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| Third-year medical students are looking ahead to the residency application process. |
As medical students in the Class of 2027 look forward to the next milestone in their training, the Whiddon College of Medicine Office of Student Affairs is helping them prepare every step of the way through its new Roadmap to Residency series.
Designed to guide students from early planning through application season, the series includes a sequence of meetings and one-on-one advising sessions running from fall through spring. By starting early, the Office of Student Affairs aims to help students navigate the many elements of the residency process with confidence and clarity before the application season officially opens in fall 2026.
“The process of transition to residency begins way before finding out where one has matched, and it is a critical period that often leaves medical students with high levels of anxiety,” said Laventrice Ridgeway, Ed.D., associate dean for student affairs at the Whiddon College of Medicine. “With the Roadmap to Residency program, we saw an opportunity to explore the most impactful timeframe for fourth-year preparation and to intentionally offer the essential tools and information students would need to confidently approach the annual residency application cycle, hopefully demystifying the process and easing some of the angst that can result.”
The first session in the series, held in late October, introduced M3s to what they can expect in 2026, covering essential topics like planning and budgeting. Future meetings will dive deeper into areas such as career selection, away rotations, personal statements, and letters of recommendation, ensuring that students stay on track as they progress through each stage of the journey.
The series is a collaborative effort, bringing together expertise from multiple offices within and beyond the College of Medicine, including Financial Aid, Student Records, Health and Wellness, and Career Services. In late June 2026, the Office of Student Affairs will cap off the program with workshops, open office hours, individual meetings, and mock interviews designed to help students refine their skills before application season begins.
While third-year students begin their preparations, the Office of Student Affairs remains deeply engaged with students in the Class of 2026, who are currently navigating this year’s residency application cycle. The team continues to provide essential support services for M4s, including interview preparation, final mock interviews, guidance on communications such as post-interview follow-ups, and counseling as they prepare for the critical process of submitting their final rank order lists for The Match.
