For program directors, coordinators, faculty, and residency recruitment teams.

Interview Format and Communication

May programs conduct interviews in person, virtually, or in a hybrid format?

Yes. We permit in-person, virtual, and hybrid interview formats. Programs may select the format that works best for their recruitment process.

How should programs communicate interview dates and formats?

Programs should clearly communicate interview dates and formats through their departmental communication channels, such as the program website, and within the interview offer itself. This information will no longer be published centrally on the SAU website.

How can a program structure hybrid interviews?

A program may offer some interview dates in person and other dates virtually, with the program assigning a specific format to each date. Alternatively, a program may allow applicants to choose an in-person or virtual format on a given interview date; when a choice is offered, the program should honor the applicant’s selection.

Interview Offers, Waitlists, and Flush Day

What information should be included in an interview invitation?

Interview communications should clearly identify the interview date, format, response instructions, and any available alternative dates or waitlist options. Optional social events should also be clearly identified as optional, with the date, time, and format specified.

Do programs need to notify applicants who will not receive an interview?

Yes. All applicant groups should receive an interview status notification by the designated notification deadline. https://sauweb.org/match/

What may a program do if an invited applicant has not responded by the Monday response deadline?

Failure to respond by the designated deadline may constitute a Match violation. The program may rescind the original invitation and offer the interview position to another candidate, consistent with the Match timeline and policies. https://sauweb.org/match/

When may programs begin contacting waitlisted applicants to fill open interview positions?

Programs may begin communicating with waitlisted applicants after 2:00 p.m. Eastern on October 26, 2026. https://sauweb.org/match/

Can an applicant change interview format after Flush Day?

Applicants may not cancel a confirmed interview after Flush Day. However, if the program offers hybrid options on that interview day, program leadership may, at its discretion, permit a change in interview format.

What if an applicant cancels a confirmed interview after Flush Day?

Cancellation of a confirmed interview after Flush Day is considered a Match violation and should be handled according to SAU Match Violation policies and procedures.

Applicant Support and Recruitment Activities

What financial support may programs provide for applicant interviews?

Within reasonable limits, programs may provide support for food and lodging to offset applicant expenses, not exceeding room and board costs. Programs may not fund airfare or travel. A modest recruitment gift or swag item of approximately $25 or less may be provided if it is offered to all interviewees and sent before or at the interview. Programs may continue to provide stipends for visiting student rotations.

Are post-interview ‘second look’ visits permitted?

No. Post-interview visits are prohibited. Applicants may independently visit the city in which a program is located, but they should not meet or communicate with the program chair, program director, faculty, or trainees as part of a post-interview visit.

For students applying to urology residency through ERAS and the AUA Urology Match.

Application Readiness

Should Step 2 CK be available before programs begin reviewing applications?

Each program determines how Step 2 CK is used in its review process. Because some programs may use the score as a screening criterion, applicants are encouraged to have the score available by the time programs begin reviewing applications when possible.

For international medical graduates, when is ECFMG certification required?

Requirements may vary by residency program and institution. International medical graduates should review each program’s specific requirements and institutional policies.

Sub-Internships and Away Rotations

How many urology clinical experiences or Sub-Internships do applicants typically complete?

Many applicants complete a home Sub-Internship plus approximately one to three away rotations, for a typical total of two to four urology rotations. This is descriptive guidance, not a formal requirement.

Should I signal my home program or a program where I completed an away rotation?

Applicants are encouraged to signal programs in which they are genuinely interested, including their home program and programs where they completed visiting rotations when appropriate.

What if an away rotation program does not conduct a formal interview during the rotation?

Programs vary. Some interview visiting students during the rotation, some interview them later during the regular interview season, and others use a different process. Applicants should clarify the program’s process directly.

Research and Scholarly Work

How should I list multiple scholarly products that came from the same research project?

Distinct scholarly products may be listed separately when each represents a separate product, such as a conference abstract or poster and a related manuscript.

Where should I list ongoing research that has not yet been submitted or published?

Applicants may describe ongoing research in the appropriate ERAS sections and should accurately state its current status, such as in preparation, under review, or under revision. Applicants should not imply acceptance or publication when it has not occurred.

Application and Match Registration

What do I need to do to participate in the Urology Match?

Applicants complete their residency application through ERAS and separately register for the Urology Match through the AUA. ERAS is used for the residency application, while the AUA system administers the Urology Match and rank-order list process.

When should I register for the AUA Urology Match?

AUA Match registration and ERAS submission are separate. Applicants may register for the match before or after submitting ERAS, provided they meet the AUA registration deadline. Applicants who intend to apply in urology are encouraged to register early and avoid waiting until the deadline.

How can I confirm that my AUA Match registration was completed successfully?

If you are uncertain whether your registration was completed successfully, contact the AUA for confirmation.

