How to Apply

The UC San Diego Department of Ophthalmology takes four residents per year, exclusively through the Central Application Service (CAS) provided by the San Francisco Matching Program (SF Match).

Enhance Your Application

In addition to the CAS materials requested by the SF Match, you are welcome to send any additional documents you would like to add to your application which is not accepted by the match program to our Program Manager at Shiley-residency@health.ucsd.edu or rkaustin@health.ucsd.edu.

Applicant Guidelines

Typically, the SF Match sends about 400 applicant files for us to review for our four positions, and we invite about 10% of these in late November / early December (dates are chosen each year). While no absolute selection criteria exist, the Residency Selection Committee considers the following:

• Academic credentials (e.g. USMLE scores, performance in medical school, performance on clinical rotations)
• Evidence of academic potential
• Evidence of commitment to Ophthalmology (performance reports for ophthalmology electives; related research interests during medical school; outside activities such as clubs, publications, volunteer work; etc.)
• Personal statement
• Letters of recommendation
• For all postgraduates domestic and foreign, as of January 2020, you will be required to obtain a PTL (Post-graduate Training License) from the Medical Board of California, which must be obtained to start your PGY1 year of internship. You will carry this license throughout your residency (PGY2-PGY4 years). PTAL for foreign graduates will no longer be required.
• For non-citizen applicants, the required J-1 visa