eras personal statement requirements

Personal Statement

Personal statements may be used to customize the application to a specific program or to different specialties. 

In This Section:

Creating the personal statement, formatting the personal statement, previewing the personal statement, reviewing/editing the personal statement, assigning the personal statement.

You create your own personal statements in the MyERAS portal from the Personal Statements section listed under Documents. 

• Each personal statement must contain a Personal Statement Title and the Personal Statement Content. The title will be visible only to you to help you correctly assign it to programs, and the content will be visible to both you and the programs it is assigned to. 
• The personal statement is limited to 28,000 characters, which include letters, numbers, spaces, and punctuation marks. 
• There is not a limit to how many personal statements applicants can create. 
• Personal statements created outside the MyERAS application should be done in a plain text word processing application such as Notepad (for Windows users) or SimpleText (for Mac users). The statement should reflect your personal perspective and experiences accurately and must be your own work and not the work of another author or the product of artificial intelligence. 
• Personal statements created in word processing applications not using plain text may contain hidden and invalid formatting. 
• Note: A number of websites provide examples of personal statements. Do not copy any information from these sites and use it in your personal statements without giving credit to the author. Such use is considered plagiarism. 
• The ERAS program will investigate any suspected acts of plagiarism. 
• Any substantiated findings of plagiarism may result in the reporting of such findings to the programs to which you apply now and in subsequent ERAS seasons. 

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When creating a personal statement in the MyERAS application, the following formatting options will be available: 

• Bold. 
• Italic. 
• Underline. 
• Strikethrough. 
• Bullets. 
• Numbering. 
• Align left. 
• Center. 
• Align right. 
• Increase indent. 
• Decrease indent. 
• Insert hyperlink. 

After entering the personal statement title and content, you will have the opportunity to preview your personal statement before saving it. This preview allows you to view your personal statement just as the programs will view it, including the number of pages.  

You are responsible for reviewing your personal statements before assigning them to programs. 

The Preview/Print option under the Actions column will allow you to view and/or print your personal statement. 

Personal statements can be edited at any point during the application season — even when assigned to programs that have been applied to. 

Personal statements that have been edited will be reflected on the programs’ side by an updated status containing the date of the updated version, but programs are not guaranteed to view or review updated versions of personal statements. 

You may designate the assignment of one personal statement for each program. 

• Personal statements can be assigned to any saved or applied to programs from the Personal Statements page by selecting “Assign” under the Actions column of the intended personal statement. 
• When assigning by personal statement, programs listed with a disabled checkbox already have the selected personal statement currently assigned. 
• When assigning by personal statement, you should review any personal statements that are listed under the Assigned Personal Statement column before making selections or changes. 
• Personal statements can be assigned by program using the Assign option under the Actions column on both the Saved Programs and Programs Applied To pages. 
• Changes to personal statement assignments can be made throughout the application season, but programs are not guaranteed to view or review newly assigned personal statements. 
• A personal statement cannot be assigned to programs that are closed. 
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Personal Statement Guidelines

Guidelines for writing personal statements.

The Personal Statement should be personal and specific to you and your experience/s. The goal of the personal statement is so that reviewers can get to know you as unique applicant and what you will bring to the program and the field. Consider the following when putting together your personal statement.      

• Never use another person or program to write your personal statement.
• Never copy another individual’s personal statement. This is a violation of professional conduct and the Match.

Before you get started:

• Some specialties may require that you have a separate personal statement for each program.
• Some students will choose to make a common personal statement but modify a paragraph that is program or location specific.
• Be sure to check with specialty and program requirements when drafting your personal statement.

General Tips :

• Grammarly® is an example of a free online resource.
• Stick to 1 page
• Save these highlights for your interview or your noteworthy characteristics.
• We recommend that you create your personal statements in a text file.
• The way you create a text file is Click on 'Start' menu on the desktop, under 'All Programs' Click 'Accessories', Click 'Notepad'. Change the Font to Courier New 10 which is used by ERAS. Keep it to less than one-page single spaced with one-inch margins all around and spaces between paragraphs.
• Do not use any special characters such as Bold, Italics, Underlines, &, ñ, µ, @,#,% etc.
• You don’t want it to look too cluttered.

When you may need more than ONE personal statement :

• If you are dual applying, you likely will need separate personal statements
• For a preliminary program personal statement, you may consider a separate personal statement or modify the personal statement to include what you are looking for in a preliminary program.
• You may consider personalizing a personal statement due to location, family, other circumstances. We recommend that you do this either early or at the end of the personal statement.
• If you are deciding between two or more specialties, it is sometimes helpful to write a personal statement for each. If you cannot see the real differences among them, others who read your statements may be able to discover your true passion.
• Label your personal statement files well so that you know which personal statement is being used for which specialty or program

Before drafting your personal statement, please use the information below to help you organize your thoughts :  

• 2-3 paragraphs with a theme (see prompts below)
• Final thoughts/projections forward

Suggested prompts for your personal statement might be : 

• Why you chose this field? 
• Personality traits
• Experiences such as education, leadership, service, research, or volunteerism
• Related hobbies, etc. 
• A brief explanation of gap time particularly for research, dual-degree or certification and how you see this time as beneficial to your residency goals.
• Some things of that nature might be best explained in your MSPE, if you wish.  Discuss this with the OSA dean writing your MSPE. 
• Applicants can describe any challenges or hardships that influenced their journey to residency. This could include experiences related to family background, financial background, community setting, educational experiences, and/or general life experiences. This question is intended for applicants who have overcome major challenges or obstacles.
• Some projection into your future, of both a professional and personal nature, if you wish. You may not want to be too specific about sub-specialty aspirations, though. People like to see an open mind. 
• What you see as the next exciting things happening in your field of interest? How do you see yourself as part of them?

Common Pitfalls:

• Avoid being a just list of reasons that you like the specialty
• Balance being personal without overly revealing in these cases
• If you don’t want to talk about a situation in your interview, it shouldn’t be in your personal statement
• If you can’t talk about a situation without becoming overly emotional, you may want to brainstorm if that should be in your personal statement (remember this is a job interview)
• If the description of your story is 1/3 of your personal statement, you are missing an opportunity to talk more about yourself.
• AVOID: I disliked all other specialties till I rotated on XXX.
• AVOID: I noticed that I didn’t really like the way XXX interacted with patients
• AVOID: The patient was angry and non-compliant.
• Run the risk of losing the reader’s attention

Final Thoughts :

• Be specific in what you ask them to review (I.e. grammar, content, voice)
• Faculty members in the type of program to which you are applying.
• People who know you well, on whom you can count for honest feedback, and who can make any necessary corrections in syntax and grammar. 
• Read your personal statement out loud to yourself- this is the best way to hear/find things that do not make sense grammatically or in syntax.

Additional Resources:

• Personal Statement Worksheet
• Personal Growth Program

The Residency Personal Statement (2023/2024): The Insider’s Guide (with Examples)

A physician and former residency program director explains how to write your residency personal statement to match in to your top-choice residency program in 2024.

Read example residency personal statements and suggested outlines..

Introduction

The residency personal statement allows residency program directors and associate directors the chance to get a sense of who you are and your commitment to your chosen specialty. 

As a former program director who understands how residency personal statements are reviewed, what “stands out,” and, most importantly, what will earn you interview invitations, the information below will help you write a residency personal statement to match!

It is imperative to make sure you get the most accurate guidance possible with regards to your residency personal statement content and optimal residency personal statement length (up to 5300 characters with spaces).

Want more personalized suggestions? Sign up for a FREE residency personal statement consultation .

Table of Contents

Goals for Writing Your 2024 Residency Personal Statement

Above all else, your residency personal statement offers the opportunity to show your interest in your chosen specialty when applying to residency to illustrate you are a good fit.

The more details you offer about why you are interested in the specialty and how your med school rotations, accomplishments and experiences have reinforced this interest, the stronger your personal statement will be, the more it will appeal to selection committees and the better you will do in the match process .

I encourage applicants to offer as much “evidence” as possible to “show” rather than “tell” what qualities, characteristics and interests they have. “Telling” a reader, for example, that you are compassionate and hard working means nothing. Instead, you must “show” that you embody these qualities based on your experiences in health care and the patients for whom you have cared.

The residency personal statement also offers the opportunity to write about who you are as a person to convey some details about your background, influences, and interests outside of your given specialty.

The Importance of a Balanced Residency Personal Statement

The key when writing your residency personal statement is to ensure that it is well-balanced so it appeals to a large group of people who might read your ERAS residency application.

However, it is important to understand that every program director and faculty member has his or her own idea of what he would like to read in a personal statement. As an applicant, you must go into this process understanding that you cannot please everyone, or a specific program, and your personal statement should therefore have the broadest appeal possible.

For example, some program directors would rather hear about your personal interests and curiosities and get to know who you are rather than have you focus on the specialty in which you are interested.

At MedEdits, we suggest taking a “middle of the road” approach; include some details about who you are but also focus on the specialty itself. In this way, you will make more traditional reviewers who want to hear about your interest in the specialty happy while also satisfying those who would rather learn about you as a person.

Above all, be authentic and true to yourself when writing your statement. This always leads to the best results! Read on to learn more about how to write a winning personal statement.

About MedEdits

Getting into a residency has never been more competitive. Founded by a former associate program director, the experts at MedEdits will make your residency personal statement shine. We’ve worked with more than 5,000 students and 94% have been matched to one of their top-choice programs.

Need Help With Your Residency Personal Statement?

Schedule a Free 15 Minute Consultation with a MedEdits expert.

Residency Personal Statement Outline & Structure

Residency applicants often do well when given outlines or templates to follow, so, we will offer that, but, it is important to realize that many applicants deviate from these rigid rules. One very typical outline that serves applicants quite well in the residency admissions process is:

• Compose a catchy introduction. Your intro can be related to your interest in the specialty to which you are applying, about a hobby or personal experience, or about your background. Regardless of the topic you choose, you want to tell a story and start with something that will interest your reader and engage him.
• The next two to four paragraphs comprise the body of your personal statement. We encourage applicants to write about any significant experiences they have had related to their desired specialty and/or future goals. This would include information about rotations, electives, and sub internships related to the specialty, volunteer and research experiences and even significant outside interests.
• Finally, you want to conclude your essay. In your conclusion, write about what you seek in a residency program, what you will bring to a residency program, and, if you have any idea of your future career goals, write about those as well. Your conclusion is also where you can tailor a personal statement to a specific geographic area of interest or type of program (rural, urban, community).

Residency Personal Statement Length & Residency Personal Statement Word Limit

Residency Personal Statement Length: Our recommendation is that your residency personal statement be between 4000 – 5300 characters with spaces or up to 900 words in length. 

The allowed ERAS residency personal statement length is 28,000 characters which equates to about five pages!

We have been hearing from more and more applicants that the personal statement should not exceed one page when typed in to the ERAS application . Because of this overwhelming trend, we are supporting this guidance unless you have extenuating circumstances that require your personal statement be longer.

Our recommendation is that your residency personal statement be a maximum of 5300 characters with spaces.

ERAS Residency Personal Statement Checklist

• Ensure your personal statement flows well

The best personal statements are easy to read, don’t make the reader think too much, and make your path and interests seem logical. Rarely does a personal statement have a theme. Also try to have each paragraph transition to the next seamlessly. 

2. Your personal statement should be about you!

Your personal statement should be about you and no one else. Focus on your interests, your accomplishments and your path. This is your opportunity to be forthcoming about your achievements – by writing in detail about what you have done.

3. Be sure your personal statement clearly outlines your interest in the specialty.

Since the reader wants to be convinced of your understanding of, experience in, and curiosity about the specialty to which you are applying, be sure you highlight what you have done to explore your interest as well as your insights and observations about the specialty to show your understanding of it.

4. Make it human.

Again, your personal statement should be about you! The reader wants to know who you are, where you are from, what your interests are and who you are outside of medicine. Therefore, try to include those details about your background that are intriguing or important to you.

5. Express your interest in the specialty.

The reader fundamentally wants to know why you are pursuing the specialty. The more details you offer the more convincing you are about your commitment and your understanding of the specialty. Be sure to include details that might seem obvious. For example, in emergency medicine you must like acute care, but try to include more nuanced details about your interest, too. What do you enjoy about the diagnoses and pathologies involved? What do you value about the actual work you will do? What do you enjoy about the patients for whom you will care? How about the setting in which you will practice?

6. The start and evolution of your interest.

Readers want to know how and when you became interested in your specialty. Was this before medical school? During medical school? What have you done to pursue and nurture your interest in the specialty?

7. What you have done to learn more about the specialty.

You should explain what you have done to pursue your interest. What rotations have you done or have planned? What research, scholarly work or community service activities have you pursued to further your interest?

8. Where you see yourself in the future – if you know!

Without going into too much detail, write about the type of setting in which you see yourself in the future. Do you hope to also participate in research, teaching, public health work or community outreach as a part of your career? What are your future goals? Since many programs typically train a certain type of physician, it is important that your goals are aligned with the programs to which you are applying.

9. What do you bring to the specialty?

You should try to identify what you can bring to the program and the specialty to which you are applying as a whole. For example, are you applying to family medicine and have a distinct interest in public health? Are you applying for internal medicine and do you have demonstrated expertise in information technology and hope to improve electronic medical records? Do you have extensive research or teaching experience, and do you hope to continue to pursue these interests in the future? Have you developed a commitment to global health, and do you hope to continue making contributions abroad? Programs have a societal obligation to select residents who will make valuable contributions in the future, so the more ambitions you have the more desirable a candidate you will be.

10. What type of program you hope to join?

Do you hope to be part of a community or university-based program? What are you seeking in a residency program? Programs are looking for residents who will be the right “fit” so offering an idea of what you are seeking in a program will help them determine if your values and goals mesh with those of the program.

11. Who you are outside of the hospital?

Try to bring in some personal elements about who you are. You can do this in a few ways. If you have any outside interests or accomplishments that complement your interest in your specialty, such as extracurricular work, global work, teaching or volunteer efforts, write about them in detail, and, in doing so, show the reader a different dimension of your personality. Or, consider opening your statement by writing about an experience related to your hobbies or outside interests. Write about this in the form of an introductory vignette. I suggest taking this nontraditional approach only if you are a talented writer and can somehow relate your outside interest to the specialty you are pursuing, however. An interest in the arts can lend itself to dermatology, plastic surgery or ophthalmology, for example. Or, an interest in technology could relate to radiology .

12. Any personal challenges?

Also explain any obstacles you have overcome: Were you the first in your family to graduate from college? Were you an immigrant? Did you have limited financial resources and work through college? Many applicants tend to shy away from the very things that make them impressive because they are afraid of appearing to be looking for sympathy. As long as you explain how you have overcome adversity in a positive or creative way, your experience will be viewed as the tremendous accomplishment that it is. The personal statement should explain any unusual or distinctive aspects of your background.

• Residency Match: How It Works & How To Get Matched

Common ERAS Residency Personal Statement Mistakes

Do not tell your entire life story or write a statement focused on your childhood or undergraduate career. 

Do not write about why you wanted to be a doctor. This is old news. From the reviewers perspective, you already are a doctor!

