"Apply to Programs" vs "Submit Application"

[Gatorade1]

ERAS confuses me sometimes. Under the application portion there is a "submit application" button. Under the programs tab, there is an "apply to programs" button. What does this mean?

Obviously Sept 1 is this first day to send applications, but should I submit then apply to programs? Help 😕

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[poormansDO]

ERAS confuses me sometimes. Under the application portion there is a "submit application" button. Under the programs tab, there is an "apply to programs" button. What does this mean?

Obviously Sept 1 is this first day to send applications, but should I submit then apply to programs? Help 😕

You can't apply to programs until you submit (certify) your app. Even if you clicked "apply to programs" it would say you can't apply to programs until AFTER you submit (certify) your app. So essentially, nothing happens if you click "apply to programs" until you submit your app.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

Agreed. Also, you only "submit" your application once. When you do so, you can no longer change it. You can still add LOR's, write PS's, etc. And there are things in your profile you can change at anytime -- contact email / phone; AOA status, etc. But once you submit your application, your CV is frozen. There isn't much point to certifying your application now, since you can't apply to programs. Might as well get it complete, but leave it "uncertified" until you're ready to apply. Who knows -- perhaps something new will come up that you'd want on your application?

 

[Gatorade1]

Agreed. Also, you only "submit" your application once. When you do so, you can no longer change it. You can still add LOR's, write PS's, etc. And there are things in your profile you can change at anytime -- contact email / phone; AOA status, etc. But once you submit your application, your CV is frozen. There isn't much point to certifying your application now, since you can't apply to programs. Might as well get it complete, but leave it "uncertified" until you're ready to apply. Who knows -- perhaps something new will come up that you'd want on your application?

OK, makes sense. So certifying my application can occur at any time, but applying can only happen on Sept 1? At what point do I pay for programs? Can I do that now?

ERAS said that USMLE transcripts wouldn't be requested until after I paid them, so just wanted to make sure this won't delay things come Sept 1 (that is, if I can go ahead and pay now)....

 

[studyguy123]

Agreed. Also, you only "submit" your application once. When you do so, you can no longer change it. You can still add LOR's, write PS's, etc. And there are things in your profile you can change at anytime -- contact email / phone; AOA status, etc. But once you submit your application, your CV is frozen. There isn't much point to certifying your application now, since you can't apply to programs. Might as well get it complete, but leave it "uncertified" until you're ready to apply. Who knows -- perhaps something new will come up that you'd want on your application?

The Sept 1 deadline is just for allopathic right? If I am going osteopathic, I can submit my app right now and programs would look over it because July 15, they started to look at apps, so what I am asking if I am going osteopathic is that there is a point to submitting the application now, right?