scramble documents: technical question for computer whizzies

[buckley]

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Or somebody just less clueless than me 🙂

So I'm getting my documents together for the scramble. I noticed that my files are so large after scanning. They're all .tif files. I was wondering if I could manipulate them in some way. I've been trying and no avail. How do you make them into pdf (or whatever is more convenient) files? 😕

I know this is probably basic, but you have to understand wordstar was what we learned in school...(im not that old but it took a while for us to get the info age down...)

Also for the USMLE scores--any idea how to get the transcript? Or do you scan every result you got? I can't find my Step 1! Or can we just type our scores in a little doc file and that will be believable as is?

Would really appreciate any help for the scramble document process....thanks!

 

[katarina]

You can convert most files into pdf by using several programs you can download for free online. You can even convert web pages into pdf which is really convenient for documents uploaded into ERAS like your CAF, CV, personal statement and the like. Just google pdf converter or pdf creator and you can choose any program you want to download.

As for USMLE scores, I scanned my score reports and made one pdf for all three steps. These are considered unofficial results, but the program you're scrambling into will find out soon enough if you forged these documents. The only way they will get your official USMLE transcript within the time frame of the scramble is if you actually applied to them way before March 18 and ERAS has uploaded your documents to them already.

I think that these measures (getting ready to email/fax documents) is just a fall-back, really. I plan to maximize the 30 programs that ERAS allows you to apply to for free during the scramble. But I'm only preparing to scramble into categorical peds and nowhere else, so this may not be true for most people.

So goodluck to you buckley and to all of us. Here's hoping we won't have to use these pdf files at all

 

[buckley]

Here's hoping we won't have to use these pdf files at all

Amen to that 🙂
Thanks, I'm working on it...I just don't want to spend Mar 17 evening sleepless because I am panicking with the scramble documents amidst panicking how to find a place!

 

[buckley]

Ugh...this is so frustrating...you'd think i could get this...
if anyone can clue me in on what I am doing wrong...I would really appreciate it. My eyes hurt from the monitor already.

it seems I am able to convert the tif to pdf (the website tells me it's successful). when I extract the files, the files have the same filename but in pdf file. BUT when i open them, they're e-m-p-t-y! as in, there's nothing there! i just spent a couple of hours accomplishing na-da! hahahahaha

i will not complain if i never make use of these files again God, I hope I match!

 

[ozzie20]

use photoshop to convert the TIF file into something smaller like a pdf or a jpeg image, then set the resolution to something lower such that the file size (in kb or mb) is lower.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

One of the easiest (and most flexible) ways to do this is to install a PDF printer driver. This will allow you to print, from ANY program, to a PDF file.

The program I use is PDF Redirect. It's available here, and is free.

 

[surgiwho]

If the above advice doesn't work, try:
Try to scan them again. Usually when you scan a document it will ask you to save to pc. THere should be a way to scan it in a different format. There should be a way to save it to pdf, jpg or other.
And if all else fails, go to kinkos!

 

[buckley]

Thanks you guys! I will try it out...Unfortunately we don't have "kinkos" here...