Specialty-specific review for Transitional Year (TY) applicants. Matched applicants averaged Step 2 CK —. We help you meet that bar.
The patterns reviewers flag most often when screening Transitional Year candidates.
Applying for TY without a confirmed advanced-year specialty spot
Not signaling TY programs you genuinely prefer for clinical exposure
Underestimating how TY year reputation affects fellowship applications
Failing to look for TY programs co-located with your advanced specialty programs
Geographic mismatch between TY location and PGY-2 advanced program
Clinical readiness for independent rotations in medicine and surgery
Commitment to specialty following TY (especially for surgical subspecialties)
Geographic fit and co-location with advanced program
Step 2 CK as a basic competency indicator
Letter from an attending who attests to clinical readiness
Three concrete moves we'll work through with you, drawn from current NRMP / Charting Outcomes data.
Apply TY programs in geographic proximity to your advanced specialty PGY-2 program — co-location reduces logistical and career disruption.
Apply to at least 30 TY programs; with 1,860 positions and a 86.9% fill rate, some positions always go to SOAP, but top programs are still competitive.
Use all 12 signals for TY programs affiliated with your target advanced specialty institutions.
We'll pair you with a reviewer who's served on Transitional Year selection committees. Your personal statement, CV, and signal strategy — line-edited against the bar above.
Data sourced from NRMP / AAMC, NRMP / AAMC. Match year 2025.