Other than implementation of the supplemental ERAS for select specialties, the residency ERAS hasn’t had many modifications over the past decade. However, this year the AAMC overhauled the application in several significant, positive ways:
1. In past years applicants could include as many activities as they wanted, which put a big burden on both candidates and faculty readers. Applicants didn’t know if they should include activities as far back as college (or even high school) and were afraid to leave anything out. Faculty were faced with some applications that were excessively long, chocked full of unimportant information or remote accomplishments.
This year candidates can focus on as many as 10 experience entries – but no more – and can designate three as their most meaningful (like the AMCAS) with a short, additional description for each.
2. Applicants will also be able to choose from more “experience types” than they had in past years and will be asked to provide more descriptive information about their activities.
3. Candidates will have the opportunity to complete an “impactful experiences” section where they can describe any hardships (family, financial, education, etc.).
4. Applicants can communicate their preference for a particular geographic division or for a rural versus urban setting.
5. Candidates applying to specialties and programs who opt in can participate in “program signals” to express particular interest in a residency program.
In general, I find these changes constructive and helpful.
For more information, take a look at this summary from the AAMC. Contact me for personalized ERAS help.
