Check Out Key Match Dates and Two Safeguarding Policies for Applicants

Recently, the NRMP hosted a webinar called, "Introduction to the 2027 Main Residency Match®." There are two categories of take away points:

1) Key dates relevant for applicants:

September 15 — Applicant and medical school registration opens
September 23 — Applications available via ERAS and ResidencyCAS (OB/GYN and Emergency Medicine use ResidencyCAS)
February 1 — Ranking opens
March 3 — Rank Order List certification deadline
March 15–19 — Match Week and SOAP
March 19 — Match Day

2) Two policies particularly notable for applicants:

First, residency programs can't extend more invitations than available slots and must give applicants at least 48 hours to respond.
Second, programs can't ask applicants about their ranking plans, request preference signals, or solicit commitments to rank.

Here's the webinar link.

Check out these Useful AMCAS Links

I mentioned in the last couple of blog entries the great utility of the AAMC webinar on April 14 called “Navigating the 2027 AMCAS Application Cycle for Applicants,” and I summarized some of the most important points.

One of the additional benefits of the session was a listing of useful online resources. I collected them and have listed them below. Enjoy!

AMCAS Application Resources

• 2027 AMCAS Applicant Guide
• 2027 AMCAS Application Workbook
• Application and Acceptance Protocols for Applicants
• AMCAS Tools and Tutorials
• AMCAS Main Program Page / Resources Hub
• AMCAS Help Resources / @AMCASinfo

MCAT and PREview

• MCAT
• PREview

Why the AMCAS Coursework Section is Even More Important than You Thought it Was

As I mentioned in last week's blog entry, the AAMC held a helpful webinar on April 14 called “Navigating the 2027 AMCAS Application Cycle for Applicants." Here are some more take-home messages from the session:

1. The Coursework area is the number one cause of verification delays.
   
2. Ensure you report every course. This means you should report even if you earned no credit, you ended up with a withdrawal, the class was incomplete or repeated, the class was physical education, the class was later removed from your transcript, the course was advanced placement. 
   
3. Avoid other common mistakes by following these tips: include plus/minus grades; note that the AMCAS academic year begins with the summer term prior; if a course has both a lecture and lab do not combine them into one entry.
   
4. Use the 2027 AMCAS Applicant Guide and the Course Classification Guide if you are unsure how to categorize a class you're taking.
5. The BCPM that AAMC calculates is based on information provided by your individual college.
   

Look for more of my take-homes in near-future blog entries.