Ch. 7 - Building Your ERAS Application

By at present, you have started to consider the different types of EM residency programs available (Chapter four), y'all accept completed or scheduled your EM clerkships and USMLE exams (Capacity three and 5), and it's time to sympathise how you lot actually get about applying to residency programs. There are several components of the awarding, and each will bear on your competitiveness (Chapter viii).

The Electronic Residency Awarding Service

ERAS is a platform offered by the AAMC and used by most specialties for senior medical students applying for residency positions.1

The ERAS application helps you become a foot in the door with an interview invitation. In addition, it provides content, and then residency program leaders tin larn virtually you and aid prompt interview word. Furthermore, the application helps guide the programme manager's rank list.

How Do I Create an ERAS Account?

Registering for ERAS requires a "token" that will be provided to your medical school'south Dean's office.

IMG Students:Visit ECFMG.org to obtain an ERAS token via the Online Applicant Status and Information Systems (OASIS) portal. Graduates of Canadian medical schools should visit CaRMS.ca for information how to register for ERAS.

Military Match: The war machine uses a separate awarding organisation through MODS (Medical Operational Data Arrangement); nonetheless, you must likewise utilise through ERAS to be considered for noncombatant programs in case of deferment.

Know The Timeline

Keep primal dates in mind when approaching the awarding process. The offset is the date ERAS opens and you can begin editing your application and uploading documents. Historically the opening date was July i; however, for the 2019 application cycle, ERAS opened earlier (June 7) so applicants could accept more time to work on their application. Also new to the 2019 application cycle, ERAS began assuasive students to outset applying to ACGME-accredited programs in early September (Sept. 5).

Residency programs are granted admission to applications and supporting documents starting time Sept. xv at 9 a.m. ET. All applications submitted up to this point will be stamped with that date and fourth dimension. The early on submission window was created simply to avoid technical difficulties related to the huge book of applications existence submitted simultaneously. Submitting your application before Sept. 15 will help reduce the possibility of overwhelming the website, merely it will not give you lot whatsoever advantage in terms of when programs will receive your application.

Figure 7.1.jpg

Stick to the Timeline!

Some program leadership may beginning looking at applications on Sept. 15 while others wait until October. 1 when the MSPE is bachelor. However, it is imperative that you submit your application as close to Sept. 15 at nine a.chiliad. ET equally possible. In a prior survey of PDs, but 15% of respondents stated that information technology was "highly likely" that an application would exist reviewed if it were completed later on the ERAS opening date.6

Regardless of when you apply, one time you certify and submit your application, you will not be able to make changes other than on the Personal Data section and uploading additional messages. Consider assembling your application in June of your 4th yr to avoid delays.

Military Match: The borderline for initial application to armed forces programs through MODS is the 2nd calendar week of September, and supporting documents are typically due October. 15. Rank list is ordinarily submitted around this time also. Keep these military-specific deadlines in mind every bit yous mustcomplete both MODS and ERAS simultaneously.

Latecomers: Don't await for rotations or messages. Submit your application on time. A program will look for a letter, only they won't expect for yous.

The Components of ERAS

  • Personal and biographic information
  • Curriculum Vitae (education, experience, licensure, publications)
  • Personal Statement
  • Letter(southward) of Recommendation
  • USMLE transcript and/or COMLEX-USA transcript
  • Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE or "Dean'southward Letter")
  • Medical school transcript
  • Photo (optional)

Personal and Biographic Information

This section is where yous enter your bones demographic and biographic information as well as military service obligations and whether or not yous are couples matching. There is also a section for you to include your NRMP match ID, which yous will get when you register for the NRMP Match. This is a carve up process from creating and submitting your ERAS application. Y'all must become to the NRMP website (www.nrmp.org) to register. Note that NRMP match ID registration does not open until Sept. fifteen at 12 p.k. EST. You do NOT need this ID number in club to submit and certify your ERAS application, and you can add it after — so don't wait for it.

