Planning the ideal CaRMS timeline is crucial to landing your dream match for your residency. The Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS) process can be pretty overwhelming and time-consuming; this process involves a lot more than submission deadlines. That’s why we’ve put together this timeline to help you formulate a game plan and give you a realistic chance of landing your dream match.
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CaRMS Timeline
CaRMS Timeline: Program Research and Application Prep (July-September)
Step #1 - Map out deadlines
Begin by creating a personalized CaRMS timeline, mapping out deadlines and tasks between July and September! Visit the CaRMS website to check deadlines for your application year.
Step #2 - Research residency programs
Look into the best residency programs in Canada and start narrowing down your list. Then, strategically, aim to apply to 15-30 programs based on fit and competitiveness.
I started preparing ~2 months in advance. It is important to start well in advance so that you have ample time to edit your personal statements and residency application. This can be difficult, especially since you have a lot of clinical commitments during your senior years of medical school. This, combined with the stress of matching and residency applications, can be overwhelming. This is why it is even more important to start early and pace yourself. By dedicating a few hours each day to your residency application, you can ensure timely completion and high-quality work while avoiding last-minute hiccups." – Dr. Neel Mistry, MD
Not sure how many residency programs you should be applying to? Check out this infographic:
Step #3 - Secure strong reference letters
Make sure you do so early, and that each letter highlights specific achievements relevant to residency applications.
Tip: If you’re having trouble with your applications and residency planning, the Canadian Federation of Medical Students provides a Match Book that can help you decide if a program could be suitable for you. You may also wish to utilize resources like the Match Book and CaRMS website for guidance.
Step #4 - Focus on your CV and Personal Statement
Polish your residency CV, focusing on experiences pertinent to chosen programs.
"Your medical school often gives you a guide of what to include on your residency CV. As well, if some programs have a specific requirement, then they often make it clear on their website (about what to write on the CV). You definitely do want to include elements from medical school." – Dr. Neel Mistry, MD
A critical component of your CaRMS application is your residency personal statement, or CaRMS personal letter. We recommend writing a different letter for each of the specialties that you will apply to and tailoring each letter to that field of medicine.
“Writing personal statements can be hard. You want to highlight specific personal experiences to highlight your suitability for your chosen specialty. Choose experiences where you have demonstrated key skills required for your specialty. For instance, collaboration, communication, and independent problem solving are essential to the job of a radiologist. I made sure to give specific (and ideally different) examples to demonstrate how I have developed each of these skills throughout medical school.” – Dr. Neel Mistry, MD
Step #5 - Submit Medical School Performance Record (MSRP)
Lastly, your medical school sends your transcripts and Medical School Performance Record (MSPR) directly to CaRMS. The submission deadline for these records is in January, but in Canada, the MSPR is automatically submitted by your medical school in October or November.
CaRMS Timeline: Apply to Residency Programs (September-December)
The CaRMS online portal opens in September; we recommend that you apply as soon as possible!
In October, you can start selecting which residency programs you want to apply to and assigning specific documents to these programs.
Submit your application as soon as the CaRMS portal opens or close to the final deadline, ensuring all your documents are ready. Upload your documents, remind referees of their deadlines, and confirm with your medical school that your transcripts and MSPR are submitted on time. Follow up on any elements not directly in your control to ensure timely submission!
Interested in seeing a video on how to make your CaRMS application stand out? Take a look at this one:
CaRMS Timeline: Interview Prep and Ranking Period (January-February)
CaRMS Interview Period
After submitting your residency application, you can practice for different interview formats and start preparing answers to different kinds of residency interview questions! Do NOT wait until you’re invited to start practicing; you must take your CaRMS interview prep seriously.
To prepare for my residency interviews, I did lots of practice for a few hours every day … It is important to seek feedback from others as to what you can improve on, where you are going wrong, etc., and at the same time, spend time reflecting on your experiences and how they have aptly shaped you to excel in the specialty you are applying for.” – Dr. Neel Mistry, MD.
Official interview invitations will start going out to applicants in January. The national interview period for graduates of Canadian medical schools typically takes place from mid-January to mid-February.
Rank Order List
Shortly after the interview period, your Rank Order List (ROL) will be due at the end of February. The match is a legally binding agreement. This means that you can't just change your mind about a program once you match.
After your interview, you can send a thank you letter to stand out. If you’re absolutely certain you’d like to attend their program, you can follow up with your top-choice residency program by sending a strong residency letter of intent, but remember, you must only send ONE!
Check out this infographic for some helpful tips on CaRMS interview prep:
CaRMS Timeline: Match Day (March/April)
Match Day is usually in March. The exact date will change depending on the specific CaRMS timeline of your application cycle, but around this time, you should be finding out if you matched and with which program. On the date of the match, you’ll need to log into the CaRMS portal and check your profile.
If you got a match, congratulations! Now, it is time to transition to residency and continue on your journey to becoming a doctor.
"Mental reassurance is the biggest thing ahead of Match Day. You want to be mentally prepared for going unmatched, but I had applied to two different specialties (both which I equally liked) so I knew I was not going to go unmatched. Had I gone unmatched during the first iteration, I would have simply applied during the second iteration." – Dr. Neel Mistry, MD.
CaRMS Timeline: Second Iteration and Post-Match
First iteration CaRMS applicants who did not match can participate in the second iteration of the Match, after Match Day has passed. The second CaRMS Match Day is usually in late April.
Unmatched applicants can also participate in the post-match to see if there are any more open positions.
If you do not match this year, you should reflect on how to improve your residency application after going unmatched and ramp up your interview prep for the next application cycle. Good luck!
FAQs
1. How exactly does the CaRMS match work?
CaRMS matches applicants and residency programs based on ranked preferences and an algorithm.
2. When should I register for the CaRMS match?
Canadian medical graduates receive login credentials in the fall; international graduates must register by July.
3. What documents are required for the match?
You'll need transcripts, MSPR, letters of recommendation, a personal statement, and a residency CV.
4. How do I secure good referees?
“Students should highlight why [someone] would make a good referee and provide tangible examples where they went above and beyond in a patient’s care that would warrant a LOR. An approach that would sour me is if a student asks for a LOR despite putting an average or below-average performance during the rotation, if they feel entitled to a LOR, and if the student asks for a LOR after having worked only a few shifts with them.” – Dr. Neel Mistry, MD.
5. What happens if I don’t have any referees?
If you don’t have any solid references, you may have to consider taking a gap year to gain valuable experience, and/or network.
6. When should I start preparing my residency rank order list?
Rank by personal preference; consider what is most important to you (location, faculty, notable reputation, etc.) If you don't know where to begin, you might want to reach out to a residency consultant who can help you with this difficult decision.
7. How many residency programs should I rank?
Rank at least ten programs that align with your goals and preferences, as the match is binding. We recommend 15-30 programs.
8. What happens if I don't get a match?
You can participate in a second match iteration or reapply the following year if unmatched.
9. When should I start preparing for the match?
Start preparing in July and submit your application as soon as the portal opens in September.
10. When will I know if I matched?
Check the CaRMS portal on Match Day for results, with a second round date available if needed.
11. Can I change the program that I am matched with?
No, the match is binding, so thoroughly research and rank only the programs you truly want.
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1 Comments
Lilian Kerubo
What about international applicants wishing to apply for a fellowship program?
Reply