Field Specific Advising Program

Field Specific Advisors (FSAs) are a component of the larger Advising Network/Career Advising Program.

Role of FSAs

  • Faculty are selected to serve as FSAs for their commitment to student advising.
  • Faculty are well informed about their field, up to date on the residency application process for their specialty and the characteristics of various programs around the country.
  • Faculty meet with their advisees and assist them with selecting and approving their 4th year schedule.
  • Faculty assist their students with the selection of away electives in their selected specialty, if appropriate. View Elective Guidelines for guidance on elective selection.
  • Faculty helps the student realistically assess their own competitiveness within their selected specialty.
  • Faculty helps the student choose the most appropriate residency programs based on the student’s profile, to apply to and assist with the creation of the Rank Order List.

Student Responsibility

  • Submitting an FSA using the FSA request form.
  • Keeping track of FSA assignments and communicating with Student Affairs.
  • Contacting their FSA to schedule appointments for advising.
  • Informing their FSA of deadlines for approving/submitting their 4th year schedules.
  • Keeping their FSA up-to-date on grades/evaluations, residency applications, interview schedules,  etc.

Here is a recommended checklist of items to discuss with your FSA: FSA Checklist for Students

Selecting an FSA

As you move through your 3rd year clerkships, keep in mind those physicians with whom you have worked with as you consider selecting an FSA. Student Affairs maintains a list of physicians serving as FSAs, which is updated regularly.

Third Year students will be able to request their FSA after their class meeting in November. You can only have one (1) FSA assigned at a time, but you are able to change your FSA if you decide to change the specialty that you are applying into. It is perfectly okay to have an assigned FSA and meet with other physicians if you’re trying to decide between specialties. However, only your OFFICIALLY ASSIGNED FSA will be allowed to sign off on your schedule. Please contact the Student Affairs Office to notify them of any FSA changes.

Note: The FSA Leads are also available as a resource for students to learn more about a specific specialty and diverse career opportunities. If you are interested in a specialty that is not listed on the FSA Selection Form, please email Student Affairs Deans Ricardo Cruz, MD, or Vivian Sanchez, MD who can connect you to a faculty member in your interested field.

How to Best Utilize your FSA

 

M3 Timeline