If unmatched, some tips for applying next ERAS season!

[Legitimate_Art]

Here's the original source of this content: Unmatched: The Checklist

It was written by http://www.unmatchedmd.com/.

Hey everyone, for those that were unfortunately left without a position, here are some tips I saw and thought I would share for applying during the next ERAS season. Good luck!

• Email programs where you interviewed to gain feedback and suggestions for the next year. Even if you don’t hear back, remember at least they know you are still interested in their program. If there are vacancies in their program they could be interested in accepting you.
• If you are still in medical school consider extending your graduation, if possible. Year of Graduation (YOG) is often used as a filter by Program Directors when reviewing applications. If you do not extend your graduation date, you run the risk of being left out because of that filter option.
• Update your CV weekly.
  • Update your Letters of Recommendation (LORs). Remember some programs list on their websites LOR should be current and NOT more than 1 year old from the residency start date (July 1, 2020).
  • Remember your ERAS application is NOT current, you weren’t able to make any changes once you submitted it in September.
• How to find new Letters of Recommendation?
  • Ideally try to find a job in a clinical setting, where you will have opportunities to ask for updated LORs and will be able to stay “Clinically Relevant.” Remember every minute out of a clinical setting after graduation is always looked down upon due to future “credentialing.”
  • Apply for Observerships/Externships that are DIRECTLY affiliated with teaching institutions, ideally with a residency program if possible.
  • If no luck with finding any of the above, consider paying a 3rd party service for an Observership/Externship but only if a LOR is a possibility from that Observership/Externship.
  • If none of the above opportunities are available, consider finding a research position.
• If you are completely sure none of the above opportunities are even possible, then start studying for your USMLE Step 3/COMLEX Level 3 ASAP.
• DO NOT ISOLATE – Let everyone you know who is in a residency position know you didn’t match, and ask them to keep you in mind if an opening occurs. Residents are the first to know within a program of a vacancy.
• BE CONFIDENT – Try to attend as many conferences as you can where you are able to meet with program directors.

**Remember you are not 1 year behind, you are 184 days ahead for the next residency season.

---

Members don't see this ad.