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ERAS Program Signaling: Key Changes Explained

22 min

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Elite Medical Prep's residency roundtable event "Meaningful Experiences and Preference Signaling" opening slide introducing the speakers.

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This blog was originally published in July 2023, and updated on July 9th, 2025 by Dr. Dylan Eiger.   Two years ago, Elite Medical Prep hosted a  residency roundtable event for the 2023 match cycle. We are now thrilled to share that all the sessions have been meticulously recorded, allowing...

How to Prepare for Residency Match Day

An excited residency applicant learning that she matched for residency.

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The day you have been waiting for has finally arrived! You have spent years training to become a doctor. And in just a few days or weeks, you will learn on Match Day where you will spend the next few years of your life as a practicing physician in residency....

Tackling the Residency Personal Statement

18 min

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Elite Medical Prep's residency roundtable event "Tackling the Residency Personal Statement" opening slide introducing the speakers.

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This blog was originally published in August 2023, and updated on July 1st, 2025 by Dr. Dylan Eiger.   Last year, Elite Medical Prep organized a roundtable event on the nuances of residency applications, equipping attendees with essential insights for the year’s application cycle. In the event titled “Mastering the...

2025-2026 Match Cycle Residency Application Timeline

A preview of Elite Medical Prep's 2023-2024 residency application timeline.

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The final year of medical school marks the start of your residency application journey. To succeed, you need a clear understanding of the application process and its key milestones. For this purpose, we’ve created a detailed timeline to help you navigate the application process! This valuable resource includes:   Key...

The Hardest Residency Specialties and What to Expect

27 min

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A resident that has matched into one of the most difficult specialties to match into standing in a hospital, wearing scrubs.

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This blog was originally published in 2023 by Dr. Alina Khil and updated for accuracy in February 2025 by Dr. Coco Stewart. The Hardest Medical Specialties to Match Into   Choosing a medical specialty is a challenging task, especially when it comes to many of the more competitive specialties. Is it...

SOAPing Into a Competitive Residency Program

9 min

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Two medical residents reviewing a document on a clipboard.

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The last thing on most students’ minds going through the SOAP is, “how do I match into a competitive program?” The truth is, most SOAPing medical students just hope they Match into a residency program at all. But, the best applicants make the most of this tough situation. Sometimes, these...

Woman in Surgery: Insights From an Orthopedic Resident

17 min

568 Views

Female surgeon in scrubs and mask standing in an operating room, illuminated by surgical lights overhead.

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I distinctly remember the day I first considered a career in orthopedics. Prior to medical school, I worked as a scribe in a small orthopedic clinic. While the other scribes grew tired of their days repeatedly evaluating arthritis, I was fascinated by the nuances and surgical options that orthopedics offered....

When to Take Step 2 CK for the 2026 Residency Match

9 min

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A group of medical students studying for their Step 2 exam, sitting in front of a lap top.

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The Step 2 CK exam score is one of the top factors residency programs use when selecting candidates to interview. Most students in the United States take the USMLE Step 2 CK after their third-year clinical rotations—typically between May and July—to align with residency application timelines. This schedule ensures you...

US Doctor Specialties by USMLE Step 2 CK Scores

US-Doctor-Specialties-by-USMLE-Step-2-CK-Scores

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With the change of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 transitioning to an entirely pass-fail examination, more emphasis has been placed on the USMLE Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (Step 2 CK) score in the residency selection process.   While your Step 2 score is not the only factor that programs...

How to Match into Anesthesiology for Residency

18 min

38429 Views

A group of Anesthesia residents and their patient.

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The NRMP Program directors survey “at a glance” tool is extremely helpful in gauging where your application packet stands compared to the applicant pool. Here are the major components to consider when applying into Anesthesia.

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