Application Requirements
How to apply to the Internal Medicine Residency Program
At The Ohio State University, we are eager to interview highly qualified candidates for our Internal Medicine Residency Program. We accept applications only through Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). Paper applications will not be reviewed. The following are preferred:- Evaluative Letter from Internal Medicine Department or Chair (SEL or similar format)
- Two additional letters of recommendation
Three letters in total — You will not be penalized for uploading any additional LORs - Application within five years of graduation from medical school
- A passing score on USMLE Steps 1 and 2 or Comlex 1
Review Process
OSU internal medicine seeks applicants who align with our program’s values and would thrive in a large volume, high acuity learning environment. Reviewing applications holistically is time intensive as we pay special attention to each applicant’s unique attributes, training and life experiences. Because of the large volume of applications we receive and our commitment to thoroughly reviewing applications, we rely on signaling. We preferentially review applicants who signal our program. However, we also consider applicants who do not signal us, particularly those whose values align with our program and its unique tracks.
When will OSU IM be issuing invitations for interviews?
We understand the suspense while waiting to hear from potential programs of interest. File review, with a commitment to using holistic approaches, takes time. Most OSU student applicants will receive an invitation early in the process. We are hoping to issue our first large wave of invitations to all other applicants on or around October 16. We will use Thalamus to schedule. First invites will occur before all files have been thoroughly reviewed since we begin our interview season on October 30. But no worries! Waves of invitations will continue to be issued throughout the interview season, in addition to building a wait list so that we can continue to share spots from cancellations.
Our program is careful to only issue invitations when there are adequate open slots for all those invited. However, if the available open dates do not work for an applicant, they are offered the opportunity to place themselves on the back-up list for dates that would work.
We will inform those who we have made a final decision to not invite. We hope that is helpful and not offensive. If you have not heard from us, that decision has not been made and/or you are on the wait list. We will not respond to requests about position on the wait list given this is a moving target.
Typical Interview day schedule
- Half day interview, with optional weekly happy hour sessions
- A program overview given by our PD
- 3 total interviews – 1 faculty member, 1 chief resident, 1 program director
- Time to chat with some of our current residents
- The option to join one of our educational conferences
Guidelines for international medical graduates
International medical graduates may apply to our training program via the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) and the ERAS. Applicants must have a valid ECFMG certificate and must be eligible for ECFMG sponsorship for the J-1 visa as an exchange visitor for the entire program. J-1 is the institution's preferred visa. H-1B visas can be considered if the applicant is a medical student at an LCME-AOA accredited US medical school on an F-1 student visa (H-1B to begin after completion of optional practical training (OPT) year) or; if the applicant is currently on an H-1B at another institution. H-1B visas are allowed only with the approval of the OSU Graduate Medical Education office and cannot be guaranteed to any applicant.
The following are preferred:
- Application within five years of graduation from medical school
- No prior PGY-1 experience
- A minimum of three months of US inpatient clinical experience prior to application (i.e. official inpatient externship)
- Two letters of recommendation from US physicians familiar with your clinical skills
- A passing score of USMLE Steps 1 and 2 or COMLEX 1 and 2
- ECFMG Certification is required by the end of interview season