Do not write a personal statement focused on one hobby or begin with your birth. Some background information might be useful if it offers context to your choices and path, but your residency personal statement should be focused on the present and what you have done to pursue your interest in the specialty to which you are applying.

Do not preach. The reader understands what it means to practice his specialty and does not need you to tell him. Don’t write, for example: Internal medicine requires that a physician be knowledgeable, kind and compassionate. The reader wants to know about you!

Do not put down other specialties. You don’t need to convince anyone of your interest by writing something negative about other specialties. Doing so just makes you look bad. If you switched residencies or interests, you can explain what else you were seeking and what you found in the specialty of your choice that interests you.

Do not embellish. Program directors are pretty good at sniffing out inconsistencies and dishonesty. Always tell the truth and be honest and authentic. 

Do not plagiarize. While this seems obvious to most people, every year people copy personal statements they find online or hire companies that use stock phrases and statement to compose statements for applicants. Don’t do it!

Do not write about sensitive topics. Even if you were in a relationship that ended and resulted in a poor USMLE score , this is not a topic for a personal statement. In general, it is best to avoid discussing relationships, politics, ethical issues and religion.

Do not boast. Any hint of arrogance or self-righteousness may result in getting rejected. There is a fine line between confidence and self promotion. Some people make the mistake of over-selling themselves or writing about all of their fantastic qualities and characteristics. Rarely do readers view such personal statements favorably.

Do not write an overly creative piece. A residency personal statement should be professional. This work is equivalent to a job application. Don’t get too creative; stay focused.

Writing ERAS Residency Personal Statements For Multiple Specialties

An increasing number of applicants are applying to more than one specialty in medicine especially if the first choice specialty is very competitive. If you are applying to more than one specialty, even if there is disciplinary overlap between the two (for example family medicine and pediatrics ), we advise you write a distinct specialty for each. Remember that a physician who practices the specialty you hope to join will most likely be reviewing your statement. He or she will definitely be able to determine if the personal statement illustrates a true understanding of the specialty. If you try to recycle an entire personal statement or parts of a personal statement for two specialties, there is a high likelihood the personal statement will communicate that you aren’t sincerely interested in that specialty or that you don’t really understand what the specialty is about.

Writing About Red Flags in your ERAS Personal Statement

The personal statement is also the place to explain any red flags in your application, such as gaps in time or a leave of absence. When addressing any red flags, explain what happened succinctly. Be honest, don’t make excuses, and don’t dwell on the topic. Whenever possible, write about how you have matured or grown from the adversity or what you may have learned and how this benefits you.

If you have left a program or had a break in your medical education, you will also have the chance to explain this in your ERAS application . You should also write about this topic in your personal statement only if you have more to explain, however. 

If you have failed a Step exam or one course in medical school, this likely isn’t something to address in the personal statement. However, you should be prepared to discuss any failure during an interview. By the same token, it is best not to address one low grade or poor attending evaluation in your statement. 

Have you taken a circuitous path to medicine? If so you might address why you made these choices and what you found so interesting about medicine that was lacking in your former career.

Residency Personal Statement Example

Below are two great examples of residency personal statements that earned the applicants who wrote them numerous interviews and first choice matches. As you will see, these two applicants took very different approaches when writing the personal statement yet wrote equally persuasive and “successful” personal statements.

Residency Personal Statement Example, Analysis, and Outline: The Traditional Approach

The most common approach to the personal statement is what I will call the traditional approach, in which the applicant conveys her interest in the specialty, when that interest began and what she has done to pursue the particular specialty.

Suggested outline:

• Introduction: Catchy Story
• Paragraph 2: Background Information and how Interest Started
• Paragraph 3: Write about what you did to explore your interest
• Paragraph 4: Second paragraph about your experiences related to your specialty
• Conclusion: Wrap it up. Write something about your future goals.

Below is an example of the traditional approach:

I looked into her eyes and saw terror. She knew the life of her unborn baby was in jeopardy. As tears streamed down her face, she looked to the attending physician. In desperation, she pleaded, “Please save our baby.” She and her husband had been trying to conceive for more than two years, and they knew this could be their only chance to have a healthy child. She went into labor at home and because of a horrible snowstorm was not able to reach the hospital for several hours. When she arrived in labor and delivery, she was crowning. But, the baby was having late decelerations. Because of the sweat on my attending’s forehead I knew the situation was serious. Yet we all tried to remain calm and to keep the patient and her husband calm as well. 

I entered medical school with an open mind as everyone suggested. Even as a first year medical student, however, I was fascinated with embryology. I entered my third year still unsure of what I would pursue. I knew I wanted a career that would be challenging and interesting. Because of my background in drawing and painting, I always loved working with my hands. Yet I also enjoyed working with people. Thankfully, my obstetrics and gynecology (ob/gyn) rotation was the first of my third year and I was immediately hooked.

I quickly sought out opportunities for research and became involved in a clinical study investigating the impact of a vegan diet on birth outcomes. I have always had an interest in wellness and nutrition, and this seemed like a perfect fit for me. My research is still in process, but through this experience I have learned how to analyze data, stay objective and critically evaluate the literature. So far, our findings suggest better than normal outcomes for babies born to vegan mothers. This reinforces my goal to educate my patients about the important of diet and nutrition, which I hope to make a part of my future practice. 

Early in my fourth year, I completed an elective rotation at Inner City Medical Center. There I cared for a diverse group of patients in both inpatient and outpatient settings. I realized how much I enjoy labor and delivery, but I also value the operative aspects of ob/gyn. I appreciate the importance of understanding the female anatomy so I can operate with precision.  I also value the diversity of practice in ob/gyn. Whether caring for a woman about to give birth, helping a woman newly diagnosed with breast cancer navigate her treatment options, or caring for a perimenopausal woman who is coping with symptoms of hormone fluctuations, I enjoy caring for patients with knowledge and compassion. The outpatient aspect of ob/gyn brings satisfaction as well. I look forward to building relationships with my patients, helping them to lead the healthiest lives possible. I have also realized how much I want to care for those who lack access to care. The work I have done at Medical School Free Clinic has helped me realize the gaps that exist in access to care and education. As a future practicing ob/gyn, I hope to work in such a setting at least on a part time basis.

On that snowy night, when we realized the baby was having difficulty being born because of shoulder dystocia, a simple maneuver eased the situation. The baby’s first cry brought such joy and relief to everyone in the room and, at that moment, I knew I had to be part of this specialty. I hope to join a program where I will have the clinical exposure that will give me the skills and experience to care for a wide range of patients. I do not yet know if I will subspecialize, and I will seek out mentors and experiences as a resident to make an informed decision. I would be honored to interview at your program and thank you for your consideration.

Why It’s Great

This is a great personal statement because it clearly conveys the applicant’s interest in, and understanding of, obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN) and what the applicant has done to pursue that interest. Not only does this applicant have a long-standing interest in OB/GYN, but, she conveys that she has experienced the specialty in different settings and understands the diverse nature of the specialty. She also includes information about her hobbies and interests and writes about her exploration of OB/GYN outside of the clinical arena. An added bonus is that the applicant writes well and uses descriptive language making her statement interesting and fun to read.

Residency Personal Statement Example, Analysis, and Outline: The Outside Interests Approach

Many mentors advise applicants to tell the reader something about them that is unrelated to medicine or the specialty they are pursuing. This is a fine idea, but be sure your personal statement also includes some details about your interest in your specialty if you decide to move in this direction.

Suggested Outline:

• Introduction: Write a Catchy Introduction. Be creative! Think outside the box.
• Paragraph 2:Elaborate on your introduction offering more details
• Paragraph 3: Write about your specialty choice and what appeals to you.
• Paragraph 4: Write more about your explorations in medical school.
• Concluding paragraph(s): Write about your future goals, the type of program you hope to join and consider looping back to your introduction.

Below is an example of the outside interests approach:

The landscape before me was lush and magical. We had been hiking for hours and had found a great spot to set up camp. As I was unloading my backpack and helping to pitch the tent, I saw a scene I knew I had to capture. I quickly grabbed my carefully packed Leica before the magnificent sunset disappeared. Trying to get the perfect exposure, I somehow managed to capture this image so accurately that it reflected the beauty of what was before us high in the mountains of Utah, so far away from the hustle and bustle of New York City where we attended medical school.

Throughout my life, I have pursued my interests and curiosities with focus and creativity. One of those interests is photography. Even as a small child, I wanted my own camera, and I started snapping interesting scenes and images at the age of 6. As I grew older, this hobby took on more significance. I took a college level course in photography as a high school student, worked as a photographer’s assistant and even considered a career in photography. Paralleling my interest, however, was a desire to travel and experience new places, foods, and cultures.

I have been fortunate to travel all over the world. Rather than stopping in a city or place for a couple of days and seeing the sights, I prefer to immerse myself in my surroundings, eating the food, meeting the people, and staying for as long as I can. My fluency in Spanish and Italian has made it easier to “fit in” naturally. My most recent trip to Costa Rica allowed me to visit sugar cane fields and rain forests. I also volunteered in a clinic that helps the most desperate citizens. Of course, because I never travel without my camera, I also captured the beauty of this country; those pictures can be found on my blog.

Surgery seemed like a natural choice for me. It is a very tactile and visual field that requires patience, attention to detail and creativity—just like photography. The operating room setting is invigorating. I love to be a member of a team, and in surgery team work is an essential part of practice. The ability to deal with anatomical variations also satisfies my creative side; I have always been fond of puzzles, and the field of surgery represents a real-world puzzle to me. I also appreciate the intensity of surgery and believe I have the personality and demeanor for the field. I have always enjoyed solving problems quickly, something the field of surgery requires. My rotations in surgery – in addition to my core surgery rotation I have done trauma and cardiothoracic surgery – have helped me to understand the tremendous opportunities and diversity of the field. I have heard some residents lament that the only reason they went into surgery is to operate. However, I really enjoy seeing patients postoperatively. It is only at that time that a surgeon can really appreciate the impact of his or her work.

Finally, my trip to Honduras with a surgical team from my hospital and medical school made me realize that I can make a great contribution globally in the field of surgery. There we saw patients who had no resources or access to care. The facilities in which we worked were bare-bones. Yet the impact we made was tremendous, given that this was a group of people who otherwise would have no surgical care. In this way, I hope to combine my interests in travel and surgery as a resident, if I have time, and certainly as a practicing physician. My ultimate goal is to use my training to help populations globally and domestically.

To gain the most clinical exposure possible, I hope to train in a busy urban hospital. I believe that such a setting will give me the operative experience I need to be able to navigate many situations in the future. Such a setting will also give me the outpatient experience to understand how to manage patients once the surgery is completed.

I look forward to the day when I can be snapping my camera intraoperatively, documenting what I am doing and seeking to help other surgeons. For some, such pictures may not represent the art of those pictures I take in the wilderness, but for me they reflect the beauty of surgery and the great opportunity to make a lasting impression on another human being’s life.

This is a really intriguing personal statement because the author writes about his outside interests in a compelling way that makes him instinctively likable. He then goes on to explain what he enjoys about surgery and what he has done to pursue that interest. As you can see, this applicant writes less about his specialty (surgery) than the applicant in statement #1 did, but, he still convinces the reader of his understanding of, and commitment to, surgery. In this statement, the reader gains a much broader understanding of who the applicant is as a person and what he likes to do in his free time.

Final Thoughts

Writing your residency personal statement should be about telling your story in your own voice and style. You want to highlight your interest in the specialty for which you are applying while also conveying some ideas about who you are as a person to keep your reader engaged in learning about you as a person.

Residency Personal Statement Consulting Services

MedEdits Medical Admissions offers comprehensive guidance and document review services for residency applicants to every specialty in medicine. With more than twenty years of experience in residency admissions and founded by a former residency admissions officer and physician, MedEdits understands what program directors want to read and can help you decide what aspects of your background to focus on in your residency personal statement to earn the most interviews possible.

Getting into a residency has never been more competitive. Let the experts at MedEdits help you with your ERAS personal statement. We’ve worked with more than 5,000 students and 94% have been matched to one of their top-choice programs.

Sample Residency Personal Statements

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How to write your personal statement for ERAS/residency applications

The personal statement is occasionally a chance to “make” your application, but it’s always a risk to “break” it.

Keep in mind: it’s only 1 page (literally—it should fit on no more than one page when printed from the ERAS application, which is somewhere around 750-800 words on the longer end; 600-650 is a better goal; mine was around 500). On one interview, I was told that the program’s main criteria for evaluating personal statements was not noteworthiness but rather inoffensiveness .

Questions to ask yourself in approaching the PS:

• What are the reasons for choosing the specialty?
• What are my career plans?
• What accomplishments do I want to emphasize?
• What outside interests do I have?
• What contributions can I make to the specialty and the residency program?

You don’t have to answer all of these questions, but answering one or two will help you get the point of view you need to get a draft going.

The personal statement is a chance to state why you are choosing a specialty (and a location or a specific program) and to try to convince the reader that you are a good fit. While you are trying to say that you are awesome, you cannot simply say you are awesome . Like fiction, you should show, not tell when possible. This is not a CV in paragraph form. You must be more subtle.

Things to do:

• Give yourself plenty of time to write; start now.
• Write more than one. Tell your story from multiple angles and see which one comes out on top.
• Often your first essay is not the best.
• Consider explaining gaps in your application (leave of absence, course failure, low Step 1)
• If there are particular programs you are desperate for, you may consider tailoring your statement for them. The individualized approach is obvious and is unlikely to make the desired impact. If you tailor, don’t be a sycophant (it’s too transparent). The most important time to individualize your PS is if you discuss, for example, your desire to be part of a big bustling academic center: make sure to change that if you are applying to a small community program.
• Be straightforward in your writing
• Edit and proofread your work carefully . Then do it again. And again. And then one last time for good measure.
• Be concise. Edit down until every word counts. I personally subscribe to the common reviewer adage: “The more you write, the less I read.”
• Ask for second opinions and feedback; you don’t always have to listen but it’s important to receive.
• Your parents and significant others are wonderful readers, but they are generally insufficient. They love you too much. Have your PS vetted by your Specialty and Faculty Mentors .

Things to avoid:

• Self-Congratulatory Statements
• Self-Centered Statements
• “Emotional” Stories (give it a try, but be wary). Telling your reader about your feelings directly often makes the feelings themselves feel contrived.
• Reality embellishment (anything you write is fair game as interview fodder; if you can’t discuss it at length, then it shouldn’t be there)
• Using tired analogies (or any analogies, really)
• Quotations (you couldn’t think of 500 words of your own?)
• Remember, your reader has a stack of applications. Don’t make your essay hurt to read, overly cutesy, or sappy to the point where it’s no longer convincing.

For most people, your personal statement will not/cannot stand out in a good way (standing out in a bad way, though, is entirely possible). Why you pursued medicine may have been an interesting story (hint: it probably wasn’t), but why you chose your specialty is likely even more banal. If you don’t feel like you have anything special to say, it’s because you don’t. That’s normal. Aim for competence.

There are sample essays available for perusal on medfools . I think even the “good” ones are pretty painful in general, but your mileage may vary. Here are some good tips from UNC. The AAMC Advisor also has some quick advice . If your remember your login, Careers in Medicine also has similar stuff.

