How does the match system work? Check out this PDF guide you need to know everything that you could use when applying for a residency program. http://www.residencylor.com/

1. Residency Match Process: How It Works
Entering medical school is something to be proud of. It is not an easy one. It takes many
guts to apply for medical school and finish it successfully. Even when you are now a doctor,
you should still consider your residency.
Residency is where you apply everything you have learned from books, your professors or
within the four corners of the classroom during your years in medical school. It is a
graduate medical training stage where you are given the opportunity to practice your
specialty.
A medical doctor may choose from many fields as their residency, these include but not
limited to: cardiothoracic surgery, anesthesiology, emergency medicine, obstetrics, plastic
and reconstructive surgery, physical medicine and rehabilitation, ophthalmology,
dermatology, obstetrics and gynecology, pathology, radiology, and neurology.
Choosing your residency is a little bit difficult especially when you really do not know
where to specialize or you are confused on what area you should focus on. But, matching
makes things easier than it looks like.
The Match Process: An Overview
It is a standard system that matches candidates and residency programs so that the first
and second year training positions will be filled by and through the Accreditation Council
for Graduate Medical Education. What maintains the system is the National Resident
Matching Program. With the match process, the steps are uniformly completed at the same
time by the participating programs and the applicants. Virtually, most of the first year
positions offered by accredited training programs join the match system. But before
candidates can secure a preliminary position for a particular specialty, they need to join in
the National Resident Matching Program.
The matching process to a program lasts for almost a year.
May: The applicants should finalize their choice of specialty and start researching for a
residency program.
July
 Students need to accomplish their personal profile in the ERAS.

2.  The programs have to create their profile on their ERAS, too.
September
 Students should submit their application to the residency program.
September-December
 The residency programs will receive the applications and then they will choose
candidates for the interview. Then, onsite interviews are conducted.
January
 The students should rank their programs in the ERAS.
 The programs will input the number of positions they need to fill for the next
academic year.
March
 It is the most awaited Match Day that takes place on March 3.
 The students match to the programs as they get invitations from the programs
through the ERAS.
There are a lot of matching programs, but nevertheless, your strategy and self-evaluation
are must needed. Consider your own qualities, capabilities, experiences and characteristics.
These particular considerations will help you to decide what field you are passionate about.
 Matching process, sometimes, uses Algorithm. Match Algorithm uses two types of
data and the number of available spots or positions for each program in the match,
and second, the applicant and program rank order lists or the ROLs.
 The Match Algorithm makes a comparison between the program ROLs and the
applicant. It will then match the applicant to the program. The Algorithm tries to put
the applicant in his or her preferred program from the ROLs. If the applicant is
fortunate, he or she will be matched to his or her preferred program, or it can be
from his or her other choice.
 There are some moments, however, where matching fails. But there is a process
called Scramble where the senior medical students are forced to apply and fill in the
left ones. Only the problem is, they will not be given the opportunity to have their
own choice. But what could be the harm if someday they will eventually like it.
Letters of Recommendation for Residency
Even before a matching process, it is easier for you to get a spot to the residency position
you want with your Letter of Residency.
A LoR for residency that is comprehensive, persuasive and excellent will help you pass a
screening. It is not a secret that residency programs have a small number of interview slots.

