M1

This will be the year you learn the basics needed for the rest of medical school and your career. Anatomy, biochemistry, some microbiology, osteopathic principles*, etc will all be taught to you during this year. Your school may even start with systems during the second semester which may include:

Neurology 

Musculoskeletal

Hematology-Lymph

Dermatology

M1 - M2 Summer

This will likely be your "only summer off" from medical school. During this time, students may take the summer off, or they may boost their CVs by doing research, volunteering experiences, or even shadowing. You may need to do research if you are trying to match into a more competitive specialty. 

M2

M2 marks the beginning of board studying! Throughout this year, you should begin prepping for USMLE Step 1 and COMLEX Level 1*. As a DO student, you should take the USMLE boards in addition to COMLEX, in order to increase your chances of matching into a more competitive specialty. MD students will only take USMLE board examinations. During M2, you will also be taking more systems courses and continuing with clinical skills and osteopathic principles*. Additionally, your school should be giving lectures to prepare you for clinical rotations. Some systems include:

Cardiovascular

Respiratory

Renal

Endocrine/Reproductive

Gastrointestinal

M2 - M3 Summer

During this summer, your school should give you a dedicated period of studying for boards. This will vary from school to school but typically it will be 6 weeks. During this time, you can schedule your Step/Level 1 to be taken whenever you are ready. If done correctly, you can have a small break before beginning clinical rotations. 

M3

CONGRATS! You passed Step 1 and/or Level 1*, so now you are ready for clinical rotations!

Clinical rotations during M3 will be based on the core site set up by your school. Each school does this differently, but for my school, we do a matching system to match to our site of preference. At these sites, you will rotate through core specialties, which are required for graduation. Your clinical grades will be based on evaluations from the resident or attending physician at your site, and your performance on each Shelf or COMAT* examination at the end of each rotation. Core rotations may include:

Psychiatry

Internal Medicine

Obstetrics-Gynecology

General Surgery

Pediatrics

Family Medicine

Emergency Medicine

Hospice and Palliative Care

M4

Clinical rotations during M4 will consist of elective and audition rotations. Elective rotations are simply rotations you would like more exposure to. Audition rotations are rotations that you may choose to go rotate at an institution you're interested in and in the specialty you wish to match in. Audition rotations are extremely helpful in getting an interview for a residency spot of your choice!

During M4 (or beginning of M4), you will also take USMLE Step 2 and/or COMLEX Level 2* in order to continue with your medical education. Additionally, you will begin applying to residency positions in mid-September. Interview season will run from October to early February. At the end of February, you will submit your rank list of places you see yourself doing residency. In early to mid-March, you find out if you matched and eventually where you matched. If you do not match, you will take some necessary steps to find a residency position, including the SOAP system. Your school should debrief you on this entire process during M3 and M4, so no need to worry! Approximately 94% of MD students match each year, compared to 90% of DO students matching each year. Matching depends on board examination performance, clerkship grades, letters of recommendation, research, volunteering experiences, extracurricular activities, and your performance during any residency audition rotation or interview. 

For a detailed timeline on matching, please see "The Match & Residency" tab.

M4 - PGY1 Summer

Once you successfully match and complete medical school, you should celebrate your incredible accomplishments before residency begins. Typically, residency positions will begin on or a couple weeks before July 1st after your fourth year of medical school concludes. Good luck DOcter!