These are very good recommendations. In addition to proofreading and seeking advice from friends and family, I would also suggest considering a professional editing service. Although some of them can be costly, they see thousands of personal statements and will be able to objectively tell you if yours is competitive. This article also provides some good advice on residency personal statements: https://www.codeblueessays.com/top-7-tips-writing-residency/

I don’t agree with the need for professional services for the vast majority of applicants, and I really dislike people promoting their services through comments on my blog. In this case, the linked article isn’t terrible, so I’m not deleting this.

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How To Write A Good ERAS Personal Statement [Ultimate Guide]

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Are you dealing with an ERAS personal statement for the first time? It’s not a simple document, and while you’re at it, you must make sure that yours stands out among other candidates .

I’m here to tell you what unsuccessful applicants do — not pay attention to miscellaneous details in the process, such as writing their residency personal statement !

Perhaps you’re searching for how to write one like a pro. If so, then stay put and read on to achieve a captivating personal statement and have a good shot at getting the interview!

Bonus: Want to learn how I got a 3.9 GPA in med school using a simple-to-follow study strategy? Get access to my exact study method from med school for free here. 

Table Of Contents

What Is The ERAS Personal Statement?

Getting into the best residency program is vital for every medical professional. Not only will it add substantial value to your career, but it will also help you grow in more ways than you think.

You might be thinking about how exactly you get accepted into one. It would be best if you focused on writing a well-crafted personal statement for residency , among other things.

A personal statement is a one-page essay articulating who you are and why you want to be part of your chosen specialty .

An ERAS personal statement is essential to the whole ERAS application process. It must create an ideal picture of you as a candidate and why program directors should consider your application despite the limited slots available.

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How To Write A Good ERAS Personal Statement

An ERAS personal statement should very much remind you of essay writing — it follows a logical order and requires distinctive sections such as an introduction, body, and conclusion.

Step #1 Start With An Outline

Too many ideas can cloud our heads, and they can sabotage our personal statements. To keep our thoughts organized, writing an outline is the best way to start !

Step #2 Lead With Details

As I’ve mentioned, a residency personal statement must be concise — under 3,500 characters plus the spaces are enough, but it creates constraints.

For a good introduction, you may want to start with an anecdote to hook your readers . You may describe an experience or a situation related to your specialty.

The point here is to pin a unique story to build momentum. My additional tip for you is to write straightforwardly but be as detailed as possible !

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Step #3 Connect Your Narrative To The Main Topic

One way to keep a reader invested is by being a compelling storyteller . The body portion of your statement is the perfect place to develop transitions.

This is the section where you must describe what kind of medical specialist you aspire to be . You may also add the interests that made you pursue the specialty .

Your personal statement’s body can be of two sections or paragraphs — one for discussing your specialty and the other for your advocacy.

Step #4 Tie Them All Together

Your last paragraph should leave program committees with an understanding of who you are and your reasons for applying .

Keep this short and precise.

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Does The Personal Statement Matter For Residency?

Some people think a personal statement is only for formality, and most directors would not take the time to read them thoroughly. 

Yet, according to the 2021 NRMP Program Director Survey , the personal statement ranks second with 83.8 percent in terms of deciding whom the program directors want to interview !

Regardless of what others may think, a personal statement can be your gateway to acquiring an interview if it’s appealing enough. Moreover, you may want to keep an eye on your letters of recommendation as it ranks first in the 2021 survey .

However, presenting good letters of recommendation only offers qualitative information. The personal statement allows you to make a case about yourself in qualitative terms directly.

To answer the question of whether a personal statement matters for your residency application, of course, it does! Note that a poorly-written personal statement could hurt your firm application, but a good one could help you advance to the interviews.

What Should I Put In My ERAS Personal Statement?

Remember that a sound ERAS personal statement is not a hundred percent about what you do but better about who you are and how you present your passion, skills, and ambitions .

Your personal statement should contain information not found in your resume — it should offer new details about you . It must highlight what uniquely ties you with your specialty .

Try answering one or two of the queries below and convince the program directors that you are a good fit for them.

• What are your long-term or career plans?
• What outside interests do you have?
• What are your grounds for choosing the specific specialty?
• What accomplishments do you want to emphasize?
• What contributions can you provide to the residency program?

These elements give program directors information about who you are on a deeper level and what kind of associate you would be if you become part of their team.

You may also add a story to spice up your personal statement.

How Long Should An ERAS Personal Statement Be?

There are no specific word counts or number of paragraphs you need to follow to perfect your ERAS personal statement.

You may write long passages but only for proofreading purposes. Chances are, you still have to chop and delete some unnecessary words or phrases.

You know what they say, “less talk, less mistakes.” You don’t have to make your personal statement too long just to prove a point.

More likely, if your personal statement is too long, they won’t take the time to read it. One page single-spaced personal statement could be enough.

The format of your personal statement can be about four paragraphs. Make sure it’s short, precise, and easy to read.

More importantly, the length of your ERAS personal statement should not be your only concern. Plagiarism and grammar must also be on your list of priorities.

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What Are the Things To Avoid In Writing An ERAS Personal Statement?

After knowing what to put and what to write, it’s time to understand what things you should avoid in writing an ERAS personal statement.

Incorrect Grammar, Spelling, And Punctuation

Check your grammar thoroughly! There are plenty of free apps that may help you with this one.

SpellCheckPlus and Grammarly are some tools you might want to familiarize yourself with to be a better writer. 

Don’t overcomplicate your sentences. Make sure not to give your readers a hard time decoding what you’re trying to say.

More importantly, try not to sound like a thesaurus. Be as authentic as you can.

An ERAS Personal Statement Should Not Be Like A Resume

Think of it this way, your CV or resume is the fancy, polished, and summarized version of you in a paper . Your personal statement is your chance to be more personal, honest, and vulnerable .

Give the program directors the chance to connect with you, so don’t just list off your accomplishments and focus exclusively on the momentous shiny parts of your life.

Don’t Make Someone Else The Hero

Yes, you may talk about a few people who have influenced you , but make sure you’re still the story’s main character! It’s a “personal” statement for a reason, not “someone else’s” essay!

When you re-read your personal statement and realize that you have a whole paragraph talking about someone else, scratch them and write a new one.

Don’t Whine In Your ERAS Personal Statement

You can write about the challenges you’ve encountered in your life or how much you’ve grown, but don’t spend too much time discussing how tough you’ve had it . After all, you’re vying for respect, not pity.

Additionally, if you’re talking about overcoming a specific challenge, make sure to focus on them, not just simply brush over it.

Don’t Put Anything Irrelevant

A lack of focus is one of the most common issues in any type of writing. Don’t throw in any information that isn’t relevant to your story.

Every sentence you write must contribute to the overall point of the personal statement . Unless you’re planning to dig deeper into details, it’s much better not to include them.

Should I Put My Red Flags In The Personal Statement?

This question heavily depends on what red flag you’re talking about. As much as we all want to be as honest as we can, sometimes, leaving out some details is the best way to do it.

Putting situations like having a low passing grade on your exams is not something the program committee would want to hear from a medical candidate.

On the other hand, let’s say you failed your first exam on the first try. Don’t make excuses; take ownership of why and what happened , and explain what you’ve learned from such circumstances .

Honestly, it’s all about how serious the red flag is and how far you can explain yourself as truthful and mature. 

Do I Need To Hire A Professional To Write An ERAS Personal Statement For Me?

The truth is, you don’t need to hire a professional to write your residency personal statement . As the name suggests, writing one can be done by you personally.

Although you don’t need one, hiring a professional writer who knows what they are doing might help you progress . Take note that writing an ERAS personal statement is not as easy as it sounds.

If you don’t feel like engaging with a professional, try at least asking for others’ opinions regarding your personal statement . This way, you’d receive constructive feedback to further enhance what you’ve written. 

I’m not talking about random friends here. Make sure you’re asking the right people — friends who have gone through the ERAS application cycle or faculty with whom you have developed a relationship.

When Should I Start Writing My ERAS Personal Statement?

Give yourself plenty of time to write. Start as early as now !

Most of the time, our first writing draft is not the best one. Generally speaking, you should start working on your residency personal statement as early as possible to have more time for a couple of revisions .

Edit your residency personal statement and proofread it carefully. Remember that every word counts, so take time to edit them until you’re fully satisfied.

Can I Edit My Residency Personal Statement After Uploading It To The ERAS?

Yes, you won’t have to worry about last-minute corrections. ERAS allows applicants to edit their personal statements anytime , but only during the application season!

Although we want to expose the best things about ourselves, sometimes, writing less is more. Always remember that program directors have limited time, so don’t make your ERAS personal statement hard to read at first glance.

Most importantly, a solid residency personal statement may or may not guarantee an interview, but a poorly-crafted one will indeed comprise your shot at the residency program.

Here is a step-by-step course to teach you exactly how to crush your first year of residency, even if you’re unsure of what to expect, overwhelmed by the workload, and even if you are starting to doubt if you’re even cut out to be a doctor.

The Intern Year Survival Guide is designed for any upcoming resident who is overwhelmed by the idea of starting residency but wants the blueprint to crush it as a first-year doctor. Get access here!

If this blog has assisted you in some ways, I’m sure you’ll learn more from these other content:

• How To Write A Medical School Letter Of Intent
• How To Write A Thank You Note After A Residency Interview
• How Tanya Went From C’s To Being A Top Student [Case Study]
• How To Apply As A Nontraditional Medical Student [Ultimate Guide]
• Medical School Interview Outfits
• 5 Crazy Ways AI Can Improve Your Life As A Med Student

Until the next one, my friend…

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Writing Your Personal Statement for Residency

Tips to convey “ why you for residency specialty”, use your personal statement to introduce yourself to your interviewer..

• Include topics that help the interview go smoothly.
• Be sincere and help the interviewer know what’s important to you.
• Include only the information that you want to discuss.

Write a focused essay, four or five paragraphs in length, that covers the basics.

• The first paragrap h could introduce the reader to you and could focus on what led you to a career in medicine, more importantly your specialty. The tone of the first paragraph sets the tone for the rest of your personal statement.
• The second paragraph should let the reader know how you arrived at your choice of the specialty. (Personal experiences from rotations, leadership activities, work, volunteer, community service, studying abroad, background and/or life/ family experiences).
• The third/fourth paragraphs should confirm why you think this choice is right for you AND why you are right for the specialty. This is an opportunity further distinguish yourself.
• The  close/final paragraph could inform the reader what you see as your long-term goals and/or how you see yourself in this specialty. Also, avoid spending too much content on “ What I want/seek/am interested in from a residency program …” The focus should be more on why they should choose you over other candidates

Questions to ask when approaching your Personal Statement:

• What are the reasons for choosing the specialty?
• What are your key attributes?
• What contributions can I make to the specialty and the residency program?
• What are your career plans and how will your background/additional education contribute to the field?
• What makes me unique enough to stand out among other candidates?

Your goal should be to write a well-crafted statement that is both original in its presentation and grammatically correct. Articulate your personal drive in as eloquent language as you can provide. The writing should flow. No one expects you to be a novelist. The most important thing is to write a concise, clear statement about why you?

Don’t spend a lot of time providing information about you that programs will generally assume to be true for most competent medical students; “I want to help people”, “I love medicine”, “I want to match into a residency program where I can learn”

If you explain your reasons for entering the field of medicine, do so to inform the reader of points beyond the career choice. Avoid spending too much time on “Why I Wanted to Go into Medicine.” How did you arrive at your specialty choice and what experiences support how you arrived at the specialty choice?

Support your strengths and skillset with examples . Most medical student personal statement list similar strengths, “hard worker/will work hard”, “good communication skills”, “relate to/interact with patients” – so if you provide strengths that are common among medical students or even unique to you, it will be important to provide evidence to support your claims, directing programs to come to their own conclusion about your strength.

I f you repeat accomplishments already listed on your CV , they should be relevant to your personal/professional growth. You want the emphasis to encourage the reader to bring this up in the interview.

Use your own words rather than rely on quotes; your own thoughts are more powerful. If you can make it work, great, but don’t dwell on quotes. With only 800 words or less…it is favorable to make them all your own.

Do NOT plagiarize your personal statement.

Length ; Since one page in length in a Word Doc is not the same as what one page will equal one page in ERAS for personal statement formatting, the key is stick to 750-850 words for your ERAS/residency application personal statement. One page in ERAS equals nearly 1,200 words, however most programs preferences for a typical personal statements in terms of Word Count will be within range of 650-850 – this will be acceptable for most residency programs.

Need a review of your personal statement…professional review and editing?

• Melva Landrum , TCOM Residency Counselor will provide thorough feedback through an evaluation form that breaks down your entire personal statement including: content, grammar, structure, flow and overall impact. You can email your personal statement to [email protected] within one week.
• The Career Center can also review personal statements and Center for Academic Performance (CAP) office can provide feedback mostly on grammar and structure.

This page was last modified on November 10, 2023

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Making Every Word Count: Tips for Meeting the ERAS Personal Statement Length Requirement

The ERAS ( Electronic Residency Application Service ) personal statement is crucial to your residency application. It provides a unique opportunity for residency applicants to showcase their personal experiences, motivations, and personal qualities to residency program directors. However, one of the challenges residency applicants often face is meeting the ERAS personal statement length requirement while effectively conveying their journey into internal medicine. Here are strategic approaches to creating a concise yet impactful personal statement that resonates, even incorporating personal statement examples and discussing elements like USMLE scores, fellowship programs, and additional documents.

Understanding the ERAS Personal Statement Length Requirement

The ERAS personal statement length requirement is 1 page or 750-850 words . This may seem like a lot of space, but it can be challenging to fit all your thoughts and experiences into one page. As of my last update in September 2021 , the character limit for the ERAS personal statement is 28,000 characters , including spaces. While it may seem ample, quality always trumps quantity. Ensuring that every word counts is crucial to convey your story effectively. Remember that you’re not obligated to use the total character limit.

Here are some tips to help you make every word count and meet the ERAS personal statement length requirement.

Crafting an Attention-Grabbing Introduction

Begin with a captivating anecdote or a thought-provoking question about your internal medicine journey. This initial engagement is essential, as it’s the first impression you’ll make on program directors. By immediately drawing readers in, you encourage them to read on with enthusiasm. If you require professional assistance in developing or enhancing your statement, seeking guidance from ERAS experts would be beneficial.

Identify Key Themes and Personal Experiences

Reflect on your personal experiences, achievements, and motivations that led you to pursue internal medicine. Choose key themes aligned with the specialty and your personal journey. Select two or three primary themes to focus on. These could be specific patient interactions, research projects, or personal struggles that sparked your interest. Align these themes with internal medicine and the residency program you’re applying to.

Tell Stories, Don’t List Accomplishments

Avoid a mere listing of accomplishments, including your experiences during medical school. Frame your achievements within narratives or stories. Detail challenges, how you overcame them, and lessons learned. Sharing emotions and thought processes adds depth and authenticity.

