Avoiding AI in Medical School Personal Statements: Here’s Why

7 min

10674 Views

A robot holding a stethoscope.

The recent release of the AI writing program chatGPT has brought AI-based writing to a much more advanced level. The implications of this technology on essay writing for medical school applications and residency applications are uncertain but likely profound. Two of the senior members of Elite Medical Prep have written...

Embracing AI in Medical School Personal Statements: Here’s Why

Frustrated man writing a personal statement next to a calm AI bot.

The recent release of the AI writing program chatGPT has brought AI-based writing to a much more advanced level. The implications of this technology on essay writing for medical school applications and residency applications are uncertain but likely profound. Two of the senior members of Elite Medical Prep have written...

Re-Applying for the Match in Your Residency Interviews

17 min

5219 Views

An applicant at her medical school interview.

5219 Views

Imagine this… it’s 9:59 AM on the Monday of Match Week. You’re sitting at your desk or with your loved ones, nervous, waiting for an email notification from the NRMP that will determine your future career. Thoughts are racing through your mind. “Will I match? What will I do if...

6 Tips for Contacting Medical Residency Programs for an Interview

16 min

16969 Views

A doctor shaking hands with a prospective resident at their residency interview.

After ERAS submission, it is time to prepare for residency interviews. If it has been 4-6 weeks after application submission and you have not heard back from your top programs, you should consider contacting them for an interview. Crafting a professional residency thank-you email to ask a residency program for...

Congratulations! You Matched to Residency – Now What?!

10 min

3851 Views

An excited new resident speaking on the phone after having learned that she matched for residency.

3851 Views

After years of medical school, months of interviews, and countless nights of worrying about your Rank Order List for residency matching. You open your NRMP results envelope on Match Day and a wave of emotion washes over you. You matched to residency!  Matching to residency was the goal that always...

2023 Residency Application Timeline

14 min

3995 Views

Student happy to receive any email that she has been matched into residency.

3995 Views

Perhaps the most exciting and nerve-wracking time in medical school is the MATCH. After years of hard work and sacrifice, the time has finally come to go through the application and interview process all over again, just as for medical school. However, this time is much more exciting. This time,...

How Does Residency Matching Work? Step-by-Step Guide for Medical Students

23 min

10314 Views

A group of medical doctors in a meeting room sitting around a table.

This blog was originally published on August 23rd, 2025 by Alina Khil, MD and has been updated by Elite Medical Prep in January, 2026.  NRMP Match Algorithm Explained A medical school graduate’s first job is determined by a computer algorithm called “The Match.” What does it mean to match into residency, and how does residency matching work? Just like for medical school, applicants submit an...

How to Prepare for SOAP Residency Applications: A Step-by-Step Guide

13 min

6836 Views

A student using a laptop to prepare her application for SOAP.

6836 Views

Take a deep breath. If you’ve found yourself here, then you are considering preparing for the Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program, or SOAP and you probably already know what the SOAP is and what the SOAP process entails. In this post, we will review how to prepare your application for...

Standing Out in Residency Applications With a Pass/Fail USMLE Step 1

17 min

9803 Views

A medical resident standing and smiling in front of her peers.

9803 Views

Although the recent USMLE switch to pass/fail scoring for Step 1 has been regarded as a largely positive change for most students, some of you may be wondering how this change will affect the overall appearance of your residency application. There are several key components to building a stand-out application...

Understanding the Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP)

8 min

5928 Views

A group of medical residents in scrubs.

5928 Views

The Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program, or SOAP, is the process by which unmatched or partially matched medical students can apply for residency matching spots left unfilled following the NRMP match. SOAPing is the dreaded outcome of the match. I will never forget the grief and anxiety I felt after...

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