The beginning of fourth year is a time for reflection – a time to evaluate your experiences up to this point and to consider what lies ahead as you make key decisions about your medical career. The fourth year of medical school is comprised of several significant experiences: senior rotations (clerkships and sub-internships), applying for residency, interviewing for residency, the Match, and the Boards. And you will be challenged to manage several of these important projects at the same time!

The fourth year will afford you more flexibility to schedule rotations, time off and travel to interviews. Make the most of these opportunities. Emotions will run high this year and you can expect that a great deal of your emotional roller coaster will center on the Match, so remain positive, focused and optimistic.

As you begin your senior clerkships and subinternships, you are likely to have greater responsibility. You will no doubt have more frequent call, provide more complex care, and experience increasing clinical autonomy under the supervision of residents and attendings. Freedom to pursue focused experiences and rotations during the fourth year offers unique rewards and learning experiences that will give you a greater appreciation for what life after medical school is all about.

In the fall of your fourth year, you will begin to apply to residency programs. By researching various programs, you will start developing your own criteria to determine which programs are of most interest to you. Once you have applied to residency programs, the waiting game begins as you anticipate programs contacting you for interviews. Once this occurs, a whirlwind tour of residency programs and cities will take place. You will have the unique opportunity to experience several different programs – each with its own unique combination of characteristics, opportunities and challenges. Hopefully, you will find a program that is the right choice for you.

The winter and early spring of fourth year is time to finish interviews and meet your “Match.” Once you rank your programs, only Match Day awaits you. When your residency selection is finalized, you proceed into the final phase of the fourth year. You have rotations to finish. (An don’t forget about USMLE Step 2!) You begin making the necessary arrangements to join your program. For most, this means planning a move to a new location. You must cope with a myriad of emotions associated with leaving your support systems, saying goodbye to close friends, and transitioning from student to physician status. It’s also an exhilarating time – all of the pieces of the puzzle have come together and you’ve found your calling!

Here are tips to help you succeed as you make important career decisions: