Application Timeline

[ThinkFast007]

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I didnt realize this, but apparently the SEARCH function is down.

So rumor has it that programs can dload ur apps sep 1? But the Dean's letters dont go out until Nov 1?

Unless one's step 1 score is great, is there a point in having ERAS ready by sept 1? I figure because of my poor step 1 (198) i'd have to wait for my Dean's letter to even get a shot at interviews? Am I correct in saying this?

The reason I ask, is I havent even touched ERAS yet and wasnt planning on writing a personal statement, etc until late August (when my third yr ends). I planned on taking my step 2 in mid Sept and forwarding them the results as I got it.

Thanks

 

[toughlife]

I was unsure as to how to proceed in that regard but I made the decision to have everything ready by sept. 1. I actually finished mine saturday and got the ok on my PS from one of the residency directors at my school.
I guess worse case scenario you just have to wait to submit your app. I wonder however, whether you can go ahead and submit it even if all your letters of recommendation are not in. I am getting 5 total but only 2 are loaded so far.

 

[Idiopathic]

I was unsure as to how to proceed in that regard but I made the decision to have everything ready by sept. 1. I actually finished mine saturday and got the ok on my PS from one of the residency directors at my school.
I guess worse case scenario you just have to wait to submit your app. I wonder however, whether you can go ahead and submit it even if all your letters of recommendation are not in. I am getting 5 total but only 2 are loaded so far.

I have been told to submit your app ASAP, since all programs wait on Dean's Letters, they usually have already invited people for interviews before that. It isnt a screening tool, but could be a deal-breaker (the Dean's Letter, that is)

 

[PassinGas]

Don't wait! Apply as soon as ERAS opens.

You do not need to wait for the Dean's letter. Many programs send out invitations to interview prior to getting your Dean's letter-->most programs know that your Dean's letter will be good and they don't wait for it. There is no real advantage to waiting.

Getting invites early will allow you to schedule your interviews when there are more available dates to choose from which is always a plus.

In fact, if you wait, you may miss out on some interviews. Some competitive programs only have a certain number of interviews that they send out. They may also send out more invites than they have interview slots. You want your app in early, so that at least there is a chance that you are given an invitation before they stop offering interviews and also so that you can call to schedule an appointment before all of their interview slots fill up. Nothing to freak out over...just something to think about.

The advice I would give would be to have all of your ERAS info [including USMLE transcript, Personal statement, CV, LORs (ask early so that your attendings will have them done in time), and anything else needed excluding your Dean's letter] ready for upload on the first day ERAS opens. If you don't have all of your LORs, send what you have and get the rest later.

Will you fail to receive interviews if you don't have everything ready, of course not--I didn't have my stuff ready the day ERAS went online either. I'm just saying it's better to have your app in early rather than later.

Good luck...

 

[VentdependenT]

I didnt realize this, but apparently the SEARCH function is down.

So rumor has it that programs can dload ur apps sep 1? But the Dean's letters dont go out until Nov 1?

Unless one's step 1 score is great, is there a point in having ERAS ready by sept 1? I figure because of my poor step 1 (198) i'd have to wait for my Dean's letter to even get a shot at interviews? Am I correct in saying this?

The reason I ask, is I havent even touched ERAS yet and wasnt planning on writing a personal statement, etc until late August (when my third yr ends). I planned on taking my step 2 in mid Sept and forwarding them the results as I got it.

Thanks

Ideally have most letters in by end of oct early sept. If you are behind and waiting on one not a big deal. Make sure it gets in during sept though.

That being said you should have your PS, USMLE I/COMLEX I, and letters up and completed ERAS (very easy to fill out once PS done and letters submitted to school) flyen out to programs by end of second week of sept. Offers will be comming in by Oct. Yeah it happens that fast. They'll keep comming in with the majority in by mid-late Nov with a couple o' stragglers in Dec and possibly later. Can't fully remember.

Everyone's deans letter comes out at the same time but there are plenty of programs that dont wait for it.

Interviews late Nov, dec, and jan.

Chew nails till match whilest enjoying the freedom of 4th year from jan on until match.

 

[toughlife]

Don't wait! Apply as soon as ERAS opens.

You do not need to wait for the Dean's letter. Many programs send out invitations to interview prior to getting your Dean's letter-->most programs know that your Dean's letter will be good and they don't wait for it. There is no real advantage to waiting.

Getting invites early will allow you to schedule your interviews when there are more available dates to choose from which is always a plus.

In fact, if you wait, you may miss out on some interviews. Some competitive programs only have a certain number of interviews that they send out. They may also send out more invites than they have interview slots. You want your app in early, so that at least there is a chance that you are given an invitation before they stop offering interviews and also so that you can call to schedule an appointment before all of their interview slots fill up. Nothing to freak out over...just something to think about.