Couples Match: Discuss with your advisors and partner if you lot will disclose your couples match status on ERAS. At that place are benefits and potential risks of doing then. Yous are not mandated to disclose. A handful of programs may want to avert EM-EM couples. Additionally, if a partner is applying to a specialty that is not offered at the same institution, some PDs may not be aware of the non-EM training programs offered at hospitals nearby, leading them to call up the interview may be low-yield.

Curriculum Vitae

The CV is simply a combination of several individual sections within ERAS that is compiled into a dissimilar format for readers in case they prefer to view the items in one document rather than on split up tabs inside ERAS. These individual sections include Education (along with awards, membership in professional person societies, languages spoken, hobbies/interests, and interruptions in medical training), Feel (research, work, and volunteer), Licensure (board scores, life support certifications, prior licensure information), and Publications.

While lath scores, SLOEs, and medical transcripts provide objective data for residency program leadership, this section allows y'all to describe accomplishments outside of the classroom/wards, also as to highlight personal qualities and attributes not captured elsewhere in the application. This section is oft thought of every bit the "X-factor" of your application and helps reviewers guess if you resonate with the programme's values. There is a real opportunity to stand out from other applicants; only listing your experiences does you a disservice. The application is much stronger if you include brief details of each activity to highlight your part and specific characteristics you lot developed through each experience. Demonstrate what yous learned from each experience or how it fabricated you a better person. As well, take advantage of the personal interests department. This is one of the few chances you volition have to talk about yourself outside of medicine, and it's frequently a not bad springboard for conversations during program interviews. A common pitfall in this department of the application is exaggerating the amount of time committed to each activeness. Be truthful always.

At-Risk Candidates: Applicants with a history of felony or misdemeanor convictions volition exist required to disembalm this. At that place will exist a text-box to provide details. An applicant with this history is best served accepting responsibleness, taking buying of any mistakes, and demonstrating conscious changes for the ameliorate.

Latecomers: Include activities and accomplishments in other fields on your CV if they are substantial. Leadership, piece of work, and research in other specialty areas may nonetheless be relevant. EM equally a specialty requires a broad set of skills and interests.

Personal Statement

Personal statements can cause a loftier level of feet. How exercise you write a personal statement that captures your  excitement as you apply to the field you want to practice? What is the role of the personal statement? How does it differ from other parts of your awarding? How much will information technology matter? A survey of EM residency directors showed the about influential components of residency applications are SLOEs, residency interviews, EM evaluations/grades, and clinical clerkship grades. The personal statement ranked beneath all of these components in importance. two This is practiced news and bad news. It is unlikely a keen personal statement will make up for an application that is otherwise poor, just sometimes a peachy personal statement can tip the scales in your favor.

So how exercise y'all write such a argument? The personal statement allows the residency selection commission to "run across" you earlier coming together contiguous. Introduce yourself. Testify (rather than tell) programs that you have the qualities to be a great resident by using examples from your previous experiences and achievements. Writing about how much you enjoy emergency medicine does not distinguish you from any other applicant; focus instead on what makes you unique. Draw the challenges y'all've faced to demonstrate your ability to persevere. Highlight how your previous experiences show your passions, values, and goals, and how you lot plan to aqueduct your intelligence, creativity, and compassion into your career. Don't go overboard by including examples from every previous feel; you will have a chance to talk about these in the experiences section. Choose a few examples that actually highlight who you are and what you're looking for in a residency. Committees want to know you will be a good fit with their plan, and then talk over what yous are looking for in a residency program and what y'all desire to gain from the next 3–iv years of your life. Make the personal statement personal.

Other essential facts that apply to all writing you are submitting apply hither also.3 Edit your statement, put it away for a few days, then edit again with fresh eyes. Accept those you trust read it as well. Take the recommendations with a grain of table salt, only make sure y'all right all spelling and grammar.

Although it is stressful, effort to have some fun with the procedure. It is, past definition, the virtually personal part of the application. Permit yourself to reflect on what
makes y'all really you, and let that polish through.

