They are not! Always remember, regardless of the rotation, the most important things are what you learned in the rotation, and whether you have a personalized letter of recommendation at the end.

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.