Career Advising

Deciding on a career path in medicine is a process that can span the entire time you are in medical school and is all about self-discovery, connecting with good mentors, exploring your options, and making a decision. The Office of Student Affairs is strongly committed to assisting you find the right career. We are here to help every step of the way, from finding mentors, choosing electives, deciding on a specialty, to applying for residencies, and more.

The associate dean for student affairs and your head of advisory house are knowledgeable about all aspects of the residency application process (including MSPE, personal statements, applications, interviews, rank order lists, Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program, and couples match). They will also help connect you to a vast network of additional mentors and support, including members of the advisory house community, and specialty-specific experts.

Each specialty has individuals designated to provide you with specialty-specific information, such as how many programs to apply to, how many letters are needed, and from whom. Most departments have a director of medical education, residency director, associate residency director(s), and residency program coordinator. You can read a description of each of their roles, to help you navigate who to reach out to for various questions.

Residency information dinners are scheduled for the spring before the fourth year of medical school. The dinners bring together students, department chairs, residency program directors, and chief residents to answer all questions about the residency application process and life in that specialty.

Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) Introduction Meeting (early May before the fourth year)

The Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) transmits applications, letters of recommendation, Medical Student Performance Evaluations (MSPEs), medical school transcripts, USMLE transcripts, and other documents from the student and the medical school to the residency programs chosen by the student.

The associate dean for student affairs will host a meeting in early May before the fourth year of medical school to review the application process and introduce students to ERAS. Then ERAS access is granted to students in June when the system opens.

The associate dean for student affairs will also explain the MSPE process during the May ERAS meeting. Students will meet with their head of advisory house during the months of May, June, and July before their fourth year to finalize the content of their MSPE.

During the summer before their final year, students should get information about hospitals and residency programs in which they are interested. A good way to start is by consulting Residency Explorer or TexasSTAR (contact the director of student affairs for access).

When you find a residency program that looks promising, go to the program website. It will have information on application deadlines, required number of letters of recommendation, and other important application information. We encourage you to reach out to Yale departmental resources for similar specialty-specific information.

Practice interviews are offered to students applying for residency. These interviews provide students with opportunities to practice and enhance their performance skills. Practice Interviews are conducted by Yale faculty members in a specialty different from the one in which you are applying. This is done so that these interviews are low stakes and strictly practice. Practice interviews are a wonderful opportunity to enhance interview skills with faculty members who are committed to supporting students through the process. Practice interviews are scheduled in September, October, and November of the fourth year. The Office of Student Affairs will send out a sign-up link in August of the fourth year.