The advice I would give would be to have all of your ERAS info [including USMLE transcript, Personal statement, CV, LORs (ask early so that your attendings will have them done in time), and anything else needed excluding your Dean's letter] ready for upload on the first day ERAS opens. If you don't have all of your LORs, send what you have and get the rest later.

Will you fail to receive interviews if you don't have everything ready, of course not--I didn't have my stuff ready the day ERAS went online either. I'm just saying it's better to have your app in early rather than later.

Good luck...

How do I know when my USMLE scores have been released? Also, how do you know when your letters have been uploaded? Two of my letter writers sent them in but they don't show up yet. I was mistaken when I said they were uploaded. They were just sent to the dean's office.

 

[PassinGas]

Last year there was a "my documents" section on ERAS where you could see which letters had been uploaded. You could also call your Dean's office and ask them if it has been uploaded, and they should be able to walk you through finding it on ERAS if you don't see the "my documents" section.

USMLE scores: When you apply to a program, you will check a box that says to submit USMLE transcript. So it's something you do with each individual program to which you apply. I believe you can then check the "track application" section on ERAS which will show what the program has received, but I'm not sure on that last one.

 

[ThinkFast007]

Last year there was a "my documents" section on ERAS where you could see which letters had been uploaded. You could also call your Dean's office and ask them if it has been uploaded, and they should be able to walk you through finding it on ERAS if you don't see the "my documents" section.

USMLE scores: When you apply to a program, you will check a box that says to submit USMLE transcript. So it's something you do with each individual program to which you apply. I believe you can then check the "track application" section on ERAS which will show what the program has received, but I'm not sure on that last one.

hey thanks Passin Gass

once again, I know if I did a 'search' when the search fxn was working I could find the answer to this q. but from what I recall from one of the older posts, if you take the exam (step 2) in Sept then you have the option of taking the exam and forwarding the programs your step 2 if you want. Basically, it wont go out to the school directly. Is that right?

thanks guys


and gals 😛

 

[toughlife]

hey thanks Passin Gass

once again, I know if I did a 'search' when the search fxn was working I could find the answer to this q. but from what I recall from one of the older posts, if you take the exam (step 2) in Sept then you have the option of taking the exam and forwarding the programs your step 2 if you want. Basically, it wont go out to the school directly. Is that right?

thanks guys


and gals 😛

That is correct.

 

[PassinGas]

Correct...as long as when you set up ERAS...

Don't select the automatic resubmit USMLE transcript button. When you first fill out ERAS in the USMLE section, you will be asked if you want your scores resubmitted automatically. Be sure that you don't do it. That way, you will be able to manually submit your scores if they help your app or just keep them to yourself if you don't want the program to see them.

 

[JINX]

Hey PassingGas,
When you manually submit your USMLE scores, do you have to do anything different in regards to having USMLE transmit the scores to ERAS? Basically how does the manual process work? Do you need to click onto transmitting step 1 scores for each program?
Sorry for asking such an easy question, however I have asked several classmates and we are all uncertain as to the process of manual transmission of USMLE scores.
Thanks for your help.

 

[PassinGas]

The way it worked this past year...

As you fill out the USMLE part of your ERAS application, you will be asked if you want to automatically resubmit your USMLE transcript. I chose not to so that I could see my step 2 score before having ERAS auto resubmit my USMLE transcript to the programs that I had already applied to (I hadn't taken step 2 when I first filled out ERAS).

Then, when you apply to each individual program, there is a box that you check to have your USMLE transcript sent to that program (or now that I think about it...there may have just been an "x" next to the item listed "USMLE transcript" which indicates that the original USMLE transcript that is on file with ERAS will be sent to that program). Either way, whether you check the box or the "x" is already there...the result is the same. The program only gets the USMLE transcript that was available to ERAS at the time you filled out the original USMLE section found on ERAS.

It sounds confusing since you aren't looking at the screens, It's easy once you look at ERAS.

Here's an example:

Step 1 score received prior to 9/1/05, and step 2 score has not come back yet. You fill out the USMLE info on ERAS to release your USMLE transcript on 9/1/05, but you do not click the auto resubmit button for your USMLE transcript. You finish up your personal statement and apply to programs on 9/3/05. Your step 2 score comes back on 9/25/05. You decide to apply to a few more programs on 9/27/05. The only USMLE score that any programs will see at this point is your step 1 score (the score that was available on 9/1/05 when you first released your USMLE transcript on ERAS). Then, you realize that you forgot to resubmit your USMLE transcript (it's up to you to do since you didn't use the auto resubmit option). So you go to the USMLE section of ERAS and click the resubmit button on 9/28/05. Your new USMLE transcript will then be sent out to all the programs you have applied to and any new programs that you apply to after 9/28/05. Now all the programs will be able to see all USMLE scores that you received up until 9/28/05, which would be step 1 and step 2 in this case. That's it.