This article is a summary of insights from a June 2025 panel of in-training members who recently matched and share a strong passion for interventional radiology.
It is no secret that the residency match process can be a very stressful time for medical students as competition, stress and a lack of control of the final outcome are at an all-time high. Since 2019, the Integrated IR residency match rate has ranged from 94.9% to 100%, solidifying that IR remains one of the most competitive residencies in medicine. For recent context, the 2025 Main Residency Match had 496 applicants competing for 209 Integrated IR positions, thus highlighting the selectiveness of this process.
With some preparation, there are many things within your control to help reduce stress and increase your readiness while you navigate the application process.
Strategize
Start by putting together a plan as it will help you to organize your next steps and boost your confidence during this difficult time. It’s important to prepare as early as you can in order to conduct your research on various away rotations, residency pathways and residency programs so that you know what each program offers. Also decide whether you want to apply for a transitional year, a preliminary internal medicine year or a preliminary surgical year—or any combination of these—for your intern year.
Everyone has various suggestions on which intern year is the best to prepare for interventional radiology but at the end of the day you have to choose what is right for you professionally and personally.
Remember that the intern year is only one year, it’s an important year in training but only a blimp in time, so do not over think it. Do not feel forced to choose a certain kind of intern year. Assess your current financial situation and consider your career goals as well as your personal family and living circumstances. See which programs you can envision yourself enrolling in and investigate whether the culture of the institution is a good fit for you.
Network
While it is important to find an IR attending who can be your mentor, it is also essential to build connections with people you already know who successfully matched. These connections can be formed through SIR meetings, online through various social media platforms or simply through other friends and mentors you know. Even if they are one or two years out of the matching process, connecting with them for advice can be beneficial. Ask them for their feedback on your plan for away rotations, applications and personal statements and learn what strategies you could incorporate.
Remember: the goal is to not to exactly mirror your peer’s path, but to get necessary assessment on areas that you could improve on.
Letters of recommendations
Think heavily on where you would like to obtain these letters, even as early as before the 4th year of medical school. You should aim to have three to four letters of recommendation and to secure some potential back-ups just in case. If there is a research year or an away rotation you are interested in, connect with coordinators to learn more about the opportunity so that you have as much information as you can before applying.
Away rotations
Most, if not all, IR applicants should do an away rotation, and it is imperative to do well. This is a fantastic way to demonstrate your work ethic, patient interaction skills and overall competency. It’s a chance to allow your personality and work ethic to shine through beyond your CV and test scores, and allows you to make connections with the institution.
If you have an IR program at your home institution, use that as a training ground to learn as much as you can before going to your away rotations. If you do not have an IR home program, try to schedule programs you are more excited about matching into later in the year when you have a rotation or two under your belt.
Remember to choose an IR away rotation based on your lifestyle (including geographical considerations, family life and financial situation), the quality of the program, the types of procedures you are most interested in and your personal fit. You should rotate at a mix of programs. Rotating at only high-caliber programs is a risky strategy compared to rotating at a wider range in quality.
It is critical to only apply to programs you can afford. While some rotations have scholarships or financial assistance, this is not always guaranteed, and you will have to do extra research to learn what is available at each institution. Try to do away rotations near home and in locations where friends might be located to save money on housing.
Final reflections
Make sure you are a well-rounded candidate and look into areas that need to be improved on (research, letters of recommendations and leadership). Remember to tell your story and effectively communicate what makes you passionate, and ensure that your CV is reflective of said story. Check to see if there are projects, research or learning opportunities on your CV that you enjoy talking about and put in the work to complete initiatives that you connect with.
Program directors aim to build strong, effective teams, so demonstrating your ability to advocate for yourself and showing how your participation can bring mutual value will help you stand out.
