career Counseling

URMC / DEV Institute for Innovative Education / Career Counseling / Phases / Phase 3

 

Phase 3 of Medical School

Focus On:

Phase 3 is the time to begin targeting a specialty choice.  Take advantage of clerkship experiences, mentoring opportunities and exploring specialties. Disclaimer on top, use Phase 3 to experience the full range of medicine and start using advisors

Key Dates:

TImeline

  • ■ January 12, 2024: Year-out Application Deadline
  • ■ April 2024: ERAS Overview Session
  • ■ If curious about ERAS deadlines please browse the Phase 4 page

Resources:

Career Planning:

  • ■ Meet w/ Specialty Faculty, Identify Mentos/Potential Letter Writers
  • ■ Enroll in Electives that will help assist in the process
  • ■ Focus on extracurriculars that are specialty specific
  • ■ +/- Step 2 (consider timing)

Phase 3 Timing:

  • ■ Early:
    • ■ Refining electives
    • ■ Extracurriculars that align with specialty interest
  • ■ Middle
    • ■ Biosketch
    • ■ Individual Development Plan – work with your Advisory Dean to review and submit.
    • ■ IDP
    • ■ Narrowing specialty
    • ■ Thinking about your USMLE Step 2 date
    • ■ Reviewing programs
    • ■ Starting to put together your CV/PS
    • ■ Identifying potential LOR writers
    • ■ Connecting with your mentors
  • ■ Late
    • ■ Preparing your responses to application questions & completing your Supplemental Application
    • ■ Connecting with letter writers
    • ■ Generate preliminary Application List
    • ■ Connecting with your mentors
    • ■ Take your professional picture
  • ■ Away Rotations: VSLO
  • ■ Experiences
    • ■ Clerkships, aways, extracurriculars, electives, research
  • ■

    Have a target specialty choice

  • ■ Start your working “rank list” of possible residency programs
    • ■

      Be aware of specialty specific requirements:

      • ■ Standardized video interview (Department Specific)
      • ■ Letter of recommendation requirements (chair, department letter, etc)
      • ■ Away rotation
  • ■

    Draft Personal Statement (PS)

    • ■ Keep it Simple
      • ■ 1st paragraph that describes your motives for applying
      • ■ Make it specific to you; things that make it unique
      • ■ 2nd paragraph summarizing your medical school experience
      • ■ If you have had issues; use this to talk about your resilience and what you learned
      • ■ 3rd paragraph why you are an ideal candidate
      • ■ Remember to highlight characteristics that specialties are looking
      • ■ 4th paragraph summarizing above
    • ■ It will be read
    • ■ You should only let one-to-two people edit your PS
    • ■ Ask specialty resident educators about possible samples
  • ■

    Draft curriculum vitae (CV):

    • ■ How to write a Curriculum Vitae
    • ■ This is your resume. You should be “tooting your own horn”.
    • ■ You should be demonstrating your:
      • ■ Leadership experience
      • ■ Community service
      • ■ International experience
      • ■ Research experience
      • ■ Awards
      • ■ Hobbies
    • ■ Be thorough and don’t forget to include everything!!!
    • ■ Remember that anything you list could elicit a question during interview season, so you should be able to discuss the items on your CV in an intelligent way.

 

Identify your letter writers

  • ■ In addition to your Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE) you can submit up to 4 letters of recommendations.
  • ■ Ideally letter writers should be faculty you have worked closely with, affiliated with programs you're interested in, and can speak to your strengths

Be aware that some specialties have specific requirements for letters of recommendations

When you request a letter:

  • ■ Make sure the letter writer knows you
  • ■ Knows what specialty you are applying to
  • ■ Has your current copy of your Curriculum Vitale (CV)
  • ■ The letter writer should be provided the following….
    • ■ ERAS letter of recommendation link
    • ■ Deadline for letter completion (end of August/early September)
    • ■ Why you are applying to that specialty
    • ■ What makes you a competitive candidate
    • ■ Thank you for the time they took to draft the letter

Late Phase 3/Early Phase 4

Have a target specialty choice

  • ■ Meet with your AD to discuss your potential career options, review MSPE process, and create a plan based on career choice and clinical performance
    • ■ Create a plan based on your clinical performance, comprehensive assessment data, USMLE scores, and specialty specific competencies.
  • ■ Meet with Department Designated Advisors & Mentors to ensure a good “fit”