Each statement is express to 28,000 characters. There is no limit to the number of personal statements that tin can be created, and you tin create program-specific personal statements (merely be very conscientious not to send the wrong statement to the wrong program).

At-Gamble Candidates: Applicants who have a facet of their awarding that is likely to exist considered a cherry-red flag, such as a USMLE or course failure, a felony or misdemeanor conviction, an unaccounted for gap in their CV, etc., should use the personal argument to accost these issues. This is probable the first place a reviewer volition expect for an explanation. If they do non find one, there is little incentive for them to go any further in considering you for an interview. Accept buying of your past and practice not make excuses. Articulate how y'all have emerged from your challenges ameliorate equipped for a career in EM. And most of import, have your advisor read your statement and give you lot feedback.

Latecomers: The personal statement may be a practiced place to explain how you came to EM equally a specialty, just keep it succinct. Peradventure you had an "Aha moment," and then feel free to tell your story. Exist certain your statement besides shares experiences that convey the bigger picture of who yous are and what you have to offer.

Dual Accreditation: Students applying to both EM and EM-combined programs or programs in a different specialty have the ability to upload multiple personal statements.

Letters of Recommendation

In Chapter 5: Applying for Abroad Rotations, it was discussed that the SLOE obtained at the end of each EM clerkship is the unmarried most crucial component of your application and that two of them are recommended.2,iv,5

ERAS allows you to submit a maximum of iv LoRs to each program, only it is non necessary to upload four. It is variable how many full letters a program will want before they consider a student's awarding to be "complete plenty" to offering an interview. It is of import to know that later iv LoRs are assigned to a program, you can no longer remove/add LoRs. Therefore, if yous performed a afterwards away rotation (September or afterward) just are counting on this rotation for a SLOE, it is of import to leave a LoR spot open for this SLOE at the fourth dimension of your initial application  submission. Additional letters can be added as they become bachelor, but do non delay submitting your applications while waiting for SLOEs to be uploaded.

Within ERAS, you must enter the names and titles of your letter of the alphabet writers, the specialty the messages will be used to apply to (emergency medicine), and whether or not you waive the correct to view each LoR. In full general, applicants normally waive the right to review their LoRs, allowing alphabetic character writers to provide an honest cess. In one case a LoR entry has been confirmed, y'all will be provided with a unique Letter ID and Letter Asking Form that can exist delivered to LoR authors by electronic mail directly from ERAS (with an optional custom bulletin), or downloaded as a PDF, with instructions on how to upload your LoR.

While having both SLOEs uploaded past Sept. 15 can exist to your advantage, it's not a deal-breaker; many programs will still consider you with only one SLOE at the time of file review and interview offer — both will just demand to be uploaded by time of bidder ranking. A third SLOE is rarely suggested but may be beneficial if you have red flags or had a challenging rotation.vii,9 On  EMRA Match,ten programs listing how many SLOE(s) they wait to consider an applicant for an interview.

In improver to the 2 SLOEs recommended from your clerkship experiences, you can add LoRs from another EM kinesthesia member with whom you have worked closely (for case, from a subspecialty rotation such as ultrasound, toxicology, Ems, etc.) or from a non-academic EM dr. or a physician not in the specialty. However, it is important to annotation that SLOEs generated by EM experiences that are affiliated with a residency training program carry more credibility than a LoR from a non-academic EM physician or a physician not in the specialty.five

Latecomers: While studies show a LoR from a physician in a specialty other than EM carries less value than a SLOE, you may have a mentor or counselor from a dissimilar specialty who has worked closely with you.4 Y'all tin can consider including a non-EM LoR if you had a strong relationship with the writer. Be sure to go out room in ERAS to upload ii SLOEs earlier submitting your rank list.

USMLE or COMLEX Transcripts

Within ERAS, applicants must authorize the release of their Step scores from the NBME by entering their USMLE ID and paying a transcript fee. You can rails the status of your transcript request past logging back into ERAS. If your Step ii scores are not available at the fourth dimension of your initial awarding, you lot must log back into this section of ERAS and select "Resend My Scores."

