Blog Archives

Are you a Residency Candidate Applying in More than One Specialty?

If you are considering applying in more than one field, you have a tough road ahead of you, and you should strategize accordingly. Remember that, although your ERAS activities cannot be individualized to different residency programs, your personal statement and letters of recommendation can. Demonstrating commitment to each field through your essay and letters will be a challenge, so take time to write thoughtfully, and make sure you speak candidly to your faculty recommenders.
Above all: Ensure that you assign the correct specialty-specific documents to the correct programs!
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ERAS 2016 Updates

Here are some ERAS 2016 quick reminders:

1) For International Medical Graduates, ERAS 2016 tokens are available through the ECFMG’s OASIS site now.
2) For those waiting for Board scores, USMLE score reports will not be released during the week of July 4. Score reporting will resume on July 8. Here is the USMLE site for more information.
3) On July 1 MyERAS opens to all applicants.
4) On July 15, DO applicants can begin applying to residency.

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ERAS 2015 Information Now Available for International Medical Graduates (IMGs)

If you are an IMG applying to residency this year, please take a look at the newly available ERAS Support Services section of the ECFMG website. There you’ll find important information regarding obtaining your token (available July 1) and submitting your supporting documents.

Note that for ERAS 2015 all letters of recommendation must be submitted through the AAMC’s LOR Portal (LoRP) or ECFMG’s Medical School Web Portal. The former is for waived letters (highly recommended by me) and the latter is for unwaived ones.

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AMCAS Tips

AMCAS Tips

As many of you know, the 2015 AMCAS application opened for submission June 3.

Here are a few quick tips for writing your AMCAS (and ERAS) activities:

1. Use full sentences. Some applicants erroneously use phrases in their activity descriptors. You’re submitting a formal application, and full sentences are appropriate.
2. Avoid abbreviations. Again, we’re talking about a formal application here, so let’s treat it as such :). Also, abbreviations you think are common might be unintelligible to the reader.
3. Do a spell and grammar check. Don’t submit only to be embarrassed by a simple error.
4. Although you are very familiar with your accomplishments you need to spell them out in your application as though you are speaking to a lay person. If your reader does not understand an activity (or activities) on your application you will not get “credit” for what you’ve done.
5. Ensure the email address you offer has a spam detector that is set low. You don’t want to miss important emails.
6. Get help. Do not send your application without having it reviewed. You cannot afford to submit suboptimal materials.

For professional, individually-tailored assistance with your AMCAS or ERAS please contact me.

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Residency Match: Ready…Set…Go

residency application and residency interviewLast week was the ERAS MSPE (Medical School Performance Evaluation) release date (October 1). Some programs will not send invitations until the MSPE is out, so residency applicants frequently start to receive interview invitations around this time of the year. Please remember that an invitation should be met with a quick response. Doing so is polite, shows interest, and oftentimes permits you to get a convenient date before it is taken.

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About Dr. Michelle Finkel

Dr. Michelle Finkel

Dr. Finkel is a graduate of Stanford University and Harvard Medical School. On completing her residency at Harvard, she was asked to
stay on as faculty at Harvard Medical School and spent five years teaching at the world-renowned Massachusetts General Hospital.
She was appointed to the Assistant Residency Director position for the Harvard Affiliated
Emergency Medicine Residency where she reviewed countless applications, personal statements and resumes. Read more

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Listen to Dr. Finkel’s interview on the White Coat Investor podcast:

Listen to Dr. Finkel’s interview on the FeminEm podcast: