You Matched!! Now what?

The celebration is well deserved. Here’s everything you need to do in the weeks and months ahead.

Match Day is one of the most emotional moments in a physician’s life. After years of medical school, USMLE exams, applications, interviews, and waiting — you have a program. You have a future. Take a moment to feel that fully.

And then — when you’re ready — get to work. Because the stretch between Match Day and July 1st is shorter than it looks, and there is a lot to do.

Immediately After the Match — Week One

Contact your program. Reach out to your program coordinator within the first week to introduce yourself and ask what they need from you. They will guide you through the onboarding process, but making that first contact promptly signals professionalism and enthusiasm.

Notify everyone who supported you. Your mentors, your letter writers, the attendings who believed in you, your family. These people invested in your success. A personal note — even a brief one — goes a long way and builds relationships that will matter throughout your career.

Take a breath. You have earned a moment of rest. The to-do list is real, but so is the need to recover from what was a long and grueling application season. Rest intentionally before the next sprint begins.

Administrative Essentials — Do These Early

The administrative tasks of starting residency are substantial, and many of them take longer than expected. Start as soon as possible.

Apply for your medical license. Every state has its own licensing process, requirements, and timelines. Some states take three to six months to process a license. Find out which state your program is in, go directly to that state’s medical board website, and begin the application immediately. Do not wait until spring.

For IMGs: you will also need to confirm that your ECFMG certificate is fully issued and on file. Your program will require it.

Apply for your DEA registration. Your Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) number is required to prescribe controlled substances. You cannot write certain prescriptions without it. Apply through the DEA Diversion Control Division as soon as you have your state medical license number — the two are linked.

Begin hospital credentialing. Your program will send you a credentialing packet — likely a thick one. Complete every form promptly and completely. Missing documents or slow responses on your end can delay your start date. This is not the time to procrastinate.

Set up malpractice insurance. Your residency program typically provides this, but confirm the details: Is it occurrence-based or claims-made? If claims-made, does the program provide tail coverage when you graduate? Understand your coverage before you see your first patient as a resident.

Open a local bank account if you are relocating. Direct deposit, local bills, and everyday spending are easier with a local institution. Do this before you move, or as one of your first tasks after arriving.

Practical Life Logistics

Find housing. If you are relocating — and many residents are — finding housing should be your top priority after your license application. Ask your program coordinator which neighborhoods are popular with residents, whether the hospital has affiliated housing resources, and what the typical commute looks like. Residents who live close to the hospital save time and energy every single day.

Visit the city before you move, if possible. Many programs host a “Second Look” event or welcome weekend in the spring. Attend if you can — it is an opportunity to meet your future co-residents, explore the city, and start apartment hunting in person.

Arrange transportation. Know how you will get to and from the hospital. If you are driving, make sure your car is reliable. If you are relying on public transit, map out your route in advance — including the 5:30 AM route.

Sort out health insurance. Your residency program provides health insurance, but enrollment windows are short and the choices can be confusing. Review your options carefully, enroll on time, and make sure any ongoing prescriptions or care are covered under your new plan.

Transfer or establish medical care. Update your own primary care physician, dentist, therapist, or any specialists. You will not have time to manage healthcare crises during intern year — get established before July 1st.

Financial Planning

Residency is the beginning of your financial life as a physician — and the habits you build now will follow you into attending-hood.

Understand your salary. PGY-1 salaries vary by program and region but typically range from $55,000 to $75,000 annually. It is more than medical school, but it requires a budget — especially in high cost-of-living cities.

Start a budget. Know what you earn, what your fixed expenses are (rent, loan payments, insurance), and what’s left over. Use a simple app or a spreadsheet — whichever you’ll actually maintain.

Address your student loans. If you have federal student loans, look into income-driven repayment plans and Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) — residency at a qualifying nonprofit hospital counts as qualifying employment. Enroll early; the paperwork takes time and the clock starts when you start working, not when you enroll.

Build an emergency fund. Aim for one to three months of living expenses in a savings account before or shortly after starting residency. Unexpected expenses happen — a car repair, a medical bill, a travel emergency. Having a buffer means these don’t become crises.

Don’t take on new debt if you can avoid it. Residency is not the time for large purchases you can’t afford outright. A modest, reliable life for three years sets you up for much greater financial freedom as an attending.

Before July 1st — Prepare Your Mind

Review the basics. The transition from medical student to physician happens overnight — and on day one, patients are yours. Spend some time in the weeks before residency brushing up on common presentations: chest pain, shortness of breath, altered mental status, sepsis, AKI, hyponatremia. Not to master them — to feel oriented when you encounter them.

Learn your hospital’s systems. If your program offers any orientation to the EHR (Epic, Cerner, etc.) before you start, take it seriously. The faster you learn to navigate the system, the more time you spend thinking about patients instead of fighting with the computer.

Read a practical intern survival guide. Books like The Intern’s Pocket Survival Guide or On Call: Principles and Protocols are worth a read before July 1st. Not for clinical mastery — for practical orientation to how the hospital works.

Connect with your incoming co-residents. Many programs have group chats or social events before the start date. Join them. These are the people who will get you through the hardest days of the next three years. Start building those relationships now.

Rest. Seriously. Sleep in. Travel if you can. Spend time with people you love. The window between Match and residency is precious — and once July 1st arrives, rest becomes something you have to schedule deliberately. Take it freely now while you have it.