PDs see HTML for CV portion of ERAS?

notdeadyet · Aug 14, 2010

The CV that students see in ERAS is HTML driven and as such, we can use HTML characters during input that affect how the CV looks.

I understand that although we can do this for the Personal Statement, Program Directors see it in plaintext, so all the HTML coding would show.

Is this also true for the CV portion?

I ask because I've chosen to use resume-style formatting to keep the CV short and concise. For example, for something like Student Body President:

* Represented class on issues related to....
* Invited to ....

Without HTML, there is no break, and all bulleted or hyphenated lists run as one long blurb of paragraph.

Any recommendations? I could just write each Experience entry in full sentences and paragraph format, but I know from sitting on the other side of the table that these are painful to read through like that.

RxnMan · Aug 14, 2010

notdeadyet said:
The CV that students see in ERAS is HTML driven and as such, we can use HTML characters during input that affect how the CV looks.

I understand that although we can do this for the Personal Statement, Program Directors see it in plaintext, so all the HTML coding would show.

Is this also true for the CV portion?

I ask because I've chosen to use resume-style formatting to keep the CV short and concise. For example, for something like Student Body President:

* Represented class on issues related to....
* Invited to ....

Without HTML, there is no break, and all bulleted or hyphenated lists run as one long blurb of paragraph.

Any recommendations? I could just write each Experience entry in full sentences and paragraph format, but I know from sitting on the other side of the table that these are painful to read through like that.

I tried using HTML, but the commands have not worked. I have used hard returns (just hit "Enter" in the text field) to alter the CAF view (the breaks do not show up in the CV view).

Also, I've used caps to define different subsections. For example, one of my research experiences also had a significant clinical portion. I would do the following (in CAF-view):

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE: Looked at the correlation of the thing to the whozit.
CLINICAL EXPERIENCE: Examined patients with the thing.
OUTCOMES: This resulted in 2 posters and 1 paper

In CV view (i.e., block o' text):

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE: Looked at the correlation of the thing to the whozit. CLINICAL EXPERIENCE: Examined patients with the thing. OUTCOMES: This resulted in 2 posters and 1 paper

In either view, the capps hook the eye and signal the reader what information I'm giving them. Also, I like to add the "OUTCOMES" heading because it tells the reader exactly how productive I was during that experience and links directly to my pubs. It's just another way of being very honest and not "upselling," as another poster puts it.

I used a trick I saw on here earlier about the Author field. Instead of naming people directly:

Smith J, Jones D, Jingleheimer JJ

I did this:

1) Smith J, Jones D, Jingleheimer JJ

Why? Because the CAF orders posters and pubs alphabetically according to the last name of the first author. This is completely at-odds with how people expect pubs to be listed - chronologically, with most recent at the top.

Say you're Smith. This is how you CAF usually works:

Jingleheimer JJ, Smith J, Jones D, 2011

Jones D, Smith J, Jingleheimer JJ, 2009

Smith J, Jones D, Jingleheimer JJ, 2010

Which is makes no sense. However, inserting the number does this:

1) Jingleheimer JJ, Smith J, Jones D, 2011

2) Smith J, Jones D, Jingleheimer JJ, 2010

3) Jones D, Smith J, Jingleheimer JJ, 2009

By manipulating the number, you can re-order the pubs to be in chronological order, which is much easier to read. Note: If you have more than ten entries, you need to add a zero before the number:

1) Smith J, Jones D, Jingleheimer JJ
10) Smith J, Jones D, Jingleheimer JJ
2) Smith J, Jones D, Jingleheimer JJ
...

becomes:

01) Smith J, Jones D, Jingleheimer JJ
02) Smith J, Jones D, Jingleheimer JJ
...
10) Smith J, Jones D, Jingleheimer JJ

With more than ten entries, "10)" will follow "1)", instead of "2)". Overall, adding the number is pretty unobtrusive, especially compared to the non-chronological default ordering.

notdeadyet · Aug 14, 2010

RxnMan said:
I tried using HTML, but the commands have not worked. I have used hard returns (just hit "Enter" in the text field) to alter the CAF view (the breaks do not show up in the CV view).

HTML commands work in the CV view. You can insert breaks and the text breaks when you do the CV view.

Good tip on the numbering and all caps...

RxnMan · Aug 14, 2010

notdeadyet said:
HTML commands work in the CV view. You can insert breaks and the text breaks when you do the CV view.

Good tip on the numbering and all caps...

Huh. I've been doing the [ B ] and [ /B ] and it doesn't work (spaces added). Am I not using the correct syntax?

Also, does this work in the CAF view? Everyone I've spoken to, and everything I've read, states that the vast majority of PDs use the CAF view.

RxnMan · Aug 14, 2010

RxnMan said:
Huh. I've been doing the [ B ] and [ /B ] and it doesn't work (spaces added). Am I not using the correct syntax?

Also, does this work in the CAF view? Everyone I've spoken to, and everything I've read, states that the vast majority of PDs use the CAF view.