Guidance about when to take USMLE Step two CK can be found in Chapter three: Third Twelvemonth and Planning for Fourth. Information well-nigh how your USMLE/COMLEX scores should influence your application strategy can exist establish in Affiliate 8: Apply Smarter, Not Harder: Understand Your Competitiveness.

Osteopathic Students: You lot can upload COMLEX-USA transcripts, USMLE transcripts, or both. If uploading COMLEX-Usa transcripts, y'all must authorize their release by inbound your NBOME ID and paying a transcript fee, similar to the process for uploading USMLE scores. Every bit mentioned in Chapter 2: The Preclinical Years, osteopathic students who accept USMLE are more probable to match at ACGME programs. There is no direct conversion from COMLEX to USMLE scores for programs to compare y'all apples to apples. Refer to EMRA Lucifer for programs that volition accept COMLEX scores lone when helping make your awarding decisions (hint — information technology will not be a majority of programs!).xvi-eighteen

IMG Students: USMLE transcripts for IMGs are released by ECFMG rather than NBME.

Medical Pupil Performance Evaluation (Dean'south Letter of the alphabet)

The MSPE is not a letter of the alphabet of recommendation, but rather a summary of your performance throughout medical school. The MSPE is a valuable role of your application because information technology gives a broader perspective of your iv years of medical schoolhouse. This evaluation emphasizes strong attributes demonstrated throughout your medical education, highlights your accomplishments during this time, and addresses any red flags or difficulties. It also provides a narrative to your clinical clerkship performances. The MSPE traditionally includes your rank compared to classmates, and this tin help you estimate your competitiveness as an applicant; however, non all medical schools have a course ranking system. In this case, your school volition bespeak this in the MSPE. Check with your dean ahead of fourth dimension to understand your institution's process so yous understand your own competitiveness. Training programs practise non rely heavily on this component of the application when selecting applicants for interview, likely considering it is released later than the rest of your residency application (October. 1 compared to Sept. 15). Nevertheless, the MSPE is rated highly in importance when information technology comes to deciding how to rank applicants.two

At-Risk Candidates: Be familiar with your MSPE so you can address any red flags such as course failures or professionalism problems in your personal statement and during your interviews. Accept ownership of the problems, reflect upon what y'all accept learned, and be gear up to explain the changes y'all take made to ensure that the past will not repeat itself during residency.

Latecomers: If you changed specialty choices, be sure to update your dean as presently as possible. They may choose to emphasize different aspects of your strengths or accomplishments every bit they relate to EM.

Medical School Transcript

This is just a list of your preclinical and clerkship grades, which is released prior to the MSPE. Your MSPE will provide more than detailed information about your clerkship performances. By the fourth dimension you are putting together your ERAS application, there is not much you can do about whatsoever of this information. While basic sciences grades accept been ranked lower in terms of importance to residency programs, performance in required 3rd-year clerkships is cited as beingness heavily valued.2,four

Photograph

This is optional, but the vast majority of applicants exercise upload a photograph to ERAS. While your photograph does not need to be from a professional lensman, you need to appear professional. No selfies!

The Bottom Line

  • Be honest on your application; practise non inflate your accomplishments or involvement in anything. Program directors also await for congruence. They want to brand sure the person they interact with on the interview day is consequent with the person they come across on newspaper.
  • Anything on your awarding is off-white game to be discussed further in an interview. If it is on your application, exist prepared to talk nearly it!
  • Spelling and grammer errors can be a kiss of decease. Spend fourth dimension making your application clear, crisp, and fault-free. From the ERAS site, you can print your application to review for errors. Have friends, family, and mentors read over your application before you lot submit.
  • Stick to the timeline. Information technology is OK to non accept 2 SLOEs uploaded past Sept. 15, just you must have your awarding submitted by this engagement. Do not submit late!