Career Advising

Deciding on a medical specialty is one of the most important decisions you’ll make during medical school. The process involves self-discovery, mentorship, clinical rotations, and strategic planning.

The Office of Student Affairs provides comprehensive support for medical students throughout this process, including:

• guidance on selecting the right elective courses
• facilitating connections with specialty-specific advisors
• organizing career advisory lunches and dinners for specialty exploration
• support for personal statements
• assisting with residency applications (ERAS)
• arranging advisory meetings for MSPE (Medical Student Performance Evaluation)
• setting up practice residency interviews with specialists
• scheduling rank order list meetings
• support for SOAP (Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program) and couples match

The associate dean for student affairs and your head of advisory house serve as your primary career advisors. They understand all aspects of the residency application process and will connect you with mentors in the advisory house community, specialty-specific experts, and resources to support your career exploration.

Each specialty has individuals designated to provide you with specialty-specific information, such as how many programs to apply to and who should write the recommendation letters. Most departments have a director of medical education, residency director, associate residency director(s), and residency program coordinator. You’re encouraged to read descriptions of specialty advisor roles so that you know who to reach out to for questions.

Spring and fall each year

These small group meals are hosted by each head of advisory house and the associate dean for student affairs and provide support and resources around career exploration.

MD-PhD Group Advising

Spring each year

MD-PhD students meet with their head of advisory house and MD-PhD associate director to discuss support and resources for career exploration.

Residency Information Dinners

March before fourth year

These 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.

May before fourth year

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

During this meeting, the associate dean for student affairs reviews the application process and introduces students to ERAS. ERAS access is granted to students in June.

May – July before fourth year

Students meet with their head of advisory house to finalize the content of their MSPE.

Summer before fourth year

Students research hospitals and residency programs and learn about application requirements. Consult Residency Explorer or TexasSTAR (contact the director of student affairs for access) and reach out to Yale departmental resources for similar specialty-specific information.

September – November of fourth year

Offered to students applying for residency, these practice interviews are conducted by Yale faculty members in a specialty different from the one in which they are applying. They provide students with opportunities to practice and enhance their performance skills. The Office of Student Affairs sends a sign-up link in August of the fourth year.

Students also have access to Big Interview, an AI-powered interview platform to help students prepare and practice their responses.