Career Advising (Road to Residency)

VTCSOM Holistic 4-Year Approach to Career Advising 

As you consider your specialty options, it is important to consider your interests, values, skills, and personality. AAMC created the Careers in Medicine career-planning tool, which includes self-assessments will help you better understand who you are and what you want in your career, and then will allow you to explore specialty options that might be the best fit for you.  The Office of Student Affairs helps you in navigating and interpreting the results of these tools. 

Phase 1 - Pre-Clinical (18 months)

EARLY EXPLORATION
Focus: Discovering specialties and building connections

• Introduction to career advising session
• Individual touchpoint with Associate Dean for Student Affairs (getting to know you)
• Individual touchpoint with Assistant Dean for Student Vitality & Career Development (AAMC specialty inventories and profiles, CiM live shadowing)
• Introduction to clinical specialties series
• AAMC careers in medicine resources
• Clubs, organizations, and specialty interest groups fair and sign ups
• CiM live shadowing opportunities
• Phase 1 mentoring communities
• Step 1 support
• Monthly FAQs + Zoom Q&A sessions

Phase 2 - Clerkships (12 months)

PERSONALIZED GUIDANCE
Focus: Specialty selection and preparing for applications

• Individual touchpoint with Associate Dean for Student Affairs (specialty selection)
• Individual touchpoint with Assistant Dean for Student Vitality & Career Development (specialty inventory, Texas STAR, Residency Explorer)
• First Fridays/Intercessions
  • Specialty selection
  • Texas STAR & Residency Explorer
  • Step 2 preparation
  • Residency application process
  • Away rotations
  • Personal statement
  • International electives
  • Post-match student panel
  • Program director panel
• Specialty - specific mentoring communities
• Specialty - specific advisors
• Step 2 support
• Monthly FAQs + Zoom Q&A sessions

Phase 3 - Electives (15 months)

APPLICATION & MATCH SUPPORT
Focus: Navigating the Match and securing your future

• Residency application tutorials and support (ERAS, Central App, ResidencyCAS, AUA, SF Match, MODS)
• Individual touchpoint with Associate Dean for Student Affairs (establish parallel plans)
• Individual touchpoint with Assistant Dean for Student Vitality & Career Development (application submission)
• Specialty - specific mentoring communities
• Specialty - specific advisors
• Mock interviews
• Rank order list meetings
• Match week guidance
• Residency program documents completion
• Monthly FAQs + Zoom Q&A sessions