How critical is it to submitt your ERAS by 9/1?

[ear-ache]

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Hey gang!

I just have another silly & anxious M4 question to pose (especially in the wake of hurricane Katrina). I have been told it is crucial to submit your ERAS application by September 1st, irregardless of application completeness (LOR, transcripts, photo, etc). Is this an accurate statement? Am I putting myself at a disadvantage by waiting a couple of weeks? My rationale of waiting is that I am holding onto the slim, evaporating hope (i.e. 'fantasy', 'dream', 'alternate reality') of making AOA. If there was to be a clerical error and the gods were to bless me with that honor, I would certainly want to include that on my application.

Thanks everyone

 

[ear-ache]

OH! I also searched the FAQ sections and was unable to find the answer to my question. 😉

Thanks!

 

[blocks]

I know a lot of people, myself included, who waited until mid sept last year to submit their apps to wait for LORs, AOA, etc. I didn't really see it as a disadvantage...I wouldn't worry about it as long as it's in by the end of sept., unless things are different this year.

 

[ThinkFast007]

I just know that the students at my school that are in your position (AOA or those that are waiting for it--which usually mean they are pretty competititve as it is) are waiting for their AOA status. I guess you lucky ones can apply pretty much anytime and land an interview.

Good luck !

 

[Idiopathic]

Cant I add LOR's, etc. into my app at a later time? I have submitted my app with only one letter so far, but more can be added, correct?

 

[UTSouthwestern]

Yes, but most programs will not consider your app until it is complete, unless you have stellar board scores and rank.

 

[GasMD]

Hey gang!

I just have another silly & anxious M4 question to pose (especially in the wake of hurricane Katrina). I have been told it is crucial to submit your ERAS application by September 1st, irregardless of application completeness (LOR, transcripts, photo, etc). Is this an accurate statement? Am I putting myself at a disadvantage by waiting a couple of weeks? My rationale of waiting is that I am holding onto the slim, evaporating hope (i.e. 'fantasy', 'dream', 'alternate reality') of making AOA. If there was to be a clerical error and the gods were to bless me with that honor, I would certainly want to include that on my application.

Thanks everyone

My advice is not to hurry at all for the first two weeks. Programs wait to download bunch of applications together before they even start to look at them (I guess those sec. have other jobs to do as well). Sep 1 is Thursday, and then is the long weekend. It takes 1-2 business days for NBME to transmit your USMLE records anyway, although your CAF will be available to the programs within 30mts. But Remember, you CANNOT change your CAF, once you sumbit it. You can change anything else on ERAS but CAF. I will be submitting by the mid of next week. Hope that helps. 😉

 

[deleted50478]

I have been told it is crucial to submit your ERAS application by September 1st, irregardless of application completeness (LOR, transcripts, photo, etc).

You should probably avoid using non-words like 'irregardless' on your application essay. I'd recommend using actual words like irrespective or regardless.

 

[ear-ache]

You should probably avoid using non-words like 'irregardless' on your application essay. I'd recommend using actual words like irrespective or regardless.

Hmmmmm. Good point (see below).

ir·re·gard·less (ĭr'ĭ-gärd'lĭs)
adv. Nonstandard.

Regardless.

USAGE NOTE Irregardless is a word that many mistakenly believe to be correct usage in formal style, when in fact it is used chiefly in nonstandard speech or casual writing. Coined in the United States in the early 20th century, it has met with a blizzard of condemnation for being an improper yoking of irrespective and regardless and for the logical absurdity of combining the negative ir– prefix and –less suffix in a single term. Although one might reasonably argue that it is no different from words with redundant affixes like debone and unravel, it has been considered a blunder for decades and will probably continue to be so.

 

[VentdependenT]

In by the mid-end of sept is ok, like my man blocks stated.


Although you can dig up a meaning of irregardless on the net just avoid it. Especially around grammatically pedantic internet users. 😉

 

[Molly Maquire]

If I remember correctly, you can update your AOA status on the ERAS application. I think it is in the part with your contact information, which you can change at any time.

If this is the case, I would recommend uploading anything you have on Sept. 1, and then updating later. Definately don't wait for LORs, these can be added later.

 

[August_Bier]

However, once an update is uploaded some programs take forever for these updates to trikle in. I had that happen with an address change last year. I also did not send my application out until mid of Sep and do not think it was a disadvantage, as previous posters mentioned.

If I remember correctly, you can update your AOA status on the ERAS application. I think it is in the part with your contact information, which you can change at any time.

