Learn about the New OB/GYN Residency Application Platform
Written by the ResidencyCAS Team
Obstetrics and Gynecology (OBGYN) will be using a new application platform “ResidencyCAS” starting with the 2024-2025 application cycle for applicants to apply to residency programs. This is intended to address the unprecedented surge in applications to OBGYN residency programs, which has caused escalating costs for applicants and the inability of programs to conduct holistic reviews of applicants.
In response to these challenges, the OBGYN specialty has engaged in collaborative efforts, convening focus groups comprising program directors, deans, advisors, and learners to conceive an application tailored explicitly to the needs of the OBGYN field. ResidencyCAS is a state-of-the-art web-based platform intended to streamline the application process, for both applicants and residency programs alike. For applicants, here are some of the key points to note:
· Application Content: In addition to the typical application content applicants are used providing, ResidencyCAS will allow applicants to enter non-medical experiences in a separate section of the application which would capture non-traditional jobs applicants had to hold to support themselves financially or non-traditional paths to medical school. In addition, there will be a separate section to capture hobbies and interests. Furthermore, other sections, such as the honors and awards and the publications sections, have been rearranged to capture the most meaningful contributions of applicants.
· Application cost: ResidencyCAS is offering a redesigned pricing model wherein applicants can submit up to 18 applications at a flat rate of $99 (the number of signals in OBGYN), with subsequent applications $18/application up to 30 applications and $23/application thereafter, thereby marking a significant 20% reduction on average compared to previous application cycles. In addition, ResidencyCAS will be offering a fee assistance program to qualified applicants.
· The Match: The Match will continue to be conducted through the National Residency Match Program (NRMP), and couples who wish to couple’s match will be able to use that indication on their ResidencyCAS application so individuals participating in the NRMP Match as a couple may link their rank order lists if they wish. The new platform will support applicants through the NRMP’s Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP) process. Multispecialty applicants will still need to use the other corresponding applications for the specialties they wish to apply to.
· Dual Applicants: Applicants who wish to apply to another specialty at same time as applying into OBGYN will need to fill out the other specialty’s application in addition to OBGYN. For example, an applicant who wishes to apply to Family Medicine in addition to OBGYN will need to fill out an ERAS application in addition to ResidencyCAS. Please note that the total costs for dual applicants in ResidencyCAS and ERAS will still be lower than dual applicants in ERAS alone as ResidencyCAS application costs are lower than ERAS.
· Applicant Preparation and Resources: To prepare applicants for the next application season, the Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics (APGO), the Council on Resident Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology (CREOG), and the Right Resident, Right Program, Ready Day One (RRR) project team will be putting together a series of webinars starting in April 2024 through the start of the interview season to help guide applicants through the residency application process and the new application platform. To stay informed about all the offerings for the applicants, please check the APGO RRR website https://apgo.org/page/rrrapplicant and download the RRR App for push notifications about all the events (instructions at the bottom of the page) to make sure you do not miss any announcements. The new application platform will open on June 5, and applicants may begin requesting letters of recommendation (LOR) through the LOR portal at that time as well. Please note that the OBGYN specialty will continue to require one standardized letter of evaluation (SLOE) as in previous cycles, and it will be electronically integrated in ResidencyCAS moving forward.
ResidencyCAS is an innovation for OBGYN, promising a new era of efficiency, equity, and excellence in applicant evaluation and residency program selection. For any clarifications, applicants are encouraged to visit the above website, and if they do not find the answer, please email transitionfeedback@apgo.org.
