Preparing for the 2022 Match Application Cycle: A Look at Key Resources for DOs

For osteopathic med students getting ready to participate in the 2022 Match cycle or those who have not started their 4^th year yet and want to prepare early, there are a number of key resources available. The following is a brief rundown of the latest Match resources crucial to crafting a successful application strategy.

The American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) has put together a Match Resource Center to help COM students as they embark on the UME to GME transition. It includes interviews with key leaders, tips on interviewing and managing social media during the application cycle, and help for those who don’t match. With over 5,000 students attending the last Virtual Residency Fair, it has proven to be a great resource for applicants seeking to learn more about residency and fellowship programs—and it’s free! Best of all, AACOM has launched a new site which provides residency programs with a platform to share available positions with COM students. Check out Available Residency Positions here.

Alongside AACOM, the Assembly of Osteopathic Graduate Medical Educators (AOGME) have great transition resources. Available webinars can provide key insights into understanding residency contracts or optimizing the transition from a COM student to a PGY-1. Connect on the AOGME Membership Discussion Forums to share perspectives and get guidance from other colleagues in GME.

As the gatekeepers of ERAS, the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) offers a number of in-depth resources like the AAMC T2R Tools for a Successful Residency Application webinar. Though the session went live in June, the recording is freely available, and provides an overview for the application process itself, helping to facilitate application strategies. The webinar includes an overview of the Careers in Medicine microsite, Diminishing Returns data, the Residency Explorer research tool, and ERAS guidelines.

Careers in Medicine is a multi-resource deep-dive into physician career options, tips on preparing for residency, and insight into 135 specialties and subspecialties. The Specialty Insights section is especially useful for COM students who want to see how their COMLEX-USA scores stack up against those who have already matched.

Apply Smart for Residency provides data and resources which helps candidates shape their application strategy and cover topics, such as managing finances, interviewing, and understanding the application process. In addition, COM students who are looking to enter Internal Medicine, Dermatology, and General Surgery can find details on the supplemental ERAS application specific to these three specialties. The supplemental application spotlights candidates’ prior experience, interests, and indicate their program preferences.

Residency Explorer is a tool that allows applicants to review and compare programs in 23 specialties. The platform can weigh student’s profiles with other applicants who have successfully matched. Users can also compare using metrics like applicant type, standardized exam scores, peer-reviewed publications and research, and volunteer and work experiences. Residency Explorer is supported by verified data which includes contact and demographic information, such as the number of filled resident positions, program characteristics, application requirements and trends, program selectivity, and resident opportunities. Users should be very aware that some elements depend on program input (e.g. if a program has failed to update their application requirements, candidates may find conflicting information on the program website).

As we gear up for the 2022 Match cycle, it is important to know that there is a wide-range of knowledge available for COM students. The application process is stressful, but finding the right resources can help reduce that stress.

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