Introduction
The Career Planning Program at HMS is dedicated to supporting students in making informed specialty choices and securing strong residency matches, while nurturing professional fulfillment throughout their medical school journey and beyond into their careers. Our longitudinal, phase-based approach to career planning builds on the AAMC Careers in Medicine Program, offering extensive programming and advising—from initial career exploration to the residency match process. Ultimately, HMS students celebrate their matches and alternate career choices on Match Day
Coinciding with all of these opportunities is an advising relationship developed with the Society Advisors throughout students’ tenure at HMS and with the PCE and Post-PCE specialty advisors during the clinical portion of the curriculum.
Programming
The Career Planning Program unfolds in three key phases:
- Preclerkship: Discover your interests by exploring various aspects and fields within clinical care
- PCE (Principal Clinical Experience): Delve into different specialty options through hands-on clinical rotations
- Post-PCE: Deepen your exploration of potential specialties and develop a strong residency application aligned with your career goals
Advising
Personalized career advising is an integral part of the HMS experience at every phase of medical school. In the first year, students build foundational mentoring relationships with their Society Advisors. As students move into the PCE and Post-PCE phases, they work closely with specialty advisors, as well as faculty and alumni mentors, to gain focused insight into specific specialties and career paths.
Throughout their training, students have access to a wide range of advising opportunities, including both individual and group sessions with faculty and staff. Regular one-on-one meetings are designed to address academic progress, career planning, and personal growth, helping students tailor their medical education to their unique interests and goals.
By leveraging the various resources and mentorships available at HMS, students are empowered to actively shape and personalize their medical career journeys.
Getting Started
New students begin their career planning by completing a career assessment using the AAMC Careers in Medicine online program in spring of their first year. Students sign in with their AAMC login, using the same username and password they created to sign up for the MCAT® exam, AMCAS®, and other AAMC services.
Career Planning by Curricular Phase
Preclerkship
During the first 14–18 months of medical school, HMS supports students as they begin to explore a wide range of possible medical careers. Early career planning provides opportunities to discover your interests, reflect on your goals, address potential challenges, and lay the foundation for maintaining a healthy balance between personal and professional life.
Understanding Yourself
Self-discovery is a key part of making a satisfying specialty choice. Throughout the Preclerkship phase, students can connect with mentors and advisors, and explore different fields through:
- Specialty-Specific Resources: Join HMS Student Interest Groups, connect with national organizations, and attend Specialty Interest Series career sessions where they can access guidance from faculty and residents from various specialties.
- Pathways Professional Development Week (PDW): Participate in workshops and activities focused on professional growth and self-reflection.
- AAMC Careers in Medicine Program: Utilize detailed tools for self-exploration and learning about various career options.
Group Career Planning
Lessons Learned Along the Way (August)
Each year, the Director of Career Planning leads a session on mentoring and balancing your personal and professional life in medicine.
Specialty Interest Series (September-April)
This seminar series invites clinicians from HMS-affiliated hospitals for panel discussions in more than 20 specialties each year. Sessions help students learn about different fields directly from practicing physicians.
Recordings of Specialty Interest Series past sessions can be accessed through the individual specialty pages linked on the Specialty-Specific Resources page.
Student Specialty Interest Groups
In partnership with the career planning program and HMS/HSDM Student Council, these groups offer opportunities to explore and connect with specific specialties. Through talks and events, students can meet faculty, residents, and peers who share their interests and take early steps toward residency applications.
HMS Career Planning Program Open Houses
Held in the fall and spring for first-year students and in the summer for second-year students, the Open House offers a chance to connect informally with faculty supporting the career planning process.
Pathways: Professional Development Week (PDW) (Year 1 in April and Year II in August)
In both Years I and II, Pathways students participate in a dedicated week focusing on professional development. Activities include self-assessment, skills feedback, and guided reflection—helping students set goals and shape individualized learning plans. During PDW, students also complete the Introduction to Careers in Medicine AAMC survey and career assessment.
