The Career Advising Curriculum consists of three main components, 1) Workshops, 2) Resources and 3) Career Advising for each year of your training. 

Workshops: 

Each year of your training consists of different workshops to enhance your career advising experience. Your final two years focus on workshops that prepare you for residency application and training.

Resources:

OCRA has created resources including specialty profiles which are UCR SOM specific data created for you to expose you to different specialties. In addition, we include resources form the AAMC Careers in Medicine, as well as residency application related resources.

Advising:

We offer career advising from members of our Career Advising Team: CAT Team (which includes OCRA and Clinical Faculty Advisors). Our OCRA Advising Team includes our Executive Associate Dean of Student Affairs, Associate Dean for Career Advising, and Career Development Specialist and Career Advisors. 

Workshops

MS3 Orientation: Transition to Clerkship T2C2

Habits of Successfully Matched Students: Competitiveness

Personal Statement Workshop

CV Workshop

Program Directors' Panel

MS4 Orientation (Occurs during middle of third year): 

• Session 1: A Deeper Dive into 4th Year

• Session 2: Applying for Rotations and Your Residency Goals

• Session 3: VSLO Information and Onboarding Requirements

• Session 4: MS4 Pears of Wisdom: Professionalism and Expectations

VSLO FAQ

Introduction to the MSPE and Noteworthy Characteristics 

• MSPE Acronym

  • A – Academic History (Years M1–M3: timeline)

  • N – Noteworthy Characteristics (3 things that make you stand out)

  • G – Grades (from 3rd year clinical clerkships)

  • E – Evaluation Summary Paragraph (overview of your academic performance)

  • L – Learning Overview (summary of UCRSOM curriculum)

Resources

Specialty Profiles: Specialty Profiles are UCR School of Medicine specific data for different specialties including where UCR alumni have matched

AAMC Careers In Medicine: Specialty Indecision Scale

• Submit Your AAMC Assessment

  • https://ucriverside.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1ERLLxYKa0BJwnc 

Residency Explorer

Freida

ERAS

• ERAS - Electronic Residency Application Service 

• ERAS User Guide 

• ERAS  Residency Application Timeline 

• MyERAS and Program Signaling

• ERAS Residency Application Fees 

ResidencyCas

• Applicant Help Center 

• Applicant Quick Start Guide

• Timeline 

NRMP

• NRMP has updated the Match Fees  page on the NRMP website. 

• To view important dates for the 2026 Main Residency Match Applicants Calendar and keep track of Match deadlines throughout the process, click here.     

• Charting Outcomes in the Match: Senior Students of U.S. MD Medical Schools

San Francisco Match

Military Match

The Med School Survival Guide: Wisdom for the Next Class

• We're creating a "Med School Survival Guide" built on the real wisdom and experiences of current students. Your brief, anonymous answers will directly help the incoming class (and your peers!) navigate the medical school journey. Thank you for sharing your expertise! 

  • https://ucriverside.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9srckhaALeLNvIa 

Here are resources that may be helpful to you as you go through your schedule depending on your specialty. 

• Here is a video on how VSLO works.

• Program Directors Association Guides for Residency Applicants 2025-2026

• Step-by-Step Guide ERAS Application 2025: Bing Videos

• Video on ResidencyCAS (Ob/gyn and EMed)

• ERAS and SF match (ophthalmology) example

• Military Match video and Active Duty Rotations

Advising

MS3 Career Development Specialist: Humberto Santiago

Associate Dean for Career Advising: Dr. Hanh Nguyen