Transition to Residency

Preparing For Success: Class Meetings

In anticipation of the important activities in the Transition to Residency phase, the Office of Student Affairs holds required class meetings a few times during your Clerkship Phase to prepare rising fourth-year students for planning / scheduling Trasnition to Residency requirements and electives and the residency application process.

Class Meeting #1

Get an overview of the Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE), also known as the Dean’s Letter, and residency application process.

Class Meeting #2

Learn about planning Year 4, VSAS, and scheduling your electives with attention to career choice.

Class Meeting #3

Learn more in-depth about ERAS, Match (NRMP), and SOAP.

Class Meeting #4

Learn about (and get help with) preparing your residency application materials, including your CV and personal statement.

YEAR 4 COURSE SCHEDULING

Learn about Year 4 electives, electives advising, and the VSLO system for scheduling away electives.

You can find currently available electives in OASIS.

Students have approximately 42 total weeks in Year 4 to complete requirements. The remainder weeks are of discretionary time. Students must adhere to the 28 day notice add/drop policy for scheduling changes in Year 4; thus, planning your schedule carefully will ensure that you both meet the graduation requirements and stay on track in your career path.

• Take a sub-I (if one is offered) or elective in your chosen specialty early and plan on obtaining 1–2 letters of recommendation (depending on the number of attendings you work with) during that rotation.  For more on letters of recommendation, see the Residency Application section.
• In terms of selecting electives, think about your specialty choice and areas in which you might feel uncomfortable.  Then meet your fears head on – take electives that address your weaknesses!  You will feel more prepared to start your residency if you do this.
• After your sub-I (or elective) in your chosen specialty, plan to do your away rotation(s), if you are going to do any.
• Interview Season is typically mid-October through January; ensure the elective director/coordinator is aware of your interview schedule.

Electives Advising

Obtain a Specialty Advisor who can review your preliminary selections about electives and discuss with you the best options relative to your medical specialty choice. After you select your elective lottery preferences, you are strongly encouraged to meet with their Societies mentor to get their approval of your selections. The mentor may also review the CiM Advising M4’s Checklist* (CiM > Advisors and Liaisons > Advising Students) with you. Your Societies House Dean and/or Assistant Dean for Career Advising can also provide you advice on course selection and availability / timing of courses.

*Access to advising tools via the AAMC Careers in Medicine website is free to our students. You must follow the link from your email to sign in for the first time. If you haven’t already received this email, contact one of the UA COM – Tucson Careers in Medicine liaisons.

Away Electives - VSAS

Away rotations are an option for our Year 4 medical students, and a great way to learn more about prospective institutions and training programs where you would like to apply for residency. Conversely, it is also a means in which program leadership to get to know you as a potential resident.

The two primary resources for students interested in participating in away electives are the specialty advisor and the Visiting Student Application Service (VSAS).

About VSAS

The Visiting Student Application Service (VSAS) is an online application service offered through the AAMC. The service allows students to complete only one short standardized application for students to complete that allows them to apply to as many participating medical schools as they wish. See the VSAS Information for Students FAQ for details.