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Indiana University School of Medicine
Indiana University School of Medicine
Medical Student Portal

Road to Graduation

Fourth-year medical students have a lot to prepare for as they near the end of their medical education. Even the coveted Graduate Recognition requires loads of preparation. To help keep you organized, we compiled a to-do list of tasks for graduation. Below are the individual tasks you must complete before you walk across that stage.

If you see an "Act Now" link, it is open for you to complete. We’ll also notify of items to complete via MD Student News, so check that every Monday at 5:30 p.m. ET when it arrives in your inbox. Be aware, deadlines are firm and late entries will not be accepted. Please plan accordingly to make sure you can take full advantage of everything this ceremony has to offer.

Some dates are not yet set, so bookmark this page and check periodically for updates.

View or download the checklist

A road vanishes into a yellow sunset, with the words, "Road to Graduation, 2025" overlayed

Graduating Student Checklist

You should have received an email on March 27 from MEDevent@iu.edu with a link to register and complete the Graduate Recognition Ceremony form.

You must complete this form whether you plan to attend the ceremony or not. 

Once you register, you will be able to provide:

  • Your preferred name and correct pronunciation for announcing at the ceremony.
  • Approval to use (or not) your name, photo and/or match in the ceremony program and slides.
  • Approval to release your match information to IU School of Medicine and next year's students researching residency options.
  • Accessibility accommodations for your guests at the ceremony.

Find the email and complete this by April 4!

Based on your class’s award nominations, decide which faculty and staff are most deserving of recognition!

ACT NOW

All IU School of Medicine graduates must wear academic regalia (gown, hood, tam, tassel) ordered from the official IU supplier, Herff Jones by April 7. You will keep the tam and tassel but return the gown and hood after the ceremony. 

The ordering site is for all of IU Indianapolis (and all its the various ceremonies) so it is a bit confusing.  

Follow these steps:  

  1. Go to IU Herff Jones site. 

  2. Select from dropdown: Indianapolis. 

  3. Click: Cap & Gown - Order Now button. 

  4. Select from dropdown: Indiana University.

  5. Select from dropdown: School of Medicine Doctors Only. Do NOT be confused by the ceremony date of Thursday, May 15 at 8 p.m.. That is IU Indianapolis's Commencement, which you are welcome to attend. Ignore that part. Click Shop.

  6. Click: Cap & Gown tab in middle. 

  7. Click: Graduation Regalia – Click to Show Contents, then View Full Details. 

  8. Complete the information and Add to Cart. Checkout and pay. 

  9. Enter your billing and shipping information. Your regalia will be mailed to the address you select. There will also be a pre-paid label so you can mail back your gown and hood.  

The Announcements offered for sale by Herff Jones are for the May 15 IU Indianapolis Commencement, NOT the IU School of Medicine Graduate Recognition Ceremony on May 16.

ACT NOW

You received a March 4 email from the IU Indianapolis Registrar and University Events asking you to update your degree name and address via the Student Center in preparation for graduation.

The IU Indianapolis emails link directly to your Student Center page where you can update this information. If you haven’t done so already, do so today. You’ll receive a final reminder from IU Indianapolis on May 1.

Learn more about completing this step. Do this as soon as possible.

4:00 p.m.
Indiana Landmarks Center, 1201 Central Avenue, Indianapolis

The event will honor the faculty and staff for their excellence in teaching and support for the Class of 2025. The event will also recognize outstanding accomplishments of class members.  Grads who will be receiving an award will be notified in April. Classmates, friends and family are encouraged to attend.

This is it — the big day. Close the door on your IU School of Medicine journey and open a new one for your bright career ahead.

The ceremony is set for 2 p.m. ET at the Sagamore Ballroom in the Indiana Convention Center, 100 S. Capitol Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46225.

If your photo was taken by DigitalPix, the IU School of Medicine composite company, your name and photo will appear in the Class of 2025 composite — you’re done! Item complete!

If you had your ERAS photo taken by a different photographer, you may submit your photo by Dec. 13 for inclusion in the composite. See details on associated costs, photo guidelines, and more.