Just looked it up. Forget HTML uses the <> brackets, not the [] brackets. Awesome. And it works in both views. Now I can really make this shine...

RxnMan · Aug 14, 2010

RxnMan said:
Just looked it up. Forget HTML uses the <> brackets, not the [] brackets. Awesome. And it works in both views. Now I can really make this shine...

The HTML code works for any text field. That means you can completely alter any item. Want to emphasize where you worked? You can bold it (default is regular text).

notdeadyet · Aug 14, 2010

RxnMan said:
The HTML code works for any text field. That means you can completely alter any item. Want to emphasize where you worked? You can bold it (default is regular text).

Careful.

Before you go too crazy with the HTML, this is why I posed the question to the PDs.

For things like the personal statement, although we see an HTML output, PDs see it in plaintext. So apparently folks have done what you're talking about doing in their personal statement and had the output have a bunch of HTML nonsense which is a nightmare to read.

My question to the Program Directors: Do you see a plaintext output of the CV (Experiences, etc.), or is it a web document output? Thanks for any and all tips...

RxnMan · Aug 14, 2010

notdeadyet said:
Careful.

Before you go too crazy with the HTML, this is why I posed the question to the PDs.

For things like the personal statement, although we see an HTML output, PDs see it in plaintext. So apparently folks have done what you're talking about doing in their personal statement and had the output have a bunch of HTML nonsense which is a nightmare to read.

My question to the Program Directors: Do you see a plaintext output of the CV (Experiences, etc.), or is it a web document output? Thanks for any and all tips...

Interesting.

I was more interested in making a list of my awards and getting the text fields of my experiences to look nicer. My PS is my PS.

I think that the PDs see a HTML-generated webpage. My advisor said that I should underline my authorship on my pubs. There's no way to do this unless you use the HTML work-arounds. I've sent off an email to ERAS asking thise question. If I get a response I'll post it.

RxnMan · Aug 14, 2010

Here's my email exchange (via [email protected]) with the ERAS folks:

Dear Sir or Madam,

I'm having trouble making my ERAS (in either CAF or CV view) look readable. I noticed that the student view is generated in HTML, as a web document. This allows me to use HTML tags to do bolding and italicising.

My question: Do program directors, when they download my application, see a similar HTML-generated webpage, or do they see every bit of text? Is their output a webpage or a plain text?

Thanks,

RxnMan

Good afternoon RxnMan,

You are exactly correct. The MyERAS application is an online application; therefore the data will be displayed in an HTML format. However when the programs view the application this is not done through the internet. They will simply download your application with the content/text format. You can rest assured that they will be able to view your application in its entirety without any interference.

For additional assistance please feel free to contact our HelpDesk during normal business hours, Monday- Friday 8:00am- 6:00pm.

Regards,

J-

J-,

Thank you for your prompt and thourough response on a Saturday!

Just to make sure I understand you correctly - if I put HTML tags into my ERAS application, even though it looks good through the student viewer on my end, (with bolded text or a bulleted list,) when it is downloaded by residency programs, they will see the HTML tags instead of the formatting?

I appreciate your help in clarifying this issue.

Cheers,

RxnMan

Not a problem RxnMan,

You are mistaken however, the programs have a specific software designed to download applicants applications. The way you are viewing your application is for your reference only. What is displayed in the CV or MyERAS application format will only affect the way you are able to view the document when you are printing it out as a hard copy. All content viewed by programs is displayed in a normal font and size almost similar to what you would see within a word document or notepad, minus the italicizing or bullets.

Regards,

J-

So if I read this right, we can make our ERAS look as nice as we want online using our viewer, but the content is sent verbatim to the PD's workstation. That content is presented directly as text, not HTML. So that gets us back to regular plaintext and cruddy formatting for everything. Oh well, it was a good idea.

I'm not a PD, but I hope that answers your question, OP.

Brodmann · Aug 15, 2010

To sum up:
Do the PDs see our Applications as View your MyERAS Application icon or as View your CV icon (in the Application Home)? Because in the former every thing is neat and in orderly fashion but in the latter, writings are in continuous format.

RxnMan · Aug 15, 2010

What we see, using myERAS, takes the info we input, and generates a webpage. As such, we can use HTML to do things list make a list or bold headings or insert links, etc. But when our data is downloaded, what I get from the service folks above is that the data is transferred verbatim, and not a .pdf-version of what we see on myERAS (I think our info populates fields in a Access-type database as text strings which is then ported to the PD workstation). That is, if I try to make a heading bolded, which looks bold on myERAS, it will have the unconverted characters in the PD's view. e.g.:

BOLD in our view becomes <b>BOLD</b> in the PD view.

This issue is completely different from Brodman's question about CAF vs CV. Once the data is sent to the PD's computer, they have their own version of the ERAS software which lets them download and then separately read our apps (i.e. not web-based). They can take that info and look at in either CV or CAF view, based on personal preference. I've been told a minority of PD's like the CV view, but most like using CAF because it has more information.

