Navigating the ERAS Application: Tips & To-Do’s

Navigating the ERAS Application: Tips & To-Do's

Applying to residency is one of the most exciting and pivotal steps in your medical journey. For most U.S. medical students, the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) is the mechanism through which you will tell your story, showcase your qualifications, and secure those all-important interviews and ultimately a spot in...

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. KeyPoint Details Importance Step 2 CK is one of the most important standardized...

You Just Found Out Your USMLE Step 1 Score! Now What?

12 min

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6-week Study Planner preview image for Step 1 by Elite Medical Prep.

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Congratulations! You did it! You took USMLE Step 1, the test you spent months studying for, and now you’re anxiously awaiting that email notification telling you that your Step 1 score is available. So now what? 

What to Look For in a Residency Program

16 min

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Residency application is fast approaching and students need to decide which programs they want to apply to and ultimately interview at. When compiling a list of these programs, there are several key factors that ought to be kept in mind.

How Long Is Residency by Specialty?

13 min

36275 Views

A group of medical residents in their chosen specialty, smiling and wearing scrubs in a hospital.

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Residency is a stage of medical training that, in the US, is completed after medical school. As post-graduate medical education, residency training ranges in length depending on what field you are training for. Additionally within each field, there are opportunities to specialize even further through an added few years of...

ERAS Program Signaling: Key Changes Explained

22 min

20016 Views

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

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...

SOAPing Into a Competitive Residency Program

9 min

5612 Views

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...

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