Matching to a residency program through the NRMP® (National Resident Matching Program) is a competitive endeavor. Even strong candidates – especially IMGs (international medical graduates) – can have difficulty getting PGY-1 (post graduate year one) positions in many specialties. Those that do match may not get their first or second choices, leaving them in suboptimal locations or programs. It’s important to get started on your application early so you are ahead of the game.

When I was in residency administration, I was impressed with candidates who submitted their applications early. I also had more time to spend on their materials, as I had not yet been inundated with applications, as I would be later in the season.

ERAS® (Electronic Residency Application System) opens July 1 and candidates can assign their materials to specific programs on September 1. Thus, before July I recommend the following:

1. Finalize a draft of your personal statement and ERAS activities section.
2. If applying in multiple specialties, tailor a separate personal statement for each specialty.
3. Contact your Dean’s office (for US students) or ECFMG (Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates) (for IMGs) to ask how to submit your letters of recommendation and photo to them and to get your ERAS token (code to register with ERAS).
4. Request all letters of recommendation (excluding your summer rotations). If you are applying in multiple specialties, take advantage of the ability to assign different letters to each program.
5. Investigate programs and contact them for special requirements or deadlines.

Getting your application in early can make a difference in how you are perceived by residency directors. To improve your residency candidacy fully, consider working with a professional when it’s time to apply. Because applicants can unknowingly undermine their chances of success with poorly compiled application materials and underdeveloped residency personal statements, a qualified, personalized residency admissions consultant provides a great advantage.

Residency consulting companies come in a variety of forms. Some are bigger businesses that focus on admissions to several types of graduate programs – not just medicine. Others are smaller and provide a medical focus, but have a pool of consultants of varying quality. Finally, elite companies offer both the medical focus and a highly experienced consultant who works one-on-one with clients. These professionals are ex-admissions officers from highly respected medical institutions. They have the inside knowledge of how residency admissions work, providing individualized guidance to optimize applicants’ personal essays, ERAS® and interview skills.

When choosing a residency admissions consulting company, a candidate should verify the company’s references and research its consultants. It is best if the company does not assign written materials to outside editors who cannot be evaluated. Elite companies that offer both the medical focus and a highly experienced consultant who works one-on-one with clients offer a large advantage for applicants, especially during these competitive times.