USMLE Step 1 Support Sessions (January and April)
Preclerkship students receive extensive support preparing for USMLE Step 1 through sessions led by the Office of Learning Resources and Support. These sessions cover preparation strategies, practice exams, and study planning, and include insights from senior students about effective resources and maintaining a healthy study-life balance. Faculty are also available for one-on-one consultations as students prepare for Step 1.
PCE
During their 12 months in the PCE, HMS students complete rotations through seven core clerkships at their designated clinical sites. These hands-on experiences allow students to actively participate as members of the healthcare team across a variety of medical and surgical specialties. This immersive exposure is an opportunity for students to refine their interests and narrow down specialty choices by the end of the PCE year.
Every PCE student is paired with a dedicated hospital-based mentor and continues to receive guidance from their Society Advisors. Society Advisors support students’ educational progress and specialty decision-making, supplementing career exploration resources available through the HMS Career Planning program and the AAMC Careers in Medicine program. During the PCE, students participate in two formal society advising meetings.
Exploring Options
Understanding the full range of available career paths is essential to making informed decisions. Throughout the PCE phase, students are encouraged to begin planning for their Post-PCE phase by consulting with their PCE and Society Advisors about six months before it begins. In addition, students can take advantage of specialty-specific resources, career planning website tools, residency panels, and board review sessions to explore different fields of medicine.
Students are also encouraged to continue utilizing the AAMC Careers in Medicine Program for in-depth resources on self-assessment and career exploration.
Group Career Planning
Alternative Medical Careers Series
A two-part panel discussion designed for students interested in exploring non-traditional career paths in medicine and held in the fall. As you consider your future as a physician, this series highlights the variety of ways to combine your medical training with other fields. Areas of interest may include public health, policy and advocacy, journalism, research, medical informatics, and more. Some career directions may also require or benefit from additional degrees or credentials such as an MPH, MPP, MBA, MEd, or PhD.
Fifth Year Options: Other Degrees and Research
The first session, offered in the fall, is tailored for students currently in the Principal Clinical Experience (PCE) phase who are considering adding a fifth year to their training. Senior students who have pursued extended research or enrolled in dual-degree programs will share insights and advice based on their own experiences.
More information on fifth-year funding and combined degrees can be found through the Office of Scholarly Engagement.
Helpful links:
Alternative Medical Careers and Private Practice
The second fall session is open to all students, and features HMS alumni and faculty from Harvard-affiliated hospitals who have pursued alternative career tracks—whether through obtaining joint degrees or establishing careers in private practice. Panelists discuss their diverse career journeys and the options available beyond traditional clinical roles.
Helpful link: AAMC resources for alternative careers
Group Career Planning Programming
Group career planning includes various class meetings and pertinent panel presentations aligned with the curriculum.
| Month(s) | Event(s) |
|---|---|
| June & October | Career Planning Open House with Director of Career Planning Program |
| June/July | Retake "Careers in Medicine" AAMC survey |
| July | Class Meeting: Post-PCE Preparation for Pathways Overview of the Post-PCE curriculum and update on the clinical assessment program, hosted by the Dean for Students and the Dean for Medical Education. Class Meeting: London/HST Rising 3rd Years For more information, contact the HST Director of Administration. |
| September | More information above under Alternative Medical Careers Series. Fifth Year Options (HST) For more information, contact the HST Director of Administration. USMLE Step II CK Preparation Workshop Overview of critical preparation for USMLE Step 2 CK (practice exam, reevaluation of approach, resources). A student panel discusses study strategies, study resources, and study schedules. Presented and moderated by the Director of the Office of Learning Resources and Support. |
| Late fall – early spring | Peer-to-Peer Career Planning Mentorship Program Connecting interested PCE students to senior peer mentors to engage in informal conversations and foster supportive and informative relationships among students across classes. Senior peer mentors will share their insights and experiences regarding post-PCE specialty discernment and how they approached choosing their specialty from both a professional and personal standpoint. |
Post-PCE
The Post-PCE phase is dedicated to specialty selection and preparing for residency applications. At this stage, students decide which specialty or specialties they wish to pursue and receive comprehensive guidance from HMS advisors and leadership throughout the process of applying for top residency programs through the MATCH.
