The mistake of a lifetime? ERAs App dates mistake

[BayAreaGirl]

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I submitted my application a while ago and have received only 2 interviews....and many rejections. So I scanned my CV in eras and noticed that the dates are wrong from my 2 observerships that I did this year...they are listed as 2008!!

I did research until 2008, then took a break to study for step 1,2 and then this year for a few months did 2 observerships. But now it lists my last research position ending in 2008, then my 2 observerships right after them in 2008! So nothing since then!! OMG! Is this very bad in PDs mind? I am in distress...feel like I screwed up my life now!

I do know many friends (7) who received an interview for 1 hospital that I didn't hear back from. I applied to 130, have received maybe 20 rejections and just 2 interviews. I scored 99 on step 1,2 and passed cs. I expected more interviews by now.

Not sure what to do.

-Bay Area Girl 🙁

 

[jackieMD2007]

We are going to need more information than this.
1-What specialty are you applying to?
2-What was your three-digit score? 99 is a different score depending.
3-Did you say you applied to 130 programs? Why?

However, there isn't really anything you can do once ERAs is submitted and you can't write letters to programs until maybe late December.

 

[BayAreaGirl]

We are going to need more information than this.
1-What specialty are you applying to?

IM
2-What was your three-digit score? 99 is a different score depending.
step 1=244/99
step 2=246/99

3-Did you say you applied to 130 programs? Why? hmm
I'm a IMG and graduated 15 yrs ago. Been doing research ever since. Came to US 7 years ago. So I am at a big disadvantage.


However, there isn't really anything you can do once ERAs is submitted and you can't write letters to programs until maybe late December.

i know really...should i contact my 2 interviews and update them?

 

[peppy]

I'm not sure how big of a deal this really is (it's not unusual for it to take some time to get interview invitations), but I would try writing the programs now to make sure you clear it up before they've made all their decisions about interviews.
For some it may not make a difference, but some programs may put your email into your file so that they know it was just a mistake.
Good luck. Hope things work out for you.

 

[ShyRem]

130??? holy cow.

 

[newsubstancep]

BayArea,

Short answer: Send your programs an update e-mail notifying them of the mistake.

You cannot change ERAS and there's no other way to let them know without an update email to the coordinators. With 20 rejections, you should email them soon, just a *short* letter stating the update that your observerships were in 2010 and were erroneously reported as 2008. Anyone who says wait until December is lying to you or misinformed. The december emails are for stating interest, not for updating an application with relevant info.

Your scores are very good and consistent, your research is outstanding if you've been doing it for 7 years, but a huge red flag would be a lack of clinical experience for 15 years. The observerships this year would help offset that a bit and you should be doing more observerships right now if you can. Applying to 130 programs was a smart move. You will definitely match if there are no other red flags on your application.

 

[sweetlenovo88]

I'm applying to 200

 

[chubbykid]

I'm applying to 200

sounds like i'd make more working for eras than as an md.

 

[greggth]

Can you address it in your personal statement and submit revised personal statement?