Choosing a Career

Learn about your interests, values and skills.

• Read AAMC’s Understand Yourself
• Complete the Careers in Medicine Assessments
  • Medical Specialty Preference Inventory (MSPI) – What do I like to do in medicine?
  • Physician Values in Practice Scale (PVIPS) – What in medicine is personally meaningful and satisfying to me?
  • Physician Skills Inventory (PSI) – What am I good at and how can I improve?
  • Specialty Indecision Scale (SIS) – Why can’t I decide?
• Interpret the results
• Attend Guide to the Match workshops

Gather information about different specialties and practice settings.

• Learn how to Research Your Options
• Read about the lifestyle and path to practice in AAMC’s Specialty Spotlights
• View key statistics regarding salary and competitiveness on AAMC’s Specialty Profiles
• Compare Specialties
• Engage with guest lecturers in Pre-Clinical courses
• Participate in a variety of Interest Groups
• Connect with peer and faculty mentors to learn about their experiences (see also: Mentoring) 
• Utilize the Specialty Guides
• Participate in clinical and research experience (see also: Research and Shadowing) 
• Research different practice options (aamc.org/cim > Explore Options > Practice Options)

Realistically consider factors and increase readiness to make a decision.

• Participate in Clerkships and Selectives
• Meet with a faculty mentor
• Gauge competitiveness using Match Resources 
• Meet with Student Affairs deans to discuss specialty selection
• Review Specialty Guides when planning 4^th year rotations
• Apply for Away Rotations

Gather required materials to submit residency applications (see also: The Match)

• Attend Guide to the Match workshops
• Review Specialty Guides for guidance about applications
• Ask for Letters of Recommendation from faculty
• Prepare personal statements and CVs 
• Research programs
• Apply to programs
• Participate in mock interviews
• Schedule interviews
• Rank Programs