Once students select their specialty, they get connected with a Residency Application Specialty Advisor (RASA) for tailored support and mentorship. Students also continue to meet with Society Advisors as they begin active preparation for residency applications and interviews; in addition, they can connect to HMS alumni.
Students are also encouraged to use the AAMC Careers in Medicine Program (AAMC login required) for additional guidance on specialty choice and residency preparation.
Group Career Planning Programming
| Month(s) | Event(s) |
|---|---|
| January | Class Meeting: The Road to Residency (Part I) Rising 4th year students learn about the year ahead from the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) onward, including how to choose a specialty, the process and timeline for the residency application, preparing and taking USMLE Step 2 CK, opportunities for advanced and away electives, meeting mandatory requirements and building a relationship with advisors. Presented by the Dean for Students and the Director of Career Planning. |
| January/February | How to Create a Competitive Residency Application: Advice from Our Experts (5 Part Series) A panel of residency directors at Harvard-affiliated hospitals speak to rising 4th-year students about the qualities of highly competitive, strong applications in each of the main specialties. Topics include: USMLE Step 2 CK score; grades; signaling; research and publications; when to take a fifth year for research; advice for Personal Statements and Letters of Recommendation; when to expect invitations for interviews; post-interview protocol; recommended 4th-year electives and when away-electives or clinical research are recommended in each of the fields. Moderated by the Director of Career Planning. A Q&A session follows each panel discussion in break-out room setting. |
| April | Class Meeting: The Road to Residency (Part II) A presentation on the Medical School Performance Evaluation (MSPE) process, application timeline, AAMC Careers in Medicine, and application resources. Presented by the Dean for Students and Director of Career Planning. |
| April & August | Society and Specialty Advising Meetings: Career Selection Students will meet with their advisor to discuss steps for residency application. Career Planning Open House with the Director of Career Advising |
| May | Personal Statements, Letters of Recommendation, and CV Workshop Workshop on how to develop effective, strong personal statements and Curriculum Vitae (CV), as well as the timeline and process of requesting letters of recommendations, identifying recommendation letter-writers, and determining what information to provide to letter-writers. Presented by Society Advisors. |
| June | Applying to Residency Using Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) Overview of need-to-know aspects of the application process and ERAS, with a focus on application timelines, sections of ERAS, applicant checklist, monitoring your application, registering for match, and reviewing important resources. Presented by Dean for Students and ERAS Coordinator. |
| September | Introduction to the Residency Interview Process Workshop on general residency interviewing tips, types of interview questions, post-interview communication and additional important resources pertaining to the interview process. Presented by the Dean for Students. |
| September/October | Residency Practice Interviews Students are matched with residents, HMS Society Advisors, and faculty from area hospitals, who are not members of the residency selection committee, based on their specialty choice, for two 25-minute practice residency interviews, including time for feedback. During these exercises, students can sharpen their interviewing skills, practice answering difficult or unforeseen questions, learn to present or explain certain aspects of their background and demonstrate their genuine interest in a program. |
| January of graduation year | Part 1: Special Considerations When Creating Your Rank List A panel of residents from area hospitals discuss the factors and considerations that went into creating their own personal rank lists, including topics such as post-interview communication, comparing programs, transitional, preliminary and categorical program ranking, information gathering, couples match considerations and matching in a different geographic region. Moderated by the Director of Career Planning. Part 2: Technical Aspects of Ranking HMS’s ERAS Coordinator will give a summary of the online resources and on how to submit a rank list in the NRMP system, followed by Q&A. |
| March of graduation year | Match Day is an annual nationwide event at which students learn which residency program they will be attending. It is coordinated by the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP). |
| April of graduation year | A panel of residents representing some of the main specialties share their specialty-specific experiences from their intern year, the first year of GME (graduate medical education) training. Topics on how to prepare for the intern year include: first day and first week experiences; responsibilities of an intern; team relationships with hospital personnel; communication, professionalism, confidentiality, conferences, order writing; ideas for increasing efficiency; procedures interns perform; most common problems for which interns are paged and how to respond; useful technologies; finding mentors; selecting publishable research projects; teaching roles; strategies for staying organized; and maintaining work-life balance. Moderated by the Director of Career Planning. |
Individual Career Planning
Dean for Students
Preclerkship, PCE, Post-PCEThe Dean for Students works with students across all years and all Societies to explore ways to enhance or address aspects of the entire student experience, from education to student life to career planning, and works with students to develop innovative solutions to issues and concerns. The Office of Student Affairs features a career planning nook with Match resources, HMS-specific Match data, post-Match surveys, advisor list, and specialty-specific resources.
