The Transitional Year Residency at Indiana University School of Medicine offers 15 positions each year. All positions are filled through the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP) Main Match. Applications are accepted via the Electronic Residency Application System (ERAS).
Application and Interviews
Graduates from an accredited medical schools are invited to apply via the Electronic Residency Application System (ERAS). Applications must be received via ERAS. The following application materials are required:
- Common Application Form only (no Supplemental ERAS application)
- Dean’s letter MSPE
- Medical school transcripts
- Step 1 and Step 2 USMLE and/or COMLEX Scores
- 3 letters of recommendation
- Personal statement
Additional considerations specific to non-US citizens or international medical graduates include the following:
- IU School of Medicine sponsors only the J-1 visa
- ECFMG certification is required
- Strong US clinical experience within the past year
- Preference for recent graduates (under 2 years)
For the 2024-25 ERAS cycle, the residency plans to conduct all interviews virtually via Thalamus on select dates from November through January. Invitations to interview are offered on a rolling basis, with the first invitations planned for October.
For additional information, interested applicants can email questions or call 317-962-8881 and ask for Cynthia Murdock, Transitional Year Residency Coordinator.
Residency Training at IU School of Medicine
IU School of Medicine provides numerous opportunities and a supportive environment for residency training. The school is home to numerous residency programs, including anesthesiology, dermatology, diagnostic and interventional radiology, neurology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, and radiation oncology.
Frequently Asked Questions
Successful applicants value the clinical foundation provided by the Transitional Year and share the program's emphasis on individual resident development. Commitment to the program, as reflected by clinical patient care and support of the residency class, is important in making the residency successful.
Preliminary positions are stand-alone PGY-1 positions, unattached to an advanced residency program in the NRMP Main Match. Advanced positions begin at the PGY-2 level, unattached to a Preliminary position in the NRMP Main Match. Categorical positions combine a PGY-1 Preliminary position with a PGY-2 Advanced position in the NRMP Main Match. Applicants who match to Advanced positions must complete a preliminary year. Applicants who match to Categorical positions match for both the preliminary and the advanced residency training years (“one stop shopping"). It’s also important to understand that many advanced residencies offer both Advanced and Categorical positions.
Very competitive! A high demand for PGY-1 preliminary positions exists in the US. While most are aware of the highly competitive nature of advanced residency positions (e.g. anesthesiology) many fail to recognize the competition inherent in the preliminary match. Potential trainees for all advanced training pathways are vying for the same preliminary training positions! Add non-US graduates and applicants who are applying in their second, or even third, match cycles, and one can start to appreciate the vast competition for preliminary positions. It is worth reiterating this importance: applicants who successfully match into advanced residency positions cannot begin training without completing a preliminary training year — prioritizing the preliminary match is important!