EDIT: Given that the CAF is more frequently used, I think the tips I gave above in post #2 are probably the way to go. Thanks aPD.

NotAProgDirector · Aug 15, 2010

Let me settle this for you:

If you embed HTML code into ANYTHING in your application, I will see the raw HTML code. The ERAS application I use is not HTML based, and will not parse the tags. DO NOT DO THIS.

Zyzzyva100 · Aug 15, 2010

aProgDirector said:
Let me settle this for you:

If you embed HTML code into ANYTHING in your application, I will see the raw HTML code. The ERAS application I use is not HTML based, and will not parse the tags. DO NOT DO THIS.

Well that settles that. It would be nice if they could include a "this is what PD's see" button. For the amount of money they take you for in this process a better interface should be developed.

notdeadyet · Aug 15, 2010

aProgDirector said:
If you embed HTML code into ANYTHING in your application, I will see the raw HTML code. The ERAS application I use is not HTML based, and will not parse the tags. DO NOT DO THIS.

Thanks, aProgDirector. This is exactly what I was looking for...

gstrub · Aug 17, 2010

So will the publications that the PDs see be in chronological order without us using the 1) formatting in the author box? It really pisses me off that some of the minor pubs are showing up on top and the most recent and important ones are being mixed in the middle.

calespine · Aug 17, 2010

gstrub said:
So will the publications that the PDs see be in chronological order without us using the 1) formatting in the author box? It really pisses me off that some of the minor pubs are showing up on top and the most recent and important ones are being mixed in the middle.

I think it goes chronologically starting with oldest at the top- I used the numbering format because I like to keep the new stuff at the top (like in my personal CV).

Brodmann · Aug 17, 2010

gstrub said:
So will the publications that the PDs see be in chronological order without us using the 1) formatting in the author box? It really pisses me off that some of the minor pubs are showing up on top and the most recent and important ones are being mixed in the middle.

RxnMan's given a good tip in the post#2.

docbill · Aug 18, 2010

RxnMan said:
With more than ten entries, "10)" will follow "1)", instead of "2)". Overall, adding the number is pretty unobtrusive, especially compared to the non-chronological default ordering.

Yeah that is what I ran into. So I just left it the way it was. I figure the list is there and PDs are aware of the ordering etc...

DickyV · Aug 29, 2010

RxnMan said:
With more than ten entries, "10)" will follow "1)", instead of "2)". Overall, adding the number is pretty unobtrusive, especially compared to the non-chronological default ordering.

There's a problem I wish I had! :laugh:

Freudster · Aug 29, 2010

Regarding the numbering of publications...

ERAS now seems to break up publications according to their category. Therefore, the numbering system proposed here might not work, fyi.

shadowfox87 · Sep 15, 2013

This is annoying. None of the html tags will work if seen in HTML view. The person actually sees the HTML tags also. When listing awards and clubs, this is a problem. The rest of it is formatted appropriately because eras splits into category. Anybody figure out a way to make it look pretty?

NutellaMmm · Sep 15, 2013

shadowfox87 said:
This is annoying. None of the html tags will work if seen in HTML view. The person actually sees the HTML tags also. When listing awards and clubs, this is a problem. The rest of it is formatted appropriately because eras splits into category. Anybody figure out a way to make it look pretty?

I have heard it will be seen as one paragraph, even if you do a hard return to make it look nice. Is this what you mean? I still do not know how to actually make things I want appear on different lines. So far, all I have seen suggested would be to number things instead of using new lines or instead of using bullet points.

mercaptovizadeh · Sep 15, 2013

For awards entered into the awards text box, how should I separate them? Enter a few times so there are spaces? Semicolons? I just don't want to have a bunch of incomplete sentences mashed together by the reformatting.

gutonc · Sep 15, 2013

aProgDirector said:
Let me settle this for you:

If you embed HTML code into ANYTHING in your application, I will see the raw HTML code. The ERAS application I use is not HTML based, and will not parse the tags. DO NOT DO THIS.

shadowfox87 said:
This is annoying. None of the html tags will work if seen in HTML view. The person actually sees the HTML tags also. When listing awards and clubs, this is a problem. The rest of it is formatted appropriately because eras splits into category. Anybody figure out a way to make it look pretty?

All you had to do was look 9 posts up to find the answer.

No...just deal with it. PDs are used to how crappy it looks. Don't worry about it.

gutonc · Sep 15, 2013

aProgDirector said:
Let me settle this for you:

If you embed HTML code into ANYTHING in your application, I will see the raw HTML code. The ERAS application I use is not HTML based, and will not parse the tags. DO NOT DO THIS.

shadowfox87 said:
This is annoying. None of the html tags will work if seen in HTML view. The person actually sees the HTML tags also. When listing awards and clubs, this is a problem. The rest of it is formatted appropriately because eras splits into category. Anybody figure out a way to make it look pretty?

All you had to do was look 9 posts up to find the answer.

No...just deal with it. PDs are used to how crappy it looks. Don't worry about it.

PDs see HTML for CV portion of ERAS?

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