Tips to Success

Career Counseling FAQ's

Be honest with yourself

•  Financial Literacy Resources
• What personal values match best with medical specialties you have experienced?
• Don’t rely on preconceived ideas of what you think a medical specialty is…
• What makes you happy and makes you feel impactful?
• What are your strengths and weaknesses?
  • Is this consistent with the feedback you are receiving?
  • Are you strengths applicable to the careers you are considering?
• Link to AAMC CIM Assessments

Get the right information and know the specialties

• Start early with specialty interest groups
• Speak with faculty in fields you are interested in
  • Ask them how they made their decision to pursue their specialty
  • Ask them what factored into their decision
  • Ask them about attributes that make a “strong” candidate for the given specialty
  • Talk to the residency director
  • Know what specialties you may be interested in want from their candidates
• Pursue elective time in the field you are interested in
• Talk to your Advisory Dean
• Take time research specialties
  • AAMC Careers in Medicine

Know the specialties

• Join interest groups
• Meet with Department Designated Advisors & Mentors 
• Meet with faculty who work with resident education
• Take time to shadow various specialties
• Get more experience with elective time
• Get familiar with what specialties want from their students

Always be on the look out for faculty that share common values and have connections to future career