General ERAS Questions

[robnon]

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I am a DO student applying for this upcoming application cycle. I was wondering if someone could help clarify a few questions for me.........

1. Its my understanding that in the summer ERAS applications will open up and we can start filling them out, but we dont actually submit to programs until Sept 15th? What is considered a complete application (one that a program would consider granting an interview)? Would it include the following: General Application with Biographical information, Personal Statement, Med School Transcripts, Step 1 transcipts? LOR and Step II can be added later?

2. LOR: I assume you should have at least one LOR when you submit, however is just one acceptable? I am a bit worried, because I don't have electives until August and September and I am worried about letters coming in later.

3. DO and MD match: I am applying for EMED and my plan is to apply for a few DO programs and a lot of MD programs. I know it depends on how many interviews I get (or don't get) but I was thinking I could rank a few DO programs and if I match great, then wait for the MD match.

4. In reference to the last question, do most people gauge competiveness with interviews? Clearly this can applied to any speciality but if you apply to say 30 programs in EMED but only get 5 interview offers, it sounds like the next step would be to go back and apply to some more programs in a back-up speciality like IM (please no offense to anyone applying to IM).


I am just trying to make sure I at least match somewhere as I'd rather go into a secondary speciality rather than scramble. I am also trying to figure out the best plan for Step 2 vs. LOR as I can more vacation/elective time around. I have heard Step 2 is becoming more and more important, but I think it would be best to get 1-2 LOR's early (around Sept-Oct) and then have my Step 2 scores come in later. Thanks!

 

[NotAProgDirector]

I am a DO student applying for this upcoming application cycle. I was wondering if someone could help clarify a few questions for me.........

1. Its my understanding that in the summer ERAS applications will open up and we can start filling them out, but we dont actually submit to programs until Sept 15th? What is considered a complete application (one that a program would consider granting an interview)? Would it include the following: General Application with Biographical information, Personal Statement, Med School Transcripts, Step 1 transcipts? LOR and Step II can be added later?

Each program will define their own criteria. You can't submit anything without your actual basic application/CV completed. I expect that most programs will require your USMLE/COMLEX scores, your PS, and some number of LOR's. Many people apply with only Step 1 / Comlex 1 and then add Step 2 later. You can always re-release your USMLE/COMLEX scores, add a new LOR, or change your PS.

2. LOR: I assume you should have at least one LOR when you submit, however is just one acceptable? I am a bit worried, because I don't have electives until August and September and I am worried about letters coming in later.

Again, this will be program specific. Some programs might invite with a single LOR. Many others will want to see 3-4.

3. DO and MD match: I am applying for EMED and my plan is to apply for a few DO programs and a lot of MD programs. I know it depends on how many interviews I get (or don't get) but I was thinking I could rank a few DO programs and if I match great, then wait for the MD match.

There is no problem applying to both the AOA and the NRMP matches. AOA comes first, so if you match there, you're pulled out of NRMP automatically.

4. In reference to the last question, do most people gauge competiveness with interviews? Clearly this can applied to any speciality but if you apply to say 30 programs in EMED but only get 5 interview offers, it sounds like the next step would be to go back and apply to some more programs in a back-up speciality like IM (please no offense to anyone applying to IM).

You are welcome to do this. Of course, then your application is on the late side of things for IM, and programs may have already given away all of their interview slots, or may decide that your late application suggests that you're not really interested.

I am just trying to make sure I at least match somewhere as I'd rather go into a secondary speciality rather than scramble. I am also trying to figure out the best plan for Step 2 vs. LOR as I can more vacation/elective time around. I have heard Step 2 is becoming more and more important, but I think it would be best to get 1-2 LOR's early (around Sept-Oct) and then have my Step 2 scores come in later. Thanks!

Why not get LOR's now? Most applicants have LOR's from their 3rd year clerkships. As a DO student, if you're doing away rotations at ACGME programs, you'll want letters from them if possible (as those will be very helpful in the NRMP match). Else, plan for 2-3 letters from your 3rd year, and 1-2 letters from your 4th year.

Step 2 is becoming more important, esp for DO applicants in the NRMP match.

 

[robnon]

Thank you so much for the reply, that is very helpful. I have a few letters I can use from my 3rd year cores, but I know I need SLORs for emed, but wont have that rotation until Aug. Thanks again for the advice!

