Step 1: Checking out Step Scores as an MS3
Robert is a third year medical student and currently studying for his Step 1. As he’s studying, he looks through Residency Navigator’s step scores data to understand the median step score ranges of dermatology and surgery – the two specialties he’s most interested in – and the number of applicants who matched and didn't match within each score range. As he studies, he makes a mental note of how competitive each specialty is.
Internal Medicine Step Score statistics
Step 2: Initial Program Discovery
Robert, now a fourth year medical student and prospective resident, is in the beginning stages of his residency program research process. He aspires to specialize in dermatology and has a strong desire to train in the South to be closer to his family. He performs a search for programs that align these preferences along with his desire to train in a large hospital and potentially pursue a fellowship in pediatric dermatology.
Searching for programs
Step 3: Individual Program Research
He is then presented with a list of various residency programs based on the parameters he selected.
The Search Results view in Residency Navigator
Viewing the pages of the various residency programs found in the search results, he is presented with information including “Total Filled Spots”, “Board Certification Percentage”, and rotation information.
Residency Navigator provides various datapoints to help prospective residents make informed decisions on residency programs
He also views the reviews and ratings submitted by current residents and alumni, which seem to reinforce many of the positive insights and sentiments he developed in learning about the program.
In-depth reviews and ratings from current residents and recent program alumni on various program attributes
After thoroughly evaluating the information found on each of the program pages, he favorites the University of Virginia Medical Center, the University of Florida and the University of Texas Health Science Center dermatology programs by clicking the star on the top right corner of the program pages. He finds their small program size and strength in pediatric dermatology to be appealing.
Step 4: Shortlist Creation
After evaluating over 60 residency programs, Robert has narrowed down his target list to 32 programs. All of the programs he has favorited are stored in the “Saved” feature. He spends the following weeks ordering and re-shuffling the programs based on preference, adding notes to each program based on his online research, interviews, and conversations with program residents and alumni.
An example of a student's Saved list
Participating in the Couples Match?
What if Robert were participating in the Couples Match? He could use the Residency Navigator’s Couples Match Tool to seamlessly generate a list of optimal program pairs. He could sort by programs within the same institution or within a certain distance.
Click here for more information on how to use the Couples Match Tool
Getting Started With Doximity’s Residency Navigator
To jumpstart your residency program research process, simply download the Doximity app to access Residency Navigator on your mobile device or login to the Residency Navigator website to gain in-depth insights on program culture, training environments, and career opportunities from over 4,000 residency programs across 28 specialties.