3. It is then necessary for them to filter the ones that should continue with the process of
residency and that is with the help of a letter of recommendation.
If you are not familiar with LoR residency, or know it but does not make a good one, here
are some tips for you.
1. Choose whom you should approach to write a letter of residency. Opt for someone
who really knows you, your work ethics, your characteristics and your passion on
the field you want. It is important to consider the person who will write it for you, so
you will be relieved as to the content of the letter. You will know by now what he or
she will say about you since you have worked for him or her, or he or she knows you
well. It is advisable also to approach the physician you have worked with lately and
not years before you have applied. This is for the program directors to measure or
comprehend your present skills and knowledge.
2. You should request for a letter of recommendation as early as possible. This is as not
to burden your potential writer. Of course, he or she also has a lot of things to do.
Physicians are busy persons and when you ask them a day prior to the application to
make one, they might forget it or might remember, but make an “okay” LoR only. It
is important for your potential writer to gather everything you have accomplished,
achieved or experienced when you worked for him or her. This is to help him or her
out what should be contained in the letter.
3. Provide all the necessary information and documents to your writer. Do not depend
wholly to what he or she knows. You also have to have a small conversation with
him or her. You can also give him or her a copy of your curriculum vitae as well your
personal statement in your application. This is to let him or her know how
passionate you are. The writer will also be aware of your backgrounds and your
goals, hence, he or she will be able to make an excellent LoR. Open up to your writer
the specialty you want to take and tell him to concentrate on that part in the LoR, so
he or she can explain why you best suit the said area. Lastly, instruct your writer to
recommend you for trainings or support services.
4. Remind your writer on the guidelines. Do not forget to provide your potential writer
the guidelines or rules that he or she should take note of. Examples of these
guidelines are the number of pages to use, word count, and remarks that should not
be included like those that are personal ones. Additional reminder, address the
letter with “Dear Program Director”. To know more about it, here is an example
letter of recommendation.
Sample
Dear Residency Program Director:
I am writing a recommendation letter for (name of the applicant) who is applying to your
(residency program).
X took part in our 4-week child health and maternal elective program in the Family
Medicine Department.

4. In the said program, X was able to work hand in hand and closely with our team. Our team
consists of fellows, resident staff and attending in pediatrics, obstetrics, and family
medicine. The team takes care for over 100 mother and infants in a year. In the said
program, X was able to work in areas where there are a lot of undeserved mothers and
children.
X was assigned to help laboring women from assisting them to the time these mothers gave
birth. And eventually, X was assigned in the nursery section to take care of the babies.
X was very industrious, he did not complain. He works efficiently and never came late. His
passion in family medicine was further manifested with his interactions to these women
and children. He has the heart for these people.
He was also a team player, he would voluntarily take tasks and even fill in for those who
were not able to work for the day. His comprehension with the field is superb. There were
couple of times that I would not instruct him in emergencies, but eventually his instincts
what were needed to do.
X was also a participant to some of our seminars and trainings which added more
knowledge in the field of family medicine.
I truly recommend X to your program for these reasons. I also recommend him to attend
further seminars to polish his knowledge, but nonetheless, he will do an excellent job in
family medicine.
Sincerely,
Y
**If you notice, the letter of recommendation example highly speaks of the qualities of the
applicant; this is because the writer knew the applicant well. That is why significant
information was given.
To help you further, there is a letter of recommendation writing service that is available
online.
 This kind of service will make your LoR readable, credible, strong and excellent. Just
make sure that you choose the best service. Consider some things, like their price,
sample works, and their references as well.
 LoR writing services have professional writers that will help yours stand out. Most
of these writing services work in two ways. First, they can help your potential writer
by interviewing you. Telling them what you want to see in the LoR will be their
reference. After which, they will contact your potential writer and help him or her
make the excellent letter. Second, they will still interview you, but they will be the

5. ones who will write instead of your potential writer. This is an easier one since your
potential writer just needs to submit it.
One last thing, you need to have a residency personal statement. Residency personal
statement is required for the committee to get to know more about your passion,
qualifications, so as to make sure that you suit the position.
But it is also necessary to have a residency personal statement editing that you can avail
also via online.
Residency Personal statement should have substance and should be in perfect grammar.
This is one of the initial documents that establish your future career. It will decide whether
you deserve the spot or not, that is why editing is necessary.
All these requirements boil down to your passion. Make sure to choose what really
interests you. Remind yourself with the question, “Where do I want to see myself in the
near future?” Nevertheless, here is a good luck for you!