Securing a desired residency is a major task of graduating medical students, in the United States occurring via the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP, "Match"). The number of programs to which students have applied in recent years has skyrocketed, with students applying to dozens of programs with no guarantee of successfully matching. Students completing their clerkship year often face the difficult task of gauging how competitive they are for a given specialty and recognizing they may need to conjure alternate specialty plans. Career advisors must be ready to tactfully point out areas of concern in a learner's application so that the learner can consider alternative specialties, or help them identify additional ways to bolster their existing application. Advisors must also put on students' radars the options should they not Match. Ultimately, the student decides to where they will apply, and ensuring they are the most informed to set themselves up for the most success is key.

At the completion of this session, participants will be able to
1. Identify at least one resource where students can gauge competitiveness for a desired specialty.
2. Describe at least two manners of approaching the learner whose application to their desired specialty does not align with applications of historically successful candidates.
3. Recognize at least two potential areas in a learner’s application that can highlight strengths and mitigate “blemishes.”
4. Understand how to advice on the potential options for students who may not successfully match.