ERAS application

[lama]

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I understand that HPSP people are required to apply on ERAS, but my question is whether or not we must select the same military locations on eras as do on our joint match application or just list the civillian programs?

Second, if my second choice is flight surgery and I am assured a flight surgery tour outright, why must I fill out an eras application at all?

Thanks for the help.

 

[NateintheED]

I understand that HPSP people are required to apply on ERAS, but my question is whether or not we must select the same military locations on eras as do on our joint match application or just list the civillian programs?

Second, if my second choice is flight surgery and I am assured a flight surgery tour outright, why must I fill out an eras application at all?

Thanks for the help.

As someone who just went through it, here's the deal. The purpose of ERAS for the military programs is just to get them the same application info that the civilian programs get. Ultimately, it works in our favor by reducing paperwork, since there's no additional military app to complete. Yes, you have to specify which military programs you want your packet sent to, in addition to whatever civilian programs you choose. If you don't, the programs won't get your info. Come match time, once you get your military spot, you're withdrawn from the main match, and you're done.

As for the second question, NOBODY goes out to a flight surgery assignment without completing at least an intern year. You have to do at least 1 year of residency to get a medical license. To get that intern year spot, you must apply through ERAS and go through the whole internship / residency application process.

Hope that clears it up.

 

[lama]

As someone who just went through it, here's the deal. The purpose of ERAS for the military programs is just to get them the same application info that the civilian programs get. Ultimately, it works in our favor by reducing paperwork, since there's no additional military app to complete. Yes, you have to specify which military programs you want your packet sent to, in addition to whatever civilian programs you choose. If you don't, the programs won't get your info. Come match time, once you get your military spot, you're withdrawn from the main match, and you're done.

As for the second question, NOBODY goes out to a flight surgery assignment without completing at least an intern year. You have to do at least 1 year of residency to get a medical license. To get that intern year spot, you must apply through ERAS and go through the whole internship / residency application process.

Hope that clears it up.

Thanks Nate. I understand that an internship is required before flight surgery, but I was just questioning the necessity of ERAS if the military has internships waiting and ready for those headed toward flight surgery. Why waste time and money on an ERAS application that has nothing to do with a possible preliminary internship year when the ERAS is for a completely different categorical specialty? Oh, well...

 

[colbgw02]

Thanks Nate. I understand that an internship is required before flight surgery, but I was just questioning the necessity of ERAS if the military has internships waiting and ready for those headed toward flight surgery. Why waste time and money on an ERAS application that has nothing to do with a possible preliminary internship year when the ERAS is for a completely different categorical specialty? Oh, well...

this is just conjecture, but i would hazard to guess it might have something to do with high level of variability between the services and their respective GME tracts. i could be wrong, but as i remember it the board is a joint one, with members from all three services.

for the army alone there are folks who could (at least in theory) get 1) a civilian deferment, 2) just a transitional internship and nothing else, 3) a transitional internship then a deferment, 4) a continuous contract, 5) a preliminary internship with an almost guaranteed PGY-2 spot, and 6) a preliminary internship with a reapplication for a PGY-2 spot. imagine the confusion once you add in all the navy and air force people if the board members weren't looking at the same data for each applicant.

plus, if they've got you pegged to be a GMO/flight surgeon, hypothetically they could defer you to do a civilian internship. if you didn't do ERAS, then you and the military would be SOL.

i understand your point, especially considering the expense, but it's just a way to cover all the bases. and as you probably already know, you'd much rather fill out ERAS than any sort of comprehensive application system DoD would potentially create - the forms would probably still be bubble fill-in forms with a No. 2 pencil.

 

[NateintheED]

this is just conjecture, but i would hazard to guess it might have something to do with high level of variability between the services and their respective GME tracts. i could be wrong, but as i remember it the board is a joint one, with members from all three services.

for the army alone there are folks who could (at least in theory) get 1) a civilian deferment, 2) just a transitional internship and nothing else, 3) a transitional internship then a deferment, 4) a continuous contract, 5) a preliminary internship with an almost guaranteed PGY-2 spot, and 6) a preliminary internship with a reapplication for a PGY-2 spot. imagine the confusion once you add in all the navy and air force people if the board members weren't looking at the same data for each applicant.

While this is essentially true, I think it has little to do with why ERAS is used. Remember, just like the civilian world, the military has multiple residency programs at multiple sites. Also, just like the civilian world, each program wants the recruit, and ultimately match, the best people possible. What ERAS does, just like in the civilian world, is give all the programs the same info on each applicant, so they can compare apples to apples, so to speak. I think the joint nature of the board has very little to do with this, since when you sign for HPSP, you sign with a particular branch, and transfers between branches are incredibly rare.

plus, if they've got you pegged to be a GMO/flight surgeon, hypothetically they could defer you to do a civilian internship. if you didn't do ERAS, then you and the military would be SOL.

Hypothetically, yes, but very unlikely. As far as I know, there are plenty of transitional year internship spots.

i understand your point, especially considering the expense, but it's just a way to cover all the bases. and as you probably already know, you'd much rather fill out ERAS than any sort of comprehensive application system DoD would potentially create - the forms would probably still be bubble fill-in forms with a No. 2 pencil.

Amen. Eras was not particularly painful, other than having to write yet another personal statement. You'll be applying to civilian programs anyway, to cover yourself in case of deferment, so you'll really only be doing 1 app.

 

[trattoria]

I have the same concerns as the OP. Do you know how USAF students are affected since we do not have to apply to ERAS for our residency choices? (I understand that the Army & Navy apply to military residencies through ERAS??) The USAF has its own separate application that we have to download and mail to Randolph AFB in addition to USMLE scores, LOR's, transcripts, etc.

They are telling us that we should be applying to ERAS for civilian programs, as well, but I really don't understand the point of that if you are willing to accept the default selection of GMO/FS.

 

[colbgw02]

I have the same concerns as the OP. Do you know how USAF students are affected since we do not have to apply to ERAS for our residency choices? (I understand that the Army & Navy apply to military residencies through ERAS??) The USAF has its own separate application that we have to download and mail to Randolph AFB in addition to USMLE scores, LOR's, transcripts, etc.

They are telling us that we should be applying to ERAS for civilian programs, as well, but I really don't understand the point of that if you are willing to accept the default selection of GMO/FS.

probably because what you're willing to accept, what you want, what the military needs, and what the military gives you don't necessarily converge, and there may be no rhyme or reason to it. i've seen people get their 11/16 choice for branch accessions, even though the first ten branches were undermanned and they were well-qualifed. also, 1 + 1 now equals 3.