CaRMS Match Travel Costs - Canadian Medical …

1 Minimize Travel Costs of the CaRMS Match Reduce Travel Costs Each year, graduating Medical students participate in the Canadian Resident Matching Service ( CaRMS ) . CaRMS is a not-for-profit organization that works in close cooperation with the Medical education community and Medical schools as well as residents and Medical students to provide both an electronic application service and a computer Match for entry into postgraduate Medical training throughout Canada. In addition to administering the matching process for postgraduate Year 1 entry residency positions, CaRMS also co-ordinates the Year 3 Family Medicine residency positions, Internal Medicine subspecialty residency positions and Pediatric subspecialty residency positions.

2 CaRMS also provides access to the electronic application system for postgraduate Medical training (ERAS) for interested Canadian Medical students. Canadian Medical school graduates who participate in CaRMS are automatically registered by their respective undergraduate office. All other applicants must complete a request for registration with CaRMS . Once a respective registration has been reviewed and verified by CaRMS , eligible applicants are sent a token by e-mail, which will allow access to CaRMS online ( ) where the student may complete their respective application.

3 Generally, individual programs offer interviews to qualified and desirable applicants. Applicants are not only responsible for scheduling these interviews directly with the programs but also must bear all Travel and accommodation Costs associated with this step in the application process. As veterans of the CaRMS Match will affirm, these Costs can be onerous. The following are a few considerations and suggestions that can minimize Travel and accommodation Costs as one participates in the selection process. Ask a Peer Asking a friend who recently completed the CaRMS Match or Fellowship selection will often provide advice regarding the application process as well as attributes of a particular program or programs.

4 In addition, the more senior colleague may be able to provide Travel tips that may save the Medical student both time and money. Frequently, previous students or residents utilize a specific Travel agency or airline whose service was optimal and which may have provided significant discounts. In addition, these individuals or friends in other cities may offer accommodation during upcoming interviews, helping one avoid costly hotel bills. Trains, planes and automobiles Airline and accommodation Costs represent the bulk of CaRMS Travel expenditures. As full -time students, those in Medical school and residency are eligible to obtain an International Student Identity Card (ISIC) and may book Travel through a TravelCuts agency whose offices are located on most campuses.

5 ISIC membership provides the convenience of a Travel agency and generates considerable benefits and savings on both Travel arrangements and accommodations. In addition, membership provides increased flexibility with regard to advanced purchase requirements and allows increased leniency in making changes to existing airline reservations. Membership is inexpensive and can be obtained at a TravelCuts office or online at or by phone at 1-800-667-2887. Furthermore, students attending a Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) member school are entitled to free membership. The prudent Medical student or resident may wish to consider one or more of a number of websites for booking Travel and accommodation on-line.

6 In addition to Microsoft s Expedia, other sites to consider include , , , and Alternatively, flights may be booked online directly with Air Canada, Westjet or Porter Airlines. Furthermore, the busy Medical student or resident can review these websites at any time of the day or night. Travel by train and bus can be convenient and economical for many Medical students and residents in Canada. With an International Student Identity Card (ISIC), full-time students save 40 per cent (as at January 1, 2013), regardless of their age, for tickets with Greyhound Bus Lines and benefit from other discounts with VIA Rail.

7 Additionally, the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) and some provincial Medical associations offer members considerable discounts off the best available fares when traveling by VIA Rail within Canada and also provide discounts on car rentals, hotels and bookings with certain airlines. Contact the respective provincial Medical association or the CMA Member Service Centre (at 1-888 855- 2555 or by e-mail at to get the corporate discount code. Frequent Flyer Programs Before beginning interviews, it is wise to join a frequent-flyer program and capitalize on extensive Travel plans.)

8 Most airlines provide programs in which members accumulate Travel points each time they fly, stay at participating hotels or rent cars from participating dealers. Accumulated points may then be exchanged for discounted or free air Travel in the future. One resident was pleasantly surprised that he had accumulated sufficient Travel points from his CaRMS interviews for a free round-trip ticket to anywhere in North America. Membership information in most programs can be obtained from a Travel agent or via the Internet. Accommodations Many Medical students and residents contact friends, relatives, and former colleagues in a destination city for possible accommodations during a brief stopover for interviews.

9 Interested students may wish to contact the Medical student society of the respective city to see if there may be a student or resident with a spare room and a willingness to host a visitor during the interview season. To avoid costly hotel bills, many students attempt to stay at university residences and apartment complexes. These institutions tend to be centrally located and the Costs , particularly for students, are remarkably low. The Canadian Universities and College Conference Officers Association (CUCCOA) represents more than 50 educational institutions that wish to promote the use of their facilities, particularly during the spring and summer months.

10 CUCCOA has designed a website, , where links to member institutions are available. One can review the particulars of a respective institution and make reservations directly over the Internet. Whatever hotel or institution the student or resident may decide upon, it is wise to determine if any discounts are available for select groups. Many chains and individual hotels have preferential rates for corporate groups, like members of the Canadian Medical Association, provincial Medical associations or other groups, such as the Canadian Automobile Association. These may save the Medical student or resident a sizeable amount over the duration of Travel .