If this is the case, I would recommend uploading anything you have on Sept. 1, and then updating later. Definately don't wait for LORs, these can be added later.

 

[ThinkFast007]

My advice is not to hurry at all for the first two weeks. Programs wait to download bunch of applications together before they even start to look at them (I guess those sec. have other jobs to do as well). Sep 1 is Thursday, and then is the long weekend. It takes 1-2 business days for NBME to transmit your USMLE records anyway, although your CAF will be available to the programs within 30mts. But Remember, you CANNOT change your CAF, once you sumbit it. You can change anything else on ERAS but CAF. I will be submitting by the mid of next week. Hope that helps. 😉

isnt the CAF q thing except the personal statement and LoR ? So basically all the stuff like ur activities, awards, etc right?

just a little confused

 

[j fizz]

I also have a prayer for AOA and I'm not clear when my school does the senior elections. I was thinking about submitting soon anyway. It would give me an excuse to contact the programs if it happens - perhaps by email for most and maybe even real paper for programs near the top of my list. It would probably work just as well and might help show interest. Just my idea...

 

[bignursemd]

Hey gang!

I just have another silly & anxious M4 question to pose (especially in the wake of hurricane Katrina). I have been told it is crucial to submit your ERAS application by September 1st, irregardless of application completeness (LOR, transcripts, photo, etc). Is this an accurate statement? Am I putting myself at a disadvantage by waiting a couple of weeks? My rationale of waiting is that I am holding onto the slim, evaporating hope (i.e. 'fantasy', 'dream', 'alternate reality') of making AOA. If there was to be a clerical error and the gods were to bless me with that honor, I would certainly want to include that on my application.

Thanks everyone

question.....does your school send out notices saying you've been nominated etc.... for Senior AOA.? Next if in fact this is the case , type everything in and don't submit your CAF until you have the answer..... honestly I wanted that damn thing in as soon as I could, less stress.

 

[ear-ache]

question.....does your school send out notices saying you've been nominated etc.... for Senior AOA.? Next if in fact this is the case , type everything in and don't submit your CAF until you have the answer..... honestly I wanted that damn thing in as soon as I could, less stress.

No, my school does not send out notices. But my office of medical education assures me that you can update your AOA status in the "profile" section of your ERAS after you submit it. I am just a little nervous because there is a big red warning stating that once you submit your ERAS, it cannot be edited. The whole thing was giving me a headache, so I just sent it the damn thing out. AOA is such a long shot for me, and I don't want to miss out on potential interviews.

Thanks for everyone’s advice.

 

[supahfresh]

i submitted the transcript portion of the ERAS as soon as i could and I got many interviews long before i even put in the essay. so i would say at least get that part in early and add in the letters, etc as they come in.

 

[lvspro]

Hey supah
When U say essay, were u referring to the personal statement?

 

[supahfresh]

yes, personal statement. and again, it's not critical to get the ERAS done by sept 1. but if you at least get the CV part done and transmitted to your programs, they can begin reviewing them and will start sending you invites.

i think i had like at least 10 interview offers before they even saw my personal statement. one of which being johns hopkins. which is kinda weird.

this will also help you plan your trips since you will have first pick of the interview slots. you guys will be spending a lot of money on flights so try to coordinate your interviews so you dont have to make multiple flights to the same region later in the year.

 

[lvspro]

wow
Do you own your own med school or somethin' man? Your cv/caf must of been pretty darn good.

 

[supahfresh]

no. you'll see. some places are just weird like that.

 

[blocks]

i think the majority of places simply cut off for interviews based on your step scores. a few of the places just dispense with the formalities and cut you when they get a partial application and your scores. some of the more competetive programs factor in your med school for interviews (i.e. allo vs. osteo, top 50 vs. non-top 50)...few really care about your grades in consideration of interview.

then at interview time, they take a closer look. they look at your grades and your letters of rec. they actually read your personal statement, some PD's read it the night before the interview (was told that by a PD during my interview), some clearly are reading it the first time right in front of you. one chair thumbed through it in front of me and asked me about myself instead of actually reading it. at the end of the day, or week, or whatever, the people who have read your file (to whatever extent), and interacted with you, get together over a meal or a few cold ones and quantify you. basically into rank him, rank him highly, or hells no don't rank this tool.

at the end of the inerview process, the chair of the selection committee, puts to gether the list based on your earlier stratification, and any new info. gleaned from new scores, new LORS, 2nd looks etc.

in the end it's a crapshoot, unless you got the goods, or strong connections.