Elective Selection Frequently Asked Questions
Advice on Non-Clinical Elective (NCE) Selection
Electives are not required. ALL School of Medicine coursework (especially required sessions) takes priority over electives. Not all students take a non-clinical elective, and that is completely fine.
Don’t overload yourself — prioritize progress in Foundations courses and Step 1 study. If you do want to take an NCE, choose purposefully. Ask yourself what knowledge, skills, experiences you hope to gain.
Students register for electives just as you do for required blocks, so you must follow the University of Washington registration deadlines.
Electives do not always run on the same schedule as medical school classes. Please double check the dates and times, including final exam times, start and end quarter dates, etc.
Refer to the NCE website for more information.
Who can I talk to for advice about elective selection in Foundations Phase?
For Foundations students considering a non-clinical elective (NCE), your College Faculty member is a great sounding board.
Once MS2s have their Patient Care Phase schedules, you can start to plan your 6-week Elective Block. You will meet with your Career Advisor or come to Office Hours to discuss your elective options and solidify your plan.
Watch a Video on Frequently Asked Elective Questions for MS1s
Watch a Video on Frequently Asked Elective Questions for MS2s
Who can I talk to for advice about elective selection in Patient Care Phase?
Once MS2s have their Patient Care Phase schedules, you can start to plan your 6-week Elective Block. You will meet with your Career Advisor or come to Office Hours to discuss your elective options and solidify your plan. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the Registration & Records page on Patient Care Phase scheduling.
Do I need to take a Clinical Elective in Patient Care Phase to graduate?
No. Electives taken in PCP count toward MD graduation requirements, but are not a graduation requirement. Some students may try to take an elective in PCP to have a little bit of extra personal time off in their last year of med school. For students who start E&F Phase on time, the schedule does include built-in flexibility for personal time, time to meet graduation requirements, preparation for residency applications, and interviews.
Students who start Patient Care Phase later and who have an open block on their schedule will usually complete an elective during that time to help fulfill graduation requirements.
Do I have to take an elective during my Patient Care Phase 6-Week elective block?
No, there is no requirement to take an elective during this time.
If you plan to take an elective, Career Advising recommends you choose from 2-week pass/fail clinical electives in the Explore & Focus clerkship catalog. These electives introduce you to specialties and areas of medicine you may not have had exposure to, such as anesthesiology, ophthalmology, urology, and radiology, and develop your knowledge and skills to prepare you for future clinical clerkships.
Career Advising does not recommend registering for a 4-week elective as students may not have had enough clinical experience to receive a strong clinical evaluation in a specialty you could end up applying to for residency.
Will taking an elective during the Patient Care Phase elective block make me more competitive for residency programs?
Taking a clinical elective during the Patient Care Phase elective block won’t make you more competitive for residencies, but it can demonstrate interest in a specialty. You will also take electives in Explore & Focus Phase which will demonstrate your interest in a specialty.
Watch a Video on Frequently Asked Elective Questions for MS3s
Who can I talk to for advice about elective selection in Explore & Focus Phase?
MS3s and expanded MS4s planning their required elective credits in Explore & Focus (E&F) Phase should consult the Clinical Phase Planning section of the Specialty Guides, which provides specialty-specific elective recommendations. You will then have a required meeting with your Career Advisor to discuss your E&F schedule using the Clinical Phase Planning Worksheet. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the Registration & Records page on Explore & Focus Phase scheduling.
What factors should I consider when selecting electives in the Explore & Focus Phase?
Clinical electives taken early in Explore & Focus Phase can help you gain exposure to specialties for career and specialty exploration. They can help you develop skills in your intended specialty and prepare you for residency. Later in E&F, you can take electives in areas outside your specialty that you might not have the chance to experience after graduation. Consult the Specialty Guides for electives recommended by Specialty Career Advisors to help you prepare for residency.
Electives Taken in Months Prior to Residency Application Deadlines (April-Aug/Sept.)
- Help with ruling out specialties, making specialty decisions, and supporting a competitive residency application.
- Consult the Specialty Guides for recommended clerkships to support a competitive residency application in each specialty.
Electives Taken In Months After Residency Applications Are Submitted (Oct.-May)
- Help you meet MD graduation requirements
- Explore interests within and outside your specialty
- Develop skills and knowledge to prepare for your intern year.
Watch a Video on Frequently Asked Elective Questions for MS4s