Personal message/other information/etc. for programs/PDs /PCs/... in ERAS

[luCZky]

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Hi,
ERAS is closed for me now so I can't check this ...

Is there any place/form/part where we can put any important information? I know that there is a part for PS/CV/LORs/etc. but they are supposed to be somehow "preformatted". What if there is anything else what you think that PD should know? I mean for example there was (according to what I know) a part where you could say that you already sit (let say) Step 2 CK but results are still pending but now there isn't and PDs can see only your Step 1 score and don't know what's going on with other parts of USMLE... etc.

I think lot of people would like to tell them that they already sit any other exams, get some interesting internship/electives/whatever in the given field, participate in any kind of research study, etc.
But without any "evidence" then how to tell them?
E.g. let say you're super-student who is going to get a degree few months earlier than other classmates and for the rest of the school year you are supposed to "work" with any famous doc in the field of residency you're applying for. In time of applying in September you can't put that info into CV, you don't have a LOR from him or MD from your school showing you finished earlier, anything. But still it could be really really important information that PD should know about. You can't wait until interview b/c IV invitation may not even come... but with that info known by PD... maybe... everything could be different and you would get IV...

So is there any place where to place that kind of info or how did you solved this?
Thx

 

[foodle]

I think lot of people would like to tell them that they already sit any other exams, get some interesting internship/electives/whatever in the given field, participate in any kind of research study, etc.
But without any "evidence" then how to tell them?

ERAS has plenty of areas to tell the schools about what you have done in research/work/extra-curriculars. If you want to include something that you plan to do in those entries, you are free to do so. However, I would not think that the schools would place much weight in things that you plan to do, rather than things that you've done. They have no idea if you're actually going to do those things or not.

I may plan to win a Nobel Prize in medicine next year, and any school would love to have a Nobel Laureate for a resident, but who knows if that will actually happen or not.

 

[luCZky]

Of course. And now we can try to make up the most ridiculous thing to write there. Of course it is much more important what you have done than what your plans are. But you can't put that scrap to the "preformatted" areas it isn't appropriate. So to make it simpler and more understandable let say... You've already sit for an exam (e.g. any part of USMLE) and you're expecting your results... so how to tell them to avoid rejection?

 

[SouthernSurgeon]

Of course. And now we can try to make up the most ridiculous thing to write there. Of course it is much more important what you have done than what your plans are. But you can't put that scrap to the "preformatted" areas it isn't appropriate. So to make it simpler and more understandable let say... You've already sit for an exam (e.g. any part of USMLE) and you're expecting your results... so how to tell them to avoid rejection?

I think you're just making an issue out of something that isn't.

For one thing, you can always update your USMLE transcript when you get your scores back (which usually isn't a very long lag - except in the case of CS). For another, I'm pretty sure I remember there being a box you could check indicating you'd taken the exam and the scores are pending (someone younger than me who has done ERAS more recently can correct me if I'm wrong on that). But bottom line - a program isn't going to reject you in September/October just because they don't have your Step II back yet.

And you may be dismissive of it, but foodie is absolutely correct that programs are going to take any "future plans" you list in ERAS lightly. You can feel free to put them in already though. Either list them under research projects or work experiences and describe exactly what the program will be and what dates it will occur on.

 

[Raryn]

I think you're just making an issue out of something that isn't.

For one thing, you can always update your USMLE transcript when you get your scores back (which usually isn't a very long lag - except in the case of CS). For another, I'm pretty sure I remember there being a box you could check indicating you'd taken the exam and the scores are pending (someone younger than me who has done ERAS more recently can correct me if I'm wrong on that). But bottom line - a program isn't going to reject you in September/October just because they don't have your Step II back yet.

And you may be dismissive of it, but foodie is absolutely correct that programs are going to take any "future plans" you list in ERAS lightly. You can feel free to put them in already though. Either list them under research projects or work experiences and describe exactly what the program will be and what dates it will occur on.

If I remember right, I'd heard there used to be a box regarding pending exams (or they used to show on your transcript), but they got rid of that a number of years ago.

 

[luCZky]

Thx.

