How the Residency Explorer tool can transform your application strategy

Medical students preparing for residency applications have access to powerful resources that can transform their approach to this important transition. The recently updated Residency Explorer™ tool offers evidence-based answers to critical questions: Where should you apply? Which programs align with your goals? Where are you likely to receive interview invitations? This free tool helps residency applicants and their advisors make informed, strategic decisions based on verified data.

A centralized resource for residency application planning

The Residency Explorer tool draws on verified information from reputable organizations, including:

• Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)
• National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME)
• National Resident Matching Program (NRMP)
• Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)
• National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME)

By consolidating and compiling data from these trusted sources, the Residency Explorer tool offers users a centralized, reliable resource—eliminating the need to search across multiple websites—and empowering applicants to make informed decisions.

Residency Explorer has new data and features

The Residency Explorer tool has recently been updated with new data and features to better support applicants and advisors. Here’s what’s new:

• Updated interview invitation data to reflect the most recent application cycle: This includes program-level interview invitation rates, characteristics of invited applicants and applicant pool composition across multiple factors.
• COMLEX-USA/USMLE score data: Newly added license exam score info by program.
• Main residency match data: Number of positions offered and filled by all residency position types.
• Broader program and specialty inclusion: More specialties and programs represented across the platform.

Coming in August 2025

• Program highlights: Quickly and easily explore what makes each program unique within its specialty. Programs use this space to highlight distinctive features—such as their community, patient population, curriculum, training opportunities or clinical experiences.
• Eligibility and requirements: This includes license exam thresholds for interview invitations, letter of recommendation needs and away rotation requirements.

As one user survey revealed in AAMC’s in-house research, over 85% of respondents who used the tool said it helped them better understand their options and feel more prepared.

The Explore feature of the tool allows students to filter programs based on location, setting, types of positions available, whether a program has osteopathic recognition and other factors that matter most to them. Side-by-side program comparisons make it easier to evaluate options, while current resident demographics and program characteristics provide insight into the training environment.

Finding DO-friendly programs

For DO students, the tool offers particular value in identifying programs that embrace osteopathic principles. Students can examine interview invitation patterns and program characteristics to assess programs’ DO-friendliness.

Transparency in the residency application process

The Residency Explorer tool represents a shift toward transparency in the transition to residency. By providing source-verified data without paywalls, the platform empowers students, advisors and specialty advisors to approach the transition to residency with confidence and intention.

Related reading:

The NRMP 2026 Match and ERAS timeline for residency applicants

Tips for the transition from the fourth year of medical school to a successful Match and residency