Letter of Recommendation

A letter of recommendation (LOR) for medical residency, written by an attending physician or faculty member who has worked closely with the applicant during U.S. Clinical Experience (USCE), can offer unique insights into the applicant's qualifications and suitability for the specific residency program. This type of LOR can address the applicant's clinical skills, patient interactions, teamwork, and overall performance in a U.S. medical setting, which is highly relevant to the residency application. Such letters often carry significant weight with residency program directors when evaluating candidates.

What makes a letter of recommendation effective?

Specificity: Personalized LORs with specific anecdotes highlighting the applicant’s qualities can significantly impact an applicant's chances of success. This is the best type of LOR, regardless of the letterhead.

The letter should include specific examples of the applicant's clinical skills, teachability, and work ethic. The writer should explain how they interacted with the applicant and provide concrete details highlighting the applicant's abilities, such as patient care, clinical skillset and acumen, teamwork, communication and interpersonal skills, or research contributions.

Highlighting Strengths, Growth, Commitment and Professionalism: The choice of letterhead (hospital, university, or clinic) adds credibility and authenticity to the document, indicating that the information comes from an established and reputable institution. Additionally, it helps verify the applicant's qualifications and the quality of their training.

USCE MATCH offers different experiences such as hands-on, observership, externship, etc, and is encouraged to be at least four (4) weeks. The applicant’s total weeks of completed rotation and total hours of attendance will be described in the letter.

Signature and Credentials: The letter should be signed by the writer and include their professional credentials, such as their title, institution, and contact information. This adds credibility to the recommendation.

When requesting a personalized LOR, you must proactively communicate with your letter writers, providing them with information about your career goals, the programs to which you're applying, and any specific points you'd like them to address in the letter. Also, consider giving your letter writers at least four (4) weeks to write the LOR, and be sure to follow up with a thank-you note or message to express your appreciation for their support.

While USCE MATCH can assist in coordinating with the attendings, it's important to understand that we do not have direct control over their timeliness in writing and uploading LORs. Applicants should proactively aim to communicate effectively with their attendings and provide any necessary information or reminders to ensure a timely and comprehensive LOR. All LORs are merit-based, and the content of each letter shall be unique based on the applicant’s performance.

Online Group Town Hall Match Discussion

USCE MATCH conducts an online town hall meeting for an hour at least once or twice a month. This session is exclusive for confirmed applicants only and those with a confirmed schedule for their rotation. Discussions will include how the matching process works, suggestions on how to write a personal statement, and how the attendings/preceptors will evaluate the students during their rotation and Q&A. Please check the schedule below:

View Town Hall Schedule

Green Excellence Award (G.E.A.)

USCE MATCH proudly introduces the Green Excellence Award (GEA) as a distinguished acknowledgment for exceptional and promising applicants, reflecting our commitment to supporting your journey to a successful residency match. We are thrilled to extend exclusive benefits, including reduced pricing on select services, to those who meet the following criteria:

• Proven Academic Excellence: Impressive USMLE test results withoutany failed attempts.
• Recent Graduation: Graduated within the last three years from the time of residency application.
• Leadership: Displayed leadership roles in medical or community-related activities.
• Research and Publications: Engaged in impactful research and publications.
• Interpersonal Skills and Communication: Demonstrated great interpersonal skills and effective communication (please submit a video).

Once all essential requirements are submitted, qualified G.E.A. applicants can anticipate receiving a personalized discount offer of up to $500 for USCE packages. Please note the result is final and irrevocable.

Residency Advocacy Campaign (Free &Merit-Based)

USCE MATCH's initiative to endorse deserving applicants, characterized by direct outreach to specific residency programs, aims to advocate for the candidate's interest and potentially increase their chances of receiving an interview invitation. Everyone, especially those doing a rotation with USCE MATCH, must always put their best foot forward to be considered in this campaign.

This type of merit-based campaign underscores the significance of not only meeting the basic requirements but also showcasing exceptional qualities, skills, and a commitment to excellence in patient care and medical practice. Qualified candidates are selected based on collective and objective evaluations from attending physicians, preceptors, clinic staff, and USCE MATCH. The identified students will receive a congratulatory e-mail within 1-3 weeks post-rotation asking them to enumerate their top programs per specialty. The campaign will be fulfilled during the interview season, usually in October, and another round in November.

During the interview season, the waiting period can be particularly nerve-wracking, and securing interview invitations can often feel like a daunting numbers game. This unique service provides another layer of support.

It's imperative for applicants to remember that residency programs' ultimate decision-making process remains beyond USCE MATCH's control. However, there have been substantial success stories of previous applicants, despite having some red flags in their application, who received several interview invites and eventually matched with the help of this campaign.