Use Vivid Language and Concrete Examples

Use clear and vivid language that appeals to a broader audience. Replace overly technical jargon with accessible terms. Employ concrete examples to illustrate your points. Rather than mentioning involvement in a research project during medical school, explain how you collaborated with a multidisciplinary team to implement a study with tangible outcomes.

Highlight Personal Qualities and Transferable Skills

Highlight personal qualities and transferable skills developed during medical school. Effective communication, leadership, teamwork, and adaptability are valued traits. Showcase how these qualities and abilities have been advantageous in various situations, emphasizing their relevance as you transition into internal medicine.

Link Experiences to the Internal Medicine Specialty Choice

Connect your experiences to your choice of internal medicine. Illustrate how your experiences during medical school and beyond have prepared you for the demands of this specialty. Articulate your passion for internal medicine and align it with your background, clarifying why you’re an ideal candidate for the residency program.

Showcase Self-Reflection and Growth

Demonstrate self-awareness and a commitment to growth. Discuss challenges faced during medical school and beyond. Highlight moments of personal and professional development. Program directors value candidates who recognize limitations and proactively seek self-improvement.

Incorporate Personal Statement Examples

Reviewing personal statement examples can offer insights into effective strategies. While your personal statement should be unique, these examples can inspire structure, content, and style. Ensure your final statement is entirely your own, authentic, and aligned with your experiences.

Consider USMLE Scores

While your personal statement isn’t the primary place to discuss USMLE scores, you can allude to how your experiences have prepared you for success in these exams. Keep the focus on your personal journey rather than making this a central point.

Address Cycle Fellowship Programs and Additional Documents

Be judicious if you’re considering cycle fellowship programs or including additional documents, such as research abstracts. Mention these elements if they directly contribute to your narrative. However, avoid overwhelming your personal statement with too many details. Maintain a clear and cohesive flow.

Edit and Revise Ruthlessly

Multiple rounds of editing and revision are essential. Set aside your draft for a fresh perspective before revisiting it. Eliminate redundancies, tighten sentences, and refine your narrative. Seek feedback from mentors, peers, or professionals for valuable insights.

Final Thoughts: Leave a Lasting Impression

Reiterate critical themes in your conclusion, leaving a lasting impression. Re-emphasize your passion for internal medicine, commitment to contributing positively, and readiness for the challenges ahead. Conclude with a sense of closure, inspiring program directors and leaving them eager to learn more about you. If you’re ready to take your ERAS application to the next level, explore our comprehensive guide on perfecting your application components. From mastering your ERAS CV, crafting a compelling personal statement, and making informed program selections, A Perfect Match: ERAS CV is designed to provide you with essential insights and strategies. Dive into the article to discover how these critical elements present your candidacy in the best light.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, meeting the ERAS personal statement length requirement requires strategic crafting. You can create a personal statement that resonates with program directors by focusing on engaging introductions, meaningful themes, impactful stories, and clear connections to internal medicine. Remember that the goal is to present yourself as a dedicated, capable, compassionate future physician specializing in internal medicine while ensuring every word counts.

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ERAS Support Services

Supporting documents, about supporting documents, document submission, transfer students, reusing documents, submitting lors early.

Following are the documents that ERAS Support Services at ECFMG will upload to the MyERAS application and are typically required for a residency application:

If a program requests additional document types not listed on this page, you should make arrangements with the program to have these additional documents sent directly to the program. This practice is in accordance with the AAMC ERAS policy. ERAS will not process these documents.

Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE)

What is the Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE)?

The Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE) evaluates a medical student’s performance during his or her academic career relative to his or her peers. The MSPE has replaced the term “Dean’s letter” to better describe the purpose of this document. While ERAS Support Services will accept a “Dean’s letter” from your medical school, we strongly encourage medical schools to provide an MSPE that follows the MSPE guidelines detailed in the AAMC's “Recommendations for Revising the Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE).”

An MSPE should:

• Evaluate the performance of the medical student
• Be written on medical school letterhead with the medical school seal affixed
• Be signed by the designated medical school official
• Include the applicant’s full name

How do I submit my MSPE?

There are two ways that your MSPE can be submitted:

• By you via ECFMG's OASIS
• By your medical school via the ECFMG Medical School Web Portal (EMSWP) ERAS (if your medical school participates). See Document Submission for more information.

Please Note: The MSPE is not a letter of recommendation (LoR) and should not be finalized as an LoR and assigned to your programs.

What if my medical school does not provide an MSPE?

If you are unable to secure the MSPE from your medical school, you must indicate this on the Additional Documents page in the MyERAS application. A neutral placeholder letter will be provided in place of the MSPE. This will ensure that your application will appear as complete for those programs that require an MSPE before considering your application. The neutral placeholder will state, “This document is provided in lieu of the applicant’s MSPE. Please contact the applicant with any questions you may have.”

My MSPE is not in English. What should I do?

If the MSPE is not in English, you must have an English translation prepared and certified to be correct by one of the following:

• A medical school official (for example, a Dean or Registrar);
• A government official (for example, a Consular Officer); or
• A professional translation service. ECFMG’s recommended professional translation service is Straker Translations .

Submit only the English translation to ERAS Support Services at ECFMG.

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Medical School Transcript

What is a medical school transcript?

Medical school transcripts come in a variety of formats, such as:

• Mark sheets,
• Time sheets, and
• Hour sheets.

Medical school transcripts give program directors an overview of:

• The subjects you studied in medical school,
• How long you studied each subject, and
• How well you did on your exams.

The transcript must include your full name and should not be on “security paper” with a busy background. Busy backgrounds make the scanned image illegible. Ask your school to copy your transcript onto plain paper.

How do I submit my medical school transcript?

If you have a copy of your transcript from your school, you can submit it to ERAS Support Services via OASIS. Documents uploaded through OASIS will take up to five business days to process.

If your medical school participates in EMSWP ERAS, the school must upload the transcript on your behalf. Documents uploaded through EMSWP will take up to five business days to process. See Document Submission for more information.

I already submitted my transcript to ECFMG. Do I need to resubmit it for my MyERAS application?

The MyERAS application is separate from ECFMG Certification, and your medical school transcript will not automatically transfer. If you have a copy of your medical school transcript, you should upload the document through OASIS. If your medical school does not participate in EMSWP ERAS, and if you have no other way to secure the document from your medical school, you can request that ECFMG transfer a copy of that document to your MyERAS application. This option should only be used as a last resort, and will take longer to process than documents uploaded through OASIS. To submit a request:

• Register your ERAS Token with AAMC's MyERAS website.
• Log in to ECFMG's OASIS .
• Go to the ERAS Support Services section.
• Select Request for Transcript Transfer from ECFMG Certification.
• Carefully review the information on that page.
• Click on Submit Request.

The total processing time from submission of the request to the availability of the transcript in ERAS may take up to eight business days.

Once submitted, your request will be reviewed within two to three business days. If ECFMG is unable to fulfill your request, you will be notified via e-mail. If ECFMG is able to fulfill your request, your transcript will be transferred to your MyERAS application where you will be able to track the status of the document. The status of the transcript will be updated to “available” in MyERAS within five business days of the date it is uploaded to ERAS.

Please Note: If your school participates in EMSWP ERAS, your school must upload the medical school transcript on your behalf and you will not be able to submit this request.

What if my medical school does not provide a medical school transcript?

If you are unable to secure a medical school transcript, you must indicate this on the Additional Documents page of the MyERAS application. A neutral placeholder letter will be provided in place of the transcript and will state, “This document is provided in lieu of the applicant’s medical school transcript. Please contact the applicant with any questions you may have.” This will ensure that your application will appear as complete for those programs that require a medical school transcript before considering your application.

My medical school transcript is not in English. What should I do?

If the medical school transcript is not in English, you must have an English translation prepared and certified to be correct by one of the following:

• A professional translation service. ECFMG’s recommended professional translation service is Straker Translations .

I am a transfer student. How do I submit both of my medical school transcripts?

If you are a transfer student and would like to submit more than one medical school transcript for your MyERAS application, please see Transfer Students for more information. If you have any questions about the processing of your transcripts, please contact ERAS Support Services at ECFMG .

Please Note: The transcript does not need to be assigned to your programs. This is done automatically when the transcript is submitted.

Letters of Recommendation (LoRs)

Submitting LoRs that are substantive in content will ultimately provide the residency training program director with a clear picture of your current skills and clinical ability, in addition to your personal characteristics such as professionalism, leadership, and interpersonal skills both with patients and colleagues. You should select your letter writers carefully and contact each program for its LoR requirements. Contact potential letter writers early to allow them plenty of time to reflect upon your performance and provide the letter in time to meet program deadlines for receiving LoRs.

How do I submit my LoRs?

The AAMC LoR Portal (LoRP) enables LoR Authors and/or their designees to upload LoRs to ERAS for distribution to training programs.

• If you have waived your right to view an LoR, your letter writer must upload the letter on your behalf through the LoRP.
• If you have not waived your right to view an LoR, you are permitted to upload a copy through the AAMC’s LoRP, logging in using your AAMC account.

Please Note: Programs are able to view who has uploaded the document.

For tips on uploading your LoRs, please see the Letter Writer Assistance page . It is your responsibility to follow up with letter writers to ensure that LoRs are ready in time to meet program deadlines.

How do I make my LoRs available to assign to programs?

In order for your LoRs to be available to programs, you must:

• Confirm for upload your LoR Authors, and
• Assign the letters to programs in MyERAS.

Is there a limit to how many LoRs I can submit?

There is no limit to how many LoRs you can submit. However, you can assign a maximum of four LoRs to each program. Once LoRs are assigned to a program and you apply, they cannot be unassigned.

How do I reuse LoRs from the previous MyERAS application season?

If you have certified and submitted an application in a previous ERAS season (from the ERAS 2016 season and onwards), your LoRs are saved in the History section of your MyERAS application. For more information, please visit the AAMC's website at https://students-residents.aamc.org/applying-residency/article/history-and-imports-repeat-applicants/ .

My LoR is not in English. What should I do?

If the LoR is not in English, you must have an English translation prepared and certified to be correct by one of the following:

Programs will use your photograph to identify you at the interview and as a memory aid when creating a rank order list. The photograph must:

• Be a full front view of your head and shoulders,
• Have your face centered, and
• Show your face with a natural expression with your eyes open and looking directly ahead.

If you wish to submit a photograph, you must submit a digital version via ECFMG’s OASIS .

Submitting your Photograph via OASIS

Your photograph must conform to the following technical specifications:

• It must be in the Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) format.
• The maximum file size accepted is 150 KB.
• It must be no larger than 2.5 by 3.5 inches (i.e. passport size).

Steps for submitting your Photograph via OASIS

• Log in to ECFMG’s OASIS .
• Click on the link for ERAS Support Services.
• Select Upload Photograph.
• Click the Browse button to select the photograph file from your device.
• Click Upload to upload the photograph.

You will receive confirmation of acceptance if the system uploads your digital photograph successfully. Your photograph will transmit within 24 hours to your MyERAS application.

If your photograph is rejected, you will need to submit a new file that meets the specifications above.

Do not e-mail your photograph to ERAS Support Services at ECFMG. We are unable to modify files for applicants.

To make your photograph available to programs, you must assign it on the Additional Documents tab of MyERAS.

You can update your photograph at any time by submitting a new version via OASIS. Once processed, it will replace the previous version in your MyERAS application.

ECFMG Status Report

The ECFMG Status Report confirms your ECFMG Certification status. The ECFMG Status Report contains the month and year that you passed examinations for ECFMG Certification. It does not include your USMLE scores , which can be reported only as part of an official USMLE transcript.*

ECFMG Status Reports contain the following information:

• USMLE/ECFMG Identification Number
• Applicant name
• ECFMG-certified: (Yes or No)
• Certificate issue date
• Exams passed for ECFMG Certification*
• CSA valid through date, if applicable
• Medical school of graduation
• Degree year
• Medical Education Credential Status (complete or incomplete)
• Explanatory notes (if applicable)

Important Note for Pathways Applicants: If you meet the clinical and communication skills requirements for ECFMG Certification through an ECFMG Pathway , this will be reported on your ECFMG Status Report. If you are ECFMG Certified based on a Pathway, your ECFMG Status Report will list the expiration date. *If you received your Standard ECFMG Certificate based on any of the following exams, the scores will be listed on your ECFMG Status Report:

• One-day ECFMG Examination
• NBME Part exams

Your ECFMG Status Report will be transmitted automatically to your ERAS application and will update automatically as new information is available. You do not need to request the Status Report or automatic updates, and the cost is included in your ERAS Token fee.

USMLE Transcript

The USMLE transcript contains your examination history on Step 1, Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK), the former Step 2 Clinical Skills (CS), if taken, and Step 3, if taken. It includes all attempts: passed, failed, incomplete, etc. The USMLE transcript is required by many residency programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) as part of the application to be considered for their positions. For complete information on what is included in the USMLE transcript, refer to Scoring & Score Reporting in the USMLE Bulletin of Information .

How long does it take to process my USMLE transcript request?

Your request will not be processed until you have assigned the document to at least one program and applied. Each time you apply to a program, it may take one to two business days for your USMLE transcript to be transmitted to the MyERAS application, where it can be accessed by the program.

I received a new USMLE score. How do I send the new score to programs?

If you receive a new score after you have applied to programs, log in to MyERAS and go to the Additional Documents page in the Document section to select the option to "Resend My Scores" in the action column for USMLE Transcript.

If you receive a new score before you have applied to programs, your USMLE transcript will include your complete USMLE history when you do apply, regardless of when you authorized the release of the USMLE transcript in MyERAS. The request is not processed until you actually apply and pay the fee.

I am applying to programs that do not participate in ERAS. How do I send a copy of the USMLE transcript to those programs?

If you are applying to programs that do not participate in ERAS and require a USMLE transcript, you request a paper transcript from ECFMG.

Is the USMLE transcript transmitted automatically to the MyERAS application?

No. Applicants must authorize the release of the USMLE transcript in MyERAS, assign the document to programs, and pay the one-time $80 fee for it to be transmitted.

How do I authorize the release of my USMLE transcript?

Log in to MyERAS and go to the Additional Documents section. You will see the option to authorize the release of the USMLE transcript. Read the information on that page carefully before saving.

There are different methods for submitting supporting documents, depending on the document type. See below for specific information on OASIS, EMSWP ERAS, and the AAMC’s Letter of Recommendation Portal (LoRP).

As your designated Dean’s office, ERAS Support Services at ECFMG will evaluate each uploaded document to ensure clarity of image and to verify that each document has been uploaded to the slot designated for that document type. Document types that are not part of the MyERAS application—diplomas, foreign language documents, curriculum vitae, etc.—should not be uploaded. ECFMG will not transmit these documents to your MyERAS application.

ECFMG’s OASIS allows ERAS applicants to submit several document types in support of their residency application, including MSPEs, medical school transcripts, and photographs.

IMPORTANT NOTE : Some international medical schools submit supporting documents on behalf of their students/graduates who participate in ERAS through EMSWP. Schools that participate in the EMSWP ERAS program can electronically submit supporting documents on behalf of ERAS applicants. If your medical school participates in EMSWP ERAS, you will not be able to submit your MSPE and transcripts using OASIS. Please contact your medical school to have these documents uploaded via EMSWP ERAS on your behalf. ERAS Support Services uploads these documents to your ERAS application within five business days of their receipt. To find out if your medical school participates in EMSWP ERAS, you can contact the Dean’s office at your medical school.