What information do programs review: ERAS or AUA Match registration information?

Programs primarily review the ERAS application when making interview decisions. Information entered during AUA Match registration is used to administer the Match.

When can programs begin reviewing ERAS applications?

Programs can begin accessing applications on September 23. Applicants should therefore aim to have their application and assigned letters complete by the time programs gain access.

Where do I submit my rank-order list?

Applicants who register for the Urology Match submit their rank-order list through the AUA Match system.

Preference Signaling

How many preference signals do I receive?

Each applicant has the option to send 30 equally weighted preference signals.

Is preference signaling required?

No. Applicants are not required to participate in preference signaling.

Does signaling limit the number of programs to which I may apply?

No. Preference signaling does not restrict the number of applications an applicant may submit.

How will I know that a program received my signal?

Signals are embedded in ERAS. Programs reviewing an applicant’s ERAS materials can see the notation indicating that the applicant signaled their program. There is no separate direct communication between applicants and programs to exchange signals.

Does a signal guarantee an interview?

No. A signal does not guarantee an interview offer. However, prior data show a higher likelihood of receiving an interview from a signaled program.

What are the chances of receiving an interview from a program I did not signal?

The overall prior-cycle yield of approximately 5% from unsignaled applications. This is a cohort-level estimate and should not be interpreted as an individual applicant’s probability.

How should I use geographic preferences in ERAS?

Applicants should answer geographic preference questions honestly. Program-specific preference signals have a greater influence on interview selection than geographic preferences, while programs vary in how they use geographic preference information.

For applicants, letter writers, program leadership, and coordinators using the Urology Standardized Letter of Evaluation.

About the Urology SLOE

What is the Urology SLOE?

The Urology Standardized Letter of Evaluation (SLOE) was developed by the SAU in collaboration with the AAMC. It is designed to provide residency programs with a structured, holistic and efficient assessment of an applicant’s core competencies and qualitative attributes.

How is the SLOE different from the prior SAU Standardized Letter of Recommendation?

The prior SAU Standardized Letter of Recommendation (SLOR) was an open-access PDF recommendation used with variable uptake. The SAU-AAMC Urology SLOE builds on that work, underwent additional review and revision with the AAMC, and is completed directly through the AAMC Letter Writer Portal rather than uploaded as a PDF.

How is the SLOE submitted?

Applicants generate a letter request through MyERAS. The author or designee receives an email with a link to the AAMC Letter Writer Portal, where the SLOE is completed and submitted electronically.

Can the SLOE be completed as a PDF and uploaded?

No. The SLOE must be completed in the online template. A PDF upload is counted as a narrative letter, even if the PDF uses a SLOE-style template.

2026-2027 Letter Requirements

How many letters are required for the 2026-2027 Urology application cycle?

Policy guideline requires three total letters, with a maximum of four. At least two must be Urology SLOEs written by urologists. The third and/or fourth letters may be a traditional narrative letter, a prior-version SLOR in PDF format, or a general standardized letter.

Who may write the required Urology SLOEs?

The two required SLOEs must come from urologists. They do not have to be written by a department chair or program director. We encourage chairs, program directors, and academic urologists to use the SLOE when appropriate.

Is a Department Chair letter required in urology?

No. There is no specific Department Chair letter requirement in urology, although a Chair letter may be common practice.

Can a SLOE be identified as a Department Chair letter?

Yes. When generating a letter request, an applicant may indicate that the letter fulfills a Department Chair letter requirement. The author’s role can also be identified within the SLOE.

Is a Urology Department Chair interchangeable with a Division Chief for letter purposes?

Yes. We treat Urology Department Chairs and Urology Division Chiefs as interchangeable for purposes of a letter of recommendation or SLOE.

Joint Letters, Authors, and Designees

Can a SLOE have multiple authors?

Yes. Multiple co-authors may be listed on a SLOE. One author or a designee may complete and submit the SLOE on behalf of the group.

Does it matter who submits a joint SLOE?

The authors are displayed in the Evaluator section. A designee or other individual who submits the letter is not displayed as a primary or additional author unless that person is also listed as an author.

Can a program coordinator serve as a designee?

Yes, if that is the workflow requested by the program. A program coordinator may submit the letter as a designee for the letter authors.

Do joint letters carry more weight than single-author letters?

There is no evidence that joint letters are more advantageous than single-author letters. Programs should use the workflow that best reflects how they evaluate students.

Applicant and Letter Writer Workflow

Can applicants waive their right to view the SLOE?

Yes. Applicants may waive their right to view the SLOE just as they may for other letters of recommendation in MyERAS. The waived status is visible to program reviewers.

What happens if an applicant requests the wrong letter type?

The letter writer cannot switch a SLOE request to a narrative letter, or vice versa. The applicant must change the requested letter type.

How do letter writers know that a student assigned them a letter?