Deadline for this item has passed.

Please review the Class of 2025 composite DRAFT to ensure your name and photo are accurate. If the official photographer took your photo or you submitted a picture taken by a different photographer, your image should appear on this proof.

If you did not have a photo taken or submitted a picture, your name will be listed at the bottom as “Not Pictured.” Please also proof your name for accuracy.

This link will provide the opportunity to approve your name and photo or to provide corrections, if needed. If your name has changed in the past few years, please be sure to respond so changes can be made, if needed. Please respond by Jan. 31.

Deadline for this item has passed.

The Class of 2025 Match Day Celebration will take place on Friday, March 21 at the IU Indianapolis Campus Center where you will reveal your match at noon.

IU School of Medicine will provide a complimentary Match Day shirt, designed by the Class of 2025, to all class members who order their shirts by the Feb. 6 deadline. You may pick up your shirts on your campus the week of March 17. Specific days and times will be announced.

Deadline for this item has passed.

Each year the graduating class honors faculty and staff for their excellence in teaching, guidance and support. This is your opportunity to nominate those who positively impacted your medical school journey.

Also, class members may nominate themselves and classmates to represent the class as the speaker at the Graduate Recognition ceremony on May 16.

Deadline for this item has passed.

Do you need any accommodations for family or friends attending the Match Day celebration? Provide those by March 7 for special seating or interpreters, if needed.

Deadline for this item has passed.

It is a long-standing tradition that physicians who are family members of graduates may have the honor of hooding them at the Graduate Recognition Ceremony. To submit a family hooder request, please complete this request by March 7.

Family hooders must wear full academic regalia and sit in a designated area near the stage, not in the general audience with other family and friends. Your submission will be reviewed to confirm their eligibility. You will be notified by mid-March with approval and instructions.

Deadline for this item has passed.

If you ordered a Match Day shirt and/or are pictured on the class composite, you should pick these up on your campus this week. Shirts will be available at the campus that you indicated as your pick up preference on the order form.

Indianapolis campus — Noon to 5:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 13, and Friday, March 14
Pick up in VanNuys Medical Science Bldg. at the desk area across from MS164.

Regional campuses — You will receive information from your campus about when and where to pick up your shirt and composite.

If you are unable to pick up your shirt in advance, you may pick it up on Match Day in the 4th floor lobby at 10:30–11:30 a.m. ET. If you did not order a shirt, there may be some extras. Please email Cathi Wineland at cwinelan@iu.edu by March 14 with your requested size (although preferred sizes are not guaranteed).

Match Day Celebration
Friday, March 21, 2025
11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
IU Indianapolis Campus Center, 420 University Blvd., Indianapolis
Parking at Vermont St. Garage, 1004 W. Vermont St.
Event will be livestreamed on IU School of Medicine Facebook page

Match Day how-to video for participating students

Join your fellow classmates for all the anticipation and excitement as you open your red envelope to find out where you will be going for your residency!

  • To accommodate friends and family and because of space considerations, each student may invite up to three guests to accompany them on Match Day. The number of guests must be limited in order to adhere to venue capacity ordinances and accommodate all matching students. (Children two and under do not count toward your three guests, but be advised that strollers should remain in the lobby or along the edge of the room.)

  • To try to meet the anticipated requests for additional guests, students who are not attending or not bringing three guests may “share” their unused guests spots with classmates. Tickets will not be issued for Match Day. We trust that you all will make these arrangements amongst yourselves, and that you will abide by the Honor Code and only bring additional guests who are filling spots that a classmate will not be using.

  • To maximize the space for the Match Day Celebration, this is a standing event, similar to a reception. It is a very crowded, loud and chaotic celebration! Limited seating will be available for class members and guests who are unable to stand for the event. If you or guests need reserved seats, please request reservations by March 7.

  • To ensure that all attendees have an unobscured view of the Match Day festivities, signs, flags, confetti, and balloons are not permitted.

Thank you for your understanding and for respecting the need to maintain a safe environment for all. We look forward to celebrating your residency matches as a school community on March 21.