For another, I'm pretty sure I remember there being a box you could check indicating you'd taken the exam and the scores are pending

According to what I know... there was.. but it is no longer there.

I think you're just making an issue out of something that isn't.

May be, may be not. It seem like I made it to much simple now. I tried not to be too much specific b/c I think it is not necessary here. But for me it is really important to find a way how to explain that situation to the programs. I understand that for you guys it is a much easier in that way so it's hard to understand why I ask such a "silly question". However for IMGs it can be really tough to fulfill everything what programs require and I understand why they have these requirements ...but I hope that at least some of these requirements at some programs are "negotiable" and that is the reason why I am looking for a way how to explain it to them.

Never mind ..according to your answers there isn't such an area in ERAS so I must figure it out by myself. Anyway "No" is the answer too so thank you.

 

[Smurfette]

Moving to ERAS forum.

 

[foodle]

May be, may be not. It seem like I made it to much simple now. I tried not to be too much specific b/c I think it is not necessary here. But for me it is really important to find a way how to explain that situation to the programs. I understand that for you guys it is a much easier in that way so it's hard to understand why I ask such a "silly question". However for IMGs it can be really tough to fulfill everything what programs require and I understand why they have these requirements ...but I hope that at least some of these requirements at some programs are "negotiable" and that is the reason why I am looking for a way how to explain it to them.

Whether rightly or wrongly, IMG's are under extra scrutiny versus AMG students. Complaining about how "tough to fulfill everything that programs require" is won't get you much sympathy from the programs. Keep in mind that the PDs have hundreds (or sometimes thousands) of applications to go through. They don't have a lot of time (or interest) in reading explanations for why you should be exempted from whatever requirement. There are literally hundreds of other candidates to choose from that have fulfilled what they've asked for.

Per your specific example above, just having taken an exam isn't really of much interest to the program. They have no idea what your score is going to be or whether you'll pass or fail.

 

[luCZky]

Yeah, your're right they don't have to care why I failed to fulfill it but with short reasonable explanation they could care?

I mean e.g. many programs request us to have an ECFMG certificate prior to interview/ inviting to interview/ or even applying there. This have not much to do (if anything) with "to prove ability to pass USMLE" b/c without passing step 1&2 the match system is going to withdraw us from the match process. According to what I read there were many guys from india and other 3rd world countries who passed USMLE and successfully matched into residencies but afterward they failed to finish MD degree soon enough to obtain ECFMG cert. and visas prior to residency starting date so these spots were practically lost for the programs. I don't think they failed any courses or anything probably they finished as usual but certifying and obtaining visas processes are too long in these 3rd world countries. So in that way it is reasonable to request to have the certificate ahead. But what it means for me (us/others)? Basically given that and the fact that match process is running one year prior to starting residency it means that we have to spend one more year after getting a degree in home country. Let me to explain:
Without
Year 0
Jul: passing USMLE
Sep: applying to programs
Nov-Dec: IVs
Year 1
Mar: Matched
May: finishing degree
Jun: obtaining ECFMG cert. and visas
Jul: residency is starting

With
Year 0
passing USMLE
Year 1
May: finishing degree
Jun: obtaining ECFMG cert. and visas
Sep: applying to programs
Nov-Dec: IVs
Year 2
Mar: Matched
Jul: residency is starting

So on the other hand it is a creepy condition since earlier you get resident the easier you can teach him the american way of practicing medicine.
I think I am not overdoing (too much 🙂 ) when saying that ladies at our faculty's study department are ready to go in front of the building with pen and stamp just to wait for a postman to sign what's necessary and immediately send it by fedex back if I tell them. Second thing is that waiting time for IV for J-1 visa at "our"US embassy is 1 day and then 1 day to get it. Do you know what is waiting time for visas in 3rd world countries like? I don't but I heard a terrifying stories. And I suppose that the most of PDs (if not all of them) don't even know that our small country is participating on ESTA Visa Waiver program the same way like other 36 of the biggest/ most important/ most "US-friendly" countries. So there is no way they could have a clue how easy is for me to get every necessary document prior to starting residency against 3rd world countries applicants. And I don't blame them for that... it is a pretty natural. But I would like to find a way how to explain them that for us the situation is really different than for others. You know that everyone in match process have to show that he is an unique that he has something what other don't have... don't blame me but the same like you don't want to be treated like an average USgrad. the same way I don't want to be treated like an average IMG. For you it is easier you just show where you got a degree what you did and how you was successful. But for me it is not such easy. Look there were more than 5.5 thousand non-US IMGs applying from 3rd world countries which is more then 75% of all non-US IMGs applying (ofc most of them from india and pakistan). So I want to make PDs know that there is no reason why prioritize these guys with ecfmg over me without it... that's all.


