How to Apply for an Internal Medicine Residency

Written By: Allison Zahorcak

An internal medicine residency is the first step in a variety of medical careers from a general internist to a gastroenterologist.  Unlike family medicine, an internal medicine residency focuses on the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of adult diseases.  If you're considering applying for an internal medicine residency Baltimore, make sure that you've connected with your academic adviser by the start of your third year.

Typically, hospitals and residency programs are ready to start accepting applications in October.  Which means students have 2-3 months to prepare for their applications. This process includes:

An academic review from your medical school. This is typically performed by the teachers who oversaw your training and will help residency physicians get an accurate view of your work in medical school thus far.

A personal statement.  Your personal statement is the moment you've been given to individualize yourself outside of general applications.  This statement should be carefully crafted to give interviewers a reason to remember. So make sure you take your time on it!  It's your chance to separate yourself from the crowd.

Your ERAS or MPES application.  Depending on the schools you intend to apply for, ERAS or MPES will be the primary applications hospitals receive. Make sure you pay attention to which of these services your desired internal residency program Baltimore uses.

Interviewing for an Internal Medicine Residency Program Baltimore

As you may have guessed, the interview process is one of the most of the most pivotal parts of the application process.  During an interview for residency, students will be subjected to questions by the admissions committee of the given program.  In most cases, applicants are also given the opportunity to talk to current students in the residency program.

The interview process is arguably the most important part of your application.  After all, this is your opportunity to truly decide whether or not the program you're applying for is a good fit for you and your career goals.  Whatever you do, don't settle for less.  The average residency program is at least 3 years long, so you want to make sure that you can be happy wherever you continue your study.