A slip of paper changed the lives of thousands of medical students across the country Thursday. That’s no different for medical students at the University of Rochester who celebrated the news of their residency.

If you ever wanted to know what time it is, the one place to find out is the University of Rochester on Match Day.

"It's 11:15, it's 11:42, it's 11:58 and 59 seconds. According to the clock, it's 11:37," said various students and faculty.

Med students spent the last four years waiting for this moment. The moment their lives are about to change.

"It's a mix of nerves and pure excitement," said Emily Pilger, a University of Rochester medical student.

Emily Pilger along with 81 other med students are about to find out where they'll be doing their residency for the next several years.

"My top 3 choices are Beth Israel in Boston, staying here at University of Rochester and University of Michigan, Ann Arbor," said Pilger.

Pilger wants to train in neurology. After months of interviewing, her fate is now in the hands of a computer, a good thing since her's are a bit shaky today.

"I've had my watch out, all the clocks in the patient rooms, my beeper. I've just been synchronizing the time to find out when noon will come the sooner on which clock. 11:15, 11:16, we'll go by this one," said Pilger.

Match Day comes around once a year. Minutes before the news is announced, med students are corralled into this auditorium.

"We're walking in 15 more minutes," said Pilger.

Their fate sealed in envelopes. When the clock strikes 12, students make a mad dash to get their letter. In it, a piece of paper that shows where they'll become a doctor. Pilger says a little prayer.

"Beth Israel in Boston," said Pilger.

Pilger got her first choice.

"The nerves are gone, now it's just excitement," said Pilger.

Match Day is a moment of mixed emotions. It's a day of celebration. It's also a day of separation, of roommates, friends and boyfriends. Because in this letter, it also shows the time that's left before they leave and enter the world of medicine.

Out of 100 med students at the University of Rochester, 26 will be returning to Rochester for their residency.