Documents submitted via OASIS will take up to five business days to process. ERAS Support Services at ECFMG will contact you within five business days, via the MyERAS message center, about any discrepancies found during the quality control process.

Submitting Documents Using OASIS

• Make sure the document is a clean and clear image that will be presented to the programs to which you apply. Documents should be legible and not on a busy background.
• Scan all pages of the document into one file . Save the document as a PDF and name it something you can easily recognize; e.g., surname_MSPE.PDF.
• Make sure that the file follows the technical specifications (document dimensions, file type, and file size) for the document type you are uploading. The specifications can be found on the Upload page for the document in OASIS.

Steps for Submitting Documents Using OASIS

• Log into ECFMG's OASIS .
• Select ERAS Support Services.
• Select the appropriate upload category from the list on the toolbar.
• Carefully read the instructions and notices for the document type.
• Click the Browse button to select the document file from your computer. Be sure to upload the complete document as one file. Do not upload each page of the document separately.
• Click Upload File. You will receive confirmation for a successful upload.
• Repeat these steps for each document type.

If your document is rejected, you will need to submit a new file that meets the technical specifications. Do not e-mail your documents to ERAS Support Services at ECFMG. We are unable to modify files for applicants.

IMPORTANT NOTE : Submission of any falsified or altered document to ECFMG is an example of irregular behavior. A determination by ECFMG that an individual engaged in irregular behavior may be sufficient cause to bar an individual from ECFMG Certification, revoke an ECFMG Certificate, or take other appropriate action. ECFMG will send notice of a determination of irregular behavior to residency program directors, among others. See ECFMG Policies and Procedures Regarding Irregular Behavior .

AAMC’s Letter of Recommendation Portal (LoRP)

LoRs must be submitted through the AAMC’s Letter of Recommendation Portal (LoRP) . If you have waived your right to view an LoR, your letter writer must upload the letter on your behalf. If you have not waived your right to view an LoR, you are permitted to upload a copy through the AAMC’s LoRP by logging in using your AAMC account. Programs are able to view who has uploaded the document. For tips on uploading your LoRs, please see the Letter Writer Assistance page of the ECFMG website.

LoRs submitted through the LoRP will take up to five business days to process.

EMSWP provides access to ECFMG’s web-based services for international medical schools and includes a program for ERAS.

Through EMSWP ERAS, international medical schools can upload supporting documents on behalf of their students and graduates; track receipt of these supporting documents by ECFMG; and verify the ERAS registration activity of their students and graduates. To determine if your medical school participates in EMSWP ERAS, please contact the Dean’s office at your medical school.

Students and graduates of EMSWP ERAS-participating medical schools will not have the ability to upload their own MSPEs and medical school transcripts. If your medical school participates in EMSWP ERAS, please contact the Dean’s office at your medical school to request upload of your MSPE and medical school transcript. ECFMG processes documents uploaded through EMSWP ERAS within five business days.

For more information on how your medical school can establish an EMSWP ERAS account, please ask a representative from your medical school to e-mail ERAS Support Services at [email protected] .

For more information on all of the services available to medical schools through EMSWP, please visit the EMSWP Overview page.

If you attended more than one medical school to earn your medical degree, you are considered a transfer student and should submit the medical school transcripts from each of the medical schools you attended.

The method used to submit your transfer school transcripts is determined by whether or not your medical school of graduation participates in EMSWP ERAS. To find out if your medical school participates in EMSWP ERAS, you can contact the Dean’s office of your medical school.

If your medical school of graduation does not participate in EMSWP ERAS

If your medical school of graduation does participate in emswp eras.

If either school has a policy that prevents submission of your transcripts together, the transcripts can be submitted separately. Your medical school of graduation should submit its transcript using EMSWP ERAS. If you have a copy of your transfer transcript from your transfer school, you may submit it as a PDF file to ERAS Support Services at ECFMG at [email protected] . If you do not have a copy of your transfer transcript, contact the Dean’s office of your transfer school and request that they submit your transcript as a PDF file to [email protected] . Please note this e-mail address is for transfer students’ transcripts ONLY. Other types of supporting documents, such as LoRs or transcripts for non-transfer students, should not be submitted to this e-mail address and will not be processed.

Once all transcripts have been received by ERAS Support Services at ECFMG, we will merge them together and process them to your MyERAS application.

If you participated in the ERAS 2023 season and also participate in the ERAS 2024 season, you will be eligible to reuse your documents at the time you make an ERAS 2024 Token request via OASIS .

If you are eligible to reuse your documents, you are not required to resubmit:

• Medical school transcripts
• Photographs
• LoRs that were used in a previous ERAS season

Within five business days from the time you register your Token at the MyERAS website , ERAS Support Services will upload your stored MSPE, medical school transcript, and photograph to the ERAS 2024 application.

If there have been changes to the content of your MSPE or medical school transcript, and you would like to submit the modified document(s), submit the document(s) to ERAS Support Services at ECFMG. See Submission At-a-Glance for an overview of the available methods of submitting supporting documents. Once your modified documents have been received at ECFMG, they will be transmitted to your ERAS application within five business days, replacing last season’s document(s).

If you would like to submit a new photograph, you must submit a digital version using ECFMG’s OASIS. This will automatically replace the previously submitted photograph.

Guide to Reusing LoRs

You can import your LoRs from a previous ERAS season in MyERAS. To access your LoRs from the previous season, you must request your Residency Token using OASIS and register at MyERAS. For more details, please see the information on the AAMC's website .

Please note that once you complete the transfer process in MyERAS, your LoRs will immediately be available to assign to programs. There is no additional processing of those documents.

ERAS Support Services at ECFMG provides an option for submitting confidential LoRs early. Applicants who wish to submit LoRs the year before they intend to apply to U.S. residency programs should follow these steps:

• Purchase an ERAS Token via ECFMG’s OASIS.
• Register the ERAS Token via the AAMC’s MyERAS website.
• Add and Confirm the LoR Author information in your MyERAS application. This creates the Letter ID and Letter Request Form.
• Provide the Letter Request Form to your LoR Author and ask the author to upload the waived confidential letter of recommendation through the AAMC’s LoRP.
• Once the letter is uploaded, ECFMG will process the letter to the current MyERAS application.
• Track the status of your LoRs in MyERAS to confirm that they have been processed. Once your LoRs are available in MyERAS, they will be saved for the next season.

IMPORTANT NOTE : If you are only submitting LoRs early and do not wish to participate in the current Match season, you are required to fill out, certify, and submit the on-line application portion of MyERAS. Your LoRs will not be saved if you do not certify and submit the MyERAS application before the end of the season. You do not need to apply to any programs or pay an application fee.

ERAS Support Services at ECFMG will not provide copies of your letters to you and will not provide copies of your letters to programs except via the MyERAS application system.

Important Dates

• March 11: Applicant matched and unmatched information and filled and unfilled results posted to the NRMP website at 10:00 a.m. Locations of all unfilled positions are released at 10:00 a.m. only to participants eligible for the Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP).
• March 12: Programs with unfilled positions may start entering their Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP) preference lists at 11:30 a.m.
• March 14: Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP) offer rounds begin at 9:00 a.m.
• March 14: Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP) concludes at 9:00 p.m.
• March 15: Match Day. Applicants learn if they matched through the NRMP R3 system and email at 12:00 p.m.

All times shown are Eastern Time in the United States.

Stay Connected

• Sign up for The ECFMG Reporter
• Contact ERAS Support Services

Quick Links

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• Policies and Procedures Regarding Irregular Behavior
• IMG Performance in 2023 Match
• Charting Outcomes in the Match for IMGs, a report by NRMP  

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The Perfect Personal Statement ERAS: Your Ticket to Residency

Some Reflections on the Importance of Personal Statement ERAS

There are several fundamental opinions on compiling various applications. Some believe that a good personal statement ERAS is one of the most critical parts of your application package and this makes the difference between getting the desired confirmation or rejection. Another opinion is that although it is an integral part of admission, this is not what is too much to rely on, as the committees do not review these papers as closely as people think.

The truth is always in the middle, and the most important thing to get from these two opinions is that your document should be good. Why? Because in any case, your application will be viewed, and if it is, so to say, standard and will meet all requirements of the format, it will not cause any questions and perhaps be able to draw attention to your candidacy and add you a couple of points. But if you think writing an ERAS personal statement is just a formality and you can ignore some requirements, this will certainly pay attention. And here you can be sure it will become a problem.

Therefore, it is better to put aside thinking and philosophizing about the importance of personal application and do everything as it should and correctly.

Where to Start Your ERAS Personal Statement

Let’s start with the basics and briefly explain or remind you what ERAS is, who uses it, and how to prepare your personal statement for ERAS on this platform to benefit from it.

ERAS is an electronic residency application service, through which you submit all the necessary documents for ERAS® residency applicants and can receive feedback on the status of your application. It streamlines the application process by allowing applicants to simultaneously submit their materials, including applications, to multiple programs. But where do you start when it comes to preparing your personal statement ERAS?

• Oddly enough, the hardest part is getting started. Put away the fear of a blank slate and transfer your thoughts to a draft. Think about the qualities making you a unique and attractive candidate. Identify key moments or encounters which ignited your passion.
• Then do thorough research on the programs of your interest. Become familiar with the missions, values, and desired qualities of applicants. This knowledge will help you tailor your application to meet their expectations and demonstrate your appropriatness for their program.
• Also, seek feedback and advice from mentors, professors, or health professionals who can offer valuable advice and guidance. Engage in self-reflection and brainstorming to organize your thoughts and ideas.

By beginning your preparation with self-reflection, research, and seeking recommendations, you will be well on your way to writing a compelling personal statement and demonstrating your unique qualities to residency programs.

Regarding the logical question about ERAS personal statement how to submit it we can note the following. Applications are submitted through the MyERAS Personal Application, a secure online platform that simplifies the residency application process and gives candidates a clear understanding of deadlines and requirements.

Optimal ERAS Personal Statement Length

This is quite a contra version that causes a lot of debate among future residents. Namely, a lot or a little volume is allocated to writing the application.

The standard ERAS personal statement length is usually about one page. This is sufficient to convey your motivations, experiences, and goals objectively and clearly while ensuring that your text is concise and focused. It is important to adhere to these length guidelines, as exceeding the recommended ERAS personal statement word count can lead to your work being ignored or marked as unsuccessful.

On the other hand, a personal statement ERAS length which is too short, can give the impression that you have nothing to say about yourself and lack the necessary qualities. Strike a balance between sufficient detail and brevity to maximize the impact of your statement on ERAS.

How Long Should ERAS Personal Statement Be?

As we said earlier, your personal statement should fit on one page. When it comes to the ERAS personal statement character limit, it has remained the same. Your application should be no less than 750 and no more than 900 characters.  It is important to follow these length guidelines as closely as possible. Note, the documents with excessive word count will be shortened automatically or may be canceled.

General ERAS Personal Statement Requirements

While most of the ERAS requirements relate to the formatting and length of submissions, it is also important to consider the specifics of your submissions. The system is not as strict on the context of a personal statement , but the quality of it is essential, first of all, to attract the attention of admissions committees and your success.

Your personal statement ERAS should present a compelling narrative that demonstrates your passion, highlights your relevant experience, and highlights your unique qualities as a candidate. Be clear and concise in your self-presentation, ensuring your ideas flow logically and coherently. Also, emphasize your personal growth and the lessons you’ve learned along your medical journey. Use specific examples to highlight your strengths and show how those experiences influenced your decision to apply for residency.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

The text of the ERAS personal statement is not too long and does not take more than a page, but even in this small field, you can make many mistakes that prevent you from getting the desired result.

• Lack of focus: Don’t try to cover too many topics and instead focus on a few key impressions or qualities.
• Poor structure: A disorganized and ignoring ERAS personal statement formatting structure can make your application’s narrative difficult to follow. Provide a logical flow, using paragraphs and transitions to make your message coherent.
• Generic content: General statements lacking personalization and examples of personal experience may not be memorable. Instead, emphasize the unique skills and knowledge set you apart from other candidates.
• Grammatical errors and typos: Neglecting to proofread your personal statement can undermine your professionalism and leave poor impression.

Requirements Regarding ERAS Personal Statement Formatting

The platform imposes strict requirements not only on the ERAS personal statement word limit but also has strict formatting requirements.

• Font and size: Use a clear and legible font, such as Times New Roman or Arial. The recommended font size is usually 10-12 points to ensure readability.
• Alignment and spacing: Left-align the text and use single spacing. Avoid using extra spacing between paragraphs or lines, as this can make your narrative look disjointed or elongated.
• Paragraph structure: For better readability, divide your ERAS personal statement into paragraphs. Each paragraph should focus on a specific topic or idea; a blank line is recommended for visual separation between paragraphs.
• Special characters and formatting styles: Avoid using special characters, symbols, or formatting styles (bold, italic, underline) in your statement. Stick to plain text (ASCII) formatting to ensure compatibility with various systems.

Remember also, that you need not only to know how long should ERAS personal statement be but also to ensure it’s free from any inconsistencies, grammatical errors, or typos. So proofread your application several times before and after formatting.

Red Flags Residency Personal Statement to Consider

Indeed you have already read a lot of expert advice and recommendations regarding creating a personal statement ERAS. And you know that there should be no lies, exaggerations, and deceit here. The same applies to red flags, which intimidate most applicants:

• Lack of reflection and growth, e.g., if more than 5 years have passed from graduation to application, this is already a red flag.
• Any academic gaps for several years related to your chosen major.
• Negative attitudes, including bad experiences, past job failures, or toxicity to former colleagues.
• Lack of connection to the program, e.g., lack of appropriate educational background or failure to demonstrate a genuine understanding of a particular program’s possibilities.
• Lack of professionalism – such as clinical experience in the United States, essential to have while applying to U.S. residencies.

These ones are the most common red flags residency personal statement that most applicants want to hide. However, you should not do it. Instead, you must try to explain your position, turning your red flags into your zest.

Get Professional Help From Admission Experts

The requirements and features of eras applications are only easy for those who have processed hundreds of them, so it’s normal for you to need expert feedback or support. No matter what reason you need assistance with, whether it’s a desire to sort out red flags or the pursuit of perfectionism regarding ERAS personal statement requirements, our writing professionals are here to lend a helping hand 24/7.

With vast experience and a thorough understanding of all the nuances of the admission process, our writers are ready to work on your application, turning an ordinary document into an outstanding personal statement ERAS that will lead you to victory.

Leave all doubts behind and rely on us. Just a couple of lines asking for help, and all your writing issues will be solved!

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2024-2025 ERAS Residency Application Guide

• By Med School Insiders
• March 26, 2024
• Medical Student
• Residency , Residency Application

The ERAS residency application is completed in your final year of medical school—but really—you should begin preparing yourself for this crucial step throughout your entire time at med school.

Although residencies are educational, they’re quite a bit different from medical school. A residency provides on-the-job training for people to acquire their medical license so that they can become a practicing physician.