But you're right.. they don't have to care about it and probably they don't even have a time to care when hundreds of people are applying there. Maybe the best way is to email every single program with such a requirement before season starts and ask them whether their requirements are "hard" or can be revised in that case... and afterward to decide where to apply.
Thx

 

[foodle]

tl;dr

^^^ note that the majority of PDs will have the same response.

You might find a sympathetic PD somewhere, but in general either play the game by their rules or train someplace else. If you're expecting them to bend the rules for you in the application process, it doesn't bode well for what you'll be like as a resident. That in itself might be a big red flag for them.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

Unfortunately the truth is that most programs will filter applications by their minimum criteria. So, a program that requires that IMG's pass both Step 1 and 2 to be considered for interview will simply filter all applications that have those scores available. If you don't have Step 2 but write some explanation about when you will be taking it, your application will simply never be seen. Once you take and pass the exam, you'll then appear in their system and they will review your application. Same for ECFMG certification -- if a program requires it for interview, they will likely filter applications by this and yours will never be seen.

You certainly can contact programs individually and see what happens. Many may simply ignore you -- not because we don't like you, but because we get 100's of these types of emails.

 

[luCZky]

Unfortunately the truth is that most programs will filter applications by their minimum criteria. So, a program that requires that IMG's pass both Step 1 and 2 to be considered for interview will simply filter all applications that have those scores available. If you don't have Step 2 but write some explanation about when you will be taking it, your application will simply never be seen. Once you take and pass the exam, you'll then appear in their system and they will review your application. Same for ECFMG certification -- if a program requires it for interview, they will likely filter applications by this and yours will never be seen.

You certainly can contact programs individually and see what happens. Many may simply ignore you -- not because we don't like you, but because we get 100's of these types of emails.

Thanks a lot.
I obviously forgot the possibility to be filtered out so it is meaningless to put such an information into ERAS when none is going to even see my application. So only possible way is to check whether these requirements are "negotiable" in advance by email and then hope that someone would be willing to review my app.
Seems like a problem solved definitely. Thx again.

 

[SouthernSurgeon]

I don't want to seem unsympathetic. I certainly appreciate the difficulty that IMGs face.

However, it seems that what you are really arguing is that there should be some way to use ERAs to convince PDs that you don't deserve to be treated like an IMG.

I understand that you are in a hurry and don't want to "waste" a year setting up your application. But, for all applicants (IMG and AMG alike), a very common cause of not matching is poor preparation. If it takes more time to get USMLE step II taken and get the other parts of your application prepared, then that's the way you've got to handle it if you want to maximize your chances of success.

 

[luCZky]

I don't want to seem unsympathetic. I certainly appreciate the difficulty that IMGs face.

However, it seems that what you are really arguing is that there should be some way to use ERAs to convince PDs that you don't deserve to be treated like an IMG.

I understand that you are in a hurry and don't want to "waste" a year setting up your application. But, for all applicants (IMG and AMG alike), a very common cause of not matching is poor preparation. If it takes more time to get USMLE step II taken and get the other parts of your application prepared, then that's the way you've got to handle it if you want to maximize your chances of success.

Thx. Get it but not the case. I'm an IMG and I'm going to be treated like IMG. I know it and I agree with it. Few hundreds years ago your ancestors (and other Europeans like I am) were risking their life to "restart it" at a better place. I'm risking one year of my career ... It's quite fair I guess. Key point was that I tried to find a way how to show them up that my app. isn't either white or black but rather gray. But yes.. probably the only way how to push them to check my files and consider me is through amazing USMLE scores.