Students

Advice Corner

The 2011-2012 Pre-Residency Planning Guide is Available!

  • Do you know how to determine if you are eligible for the 2012 Match?  You'll find the answer on page 6 of the 2011-2012 Pre-Residency Planning Guide.
  • Do you know the difference between a categorical, preliminary, transitional year, and advanced position?  If not, see page 16 in the 2011-2012 Pre-Residency Planning Guide.
  • Do you know the deadline for sitting for Step 2 CK and CS to receive the scores back in time for the Match? It’s on page 22 of the 2011-2012 Pre-Residency Planning Guide.
  • Do you know the requirements for obtaining an MSPE? You’ll find them on page 9 of the 2011-2012 Pre-Residency Planning Guide.
  • Do you know the hotline number for unfilled family medicine residency positions? It’s on page 27 of the 2011-2012 Pre-Residency Planning Guide, along with instructions on how to locate programs with non-traditional start dates.
  • Do you know the name of the opportunity that ONLY exists for foreign medical students? The answer is on page 22 of the 2011-2012 Pre-Residency Planning Guide.
  • What is ECFMG Certification? You’ll find the definition on page 5 and the eligibility requirements on page 35 of the 2011-2012 Pre-Residency Planning Guide.
  • Do you know what three states require clinical clerkship verification forms as a requirement for licensure? They are listed on Page 13 of the 2011-2012 Pre-Residency Planning Guide.
  • Do you know how to find the 2011-2012 Pre-Residency Planning Guide? Just login to MyRoss and you’ll find it there!

The Pre-Residency Planning Guide is your reference for the yearlong residency application process. The purpose of the guide is to assist you in fulfilling the requirements necessary to obtain a residency during what will be one of the most challenging years of your education.

The guide outlines the components necessary to apply for your MSPE, issues concerning the USMLE, applying to ERAS, and the NRMP, requirements for graduation and licensure issues, and much more.

A Note About Letters of Recommendation

At this time, many of you are in the midst of collecting letters of recommendation for your residency applications. Please note that you are responsible for submitting your letters of recommendation directly to ERAS via the methods they provide. Please do not send original copies of letters of recommendetion to Ross University, as we will not be able to forward them to a third party.  You do not have to send all letters of recommendation at once. As long as you properly identify each letter with your name and USMLE/ECFMG number and include the required Document Submission Form, you may send them separately as they are received. For additional information on letters of recommendation and the Document Submission Form, please see pages 11-12 and 18 in the 2011-2012 Pre-Residency Planning Guide.

The ERAS 2012 Applicant Manual

In mid-June, ERAS posts their applicant manual for the following Match year. For an exact date, log on to ther website at www.aamc.org/students/eras/. Once available, you will be able to print out a pdf copt for your reference. On the main page, go to "Resources to Download." You will communicate wuth ERAS through a system known as MyERAS, which will require an admission "token"  You acquire this token from ECFMG, not from any Dean's office at Ross.

MSPE Information

  • MSPEs for the 2012 Match are currently in progress. Although some of your fellow classmates may have already been notified of their eligibility to apply for an MSPE, not everyone will receive this notification at the same time. Depending on your anticipated graduation date, you may receive this notice, via email, between now and July.This will not impact your participation in the Match, as MSPEs are not due to ERAS until November 1st. Please be sure to check your primary Ross email address frequently. 
  • When completing your MSPE application, please provide detailed and concise information which you would like included in your MSPE. While not all information will be used, the more you provide, the more unique and personalized your MSPE will be. Please do not include information that you do NOT want included in the MSPE in the questionnaire or personal statement.
  • While it is a good opportunity to compose a rough draft of your final personal statement, the personal statement required for the MSPE application does NOT need to be the same as the one that you will submit to ERAS as part of your Match application, nor does it need to be a finalized draft. The personal statement you include with your MSPE application will NOT be sent by Ross to any third party, including ERAS, and is only needed to provide some more personal information to your MSPE writer. This personal statement can be entirely different from your ERAS personal statement, and can address topics such as why you want to become a physician, or an inspiring experience you may have had. This information may or may not be used in the composition of your MSPE. For additional information on creating your personal statement, please download the CV and Personal Statement Writing Guide. You can find this document on myRoss.

Students Who Will Match in 2013 and Beyond

  • Download, print and read the Pre-residency Planning Guide, it will give you a comprehensive overview of the entire match process. You will locate this valuable document on myRoss.
  • As you progress through your clinical years, remember that all preceptor comments will be included on your MSPE. This includes comments from AICM. Always be at your best!
  • Remember your Clinical Guidelines: Are you keeping notes on the cases you’ve encountered during your clinical rotations? If you aren't, start now. It will make things easier when you are on an interview and asked to recall a case that occurred during a specific rotation.
  • Your USMLE Step 1 score is the first thing program directors look at when deciding who to select for interviews. If you have not yet taken it, be sure to study hard and schedule accordingly.
  • Be sure to make the most of your educational experience.

ECFMG Certification

  • The ECFMG certification process is initiated automatically by the OSPD *AFTER* your file has been cleared by the Registrar, your diploma has been released, and your graduation date has passed. You do not need to submit a formal request for this to occur. Please be aware that while ERAS’s processing time fluctuates greatly during this time of year, certification can take up to SIX WEEKS. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that their clinical evaluations are received and their file is complete for graduation to prevent a delay in the ECFMG application process. If you are concerned that you may not receive your certificate in time, please contact our office. If you will not be certified by your start date, you will need to notify the program.

 

 

Carribean Medical School