Going the allopathic route? Here are some tips for applying to allopathic residency programs.

• Get started early by researching programs:
  • Make FREIDA your friend - the AMA website FRIEDA contains links to all programs in all fields organized by region or state, and also contains basic information to compare programs
  • Visit scutwork.com, but keep in mind people write these reviews post-call sometimes
  • If you are very interested in a program, plan on doing an externship/visiting student elective at their institution. If you do this in July or August you can get a letter of recommendation if you perform well. If you go later, say in Sept-Jan. you can still get to know the residents and faculty and these people can put in a good word for you.
    • Know that if you sign up for a "ward" rotation or sub-I you must be ready to put in 110% if you want to impress the program!!
• Start on your ERAS application in July, the earlier, the less pressured you will be to get things finished. Your school should send you a password as soon as it is available. Start on your personal statement early. Have one of your Deans read it, a friend or spouse read it, your mom read it, and a classmate read it. Then you probably should write it again.
• Get letters of rec EARLY. Get a lot of them!! Look ahead of time at what each program requires as far as letters. Some places want a letter from the Department Chair of whatever division from your school.
• Schedule your COMLEX (step 2 and PE), take them as soon as you are ready and publish your Step 2 scores on ERAS when they are in. People know to ask, so whether you do better or worse, send the scores. Programs will know when your test scores should be back if you don't send them. Programs would rather know you did not procrastinate to take the test (and that you at least passed). If you did not take the USMLE do not panic! Each program has a contact person listed on FREIDA, email them and find out if they take COMLEX in lieu of USMLE.
• Sign up on the NRMP ASAP! Visit http://www.nrmp.org/ to find out specific dates but usually open mid August to December 1. It costs less if you sign up early, and you have to do it to be in the match. This is SEPARATE from the ERAS application and you must pay to be eligible to match into an allopathic program.
• DO a sub-I in either medicine, peds or surgery. This is not a requirement for all osteopathic schools, but is for most allopathic schools, so if you want to be competitive consider planning it into your schedule.
• BE PROUD TO BE A DO - many people will ask why you are not applying to osteopathic programs. Consider this question thoroughly and have answers prepared.
  • Additionally, you will be asked why you went to DO school, so you'd better think about this too.
  • Keep in mind that if you happen to be one of the only DO candidates you will have a special and unique skill - you can do manipulation!!
• Plan to do at least 5 interviews, but consider doing as many as 10 to increase your chances of matching and get a good idea of what you want!
• Good luck with your match!!

Visit: http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/2997.html to start your search