General ERAS/application issues

[jackets5]

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Some issues I have with ERAS. Why is it so expensive to apply and then it still takes then forever to get things uploaded into the post office. An additional 70 dollar USMLE transcript fee, come on. They know they have us by the balls and they really hammer us.

Also, it bothers, me the US residency programs consider non-US citizens before all reasonably qualified US citizens (pass all steps 1st attempt) or something like that. Especially when non citizens take our training and go back to their home country. If I tried to get training in Italy, Germany or France it would be next to impossible because Im not a citizen. Don't know just bothers me

 

[NotAProgDirector]

Some issues I have with ERAS. Why is it so expensive to apply and then it still takes then forever to get things uploaded into the post office. An additional 70 dollar USMLE transcript fee, come on. They know they have us by the balls and they really hammer us.

First, let's make sure you're comparing apples to apples. In the not-so-distant past, each program had it's own application. You had to get each application, type out the same information over and over. Then, you had to get each letter writer to individually send each letter to each program. And there was a fee to apply to each program. And then, on the program side, it was easy to lose track of a single application. Compared with this, ERAS is a bargain.

ERAS creates a fee structure that disincentivises you from applying to a very large number of programs, as it gets more expensive as you increase the number of applications. We can debate whether this is reasonable or not. My personal feeling is that it shouldn't get more expensive.

The USMLE fee is driven by the USMLE. ERAS has no control over it.

I am surprised you are complaining about the time to upload. If you're a US student, that's completely dependent on your school's office. Everything is uploaded electronically.

Also, it bothers, me the US residency programs consider non-US citizens before all reasonably qualified US citizens (pass all steps 1st attempt) or something like that. Especially when non citizens take our training and go back to their home country. If I tried to get training in Italy, Germany or France it would be next to impossible because Im not a citizen. Don't know just bothers me

The US is different from other countries, in that we have (many) more training spots than US applicants. It's an interesting debate, but should programs be required to take all US grads first, or should they be able to take the "best applicant". No right answer.

 

[235009]

compared to how much it costs to apply to med school ERAS is a steal .....i paid as much to apply to 24 residencies in ERAS as I would have to apply to 3 med schools (if you account for secondary fees)

 

[armybound]

I think the tough part about the increased fees as you apply to more programs is that the folks applying to competitive specialties really have no choice. You can't apply to 20 orthopedic residencies and have a good shot at matching unless you're some kind of rock star. I almost wish they'd consider which specialty you're applying to when they figure how much to charge you for applying to >30 programs.

 

[GoSpursGo]

I think the tough part about the increased fees as you apply to more programs is that the folks applying to competitive specialties really have no choice. You can't apply to 20 orthopedic residencies and have a good shot at matching unless you're some kind of rock star. I almost wish they'd consider which specialty you're applying to when they figure how much to charge you for applying to >30 programs.

Yeah, I think in the past it may have made sense, but these days with increasing numbers of grads leading to increasing numbers of competitive applicants wanting to go into competitive specialties, you're getting penalized for doing something where you don't really have a choice.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

It makes sense if you run ERAS and get to collect the fees.

 

[BeardedRunner]

will start new thread

 

[ih8mcat]

Sorry if this has been asked before. But can programs tell when an updated transcript becomes available in the postoffice. Or do I have to notify them to discard the old transciprt they retrieved and print out the new one?

 

[NotAProgDirector]

We are notified. Many programs won't even print your application until you actually schedule an interview, and some may never print your application at all (preferring to do everything electronically), where it will simply automatically be updated in your electronic file.