
Residency programs create ranked lists of applicants, and the NRMP uses a computer algorithm to match students with programs. Applicants create a rank-order list of the programs they would like to participate in, ranked in order of preference. This nonprofit organization was established to match the preferences of medical students with the preferences of the programs to which they apply.


Most medical students secure residencies through the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP). For example, if you want to enter a pediatrics residency, your grades in pediatric classes will hold more value than your grades in other classes. The grades you get in the classes related to your chosen specialty outweigh grades you get in unrelated classes. (The final exam for licensing, Step 3, is taken during residency.) Students typically take Step 1 during their second year of medical school and Step 2 during their fourth year. The USMLE is a three-part exam that tests your medical skills and knowledge.

As you prepare to complete your degree from an accredited medical school such as American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine (AUC)*, the next big step is applying for a residency after med school.
