Not necessarily. In fact, virtual interviews often allow programs to send out more invitations—since a typical virtual interview lasts around 15 minutes, compared to 45 minutes for an in-person one. You may still receive only a few interviews, which is why making a strong impression during each one is more important than ever.

Step three is not mandatory to apply to residency, however, is highly recommended for students who are more than three years out of graduation.

Definitely! There are plenty of cases where applicants more than seven years out from graduation have successfully matched into residency. It’s all about staying active—getting involved in research, maintaining clinical experience through rotations, and building relationships with programs by doing in-person rotations whenever possible.

Of course! At the end of the day, what truly matters is what you gained from the rotation - and whether the doctor is willing to write you a personalized, meaningful letter of recommendation. A strong LOR is your chance to have someone who worked with you speak directly to the program, on paper, about why you're a great fit.

Think of your CV and personal statement as your first impression - they introduce you to the program before you even step into the interview. These two documents help programs start forming a picture of who you are. That’s why they’re among the most important parts of your application before the interview stage.

Step 1 now being a pass/fail has significantly increased the relevance and importance of a high CK score. The main metrics the programs use for filters are your CK score, year of graduation and step three status.