ERAS Announces Candidates Can Submit their ERASes without penalty through September 29 at 9am EST

Last week ERAS Communications sent out a notice to candidates that while applicants may certify and submit their MyERASes as early as Wednesday, September 1 at 9 am EST,  applications submitted on or before September 29 at 9 am EST will display an application date of “September 29” to programs. (Applications submitted after September 29 will display the actual application date.) This means that there is no penalty for candidates to wait to submit their applications until the 29th at 9 am EST. This date is considerably later than recent past years.

This is great news for applicants who are still working on their written materials. Use the time to make sure yours are in the best shape possible.

 

NRMP® Data Suggests Residency Applicants Should Apply Broadly

A few years back, the NRMP published a short document called the Impact of Length of Rank Order List on Main Residency Match Outcome:2002-2016. There, the NRMP reported that matched applicants consistently had longer rank order lists than unmatched applicants.

This data is a bit old, but it assesses over a decade of Matches, so I take it seriously. In my mind, what it means to those approaching the residency application process is that candidates should throw a wide net in choosing programs at which to apply. Of course, there is a financial cost to this strategy, and that expense needs to be balanced. However, according to this data, starting out with more options usually will provide more opportunities to interview and thus, the ability to create a longer rank order list.

Virtual Interviews Can Help Mitigate Systemic Sexism in Medical Interviews

Congratulations to a few applicants who have already received medical school interview invitations. For most, the season will start in the next month or so. Remote interviews are still with us, and my assertion is that the virtual interview process reduces discriminatory practices that have plagued the system for a while. See my Doximity article "How Virtual Interviews Might Mitigate Systemic Sexism in Medicine" for a personal story. 

Your Residency Application: Being Repetitive Again and Again

In writing their personal statements, many residency applicants ask me, "Isn't it regurgitating my CV if I highlight my accomplishments?" After all, they say, their achievements have already been noted in the application, MSPE, and letters of recommendation. Think of the residency admissions process as an onion. Your ERAS and letters serve as one layer of that onion, albeit a thin one. In other words, your accomplishments are conveyed simply and succinctly there. The personal statement is your opportunity to apply a thicker layer, one in which you flesh out your achievements, thus persuading the reader of your distinctiveness. Finally, the interview is your chance to add on the thickest peel. Discussing your accomplishments in detail can seal the interviewer’s positive impression of you.

So yes, you are going to be redundant throughout the residency application process, but each part serves a different and additive purpose. If you do not include your achievements in your personal statement, how will you be viewed as distinctive? Remember: Who you are is what you’ve done… and what traits and skills you’ve gained accordingly.

Mom and Dad May Think You Have Good People Skills, But That's Not Enough When It Comes to Interviews

 Every year I am hired by re-applicants for medical school and residency who tell me that the year before they received multiple interview invitations, thought they performed well on interview day, but then were left with no offers in the spring. 

This is the truth: Interviews are hard. You need to strategically respond to criticisms of your candidacy, showcase the strengths of your application, be prepared for awkward or even - sometimes - illegal questions, all while seeming fresh and enthusiastic.

There are applicants who spend months studying for their MCAT or Boards, but don't spend even an hour practicing for their interviews. It's a naive disconnect. 

If you can mock interview with someone who has been on a medical school admissions committee for years or a faculty member who has strong experience with residency applications, go for it. If not, check out my mock interview services here. Don't rely on a friend or family member with no experience.

Here is a funny, less-than-one-minute, stop-motion video to guide you on this topic.