 

[mademoiselle1]

I'm a DO student too and had a lot of the same questions; I'm glad you asked and thank you aPD for the clarifications!

The MyERAS Userguide says that you can only Certify and Submit your application once. Does anybody know what exactly this means? Do programs receive your info only after you submit your application, or can you complete & submit individual program apps while keeping the ERAS application open? And if you're expecting 1 or 2 more LORs, can you not submit the application until you get them in?

Also, I wanted to have everything ready to go by July 1 and submit that day. But it is it true that you can't actually submit until Sept 15th?

 

[sanityonleave]

I am a DO student applying for this upcoming application cycle. I was wondering if someone could help clarify a few questions for me.........

3. DO and MD match: I am applying for EMED and my plan is to apply for a few DO programs and a lot of MD programs. I know it depends on how many interviews I get (or don't get) but I was thinking I could rank a few DO programs and if I match great, then wait for the MD match.

aPD answered this but I just wanted to make sure it was clear: if you match to a program in the DO match, you will be withdrawn from the NRMP match unless you fail to match at any of the DO programs you rank.

Just wanted to make sure that was clear.

 

[gutonc]

The MyERAS Userguide says that you can only Certify and Submit your application once. Does anybody know what exactly this means?

This is for the CAF which is basically the CV portion of your application. Once you certify this you can't go back and change it.

Do programs receive your info only after you submit your application, or can you complete & submit individual program apps while keeping the ERAS application open? And if you're expecting 1 or 2 more LORs, can you not submit the application until you get them in?

Everything else (LORs, personal statements, transcripts, etc) can be submitted at any time. Programs don't have any control over how they download applications. Once ERAS is open, if you've applied to a program and they log on, whatever you've uploaded will be automatically downloaded to them. Any time your app changes (a new LOR, MSPE, PS, etc) it gets updated the next time they download. Some programs will download stuff frequently, others (rare) will do it once and once only.

Also, I wanted to have everything ready to go by July 1 and submit that day. But it is it true that you can't actually submit until Sept 15th?

You can submit things to ERAS but you can't actually apply to programs until 9/15. So starting 7/1 you can put everything in there so that it's all ready to go on 9/15.

 

[mademoiselle1]

Thanks!

 

[Med4theWin]

Hey guys, Canadian med student here, and I'm hoping someone can enlighten me on where to find info about american residency programs. I know Canadian students are allowed to apply for a residency in U.S., but I'm having trouble finding information about the programs. On the website for Canadian residencies (CARMs), we have all the universities that offere residencies listed, and under each one there are the exact subspecialities they offer listed as well as how many spots are available in each subspeciality. I went to the ERAS website expecting to find a similar thing and got completely lost on it. How do you guys research the residency programs? If, for example, I want to know if a University in Miami offers a residency in ophtahnlmology and how many spots there are, how do I do this?

Sorry if this is not the right spot to post this!! I have visited this site many times before but just became a member, and could not figure out how to start a new thread, so I hope you don't mind me tacking this on here...

 

[physicsnerd42]

How do you guys research the residency programs? If, for example, I want to know if a University in Miami offers a residency in ophtahnlmology and how many spots there are, how do I do this?

http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/education-careers/graduate-medical-education/freida-online.page FREIDA is the resource you're l

 

[Med4theWin]

http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/education-careers/graduate-medical-education/freida-online.page FREIDA is the resource you're l

Thanks! That's EXACTLY what I was looking for.

 

[Dissected]

Another DO eras question...

For osteopathic programs, it looks like we can login and apply to programs on July 1st..fantastic. But it also states that programs can download our applications on July 15 . If you click on the DO specialties on this page, it appears to be the case. Sounds pretty early doesn't it? I mean as far as SLOR's (and for me my personal statment, yikes) go it seems almost silly to open things up that early.

Thoughts? Is this how it has always been done?

 

[sylvanthus]

Ya it does seem crazy early and im debating just not even bothering with the DO match.

 

[Dissected]

Yea, it sucks royally having to juggle two matches. Unfortunately it would be foolish for me to skip the DO match

 

[sylvanthus]

Ahh what ya shootin for?

