General Pediatrics Residency General Pediatrics Residency Curriculum Continuity Clinics Didactics Leadership & Committee Work Individualized Tracks Pathways STAR Pathway Our Residents Leadership Alumni Application Process Frequently Asked Questions Contact Us Frequently Asked Questions Home Research Research: Clinical Departments Pediatrics: Home Pediatrics: Education & Training Pediatrics: Education & Training > Residency Programs Pediatrics: Education & Training > Residency Programs > General Pediatrics Residency Program Pediatrics: Education & Training > Residency Programs > General Pediatrics Residency Program > Frequently Asked Questions FAQs Explore frequently asked questions for the UCI/CHOC Pediatric Residency program. If you have questions that are not covered in the FAQs, please email pedsresidency@hs.uci.edu. What makes your program unique? Our program is the only pediatric residency program in Orange County. We are one of only a handful of programs in the nation with access to two freestanding children’s hospitals. We believe that residency should be both educational and fun, and that these goals are not mutually exclusive. We believe in work-life balance and the empowerment of residents to engage in the molding of their learning environment. These principles are what have earned our residency its longstanding reputation as a resident-friendly program. Our residents are among the brightest, friendliest, most talented trainees in the nation. They bring a positive and innovative spirit to our program. They are a major factor in making our program special. What do you look for in an applicant? We look for well-rounded, hardworking students who also exhibit a high level of ability to work as part of a team. Because we are known for being a resident-friendly program with a strong sense of collegiality among our residents, we look for people who fit the culture of our program. Where do your residents come from? Orange County is a very desirable place to live. Combined with our program’s reputation, our residency receives hundreds of applications each year from students from all over the nation. We have been very fortunate to recruit students from every region of the country. You can visit our Current Residences page to explore the diversity of trainees recruited to our program. What kind of patients will I see? Orange County is one of the most diverse places in the nation. Long Beach further adds diversity to our patient population. Residents will see patients from a broad range of socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds. Because all our training facilities serve as referral centers, residents are exposed to both bread-and-butter and rare conditions. Are there opportunities for research? One of the greatest advantages of a university-based program is the extensive research opportunities that come with that affiliation. Residents can engage in a broad range of research projects from basic science to clinical to community-based projects. We offer a research elective for residents who want focused time to pursue a scholarly project. Many of our residents have presented and published their work during residency. How many weeks of vacation will I get? Residents are given four weeks of vacation, the longest amount of time allowable by The American Board of Pediatrics. Additionally, our rotation and call schedules are planned so residents have several months per year for respite from the traditional Q4 call system. Where do your residents go after graduation? Roughly 25 percent of our residents pursue fellowship opportunities, while 75 percent go into general pediatrics. Our residents have had great success in procuring the jobs and fellowships of their choice. Please visit our Alumni page to see details about where our residents have gone for fellowships. How do USMLE Step scores affect my application? All applicants must take Step 1 to qualify for an interview. There is no minimum score cutoff for application. It is strongly recommended that applicants take both USMLE Step 2 CK and CS early enough to have passing scores available for our selection committee to review by February. Passing both Step 2 exams is strictly required prior to starting residency at UCI-CHOC. Which visa types are accepted for foreign medical school applicants? The University of California only accepts J-1 visas. If you have a current J-1 visa, a current ECFMG certificate is also required. All applications must be submitted through ERAS. When should I expect a response regarding my application? Interviews are scheduled for November, December and early January. Invitations typically are sent out starting in early October. Our program reviews all applications. However, due to the number of applications received, an invitation cannot be extended to every applicant. Do I need to notify the residency program of any changes to my ERAS application? There is no need to provide notification when new scores or letters are uploaded to ERAS. The program checks ERAS files frequently.