This means the application components are quite different from your original medical school application. They must reflect a sense of maturity, growth, and deepened dedication to medicine. Continue reading our ERAS residency application guide, which covers the following topics:

An Introduction to the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS)

Eras residency application timeline, what happens next, eras residency application checklist, residency application mistakes to avoid, eras residency application faqs.

The Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) is the centralized online application service applicants use to deliver their application and supporting documents to residency programs. ERAS streamlines the application process for applicants as well as their Designated Dean’s Office, letter of recommendation authors, and program directors.

ERAS includes four individual but connected applications, which were created to meet the needs of each user group involved in the application process. ERAS provides an impartial, confidential transmission of all applications to programs.

The 4 ERAS Applications:

• MyERAS is where applicants complete their applications, assign supporting documents, select programs, and submit the materials for their selected programs.
• Dean’s Office Workstation (DWS) is where Designated Dean’s Offices upload medical school transcripts and medical school performance evaluations (MSPEs) in support of the applications submitted through ERAS.
• Letters of Recommendation Portal (LoRP) is where letters of recommendation authors submit their letters in support of the applicant applying through ERAS.
• Program Director’s Workstation (PDWS) is where training programs receive and review applications and supporting documents.

How ERAS Works:

• Applicants receive a token (one-time access code) from their Designated Dean’s Office.
• Applicants use the token to register with MyERAS.
• Applicants complete their MyERAS application, assign supporting documents, select programs, and apply to programs.
• The applicant’s Designated Dean’s Office and letters of recommendation authors upload supporting documents.
• Examining boards receive and process requests for transcripts.
• Programs receive the application materials through the Program Director’s Workstation (PDWS).

Technically speaking, ERAS season begins in June, but you should be thinking about your residency application long before then. Use the earlier part of the year to prepare for application season. In the spring, you should be considering which schools you want to apply to, acquiring letters of recommendation, and thinking about the direction you want to take your personal statement.

The ERAS season begins in early June. Obtain your token (one-time access code) at this time by contacting your Designated Dean’s Office. This will grant you access to MyERAS. It’s also a good idea to determine if you will need to take the Computer-Based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics, also known as Casper.

Here is a list of medical schools that require Casper . If you need to take the test, read our Casper Test Guide for information about scoring, preparation, and more.

Start filling in your application with your work, volunteering, and research experience. Take full advantage of the ERAS Tools and Worksheets for Residency Applicants ; this will help you to determine exactly what kind of information you need to gather to complete your application.

As you work on your application, search for programs you’re interested in and save them for later so that you can organize the correct documents for each program.

June – August

You can only register for ERAS once. Do your utmost to ensure your application is flawless. DO NOT certify your application before you are absolutely sure it is complete, accurate, and exactly what you want to submit. You can only certify your application once—doing so will lock in your application, making it unchangeable for the rest of the application season.

Get all of your details in order and continue fine-tuning your application. Check in to ensure your letters of recommendation are confirmed, get feedback on your personal statement, and make final decisions about which residency programs you want to apply to.

Read: How to Choose a Medical Specialty in 6 Steps

Request your relevant transcripts (USMLE, COMLEX-USA, MSPE, etc.) during this time. You should also begin interview prep during these months so that you are prepared and able to present your best self on the residency interview trail .

ERAS will start accepting applications at the beginning of September. We highly recommend submitting your application well before the deadline . The site also tends to crash around the time they are due because of the high volume of applicants, so ensure you’re not leaving it to the last possible day.

Applications are released to programs at the end of September, and interview invitations can be sent out as early as the next day, so if you submit your application close to the day ERAS releases your application, you could miss out on the first round of interviews.

You also have to apply for the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) , also known as The Match, around this time, which requires a separate application.

1 | Residency Interviews

Interview season for residency programs begins in October and lasts until February. Don’t stray too far from your computer or phone during this time as ideal interview slots fill up fast. Keep your calendar updated at all times so that you can pick optimal dates as soon as they become available.

Read our Residency Interview Guide , which includes common interview questions, 7 strategies for preparing, what to wear, and resources to guarantee your success.

2 | Matched Through NRMP (National Residency Match Program)

The NRMP, also known as The Match, is a system based on a Nobel Prize-winning algorithm designed to allow medical students who are applying for residency to be placed or “matched” into a residency spot at a US program in their chosen specialty.

To participate in a Match, you need to use the NRMP’s secure Registration, Ranking, and Results (R3) system to register and create a username and password. You must have an AAMC ID to register for the Main Residency Match. After registering with NRMP, log back into ERAS and update your profile with your NRMP ID so that program directors can more easily identify you for placement on the program’s rank order lists.

Learn the 7 Things You Must Know About the NRMP Residency Match .

1 | ERAS Experiences Section

The experience section on the residency application provides an opportunity for you to share your work, volunteering, and research experience. Include all relevant experience—not only the experiences relevant to your specialty. You can tailor your personal statement to your specialty, but when it comes to experiences, you want to highlight all that you’ve been up to and what you’ve learned.

When describing each activity, try to answer these three questions in three sentences: What is it? What did you do? What did you learn? This will help the reader to quickly understand your background and what each activity meant to you. A lot of your interview questions will come from this section, so be sure to review it before any interviews.

2 | ERAS Personal Statement

The residency personal statement is your chance to tell your story, explain why you want to join a certain specialty, and demonstrate why you’re qualified to do so. It’s your single opportunity outside of interviews to personally highlight anything that you feel was underrepresented in other parts of your application and provide necessary context for your accomplishments.

Much of your residency application material focuses on your scores and grades, which don’t tell much about who you are as a person or what you’re passionate about. Your letters of recommendation will shed light on your dedication and professionalism, but the personal statement is your chance to tell your story as you see it.

While this may sound like the medical school personal statement, don’t assume you’ll be able to rehash it when writing your residency personal statement. The two are quite different. Residency programs aren’t looking for medical students; they’re looking for young professionals who have vastly improved their medical knowledge, earned their doctorate, and deepened their focus and dedication to medicine.

Your residency personal statement must reflect these differences. You are no longer a wide-eyed premed. Keep the focus of your personal statement on your professional development and why your experiences have made you want to join a certain specialty. Be confident yet humble about your accomplishments so far, and speak passionately about what you hope to accomplish in the specialty.

Technically, the residency personal statement allows for 28,000 characters. We do not recommend using all of this space. Keep your personal statement to one typed page, which is about 700-800 words.

A stand out essay can be enough to get you an interview offer while a poor statement can shut the door on an otherwise top-tier applicant. View our database of Residency Personal Statement Samples , take careful care editing, ask mentors for feedback, and consider professional personal statement editing .

3 | ERAS Letters of Recommendation

Just like the letters of recommendation for your medical school application, ERAS letters of recommendation give residency programs crucial insight into how professional physicians see you—your work ethic, character, specific strengths and attributes, and how well you’ll fit in and contribute to your chosen specialty.

You are allowed to upload an unlimited number of references, but only a maximum of four letters of recommendation per program. Your MSPE or Dean’s Letter do not count as one of your letters. Your letters do not need to be addressed to the specific residency program but should instead be standardized, so that letter writers do not need to draft multiple letters.

It’s ideal to find writers from a range of different specialties and experiences who you have worked closely with, know you extremely well, and who will speak highly of your skills, work ethic, and personal characteristics. You must have at least one letter from an attending you worked with closely, a department chair, or a mentor in your chosen specialty so that they can speak to your aptitude and suitability for that specific specialty.

Your program may also require a letter from someone outside the field of medicine. Carefully scan the specific program requirements of each program on their website to determine exactly what you’ll need.

4 | ERAS Photo

Adding a photo is optional for your application, but it’s highly recommended, as a friendly, professional photo will help those assessing your application remember you. Faculty will see your photo as they make decisions and deliberate over your potential candidacy for residency, and it will help them identify you when you report to interviews.

Upload your own photo in MyERAS by selecting Upload New Photo in the Actions column.

The photo file cannot exceed these requirements:

• Dimensions: 2.5 in. x 3.5 in.
• Resolution: 150dpi
• File Size: 100kb

Ensure it’s a professional-looking, high-quality photo. Wear professional clothing; ideally, something that would be appropriate for a medical school interview. Smile, and ensure you appear friendly and approachable. The background should be plain and subtle, with nothing that will distract from you.

If you know any photographer friends, this is a good time to ask for a favor. If you aren’t experienced using a professional camera yourself, and you don’t know anyone who is, you should pay for a professional photo. You’ve come all this way and have already spent an unbelievable amount of money on medical school. Pay this small cost to ensure you have a quality headshot.

Learn more: ERAS Residency Application Photo Requirements and Tips .

5 | Transcripts

You need to request your USMLE transcript (or COMLEX-USA transcript for DO schools) for your application. Authorize the release of this document during the summer. As you create a timeline for your final years of medical school, ensure you schedule Step 2CK well before the September of your residency application, as it can take weeks for test results to come back.

If you’ve made the request, your school will assemble your MSPE (Medical School Performance Evaluation) letter and transcripts and upload them for you.

Avoid these common mistakes when preparing for and submitting your residency application.

• Certifying (locking in) your ERAS application before it’s perfect.
• Submitting a bland personal statement that doesn’t directly address why you will be a good fit to join a certain specialty.
• Allowing small mistakes to slip through due to carelessness and sloppy editing.
• Not getting strong letters of recommendation from people who will speak highly of you.
• Rehashing your original medical school personal statement.
• Not bothering to submit a photo of yourself.
• Submitting a low-quality or distracting photo.
• Waiting until the deadline to submit your application.
• Waiting too long to begin researching and considering your preferred specialty.
• Not taking notes during your work, volunteer, and research experiences. (Notes will help you describe your experiences in detail.)
• Not considering your residency application throughout your time in medical school.

Applying to residency is quite a bit different than applying to medical school. Read our 9 essential strategies for applying to residency .

How Do I Access MyERAS?

Contact your Designated Dean’s Office to access MyERAS . They will issue you a token, which is a one-time access code to register for MyERAS.

You must acquire an ERAS token from your own Designated Dean’s Office, as your documents will not be accurately uploaded with a token from a different school or organization. You also must make sure that your ERAS token is from the current MyERAS season, as a token from a previous season will not work. ERAS tokens can only be used once to register.

An AAMC account is required to register for MyERAS. If you don’t already have one, you will need to register for one.

How Much Do Residency Applications Cost?

ERAS application fees are based on the number of programs applied to per specialty. If you apply to up to ten programs, it will cost you $99. If you apply to 11-20 programs, the cost is $19 each. Applying to 21-30 programs will cost you $23 each, and applying to 31 programs or more will cost you $27 each.

Additional fees include your USMLE transcript ($80) or your COMLEX-USA transcript ($80), both of which are assessed once per season.

MyERAS automatically calculates your fees. You can pay online using Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover. ERAS does not offer refunds for any reason.

Are There Programs That Don’t Participate in ERAS?

Some specialties or programs do not participate in ERAS. If that’s the case for a program you are interested in, you need to contact that program directly to determine how to apply.

Which Specialties Require a Supplemental ERAS Application?

There are a few specialties that require a supplemental ERAS application in addition to the main MyERAS application. Internal medicine, dermatology, and general surgery use a short (and free) supplemental ERAS application with new questions that provide programs with more information about applicants.

Residency Application Editing With Med School Insiders

Approaching your residency application with care and tact is critical to your success. Our team of doctors has years of experience helping medical students get matched with their ideal program.

Med School Insiders can help you prepare a stand out residency application. We offer a number of Residency Admissions Consulting Services tailored to your needs, including personal statement editing , USMLE tutoring , interview prep and mock interviews , and overall application editing .

Med School Insiders

Medical School vs Residency Comparison

The transition from Medical School to Residency is often misunderstood. Learn about the key differences between med school and residency so that you can best prepare yourself for both types of training.

2024 SOAP Match Guide (Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program)

Our SOAP Guide covers the Match Week process, strategies for SOAP success, and answers to frequently asked questions about SOAP.

2024 Residency Match Day Schedule (and How to Prepare)

Learn what to expect on residency Match Day, how to prepare, the schedule of Match Week events, and how SOAP works should you not initially match.

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• Residency Application

ERAS Application: A Guide to Match Your Top Residency Program

Featured Expert: Dr. Monica Taneja, MD

The Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) is used to apply for medical residencies in the United States. Many students aren’t sure how to prepare for residency applications or how to use the ERAS system. This blog will cover everything you need to know about ERAS, including the ERAS application timeline, application tips, and how to navigate the system.

>> Want us to help you get accepted? Schedule a free strategy call here . <<

Listen to the blog!

Article Contents 16 min read

What is eras and how does the match work.

The Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) through the AAMC is used by graduates from medical schools in the US to apply to postgraduate residency training programs. Similar to the AMCAS , AACOMAS , or TMDSAS application you used to apply to medical school, ERAS is your ticket to becoming a resident doctor in the US.

Once your ERAS application is complete, you can register for and participate in the National Resident Matching Program’s (NRMP) Main Match, which pairs medical graduates with open positions in residency programs across the country. The Main Match is the method by which the NRMP facilitates the ERAS application process, allowing medical school graduates to find and select residency positions.

Completing your ERAS application and going through the Match is a long and stressful time. Our students can sum up pretty succinctly how difficult it is to juggle your multiple commitments during this time:

“We all know how stressful residency application can be.” – Qianyu, BeMo student.

“having to get prepared for the interview process for residency while still completing hospital rotation[s], dissertation, and academic demands has been difficult.” – gia, bemo student..

For this reason, we’ve created this ERAS guide for residency applicants to get started and get through their applications with ease.

-----------------------

Looking for the ERAS fellowship application guide?

Applicants use ERAS to apply to residency programs in the US. Programs will then respond to applicants by inviting them for interviews during the fall and winter of their 4 th or final year of medical school. Once interview season has come to an end, applicants will create and submit a residency Rank Order List of programs that they would accept a contract with. Programs will also submit a Rank Order List of applicants they would like to accept as residents.

The NRMP’s Main Match algorithm plays “matchmaker” in setting up applicants and programs based on the preferences in their Rank Order Lists. Come Match week, medical graduates are notified whether they have matched. For applicants who are not successful in matching to any programs, residency positions that remain unfilled are made available for applicants to attempt to secure them before the official Match Day results are released through the Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP). Students are notified on the third Friday of March about where they were matched. From there, medical graduates accept offers and prepare to begin their residency training.

You MUST register through both the ERAS and NRMP residency match services to submit your residency application AND register for the Match . ","label":"IMPORTANT!","title":"IMPORTANT!"}]" code="tab2" template="BlogArticle">

How to Navigate the ERAS Application

Now it’s time to break down how to tackle and navigate the information-dense world of ERAS! The official AAMC resources and this guide will help make your application process go smoothly. Use this reference guide or the ERAS applicant checklist to double-check your work and monitor your progress.

Step #1: Check Program Requirements and Deadlines

You can check the requirements and application deadlines of a program through the ERAS portal or by going directly to the program's listed website. It is time-consuming, but it is better to research these programs to make sure they are right for you and that you are the type of candidate they’re looking for. Our student, Erin, secured a residency position by reviewing her application materials and tailoring them to fit her desired programs.

