AOA nomination

[heliotrope]

I have already submitted ERAS.

Now I have a letter from my school which says I have been nominated as a member for AOA and the letter also says "You may put in your applications for residency that you have been nominated to Alpha Omega Alpha. It is understood by the residency programs that elections will follow except in extra ordinary circumstances that are unlikely to occur."

I'm not sure what to do. It's too late to put this on my application. Also, I'm just nominated, not actually elected yet - though the letter does say the final election to AOA is largely Proforma so it makes it sound like it will happen.

Would it be adventageous to let programs know about this? What would be the best way to do so?

Thanks for any advice.

-I did try to search for this topic, but couldn't find anything. I'm sure others have had this happen before.

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[heliotrope]

I'm not sure what to do. It's too late to put this on my application. Also, I'm just nominated, not actually elected yet - though the letter does say the final election to AOA is largely Proforma so it makes it sound like it will happen.

I see now that AOA status can be changed in "profile" of ERAS. I still have the question about just being nominated. I'm guessing I should select "AOA elections held during senior year". Doest that sound right?

Thanks.

 

[tawanda]

I'm in a similar position. On ERAS, I did select AOA elections held during senior year....but anyone can put that on their app. So, I also added "Candidate for AOA" under my awards/honors section. It looks a little redundant on my ERAS, but I did it anyway. I guess at least programs will know that I was seriously considered for AOA, meaning I was near the top of the class, and I do think it's an honor in itself to be nominated as a candidate. I suppose it could backfire a little bit if I don't get AOA, and am then asked about it on an interview and have to tell them that. I'm not too worried about it, as I am applying to Pediatrics and I don't think it is as important to these programs as say, Derm.

edit: I see now that you have already applied and cannot add this information easily--sorry. I think the AOA elections held during senior year is ok. It is a bummer that you can't say more.

 

[lord_jeebus]

Can they mention it in your MSPE?

 

[Fexofenadine]

My school's MSPE will mention AOA status and class rank on it. Some schools elect AOA in the senior year, but at least the programs will have the opportunity to look at your grades through the transcripts.

When my sister applied to derm many many years ago, she was not elected until her senior year. However, she still matched at a fabulous institution.

Moral of the above story: Don't worry!

 

[heliotrope]

I checked today and AOA status will be on my MSPE.

I guess this is the answer then unless anyone else has suggestions.

Thanks for all the replies.

 

[happytime]

Don't be bummed if you are nominated and not elected - I know several people this happened to, and as someone else has said, it's an honor to be nominated, that's why there's a space for it. 🙂

 

[Randy B]

I have already submitted my ERAS. I just got elected to AOA.

Should I contact any programs about the addition to my application?

 

[bujji13]

You can change it in your MyERAS profile - pick "Alpha Omega Alpha (member)" - and it will automatically update on your CV/CAF.

Your Dean's Letter will also include it.

If programs don't download the updated version of your CAF, then email them and tell them about the update.

 

[heliotrope]

I have already submitted my ERAS. I just got elected to AOA.

Should I contact any programs about the addition to my application?

At our school, our letters said we have been nominated by the Executive Committee of AOA. My letter says election is not absoutely official until it is certified by the AOA National Office. Then, the school will notify me on my behalf. It does not give a time frame for this, but says the induction is planned for early April 2008.

The school sent out an schoolwide email of congratulations to the nominees... so we're not officially elected yet I guess.

It sounds like your process is moving faster. Congrats!

 

[ocean11]

At our school, our letters said we have been nominated by the Executive Committee of AOA. My letter says election is not absoutely official until it is certified by the AOA National Office. Then, the school will notify me on my behalf. It does not give a time frame for this, but says the induction is planned for early April 2008.

The school sent out an schoolwide email of congratulations to the nominees... so we're not officially elected yet I guess.

It sounds like your process is moving faster. Congrats!

I'm in the same boat so I didn't put 'member' I just put 'elections in fourth year'

 

[heliotrope]

I'm in the same boat so I didn't put 'member' I just put 'elections in fourth year'

That's what I ended up doing too. It will be on my MSPE as well.

Not sure if it helps at all. That's okay though - not a big deal.

 

[NDESTRUKT]

Guys, change it on ur CAF and save. The programs will be notified your application was updated and download the new app with your AOA membership.

Congrats!

 

[heliotrope]

Guys, change it on ur CAF and save. The programs will be notified your application was updated and download the new app with your AOA membership.

Congrats!

Does having "Elections in 4th Year" on CAF mean anything to PDs?

 

[NDESTRUKT]

probably only in that they will ask you if you did indeed get elected. plus it'll be in ur MSPE ur class ranking and if you got accepted to AOA status.

 

[nasdr]

sorry to revive such an old thread, but from reading some of the responses, it seems like each program will have to re-download our CAF/CV.

to confirm that programs are indeed doing this, would i need to go to ADTS and make sure that the "downloaded by program" date changes for each program that i've applied to? i assume that the date next to CAF should change from my original CAF submission date (i.e. 9/8/2008) to my new submission date (i.e. today) when they download the new version?

thanks,

nasdr

 

[NPR]

what if we were nominated for junior AOA but not elected?

is that an honor to put down?

 

[bigdan]

sorry to revive such an old thread, but from reading some of the responses, it seems like each program will have to re-download our CAF/CV.

to confirm that programs are indeed doing this, would i need to go to ADTS and make sure that the "downloaded by program" date changes for each program that i've applied to? i assume that the date next to CAF should change from my original CAF submission date (i.e. 9/8/2008) to my new submission date (i.e. today) when they download the new version?

thanks,

nasdr

NAS-

I asked my school a very similar question; we've got a wonderful person that does our "ERAS stuff", and she actually walked over to the program coordinator of the program I'm applying to and asked "What happens w/AOA?". When you change the thing on "Profile" for AOA, you can see it in your ADTS as a "new" Profile in the ERAS post office w/the date you changed the profile, and then you should see that each program has uploaded the new profile (w/the date they did so). There, of course, will be more than one profile listed on your ADTS in this case.

And the program (anesthesiology) coordinator at my school said she can now only view a profile that includes the updated info (ie: AOA).

I'm rambling, but hope this helped.

dc

 

[NotAProgDirector]

This is correct. Once you update anything in your profile, the next time I connect to the post office I'll get an update, and it will replace the prior data, and flag it for printing.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

what if we were nominated for junior AOA but not elected?

is that an honor to put down?

I would say no, but it's up to you. I can tell you that it's not commonly done.

 

[bananamed]

I would say no, but it's up to you. I can tell you that it's not commonly done.

I agree. It's like advertising you failed to be elected.

 

[drnima]

What if my school does not have an AOA chapter. I am in the top 5% of my class but would that kill my chances since the PD might have an AOA filter?

 

[NotAProgDirector]

What if my school does not have an AOA chapter. I am in the top 5% of my class but would that kill my chances since the PD might have an AOA filter?

Depends on the filter. I could make a filter that asks "Applicant is AOA OR Applicant's school does not offer AOA". In that case, your app is seen. Or, I could make a filter that asks "Applicant is AOA". In that case, your app will not be seen.

In any case, I doubt many PD's screen based solely on AOA. It clearly comes into play during the interview selection process, but I expect most screening is done by applicant type (AMG/IMG/DO) and USMLE scores.