The letter writer receives an email invitation containing the request link.

Is there a deadline for uploading letters?

The policy guideline does not identify a separate letter-upload deadline. However, programs may begin reviewing applications on September 23, and letters submitted after programs begin reviewing applications may be missed.

May a letter writer decline a request?

Yes. A request from an applicant is not binding, and a letter writer may decline to provide a letter.

Interview Offers and Scheduling

When should I accept or decline an interview offer?

Applicants should respond during the designated response window in the official Match timeline https://sauweb.org/match/. October 26, 2026 from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Eastern.

How do I accept or decline an interview?

Follow the instructions in the interview invitation. Programs may use ERAS, Thalamus, email, or another program-specific method.

What should I do if I do not receive an interview status by the required notification deadline?

failure to receive an accept, waitlist, or decline status by the designated deadline may constitute a Match violation. Applicants should follow SAU Match Violation policies and procedures.

What should I do if I receive two interview offers for the same date?

Do not accept two conflicting interviews. During the response period, you may ask whether an alternative date is available. A program may offer another date or place you on a waitlist, depending on availability.

Can I contact a program over the weekend after interview offers are released?

Applicants should wait until the designated response window opens before contacting programs to accept, decline, or clarify an interview offer. Contacting a program over the weekend after interview offers are released is a Match violation.

Can I complete two virtual interviews on the same day?

Although it may be technically possible, double-booking two interviews on the same day is not encouraged.

How many applicants do programs keep on their waitlists?

Waitlist size varies by program.

Can I cancel an interview after Flush Day?

Cancelling a confirmed interview after Flush Day is considered a Match violation. Applicants should reconcile interview conflicts by the designated Flush Day deadline.

Are letters of interest recommended?

We generally discourage routine letters of interest; programs typically use structured application-review processes. Applicants should not assume that a letter of interest will override a program’s established selection process.

For unmatched applicants, mentors, medical schools, and programs with eligible vacancies.

Applicant Eligibility and Advocacy

Who is eligible for the Urology Secondary Match?

Unmatched applicants who participated in the regular Urology Match and submitted a rank-order list are automatically entered into the Secondary Match at no additional cost.

Does submitting an ERAS application alone qualify me for the Secondary Match?

No. eligibility requires participation in the AUA Urology Match and submission of a rank-order list; ERAS submission alone is not sufficient.

May an unmatched applicant or medical school dean contact a program with a vacancy?

Applicants and deans are not permitted to contact programs with vacancies directly. An applicant may identify one urology faculty mentor to advocate on the applicant’s behalf at each program with a vacancy. Multiple faculty advocates, direct applicant outreach, or dean outreach may be considered a Match violation.

May a program with a vacancy initiate communication?

Yes. Programs with unfilled vacancies may initiate communication with applicants, faculty at other institutions, letter writers, or medical school administrators.

Secondary Match Interviews

Must Secondary Match interviews use the same format as the program’s regular Match interviews?

No. Programs may use virtual, in-person, hybrid, or telephone interviews and are not required to use the same format, faculty, or interview duration as the regular Match.

How may programs offer Secondary Match interviews?

The number of programs with unfilled vacancies varies by year and includes programs that did not fill a match position (automatically included in the secondary match) as well as programs with newly approved resident positions from the ACGME January meeting (optional) Programs may review eligible applications through the applicable ERAS/PDWS process and may offer interviews using their preferred communication method, including email, ERAS, Thalamus, or telephone.

How many candidates may a program interview?

A program may interview as many candidates as needed to identify applicants it would be willing to offer a position. If a program extends an interview invitation and the applicant accepts, the program should honor that interview.

Offers, Vacancies, and Binding Commitments

How are Secondary Match positions offered?

After 11 am EST (9 am PST) on February 1, 2027 when the traditional match results have been released, programs with vacancies may offer the position directly to their preferred applicants; there is not a second AUA rank-order list process for these offers.

How many position offers may a program extend at one time?

Programs should not extend more offers than the number of positions available. Programs may give an applicant a reasonable, clearly communicated amount of time to consider an offer before moving to another candidate.

When does a Secondary Match acceptance become binding?

Once an applicant accepts an offer and the program notifies the SAU that the vacancy has been filled, the match is considered binding.

Can a new program or a program with a newly approved ACGME position participate in the Secondary Match?

A newly approved program seeking to fill a position through the Secondary Match (from the January ACGME meeting) should contact the SAU so the program and position can be coordinated with ERAS/AAMC. A program that already registered all approved positions in the regular Match participates in the Secondary Match only if it has an unfilled vacancy.

Medical School Notification

How will medical schools learn the Match status of their urology applicants?

ERAS will notify medical school deans that they can access their workstations to view matched/unmatched status for students applying in urology, supporting timely advising of unmatched applicants.