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ERAS: How Important is it to Submit on the Early Side?

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On July 5, DO applicants can start applying to AOA-accredited residency programs, so I’ve had a lot of clients ask me about the importance of getting their ERASes in now. This topic is relevant for MD candidates whose submission date is in early September. These are my thoughts:

1. Yes, getting your ERAS in early helps. At the beginning of the season there aren’t as many ERASes to review so, as a former Assistant Residency Director, I recall giving more time and attention to the early applications. I was also impressed by students who could get their materials in promptly.

2. On the other hand, if your application is not in its best shape then submitting early is a mistake. Waiting a week or two is absolutely preferable to submitting a suboptimal ERAS that will be tossed into the “do not invite” pile. Importantly, all osteopathic residency applicants who apply between July 6 and the 14th will display with a July 15 applied date anyway!

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Your Residency or Medical School Application: Maybe Leadership is Overrated

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As an Assistant Residency Director at Harvard, I often heard my colleagues ask, “Will she be a leader?” or “Can we count on him to show leadership qualities?” when we discussed applicants.

But maybe being a leader or even an extrovert is not what we should be seeking in all applicants. Poor leaders can bully, be arrogant, and may ignore excellent advice. In academics, I saw many leaders who were not role models in their behavior or scruples.

Here’s an interesting New York Times piece about the need for introverts and even followers in college admissions. I found the story about the young woman who tried to overhaul her personality and activities to fit the admissions mold to be particularly telling.
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Your Residency or Medical School Application: Be the Squeaky Wheel

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Several years ago I helped a strong applicant who had been rejected by a top medical school. He thought he was a very good fit for this particular institution, so he called the school to make his case. Surprisingly, after the applicant’s phone call, the school granted him an interview, reversing their original rejection.

It was at this time that I met the applicant; we conducted a mock interview so he would be well-prepared.

Ultimately, after being initially rejected, this applicant was admitted to that top school.

Of course, this is an exceedingly rare occurrence. But to me, the moral of this story is that it is worth being assertive (not aggressive!) in the residency or medical school application processes: Send an update letter, call institutions (politely) to inquire about your status (if they do not expressly prohibit phone calls), and be proactive during your interviews. If you haven’t received an interview invitation, now is the time to make a phone call.

You need to advocate for yourself in order to be noticed.

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

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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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Optimizing your Medical Residency Application: ERAS®

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The Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS®) is a program that transmits applications, letters of recommendation, Medical Student Performance Evaluations, medical school transcripts, board scores and other supporting credentials from a residency applicant and his or her designated dean’s office to program directors using the Internet. The ERAS application has multiple sections, including demographics, academic record, experience and personal statement. The experience, or activities, section is where applicants describe their accomplishments – research, clinical, volunteer, teaching, paid work. The ERAS experience section allows the applicant to demonstrate his or her distinctiveness as a candidate. Read more ›

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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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