Society Advisor
Preclerkship, PCEAll students are assigned to an Academic Society and a society-specific primary advisor who acts as a "Primary Care Physician" of the advising team. The society advisor serves as a liaison to curricular, extra-curricular, research, career and specialty advisors throughout a student's journey at Harvard Medical School. Advisors help with finding a mentor and shadowing experiences, specialty choices, and the residency application process: MSPE (Medical Student Performance Evaluation) guidance, obtaining Letters of Recommendation, reviewing Personal Statements, filling out application sections and preparing for interviews.
Students typically meet with their advisors multiple times during the Post-PCE with the following goals:
- Strategic planning of fourth-year schedules
- Identifying career choices and planning for the residency application process
- Providing guidance on writing Personal Statements and CVs, obtaining Letters of Recommendation, completing residency applications, preparing for residency interviews, and creating a rank order list
- Guidance with components of the Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE)
AAMC Careers in Medicine Program
Preclerkship, PCE, Post-PCEStudents can utilize the AAMC Careers in Medicine Program for detailed resources on self-exploration, exploring career options, choosing a specialty and preparing for residency. (AAMC Careers in Medicine login required)
Specialty Mentors
Preclerkship, PCE, Post-PCEEvery year graduates list specialty mentors and advisors within their HMS Post-Match Survey responses. These can be found under each specialty category in the report. This report is not comprehensive and students can reach out to other advisors to help them identify additional specialty mentors. (HarvardKey authentication required)
Shadowing Opportunities
PreclerkshipPreclerkship (Pre-PCE) students who wish to engage in shadowing opportunities with clinicians and researchers in specialties of interest may contact their Academic Society, Career Planning staff, the Office of Scholarly Engagement (OSE), or the Dean for Students for assistance.
Residency Application Specialty Advisor (RASA)
Post-PCEToward the beginning of a student's Post-PCE year, a faculty member in the specialty of interest will be selected to serve as the Residency Application Advisor. This advisor provides "specialty care" in the match process by supporting students throughout the residency application process.
Example topics:
- Developing personal criteria to identify residency programs
- Selecting writers of letters of recommendation
- Working out a strategy for interviews and post-interview protocols
- Reviewing rank lists
Residency Application Specialty Advisors List (RASA) (HarvardKey authentication required)
Alumni Advisors
PCE, Post-PCEHMS has formed a network of 400 alumni from throughout the US and some international locations representing a spectrum of medical specialties. They might be available for an email exchange, a phone call, a visit or shadowing at their workplace. Students may reach out to alumni at any time during their medical school career. Prior to the residency application process, students may check in with these alumni before interviews for specific details about particular hospitals, programs and careers.
To connect with Alumni Advisors, send the Alumni Liaison a short description of your inquiry and/or interests. The liaison will find someone to help you. (HarvardKey authentication required)
Leadership
Interim Dean for Students
Advisory Dean and Director
William Augustus Hinton Society
Director of Career Advising
Assistant Director of Student Affairs