Why submit ERAS early?

[exjersey]

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Does anybody know the advantages to submitting ERAS early (during the first week of September)? Which programs will offer interviews without having seen the Dean's Letter?

Thanks.

 

[DrQuinn]

I didn't apply IM (EM only) but I got easily 1/2 to 2/3 of my interview offers several weeks to one month before the Dean's Letter.

Q, DO

 

[rajvosa]

My Dean at Einstein said there were no advanatages of submitting your ERAS early. He said that the only people that look at your applications before November 1st are secretaries.

 

[DrQuinn]

Maybe... maybe not. Maybe IM is different than EM. But I know several people who submitted AFTER I did who WEREN'T DOs, who had better board scores and grades, who only got a few interviews.

Programs are limited to a certain number of interviews. If they offer them to me, who submits ERAS early, then that is one less interview spot available for people who wait until Oct/Nov to submit.

Q

 

[Apollyon]

I have to go with Quinn. Two years ago, I applied for prelim IM and EM. I was "late", and I got almost nothing. I did get one interview before 1 November for prelim.

It's only common sense: all others being equal, the app that's there is better than the one that isn't. The program director that says the only one who sees the apps are the secretaries underestimates the secretaries.

IM programs look at over 2000 or 3000 apps per cycle - for one person, that's enough to make your eyes bleed. If you want to be one of the thousands that may be inexplicably good, but stuck in the morass of apps, and, therefore, missed in the dark night, as the PD just can't take anymore, you do so at your own peril.

And if you do wait until after 1 November, you're fine if you have 500's on your boards, AOA, and research, because the bar gets higher, and, also, as Quinn said, don't be surprised if all the spots are filled. Believe me, a painful email is "we want to interview you, but all our spots are now filled. If someone drops, we will notify you."

 

[sbear]

Thanks for sharing your experiences. Other than anecdotal accounts, does anybody have any inside info on how residency acceptances get "distributed"? Do they take a certain % of applicants from each cycle, etc?

 

[ckent]

I would just like to reinforce the "early anecdotes". According a few of my residents and interns, they said that applying early does help as most programs are on a first come first serve basis. They might not interview you until late Nov/Dec, but at least you will be early on their list. That being said, if your app isn't satisfactory yet, then I would definitely not submit a sub-par application but rather would just spend this week polishing it off.

 

[maxheadroom]

The applications that are completed later tend to need something bigger to get onto the interview pile. Is it necessary to apply early? No. Could it help you get into the interview pool? Yes.

 

[rajvosa]

I have a question. My application is ready except that I do not have any recommendation letters yet. (Hopefully they will come soon). Can I still apply to programs and get the advantage of applying early even though I have no LOR to send? (Not even the one from Medicine Department)



Anybody?

 

[DR]

Definitely...send your application the minute it's done. The rest of the stuff, personal statement, letters, etc. can be sent as soon as you are ready, but I learned when I applied that sending the application itself is important. I have to disagree with the Dean at Einstein; early apps are NOT just looked at by secretaries. He's mistaken. I recall sending my application in before ANYTHING else was done (especially the Dean's letter...don't wait for that!), and I was getting interview invites shortly thereafter. I recall people in my class who were mistaken, and they thought they had to wait until everything was ready...and they were wondering how everyone else was getting so many interviews.
I distinctly remember a fellow one year ahead of me who warned of this, because he sent his stuff in late (he basically waited until he had everything all set), and he got very few interviews. He was an impressive applicant, so being a bit surprised by this, he called the program director at the program of his choice (which did not interview him); the director told him that he was glad to hear from him, because he was thoroughly impressed with his application, but wondered "why was your application sent so late?" He explained what had happened, and the director essentially told him that they had filled all their interview spots with other highly qualified applicants..all of whom were likely comparable to this fellow...but they basically got there first. He told him "good luck, I'm sure you'll find a spot"!!

 

[grouptherapy]

do you think programs would send out an interview invite if the school transcript had not been sent to eras yet? thanks for any info

 

[DR]

Most won't, but I there are a choice few that might. One program in particular (I won't mention names) was kind of almost joked about by my classmates at the time because they sent interview invitations the day they received the ERAS application...and nothing else. Not even transcripts. It was ridicuolous; people were getting invitations for this place before they had even started to get LOR's, their personal statement, etc. But this is rare. Top tier programs will wait to receive the Dean's letter, usually.