Submitting ERAS without Personal Statements

[medready2005]

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Hello All:

Just wondering if it is possible to send in the initial ERAS stuff (e.g. CAF, CV, Board Scores and Transcripts) without attaching a personal statement. If so, do you think sending the application w/o a PS weakens the chances of getting an interview during the initial screening process?

Thanks!!!

 

[Law2Doc]

Hello All:

Just wondering if it is possible to send in the initial ERAS stuff (e.g. CAF, CV, Board Scores and Transcripts) without attaching a personal statement. If so, do you think sending the application w/o a PS weakens the chances of getting an interview during the initial screening process?

Thanks!!!

I think you can submit ERAS without some of the stuff not under your control (such as LORs, transcripts, dean's letter), but it wouldn't be such a good idea to submit it without the things totally under your own control, like PS, CV, etc. So I would spend the extra week or whatever writing it and just submit ERAS later, rather than hope they are going to overlook a missing PS when everyone else who submits early is going to have that part done. That's just my gut reaction though -- I know of no one who isn't planning to get this done before submitting.

 

[Winged Scapula]

Yeah, I'd have to wonder what the problem is when you can't submit something that thousands of others seem to have been able to do and on time.

In fact, it would be so strange I might assume there was a problem with ERAS before figuring it out.

Highly recommended to submit your PS when you submit your application.

 

[atsai3]

Hello All:

Just wondering if it is possible to send in the initial ERAS stuff (e.g. CAF, CV, Board Scores and Transcripts) without attaching a personal statement. If so, do you think sending the application w/o a PS weakens the chances of getting an interview during the initial screening process?

Thanks!!!

Most important thing to get in as early as possible is your CAF. Depending on the type of program and competitiveness, many program directors will offer interviews on the basis of viewing the CAF alone.

-AT.

 

[bigdan]

Most important thing to get in as early as possible is your CAF. Depending on the type of program and competitiveness, many program directors will offer interviews on the basis of viewing the CAF alone.
-AT.

Ya know, I've seen this a cuppla places now. I'm not challenging you, but looking for clarification...

The CAF is done when you fill in all your background/education/work exp/pubs/etc. But it has no info on your clinical grades nor Step scores. Is that still enough to command interviews? My CAF looks better than my Step 1 score, so I sure hope so!😉

dc

 

[Law2Doc]

Ya know, I've seen this a cuppla places now. I'm not challenging you, but looking for clarification...

The CAF is done when you fill in all your background/education/work exp/pubs/etc. But it has no info on your clinical grades nor Step scores. Is that still enough to command interviews? My CAF looks better than my Step 1 score, so I sure hope so!😉

dc

Yeah, I can't imagine this is true for competitive residencies. For noncompetitive things, sure, why not fill up the interview slots based on that. But a competitive specialty program is going to feel pretty silly if it gives away all it's interview slots to folks with 190 steps.

 

[jocg27]

I think you can submit ERAS without some of the stuff not under your control (such as LORs, transcripts, dean's letter), but it wouldn't be such a good idea to submit it without the things totally under your own control, like PS, CV, etc. So I would spend the extra week or whatever writing it and just submit ERAS later, rather than hope they are going to overlook a missing PS when everyone else who submits early is going to have that part done. That's just my gut reaction though -- I know of no one who isn't planning to get this done before submitting.

Does this include designating LOR writers? ie even if the letters aren't received/uploaded yet do you have to indicate who the letters will be coming from? Or can you do this afterwards? Thanks!

 

[Law2Doc]

Does this include designating LOR writers? ie even if the letters aren't received/uploaded yet do you have to indicate who the letters will be coming from? Or can you do this afterwards? Thanks!

I'm actually not even sure the programs see who the LOR writers will be until the letters are uploaded, so I can't answer that question. I would assume the programs that start uploading stuff early assume that things like the LORs and Dean's letter are going to show up later and nobody expects these to be complete by 9/2.
And it's certainly not uncommon to designate 3 LOR writers and add a 4th a month or two later after you have a good sub-I or something.

But yeah, if you already know who you are getting letters from, it probably pays to finalize and designate them at the time you apply.

 

[jocg27]

I'm actually not even sure the programs see who the LOR writers will be until the letters are uploaded, so I can't answer that question. I would assume the programs that start uploading stuff early assume that things like the LORs and Dean's letter are going to show up later and nobody expects these to be complete by 9/2.
And it's certainly not uncommon to designate 3 LOR writers and add a 4th a month or two later after you have a good sub-I or something.

But yeah, if you already know who you are getting letters from, it probably pays to finalize and designate them at the time you apply.

Thanks, this answers what I'm getting at I guess...I keep thinking or worrying that once I apply to a program, my application for that program is closed, so no letters or anything else can be added or anything...

 

[NotAProgDirector]

Law2Doc is right on the money.

As mentioned in a similar, parallel thread tonight:

1. I can't tell who your letter writers are until I actually download their letters.
2. You can switch them anytime before I download them and I'll never know the difference.
3. You can (and should) save one of your letters for a new letter later in the season. You can always add one any time.
4. Everytime I access the ERAS post office, all new information is downloaded. It's all flagged, so we can print only the new stuff, and can see what has changed or updated. Your new letters will not get lost and will be read.