“I had a hard time figuring out personal examples to use in certain interview questions … in reviewing my CV, my personal statement and my interview prep, I was able to secure a general surgery residency at St. Luke's University Hospital.” – Erin, BeMo student.

Also make note of the programs you’re interested in and any important dates to guide your application submission.

If you’re not sure where to start, you can use residency match services or resources like FREIDA residency database to explore ACGME-accredited programs and start narrowing down your list of potential residency programs.

Step #2: Get Your ERAS Token

Contact your Designated Dean’s Office to receive your ERAS token. The token is a one-time code you will use to register with the MyERAS system and begin your residency application. You will receive your code via email. You MUST have your ERAS token to register.

Note that Canadian medical school graduates (CMGs) participating in ERAS use the Canadian Resident Matching System ( CaRMS ) as their Designated Dean’s Office. CaRMS has a separate process for CMGs who want to participate in the US match here .

International medical graduates can receive their ERAS token through the ECFMG , or the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates once they have received their ECFMG certification through one of the ECFMG pathways .

If you are a non-matched graduate reapplying to programs through ERAS and have had a previous token, you will have to purchase a new token for the upcoming year.

You will want to register early and as soon as you’ve received your ERAS token to ensure that all of your uploaded documents and information are in order. Certain documents take a few days to upload.

Visit MyERAS to proceed with registration. Read through and answer the ERAS registration questions carefully and thoroughly to prevent mistakes. You can only register once!

Once you’ve successfully registered on MyERAS, you can access your account and begin creating your application.

You can prepare to fill out the actual MyERAS application by consulting the ERAS applicant Worksheet , available on the AAMC website. ","label":"Note","title":"Note"}]" code="tab3" template="BlogArticle">

What are the least and most competitive residencies ? Watch this video!

Step #4: Fill Out Your Personal Information

Now that you’ve successfully registered on MyERAS, it is time to fill out your personal information. You can always come back and update the information on your Personal Information page, even after you submit your ERAS application. Ensure that your permanent address is correct, as this is one section of the Personal Information page that cannot be changed after submission.

Aside from personal information required the following information may be required of you:

•   AOA ID (Required of all DO applicants)
•   NBOME ID (Required of all DO applicants)
•   ECFMG Certification (Only applies to foreign medical graduates)
•   A checkbox to indicate participation in NMS/Couples Match (Optional)
•   A checkbox to indicate participation in NRMP/Couples Match (Optional)
•  ACLS, BLS, and PALS Certification information and dates. Be aware of the dates you will be attending your training sessions and which certifications you have already completed successful training for.

Step #5: Start Your MyERAS Application

Click on "My Application" in the MyERAS portal to begin. You only complete one application, and once certified and submitted, it is sent to the residency programs you choose.

Your additional documents like ERAS letters of recommendation and your residency personal statement can be customized per program and are attached later. Take your time completing your primary application. You can save your work and continue as you want. If you have not clicked “Certify and Submit,” you can change any information you have filled out at any time.

Step #6: Certify and Submit Your Application

Now it is time to Certify and Submit your application. Review it one last time before submission! Check spelling and grammar and that all fields are filled out.

Prior to submission, there is a section titled “Designated Dean’s Office” authorization to view your application once it has been submitted and certified. Make sure to select yes.

Watch this video to learn residency application red flags to avoid!

This section is for uploading your personal statement, residency CV , letters of recommendation and transcripts. This is a work area where you will tailor your application to market yourself to programs and bring you one step closer to securing your residency spot.

Remember that some residency programs ask you to complete the ERAS supplemental application . You should take the time to complete this and submit it before the mid-September deadline. While the supplemental ERAS application is optional, it allows students to answer additional questions and share more information about themselves with specific programs. Much like medical school secondary application essays , this is an opportunity to increase your chances of matching and set yourself apart from other competitors for the most competitive residencies . Right now, there are 16 specialties that offer students the supplemental ERAS application.

Test Transcripts

Residency programs need your USMLE Step 1 transcript if you’re an MD applicant, and you’ll need to submit your COMLEX Level 1 transcript if you’re a DO. You will have to know your ID number for the type of transcript you are requesting and authorize the release of your scores to programs. You must assign the transcript to each residency program you apply to.

Personal Statements

Different residency personal statements can be assigned to different programs, so you can personalize your statement to a specific program. Sending a generic personal statement is one of the residency personal statement mistakes you can easily avoid! BeMo admissions expert Dr. Neel Mistry, MD, says writing the personal statement was one of the most challenging parts of his residency application, and advises students to take their time and prepare early.

“Writing the personal statements … are particularly hard because there is so much you can talk about, and what may appeal to you may not necessarily appeal to the admissions committee. It is advisable to start as early as possible (possibly months from due date) so that you can extensively revise the statements, have others review it and provide feedback.” – Dr. Neel Mistry, MD, University of Saskatchewan, Diagnostic Radiology

Also be sure to check the ERAS personal statement requirements beforehand. You may upload as many personal statements as you want, but you can only send one PS per program, so title them accordingly so that you recall where to send them. Remember that you cannot edit or update a personal statement once it has been sent to a program.

Letters of Recommendation

The documents section of your ERAS application has an area that allows you to compose a list of faculty members that you have verified will write a letter of recommendation (LOR) for you to submit to your programs of interest.

You can include as many LORs as you feel are necessary in your ERAS documents section. Remember that residency programs typically ask for up to 3 letters of recommendation. Always make yourself aware of the LOR requirements and deadlines for each program. It can take a few days for letters to upload to ERAS before you can assign them. Make sure you give yourself and your recommendation letter writers enough time.

Keep in mind you should ask for letters of recommendation from individuals who have a strong, positive relationship with you for the best possible reference.

“An approach that would sour me is if a student asks for a LOR despite putting an average or below-average performance during the rotation, if they feel entitled to a LOR, and if the student asks for a LOR after having worked only a few shifts with them.” – Dr. Neel Mistry, MD, University of Saskatchewan, Diagnostic Radiology

Mspe and dean's letter.

An important part of your residency application is your Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE), which will share with residency programs how you performed during your clinical rotations in medical school .

Your “Designated Dean’s Office” will be the party responsible for uploading both your medical school transcript and your MSPE /Dean’s Letter to your electronic ERAS file. It will be electronically sent to each program that you apply to.

Step #8: Register for the Match!

Visit the NRMP website to register for the Main Residency Match . Registration for the Match will open in mid-September. Remember your MUST register for the Match separately from ERAS!

Step #9: Attend Interviews and Create Your Rank Order List

In late September into October, residency programs will begin reviewing residency applicants and sending out interview invitations. This period can lengthy and stressful, so be ready! Dr. Monica Taneja, MD, one of our admissions experts, says interview invitations can be sent out with very little notice and require careful planning.

“Balancing interviews with rotations [is the hardest part]! At my medical school, it was well accepted that 4 th years would take time off for interviews, so most rotations are forgiving when you need time off. However, it was still difficult to map out an interview schedule as many times interviews would come with little notice or time to schedule.” – Dr. Monica Taneja, MD, Harvard South Shore, Psychiatry

Aside from excellent organizational skills, you need to practice your interview skills. How to prepare for residency interviews therefore includes not just preparing yourself to answer common residency interview questions , but remember the best questions to ask residency programs in return.

One of the best ways to practice for your residency interviews is to use residency mock interviews , but expert feedback and implementation of that feedback is also key, says Dr. Neel Mistry, MD, an admissions expert at BeMo:

“To prepare for my residency interviews, I did lots of practice for a few hours every day. This would be a mix of group and individual practice. It is important to seek feedback from others as to what you can improve on, where you are going wrong, etc., and at the same time, spend time reflecting on your experiences and how they have aptly shaped you to excel in the specialty you are applying for. It is good practice to prepare by going over general interview questions, coming up with a personal example for each of the … physician competencies, and building a strategy to approach different types of questions.” – Dr. Neel Mistry, MD, University of Saskatchewan, Diagnostic Radiology

Remember this is your opportunity to meet with programs and evaluate them as they are evaluating you. Interviews will help you to create your rank order list (ROL) and decide what your top-choice programs are. Dr. Monica Taneja, MD, suggests keeping your interviews a two-way conversation, a way to assess whether the fit with a residency program is mutual.

“I found that the most important piece to residency interviews is having a natural conversation. There is a lot more in common between you and the people you are talking to then when I had medical school interviews. I made sure to know my 2-3 key talking points, but focused on just having a good conversation with my interviewer. This is really important when you are talking to a resident, as the most important thing to them is making sure you would mesh well into the program.” – Dr. Monica Taneja, MD, Harvard South Shore, Psychiatry

Need practice with residency interview questions? Watch this!

Step #10: Assign Your Documents to Residency Programs

After you have finalized the list of programs you want to apply to you will then assign documents to each program. Every program you select to apply to will receive the same skeleton application of documents, which include your ERAS application, Dean's Letter/MSPE, transcript, and photo. The documents you must personally assign to each program are your USMLE/COMLEX transcripts, letters of recommendation, and personal statements, as well as any additional documents such as a residency letter of intent . Double-check your documents to make sure they are going to the correct program. An LOR is ready for assignment after you have "Confirmed" the letter once it has been uploaded by either you or the author.

Step #11: Check Status of Your Applications

There are two vital MyERAS electronic sections that you should routinely check to keep an eye on the progress and status of your ERAS applications, once you have submitted them: programs applied to and message center. The message center displays any correspondence from the programs. Check on it to make sure you are receiving all your messages.

The “My Profile” section has important information for how the programs can get in touch with you. If you move or change phone numbers, update this immediately. Keep your NRMP match participation up to date. Are you an International Medical Graduate? Make sure your visa status and ECFMG status are current.

ERAS Timeline and Important Dates

Here’s a closer look at the ERAS timeline and important Main Match dates you need to know:

Match season ends. You will no longer have access to your MyERAS account or be able to apply to any more programs. "}]">

The Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP), offered through the NRMP, is a way for applicants who went unmatched or partially matched to secure a residency position before the official results are released on Match Day.

SOAP has a very short timeline, so if you want to improve your residency application after going unmatched , you must do so quickly and apply to unfilled positions through SOAP. SOAP applications open on the Monday before Match Day and close on Thursday.

During SOAP, you can apply to new programs or reapply to programs you applied to during the Main Match, and try to secure a spot that went unfilled. For instance, you can upload additional letters of recommendation or submit a new personal statement. If you’re participating in SOAP, also be ready for SOAP residency interview questions and answers , as these will be different from typical residency interview questions and you’ll have less time to prepare!

How to Prepare for ERAS Applications in Medical School

As a medical student, you will begin preparing for your residency applications in the third year of medical school and will be working on your ERAS application by your fourth year. It’s important to get started as soon as possible by not just thinking about what medical specialty you want to pursue or whether you’re interested in a medical fellowship , but by forging relationships with supervisors, participating in research, and gaining valuable clinical experience.

Dr. Taneja, MD, shares how she demonstrated her passion for psychiatry:

“I showed preparedness and interest in psychiatry by engaging in research and taking advantage of unique psychiatry rotations offered at my medical school. These both gave me plenty of stories to talk about how I validated the field and showcase how I see my career progressing in psychiatry [during residency applications].” – Dr. Monica Taneja, MD. Harvard South Shore, Psychiatry.

At this time, it may be a good idea to start looking at the Match outcomes for specialties . You can compare their qualifications and match rates for each specialty. It is good to get an idea of what specialties might require. Knowing what scores you will need on licensing exams and how many letters you will need in that specialty will improve your chance of success and your level of preparation when you start your ERAS application. It might be wise to review the most competitive and least competitive residencies to see how you measure up.

It is also never too early to get started on your residency personal statement. Make notes of interesting cases you see or memorable patients. Getting ideas early on will keep you from stressing as more deadlines approach. Still nervous about your personal statement? You may feel more confident with residency personal statement editing with the help of your advisor.

Choose a Medical Specialty

Wondering how to choose a medical specialty for your residency training? Med school is YOUR time to explore various fields and specialties in the world of medicine. Take the time to be honest with yourself regarding your likes and dislikes when figuring out how to choose medical school electives . Each specialty has pros and cons. Make notes of these as you are exposed to them during electives, rotations, clinicals, and research. Create a pros and cons list for the specialties you are interested in.

More importantly, immerse yourself in the specialty you’ve chosen and learn what attributes and skills are most valuable for that particular specialty. You’ll need to showcase those attributes when you apply to residency programs, Dr. Neel Mistry, our admissions expert, says.

“Demonstrating preparedness for your specialty is key to convincing the application committee and ultimately securing your top residency program. To do so, you want to highlight [in your application] specific personal experiences where you have demonstrated key skills required for your specialty. For instance, collaboration, communication, and independent problem solving are essential to the job of a radiologist. I made sure to give specific (and ideally different) examples to demonstrate how I have developed each of these skills throughout medical school.” – Dr. Neel Mistry, MD, University of Saskatchewan, Diagnostic Radiology

Also, consider where you want to live in the future and the type of practice you want to have. Certain areas are in need of different specialists or have different positions available. This may factor into your decision. If you are undecided between a few specialties, spend more time on rotations with those doctors. Immerse yourself in the field to get a feel of what your life would be like. Do not be afraid of consulting doctors and your medical school advisor . They are valuable resources. 

Apply for Clerkships

There are advantages to setting up clerkships, and they may give you an edge. Students are given the option of pursuing a sub-internship and additional elective clerkships toward the end of their 3rd year and the beginning of their 4th year. Dr. Shaughnelene Smith, DO, one of our admissions experts and a graduate from Kansas City University osteopathic medical school , encourages students to pursue these electives to begin exploring potential residency programs.

“As a final year medical student in the United States, you will be completing something called 'audition rotations': these are rotations at hospitals/programs you hope to potentially 'match' with … My advice would be to research specific residency programs before getting started. If you are someone interested in a specific specialty or in a specific institution, you can easily go onto the program's residency website … This will allow you to get a better feel of what type of students a program is looking for, and you can make an informed decision.” Dr. Shaughnelene Smith, DO, Kansas City University Osteopathic Medical School

You should take advantage of this opportunity to work more closely with patients, residents, and attendings, as well. These electives and internships are your chance to really stand out and demonstrate your interest in the field. Showing dedication to a field like family medicine is very important come interview season. Elective clerkships are an ideal time to request those letters of recommendation from attendings.

Applying through ERAS is a time-consuming process. Altogether, your residency application, interviews, and match will take at least a year to complete, and your preparation for residency begins even earlier during medical school. The best way to make sure you ace your ERAS application is to follow instructions carefully and start as early as possible. Make sure you start researching residency programs, putting together your supporting documents, and gathering the information you need to succeed.

You can find a list of ERAS participating specialties and programs here .

There are programs that do not use ERAS for residency applications and do not participate in the Main Match. If you are applying to one of them, be sure to contact the program directly to determine how to apply. 

You need to contact your Designated Dean’s Office that will issue you an ERAS token, which is a one-time access code used to register for MyERAS.

US Seniors/Graduates can contact the medical school from which they are graduating/have graduated. International medical graduates should contact Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG).

