Application Requirements

Dear Applicant,

Thank you for your interest in our Residency Training Program. We are proud of the excellence of our program. We have a large and talented faculty, at the cutting edge of clinical, teaching and research excellence, and one of the best and brightest groups of residents you are likely to meet. If you visit with us, we hope to share with you some of our pride and enthusiasm.

The Department of Psychiatry recruits 9 PGY-1 positions. All PGY-1 positions are done through the National Residency Matching Program "The Match". Information on the Match can be obtained at the their web site www.nrmp.org. UCSD participates in the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). Information for ERAS can be obtained at their web site www.aamc.org/eras. For more information on matching a position in Psychiatry - please see the article on the APA "Guide to the Match in Psychiatry" at http://www.psych.org/edu/med_students/psychmatch.cfm?

The deadline for applications is December 1, and the following requirements are requested for all applications:

Application

C.V. / Resume

Personal Statement (1 page)

3 Letters of Recommendation (current year)

USMLE Step 1 & 2 (passing scores)

Medical School Transcripts

Deans Letter

ECFMG Certificate (if applicable)

Report of Internship or Residency (PGY2-4 positions)

Requests for PGY 2 - 4 positions can be made by emailing restrain@ucsd.edu. These positions are not included in "The Match".

Graduates of international medical schools, located outside of the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada, are welcome to pursue accredited postgraduate training programs in this state when they have met the prerequisites established by the Medical Board of California (MBC).

Applicants are advised to contact the Medical Board of California to request licensure application material. Please contact the Medical Board by mail at the following address or by phone as noted:

Telephone: (916) 263-2499

Following the MBC’s review of the applicant’s application material, the applicant will be advised in writing whether he/she has satisfied the requirements of this state and whether he/she is eligible to commence postgraduate training in California.

The Department of Psychiatry will only review applications that include the Evaluation Status Letter from the Medical Board of California confirming the applicant’s eligibility to commence postgraduate training in the state of California.

Applicants to the Psychiatry Residency Program who are not citizens of the United States may pursue postgraduate medical education while under the sponsorship of the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) holding a J Exchange Visitor Visa. (This does not apply to individuals who hold Permanent Resident Alien status in this country).

San Diego is the second largest city in California, home to more than 2.5 million people in the greater metropolitan area. The economy of the city has a broad base including tourism, the aerospace industry, biomedical technology, and agriculture. The University of California is the second largest employer in the area. An excellent climate, easy access to recreation, good educational systems and a variety of cultural opportunities combine to make San Diego “American’s Finest City.”

An average annual temperature of 70 degrees provides mild sunny days, ideal for a range of mentally healthy activities. San Diego has both professional and collegiate sports including football, basketball, baseball, and soccer. San Diego County residents enjoy outdoor recreation in many city, county, state, and national parks, Torrey Pines State Park, Cabrillo National Monument, Cuyamaca State Park, Anza Borrego State Park, and Mission Trails Regional Park are but a few areas available for hiking, biking, camping, sailing, and enjoying nature.

There are many other cultural activities available to San Diego residents. Balboa Park, located near UCSD Medical Center, is home to the San Diego Zoo, as well as a large number of museums that explore aerospace, contemporary arts, fine arts, natural history, photography, sports, and the evolution of man. Balboa Park has many other attractions, including a Shakespeare Festival, the Old Globe Theatre, and Botanical Gardens. San Diego is also home to the San Diego Symphony and Opera. The La Jolla Playhouse has received national acclaim for the quality and nature of its productions. The Stephen Birch Aquarium Museum offers instruction about the sea life of California, and Sea World offers a fun and educational outing for the entire family.

San Diego is the gateway to Mexico and the Southwest. It is hours from skiing, the desert, and the California Sierra Nevada Mountains. Perhaps the best experience for San Diego residents is walking miles on beaches available to all.