Clarification on Applying Early

[DeadCactus]

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Applications will go live Sept 15. Does that mean just have the main application in as close to that date as possible or does that mean everything including letters?

I really want to get Step 2 out of the way ASAP, but it would mean not getting an SLOR until October. Is that fine or would I be better served delaying Step 2 to get the letters earlier?

 

[sylvanthus]

Applications will go live Sept 15. Does that mean just have the main application in as close to that date as possible or does that mean everything including letters?

I really want to get Step 2 out of the way ASAP, but it would mean not getting an SLOR until October. Is that fine or would I be better served delaying Step 2 to get the letters earlier?

I've been told it is best to download the ERAS application ahead of time and have all the fields prepared. Copy this over to ERAS the day it opens up and submit it that same day. Then, if you have LOR that are still not in, not to worry, they will follow your application soon enough.

Out of curiosity why are you delaying getting your LOR in earlier, in favor of taking your step 2?

 

[gman33]

You pretty much need multiple SLORs from multiple (at least 2) rotations to have a good application.

Do you mean you want have any SLORs by Oct or just one from an away rotation?

Also, when exactly will you have this letter and are you sure you will have it by then?

When people get letters done can be highly variable.

If you have letter by the first 2 weeks of October, you will probably be fine.
If this turns into Nov 1 or later, you may be in trouble.

 

[b-real]

You don't have to have your SLOR in before submitting. Applying this year, I submitted my app in the first week of September with 1 non-EM letter along with my step 2. I started receiving interviews the following week. My first SLOR didn't arrive until early Oct, and I've done more than fine so far. Get your app submitted ASAP, even if your letters aren't available right away.

 

[DeadCactus]

Sorry, I explained poorly in the OP.

My school does not have an EM residency. I should have letters from academic EPs at my institution by September 15th, but I would think an SLOR from an away rotation with a residency program will be particularly important for me.

I would like to use July for Step 2, August for a home rotation, and September for an away rotation but that means at least a two week delay in submitting my last letter. I could push off Step 2 until September and do the EM rotations July and August to get all my letters in before September, but I'm not sure how important that is.

 

[turkeyjerky]

Honestly, you'll prolly be fine either way. Between the two options you listed, my preference would be for the latter. However that does depend on how you did on step 1 and whether you actually need to have step 2 available when you submit your app.

Here are a few things to keep in mind. One, it takes a long time to get letters in. Some people take a long time to write them, even PDs who are just copying comments from your daily evals. And it takes a long time, 1-2 weeks, for the letters to actually get uploaded into eras. Second, many programs will wait until your application is "complete" before reviewing it (definition of complete varies). Then they review apps in the order in which they became complete. This means that, even though most programs don't start giving interview invites until mid October or later, the effective deadline for getting your choice of interview date is much earlier.

 

[DeadCactus]

Step 1 was alright though I do think I can see a solid improvement on Step 2. I feel much more on top of MS3 material and exams than I ever did during the first two years. The main motivation for taking it as early as possible is that the material will be fresh in my head and I want to just get it over with. I think it's fair to say there is a divergence between real medicine and board medicine and it would be nice to be free to focus on real medicine during fourth year...

 

[gman33]

Talk to an EM advisor at your school.
What have students done in the past?

In my mind, having multiple SLORs is essential to your application.
You can't get one from your home program if they don't have a residency.

This is probably not that big of an issue, but get an answer from someone you trust.

If you do a rotation in September, you can't really count on the letter being available a week or two later. It might be, but sometimes it takes weeks to months for someone to write the letter.

I actually did aways in Sept and Oct of this year and got some letters in a timely fashion, but that was mainly luck. I wouldn't bank on it.

 

[DrFamily7]

I think your question depends on your Step 1 score too. If your score is greater than 225 and you have decent 3rd year grades, then I'd do your away earlier to get your SLOR in. If you got less than a 220 then I'd def take Step 2 ASAP. and an october slor should def be fine.

Ultimately up to you when look at the big picture of your application.

 

[DeadCactus]

My understanding is that any EP on the faculty of a medical school can write an SLOR with the caveat that it obviously carries more wait coming from people experienced with training residents. Is that incorrect?