Office of Career and Residency Advising (OCRA)

Your Match Starts Here

MS3 – Residency Preparation & Application Planning

Welcome to MS3

During your third year of medical school, students transition into clinical training and gain firsthand exposure to different specialties. OCRA supports students as they reflect on clinical experiences, evaluate specialty fit, and begin developing residency application strategies.

MS3 is a critical year for identifying specialty interests, building professional relationships, and preparing for the residency application process.

MS3 Career Advising Curriculum

The OCRA Career Advising Curriculum consists of three key components designed to support students throughout their medical training: Workshops, Resources, and Career Advising. During MS3, students focus on clinical career exploration, specialty refinement, mentorship, residency preparation, and navigating the transition from core clinical rotations to the residency application process.

MS3 Workshops

  • MS3 Orientation: Transition to Clerkship (T2C2)
    • Transition successfully into clinical clerkships and understand expectations for the clinical years.
  • CV Workshop
  • Program Directors' Panel
    • Hear directly from residency program directors about application expectations, selection criteria, and advice for applicants.
  • MS4 Orientation (Held During MS3)
    • Session 1: A Deeper Dive into Fourth Year - Thursday, October 15, 2026, 5:00 PM-6:00 PM
    • Session 2: Applying for Away Rotations and Residency Goals - Thursday, November 19, 2026 5:00 PM-6:00 PM
    • Session 3: VSLO Information and Onboarding Requirements - Tuesday, January 19, 2027 5:00 PM-6:00 PM
    • Session 4: MS4 Pearls of Wisdom: Professionalism and Expectations - Thursday, June 17, 2027 5:00 PM-6:00 PM
  • VSLO & Residency Application Workshop
  • Introduction to the MSPE & Noteworthy Characteristics

Resources

AAMC Careers in Medicine: Specialty Indecision Scale (SIS)

The Specialty Indecision Scale (SIS) is an assessment designed to help students better understand factors that may influence specialty decision-making. The assessment evaluates six areas of concern: readiness, information, identity, indecisiveness, self-doubt, and external factors.

Use your results to identify areas for further reflection and explore strategies to support your specialty selection process.

Submit Your AAMC Assessment

Career Advising

OCRA provides individualized career advising to support MS3 students as they build upon their clinical experiences, refine specialty interests, and prepare for the residency application process. Advising focuses on specialty decision-making, mentorship, professional development, application planning, and strategies for a successful transition into the next phase of medical training.

MS3 Career Advisor

Jennifer Wilson
MS3 Career Advisor

Jennifer provides guidance on specialty exploration and refinement, career planning, residency application preparation, mentorship, professional development, and navigating key milestones throughout the MS3 year.

MS3 Career Planning Timeline

July–August | Transition to Clerkships

  • Attend MS3 Orientation (Transition to Clerkship).
  • Attend the Program Directors' Panel.
  • Begin clinical clerkships.
  • Meet with an OCRA advisor to discuss career goals.
  • Start reflecting on each clinical rotation and specialty interests.
  • Request formative feedback from residents and faculty.

September–October | Explore Specialties

  • Continue exploring specialties through clerkships.
  • Attend specialty-specific advising sessions.
  • Continue to review OCRA Specialty Profiles.
  • Meet with specialty advisors and faculty mentors.
  • Begin documenting clinical experiences, leadership, research, and service for your CV.

November–December | Build Your Residency Foundation

  • Narrow your specialty choices.
  • Identify potential faculty mentors and letter writers.

January–February | Prepare for Residency Planning

  • Attend the Personal Statement Workshop.
  • Begin drafting your personal statement.
  • Meet with OCRA to discuss specialty competitiveness and application strategy.
  • Review specialty-specific residency application guidance.
  • Research residency programs using Residency Explorer and FREIDA.

March–April | Plan for Fourth Year

  • Attend MS4 Orientation.
  • Learn about VSLO, away rotations, onboarding requirements, and fourth-year scheduling.
  • Develop an away rotation strategy, if applicable.
  • Finalize your specialty decision.
  • Review ERAS timelines and application requirements.

May–June | Prepare for Application Season

  • Complete your MSPE Noteworthy Characteristics.
  • Finalize your CV and continue refining your personal statement.
  • Confirm letter of recommendation writers.
  • Develop your program signaling and geographic preference strategy.
  • Meet with OCRA to review your residency application plan before entering MS4.

MS3 Goals

  • Narrow specialty interests.
  • Develop strong mentorship relationships.
  • Build a competitive CV.
  • Prepare residency application materials.
  • Identify letter of recommendation writers.
  • Develop an effective residency application strategy.
  • Build a strong foundation for residency applications.

MS3 Checklist

☐ Complete Specialty Indecision Scale

☐ Complete required clinical clerkships

☐ Reflect on clinical experiences and specialty interests

☐ Meet with an OCRA advisor to discuss career goals

☐ Attend Residency Application Overview workshop

☐ OCRA will assign faculty advisors from the Clinical Faculty Career Advising Program (CFCA)

☐ Build relationships with clinical faculty and residents

☐ Request feedback on clinical performance

☐ Identify potential letter of recommendation writers

☐ Attend the Letters of Recommendation workshop

☐ Begin drafting your personal statement

☐ Attend the Personal Statement workshop

☐ Learn about ERAS and residency application requirements

☐ Develop a residency application timeline

☐ Finalize specialty decision

☐ Prepare a preliminary residency application plan