Applying to Residency

[saintsfan180]

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Nobody at my freaking school tells us anything. So I've got my ERAS done and submitted on the 1st of September. I'm going into ER, but we didn't do a 3rd year ER rotation so I took it the first month of 4th year. That set my letter of rec asking back quite a bit, and now I'm kinda stuck depending on people to take their sweet time writing me letters. My question is, do schools generally look over your application even if you don't have any letters up yet? I've got 3 that agreed to write them, they are just not submitted. Am I not even going to be considered until those are in?

Also does anyone know where the Dean's letter goes? Do I need to submit him as a letter writer or is it automatic? I'm so lost in this whole process.

 

[DrBowtie]

1. Depends on program.
2. Automatic

 

[HumbleMD]

Nobody at my freaking school tells us anything. So I've got my ERAS done and submitted on the 1st of September. I'm going into ER, but we didn't do a 3rd year ER rotation so I took it the first month of 4th year. That set my letter of rec asking back quite a bit, and now I'm kinda stuck depending on people to take their sweet time writing me letters. My question is, do schools generally look over your application even if you don't have any letters up yet? I've got 3 that agreed to write them, they are just not submitted. Am I not even going to be considered until those are in?

Also does anyone know where the Dean's letter goes? Do I need to submit him as a letter writer or is it automatic? I'm so lost in this whole process.

The Dean's letter is now referred to as the Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE) and as Dr. Bowtie said is automatic, but by NRMP law can only be submitted on the earliest Nov. 1.

Some schools (UCSF in OBGYN) for instance, will send out most interview invites by October 1st. But even those early birds require only 1 letter with your application by the Oct 1st deadline to be considered "complete."

So, if you get your transcript, PS, ERAS application, at least 1 letter, your photo, and your USMLE transcript in and submitted to schools within the next 2 weeks, you'd be almost universally set everywhere. Then you have until Nov 1st to wrangle the rest of your letters (these will be used to rank, not to offer interviews, anyways).

I'd talk to someone in EM to see if there are any specifics though.

 

[jahbrony]

.

 

[DrBowtie]

There is actually a pilot to release the MSPE on October 1st of this year. I don't know how many schools are participating in this, but I am aware of it. So, some x number of schools will be releasing the MSPE on October 1st of this year, which will be readily available for PD viewing then.

From my limited understanding, this pilot is meant to prepare for next year's full blown October 1st MSPE release by all schools, which was called for by PDs who wanted the MSPE earlier to review for interview selection.

And this is fair how?

 

[jdh71]

And this is fair how?

How is it unfair?

 

[HumbleMD]

How is it unfair?

Having some schools release the MSPE early and others not? It would all depend on your bottom line for whether you'd want it earlier or later. Seems at minimum unequal, and at most unfair to me.

Regardless, the pilot program isn't even planned until 2013.
https://www.aamc.org/members/osr/updates/48798/reports_eras.html

 

[plauto]

Nobody at my freaking school tells us anything. So I've got my ERAS done and submitted on the 1st of September. I'm going into ER, but we didn't do a 3rd year ER rotation so I took it the first month of 4th year. That set my letter of rec asking back quite a bit, and now I'm kinda stuck depending on people to take their sweet time writing me letters. My question is, do schools generally look over your application even if you don't have any letters up yet? I've got 3 that agreed to write them, they are just not submitted. Am I not even going to be considered until those are in?

Also does anyone know where the Dean's letter goes? Do I need to submit him as a letter writer or is it automatic? I'm so lost in this whole process.

most people get their letters during the first 2 or 3 months of 4th year, so you are not behind in anything.

 

[jahbrony]

.

 

[HumbleMD]

I read the article but the comment still stands - some form of a pilot regarding early release of the MSPE is going on this year. I know, because I have a friend at one of the schools that's participating in it. He showed me the email from one of their school admins, which was sent to their entire class. So, obviously there's more people that know about it, but maybe just haven't commented yet on sdn...

edit: I'll try and get him to forward the email. Perhaps, in fairness to the rest of us, there are schools that are simply uploading the MSPE on ERAS on Oct 1st....but that it might not be viewably to PD's until Nov 1st, like the rest of ours.

Are you talking about Osteopathic programs and their Oct 15th release date?
https://www.aamc.org/download/251998/data/residency_timeline_print.pdf
I find it pretty unlikely the AAMC would ever be AHEAD of schedule for an announced program change. I'm also more of an evidence-based rather than heresay kind of person.

 

[FrickenhugeMD]

My school is participating in the Oct 1st upload of the MSPE letter 🙂, my school finally gets something right!

Some of my buddies have already seen theirs to check for errors

 

[jahbrony]

Are you talking about Osteopathic programs and their Oct 15th release date?
https://www.aamc.org/download/251998/data/residency_timeline_print.pdf
I find it pretty unlikely the AAMC would ever be AHEAD of schedule for an announced program change. I'm also more of an evidence-based rather than heresay kind of person.

No. I am talking about US MD programs putting their MSPE up on ERAS on Oct 1st for download.

 

[saintsfan180]

Well that all makes me feel better. I know the department at my school is going to get a SLOR and at least 1 individual letter out in the next couple weeks, and hopefully this dude from my away will get on it after his vacation (bad timing). I won't feel so bad once I have at least 1 up.