How to Apply

Eligibility

Our program purposefully seeks a group of residents with diverse backgrounds and beliefs. The most desirable candidates share our commitment to underserved populations and are interested in the curricular areas which we historically have emphasized.

The University of Rochester Family Medicine Residency accepts signaling and geographic preference data. We use this information as part of holistic review when extending interview invitations. Other domains of our holistic review adhere to the AAMC’s recommended “Experiences, Attributes, Competencies, and Academic and Scholarly Metrics” (EACM) model, with a focus on applicants’ social responsibility and commitment to under-resourced populations.

USMLE/COMLEX Requirements

Applicants from U.S. or Canadian medical schools must pass both Step 1 and Step 2 of either the  USMLE  exam or the  COMLEX  exam in order to be ranked at our ranking meeting in early February. We will interview applicants who have not yet passed Step 2 of the exam, but we must have received documentation of a passing score directly from USMLE by the time of our ranking meeting in order for the applicant to be ranked for the Match.

Candidates from International Medical Schools

Applicants from International Medical Schools may apply for admission to our residency program with these submission requirements:

• Candidates must submit their applications through ERAS.
• We sponsor only J-1 visas.
• You must have passed both Steps I and II of the  United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) .
• You must be certified or eligible to be certified by the  Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) .
• Ideally, you havecompleted at least one (1) year of hands-on employment as a physician in a U.S. or Canadian healthcare facility. This means, for example, completing one year of an ACGME accredited residency program.
  • Note: Externships, observerships, clerkships or internships for which the candidate has paid for training do not meet the requirement for one year of experience. The only exception is for those medical schools offering United States clerkships that are completed as a student prior to graduation from medical school.
• As a rule, we accept only those applicants who have graduated from medical school within the past five years.
• Additional information is available at the Graduate Medical Education webpage of the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry: Applicant Eligibility Requirements .

Further Information Regarding ERAS

• US allopathic and osteopathic medical students: Contact your Dean’s Office or Student Affairs Office.
• International medical school graduates: Contact the  Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) .

2026-2027 Interview Season

Interviews for the Family Medicine Residency Program will be a combination of in-person interviews and virtual interviews. Though we believe that seeing our program and the rural communities is an important part of the residency selection process for applicants, we also recognize that virtual interviews are important for applicants with financial, family, or geographic circumstances that would make it difficult to interview in person.

Applicants who are selected for interview will be contacted by the Program Coordinator with scheduling details. Virtual interviews will be held using the Thalamus software. Interviews will take place on Mondays during October, November, December, and January. 

Application deadline is October 31, 2026. 

Couples Match

For detailed information about the Couples Match process and specific application requirements, please visit our  Couples Match  page.