Career and Match Advising
The advisors in the Center for Student Success meet with students individually to provide support on their journey toward a successful match into residency. With our guidance, students create a personal plan for building their potential residency application and work with an advisor to increase their competitiveness.
Our workshops and programming provide information on specialty selection, personal statement or curriculum vitae (CV) expertise, interview preparation, and much more.
The residency application process can be daunting, and our goal is to build confidence, make the process more manageable, and match students into their desired program and specialty.
Timeline of Programming
Year One – Self-Discovery
In year one, you are introduced to resources that will help you decide on your medical specialty. You will be encouraged to understand yourself more and discover the interests, values or skills you prioritize to help you prepare your research into various specialties. Sample programming topics include:
- Introduction to Careers in Medicine (CiM)
- Using Assessments for Self-Awareness
- Introduction to the Curriculum Vitae (CV) and Medical Student Performance Evaluation(MSPE)
- How to Choose a Specialty
- Building Your Residency Application Identity
Year Two – Exploration
Your second year places focus on the exploration of the many medical specialties and pathways that exist. Students will dive deeper into understanding the differences and how to prepare competitive applications for each. Sample programming topics include:
- Tips and Strategies for Specialty Exploration
- Networking Within Your Field of Interest
- Exploring Specialties While on Clerkship Rotations
Year Three – Application Building
This critical year focuses on the practical requirements of building a residency application as the submission date quickly approaches. We work with our students to gather the application items they need with keen attention to make each area as strong as possible. Sample program topics include:
- Preparing Competitive Specialty Applications
- Committing to a Specialty
- Understanding the San Francisco, Urology and Military Matches
- Planning Parallel Applications
- Researching Residency Programs
Year Four – Matching
In the final year, you are focused on landing a successful match into residency - and so are we! While this experience can be isolating for some, our aim is to be your companion on this trek. We provide consistent support that proactively prepares the tools and guidance you need all the way to the end of your journey in medical school. Sample program topics include:
- Conquering the Match
- Introduction to Local Residency Programs
- Personal Statement Overview
- Mock Interview Practice
- Rank Order Lists and the SOAP Preparation
Getting Ready for the Match
Rowan-Virtua SOM students who have questions regarding the graduate medical education application process are always welcome to reach out to the Center for Student Success, where we have dedicated advisors to help you every step of the way!