 

[Dissected]

Gen surg

 

[sylvanthus]

Hmmm didnt think gen surg was tough for DOs on the MD side of things but havent looked into it much.

 

[Dissected]

It's getting tougher all around for all applicants.

Not intending to start a flame battle, but surgical programs are also one of the last hold outs for anti-DO bias. I don't know what it is..but I have heard some horror stories from people who have gotten burned. Ive also had PD's tell me straight up that they arent interested in DO's. Look at the match #'s..they suck [Edit: although looking through the new match outcomes on the NBME website, there were a lot more DO's that matched this year]. Still applying though, can't hurt to see where interviews might materialize!

[sorry about derailing the thread!]

 

[mademoiselle1]

Another DO eras question...

For osteopathic programs, it looks like we can login and apply to programs on July 1st..fantastic. But it also states that programs can download our applications on July 15 . If you click on the DO specialties on this page, it appears to be the case. Sounds pretty early doesn't it? I mean as far as SLOR's (and for me my personal statment, yikes) go it seems almost silly to open things up that early.

Thoughts? Is this how it has always been done?

Sounds pretty early doesn't it? I mean as far as SLOR's (and for me my personal statment, yikes) go it seems almost silly to open things up that early.

I agree, it does seem really early. But from what I have gathered, it seems like we need to have the personal statement and LoRs up by then, probably a little earlier than the 15th to give schools time to upload everything.

I'm still iffy on how to designate LoRs, there's always a doubt as to whether a letter writer is for real until the letter is physically at my school, and I am expecting more letters this year. I don't know if you can add more after submitting the application. I've asked my school about this, hopefully I'll get a clear answer by tomorrow.

 

[Dissected]

I agree, it does seem really early. But from what I have gathered, it seems like we need to have the personal statement and LoRs up by then, probably a little earlier than the 15th to give schools time to upload everything.

I'm still iffy on how to designate LoRs, there's always a doubt as to whether a letter writer is for real until the letter is physically at my school, and I am expecting more letters this year. I don't know if you can add more after submitting the application. I've asked my school about this, hopefully I'll get a clear answer by tomorrow.

I'm almost 100% sure you can add more LORs and even change your personal statement throughout the app season. I assume this because folks (including myself) seeking SLOR's throughout the late summer/fall need to be able to upload these documents.

I have a hard time imagining programs will expect us to have all of our LOR's in by the time July 15th rolls around...but hey I could be wrong.

Edit: It seems as though gutonc already answered this question earlier in this thread....

 

[sylvanthus]

Filling out some of the fields now, but does anyone know if we need to list every undergraduate school we attended or just where we got degrees? I really dont want to look up all the undergrad schools and dates of attendance if I dont need to.

 

[mcl]

Filling out some of the fields now, but does anyone know if we need to list every undergraduate school we attended or just where we got degrees? I really dont want to look up all the undergrad schools and dates of attendance if I dont need to.

Most people do list them, and I think it's helpful to paint a complete picture of your educational background.

 

[ndocy]

For the osteo match are we supposed to submit our applications already?

I still need to write my PS/get more LORs so i'm wondering if its worth it to send in my app with just the CV portion (and maybe 1 letter) now...or should I wait till end of July/beginning of August and send in a more complete (although not fully) app?? At least by then my PS will be ready to go.

any information on what is considered a safe time to submit for osteo? I def don't want to be late...but i just cant seem to believe that everyone is submitting now. especially since i know a lot of people who are still deciding on a specialty, busy studying for boards, or about to start showcasing.

thanks 🙂

 

[iheartsharks]

For the osteo match are we supposed to submit our applications already?

I still need to write my PS/get more LORs so i'm wondering if its worth it to send in my app with just the CV portion (and maybe 1 letter) now...or should I wait till end of July/beginning of August and send in a more complete (although not fully) app?? At least by then my PS will be ready to go.

any information on what is considered a safe time to submit for osteo? I def don't want to be late...but i just cant seem to believe that everyone is submitting now. especially since i know a lot of people who are still deciding on a specialty, busy studying for boards, or about to start showcasing.

thanks 🙂

I agree with the above, WTF?!?!

 

[sylvanthus]

I went ahead and submitted even though it wasnt totally complete. Figured I may get a few interviews even without everything in, so may as well. The LOR and stuff will follow along later.