No, registering with ERAS does not register you for the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP) or any other matching service. You must register separately through the matching service you choose to use.

Applicants may begin applying to programs in September of the application cycle.

Programs can begin reviewing your applications in mid to late October of the application cycle.

The ERAS application should include a personal statement, letters of recommendation, test scores, your MSPE, your medical school transcripts, and more.

You can upload an unlimited number of references, but a maximum of 4 letters can be assigned per program.

No, they are not considered a reference and will not deduct from the 4-letter limit.

Many programs will require your transcripts as part of the application. Please check with programs of your choice whether it’s an option or a requirement.

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Have a question ask our admissions experts below and we'll answer your questions.

What process should one go through in order to apply and get into SOAP for those getting ERAS tokens after 1st January, now that most programs have completed accepting application letters. Kindly advice.

BeMo Academic Consulting

Hello Aaron! Thanks for your comment. Please visit the official NRMP website for details on SOAP.

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A Complete Guide to the Residency Match Process

Posted in: Residency

The months leading up to medical school graduation are an exciting time, but also the beginning of the next chapter: The Match. 

Applying to a medical residency through the match process requires plenty of forethought and planning. It’s also a key step in obtaining a medical license — you need to attend a postgraduate residency program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).

We’ve created this guide to applying and matching to help medical students understand how to apply to residency training programs and get matched.

What is the residency match process?

The Match is an algorithm that takes the applicants’ rank order list (ROL) of preferred programs and compares them to the rank order lists the programs have created to rank the applicants. The algorithm attempts to pair these together as best possible, taking every applicant into consideration at the same time.

How it works: the program will attempt to place an applicant into a program until it finds a tentative match. A tentative match can happen when a program has an unfilled position, or if the program is filled, but the program prefers a new tentative match over a current match. In the latter case, the algorithm will attempt to match the bumped applicant to another program.

Tentative matches become final after the entire matching algorithm process has been completed.

To learn more about how the matching algorithm works from the NRMP, check out this helpful video.

This algorithm-driven process was invented to alleviate some pressure on residency program directors trying to fill their programs.

Prior to the Match, hospitals would reach out, extending offers to medical students as early as their 2nd and 3rd years of medical school. As the process became more competitive, it also became less fair .

Hospitals were the main beneficiaries of this chaotic system, connecting with their preferred students as early as possible. But many medical students who may not have been “standout” applicants right away struggled to get into residency programs they desired. Spots were already filled by a chosen few medical students, even those years away from residency.

The Nobel prize winning matching algorithm was created in the early 1950s to standardize and bring equity to pairing up applicants and programs. Now, this all happens in a medical student’s 4th year – for all students, equally — coming to a head on Match Day.

ERAS Timeline

Most residency positions are offered through the Electronic Residency Application Service, or ERAS. The timeline each year varies, but generally it starts in June, culminating with the Match in March of the following year, and ending the ERAS cycle in May. 

The 2023-2024 ERAS Residency Timeline according to AAMC.org are:

Programs typically start reviewing applications at the end of September into early October. Interviews are conducted from October through February.

The Match occurs over the process of one week in March, known as Match Week, and peaks on Match Day — Friday.

Match applicants are notified the Monday of Match Week to let them know if they matched or not, but they are not given specifics on where they match. If you find out on Monday that you did NOT match, then there’s more work to be done. You’ll need to work through the Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP).

Match Program Outliers

While most programs operate in this way, several programs operate outside of this structure or alongside it:

• The Military Match – Applicants apply through ERAS as above, but complete a rank order list and match through a system called the Military Operational Data System, or MODS. Application to programs ends August 31st, and rank lists are due October 15th. Match results are released around December 12th. Notice, there is no involvement of the NRMP.
• The Urology Match – Applicants apply through ERAS and rank lists are due in early January. Some programs use NRMP, and some use a urology match program . Match Day is towards the end of January or in early February each year.
• Ophthalmology Match – Applicants apply through the Central Application Service (CAS) and match through the SF Match in January.
• Preventive Medicine – Applicants must contact individual programs to determine their process. Some use ERAS, and some use a preventive medicine residency application service. Most use a separate matching service outside the NRMP called the Standardized Acceptance Process, or SAP. However, some use NRMP. The SAP deadline for rank lists is around January 10th. Match Day is around January 20th.

The ERAS Application

Applicants should prepare their ERAS application well before ERAS opens in the beginning of June.

The application consists of:

• Your personal and biographical information
• CV (curriculum vitae)
• Personal Statement
• Letters of Recommendation
• Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE or “Dean’s Letter”)

Medical School Transcript

• ECFMG Status Report (for international medical graduates only)
• A photograph
• Your USMLE and/or COMLEX-USA transcripts

Personal and Biographical Information

This is your basic demographic information and identity information. There is also a section for your NRMP match ID, which you will receive when you register for the NRMP Match.

If you have not registered for the NRMP Match, you can add this information later.

Curriculum Vitae

It is helpful to have a comprehensive CV (curriculum vitae) to use as a starting point for your sections and to provide in tandem with your application. Expand on each topic in your CV to write small paragraphs for each section of research, volunteer activity, clinical activities , and employment.

As you fill in the sections of the application, you can choose to use bullet points or paragraphs. If you choose bullet points, they should be concise. If you choose paragraphs, write complete sentences.

Consider that most applicants will have similar activities and you are trying to stand out. We prefer paragraphs to allow the applicant to be more reflective and highlight all the unique aspects of your application for this reason.

The application assumes you have completed your entire medical curriculum (or soon will). Therefore, it is not beneficial to write about rotations unless they were particularly meaningful. If you write about a rotation, pick just one.

Be sure to review the format for both the Activities and Personal Statement sections. You’ll also want to check the requirements as you create your list and rank programs.

What to write on your ERAS/residency personal statement?

Applicants should start writing their personal statement as far in advance as possible. When you know you want to be in a particular specialty, even if it is halfway through your second year, go ahead and start then. Do not wait until the application season to start your personal statement.

Pro tip: Keep a note on your phone or computer with notes about experiences from medical school you want to include in your personal statement. These notes can help you clarify and remember important points that will eventually go into the official statement.

ERAS allows for a personal statement about 5 pages long, but you should aim for about a page plus one paragraph. Admissions committees don’t want to read 5 pages. Describe why you want to pursue your residency of choice and what will make you exceptional at it.

If you will be applying to more than one specialty, you’ll need a separate personal statement for each program. You will have the option during submission to assign a specific personal statement to each program.

Writing a strong personal statement starts with structure. A clear format breaks the essay into manageable pieces for the reader to read and for you to write:

• Introduction: Open with an anecdote, story, or other creative writing technique to draw the reader in. End this paragraph by introducing your theme(s) to be explored.
• Body paragraphs 1 to 3: Explore your theme(s). Focus on traits that will make you a good physician or otherwise prepare you to excel. Do not tell more stories here, and do not rehash your resume or work and activities section. Introduce activities only to provide context to how they’ve shaped you. Use 2 activities per theme to prove that you possess the skill/trait. Demonstrate that the activities are an expression of yourself, not a simple lesson you learned from an experience.
• Content : To make a personal statement truly unique, you need to look beyond your activities. Write about something you are passionate about. It doesn’t have to be medicine. Some of the greatest personal statements talk about the lessons the writer learned in other areas of their life, like as a dancer, a baseball player, or a teacher. They connected their learned humility, compassion, perseverance, diligence, patience, and all sorts of characteristics to medicine. Pick something that you’re passionate about, and demonstrate how it has woven into aspects of your life. The activity is an expression of the underlying characteristic.
• Conclusion : Wrap it up on a catchy or more emotional note. If the introduction serves to draw the reader in, then the conclusion should leave a lasting impression on the reader.

A note on using AI in your writing: ChatGPT and similar tools can be helpful during the editing process for your ERAS personal statement. However, don’t let AI replace the unique stories that make you an attractive candidate. Don’t be tempted to let AI do your writing for you — use it only to tweak clunky sentences and improve the overall readability of your statement.

Collect Letters of Recommendation

A total of 2-3 Letters of Recommendation (LORs) satisfy most programs’ requirements. Do not wait until right before the application process to request letters.

If you connect with an attending and perform well, ask them if they would be willing to write a letter about 75% of the way through the rotation. Then, ask them for the letter at the end of the rotation.

Collect your letters right away through a 3rd party service like Interfolio so you can store them ahead of time and upload them when the application process opens.

To use ERAS to request letters, you’ll need to wait until the service opens in June. The applicant has to enter the LOR writer’s name and information and may then generate a letter request form to be sent to the letter writer.

After this step, the applicant must confirm the letter of recommendation.

Once the letter is received in ERAS, then they can assign it to the program of choice.

For more information, the Association of American Medical Colleges has details about the format of the letter , and this UCSF has great information on what to include in the letter.

Gather a Dean’s Letter/Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE)

To begin the Dean’s letter, you’ll need to start by talking to your Dean. Each school has different policies on how this is conducted. The school will notify the applicant and generate the letter for you to upload to ERAS.

Most schools will automate this with set deadlines from the Dean. Your school will likely require you to attend a meeting before writing the Dean’s Letter/MSPE, where they will require you to present 3 noteworthy characteristics.

Here are the exact instructions for the Dean’s Letter/MSPE Instructions, as provided by AAMC :

Provide a maximum of three characteristics highlighting the most salient noteworthy characteristics of the student.

This section should be presented as a dot bulleted list (DO NOT NUMBER).

Each characteristic should be described in 2 sentences or less.

Information about any significant challenges or hardships encountered by the student during medical school may be included.

This section is written in third person.

The word count is 35-40 per bullet.

The medical school transcript must be uploaded to ERAS directly from the applicant’s Designated Dean’s Office of their medical school.

ECFMG Status Report (IMGs only)

This report is for international medical graduates (IMGs) only. The Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) Status Report verifies the ECFMG Certification status. It contains the following information:

• USMLE/ECFMG Identification Number
• Applicant name
• ECFMG-certified: (Yes or No)
• Certificate issue date
• Exams passed for ECFMG Certification
• CSA valid through date, if applicable
• Medical school of graduation
• Degree year
• Medical Education Credential Status (complete or incomplete)
• Explanatory notes (if applicable)

Optional Additions

You have the option to include a photograph with your application. The photo should be 2.5 x 3.5 inches, with a 150 dpi resolution, and file size of 150KB — or in digital terms, 375 pixels x 525 pixels.

We recommend including a photo. It is the first visual impression the programs will have of you, so make sure you convey the appropriate aesthetic in your photo.

You also may upload your USMLE and COMLEX Transcripts with your application. Including your transcripts is a great way to stand out if you had above average scores, but if you didn’t do as well as you hoped, don’t include them.

Get a free copy of our Complete Guide to Residency Applications 

ERAS Supplemental Applications

The main ERAS application consists of the personal statement and the activities, but there are also now supplemental applications for residency. In 2023/24, there are now 16 specialties that utilize the ERAS supplemental application.

These questions are very short. They are utilized to help applicants share more information about themselves with programs that they have shown interest in.

Related Read: Our Guide to the ERAS Supplemental Application

Sample ERAS Personal Statement

Here’s an example of a Personal Statement for your ERAS application:

“I began my family medicine clerkship in a community clinic dedicated to the less fortunate. There, I found a group of family physicians, each with their own niche, working together to form an incredibly comprehensive team. One physician in particular specialized in the behavioral sciences, amongst other things.

He saw the kinds of patients I found so fulfilling to treat on my psychiatry rotation, but he also saw just about everything else under the sun. From depression, to skin cancer, to a well-woman exam, I found the pace and surprise of the daily schedule invigorating.

What truly impressed me was how he applied the same principles of the one-on-one real, personal connection required in mental-health to every patient. He laughed, he joked, he hugged, he spoke with authority, and to me it seemed like every patient was a member of his own extended family. 

To me this is what family medicine really means and I will strive to make every patient leave feeling as though they were listened to, understood, and given the best possible medical care available.”

Note: Try to weave description and content together. Most applicants use a paragraph to tell a story, and then use a sentence or two at the end to reflect on it. This is perfect for a work/activities section, but not for a personal statement. When admissions committee members see this, they start skipping the story and reading the last sentence of each paragraph.

Don’t think activities. Think THEMES. Think YOU. Here are some questions to get you thinking:

• What are you great at?
• What are you passionate about?
• What do you like to do?
• What do you have that other applicants don’t have?
• Do you have a unique approach to problem solving?
• Do you have a unique way of thinking in general?
• Do you have a unique perspective?
• What values are important to you?

ERAS vs. NRMP

It is important to understand that the application process and the matching process are two separate entities. You’ll need to register for both systems for most residency applications to match.

ERAS allows you to package your application and get it to programs which, in turn, will offer you interviews.

NRMP allows you to make a program list ranked from most to least desirable, then submit that ranking so their algorithm can match you into a program. Each year, the NRMP publishes calendars with important dates and deadlines. In general, NRMP opens in September, the registration deadline is in November, and rank order lists are due in February.

Choosing a Specialty

Choosing a specialty is very straightforward for some students — you’re so drawn to one specialty that you choose one, then fill the rest of the list with “backup specialties.” 

For example, Applicant A may be particularly interested in dermatology, so they use a very contiguous list of preferred programs.

Applicant A:

• Derm program 1
• Derm program 2
• Derm program 3
• Family med 1
• Family med 2

Other students may have multiple specialty interests and use a non-contiguous list instead. 

Here’s what Applicant B’s list might look like.

Applicant B:

The term “contiguous ranks” refers to the number of specialties that appear in a row.

Both applicants have 3 Derm programs and 2 family med programs. 

Applicant A has 3 contiguous ranks for Derm and 2 contiguous ranks for Family Med. Applicant B has no contiguous ranks.

The number of contiguous ranks is very important. In previous years, dermatology applicants with 12+ contiguous ranks matched with a dermatology program 100% of the time. But applicants with only one contiguous rank matched only 30% of the time.

However, you can still rank for multiple specialties. The data of previous years has mixed results depending on the specialty. Carefully research the match data about the specialties you’re considering to make a decision on the specialty of choice and how to rank your list accordingly.

What are the odds of matching into residency? In 2023, the odds of matching into residency to a first-year position (PGY-1 position) was 81.1%. The odds of matching into residency of all positions offered was 93.3%.

Related Topic: Categorical vs. Preliminary vs. Advanced Residency Programs

How should I choose a rank list order?

Creating a rank order list is straightforward and requires important decision-making. Review exactly how the matching algorithm works for a better understanding of creating a rank list and how programs create their lists. 

Both the National Resident Matching Program and AAMC have made statements advising applicants to create your rank order list of your true preferences, not how you think you will match. While this is sound advice, it also stands to reason that you should not highly rank a program that you don’t have a realistic shot at attending as your first choice.

The final rank order list is due at the end of February to prepare for the match in March.

Residency Interview Questions

Interviews typically start around late fall to early winter. Aim to interview at as many programs as you can afford to attend. Preparing for interviews should start with becoming familiar with typical interview questions.

What type of questions are asked during the residency interview? You can expect to find these questions and prompts in a typical residency interview:

• Tell me about yourself.
• Why did you become a physician?
• What makes you want to be a ____? (fill in the specialty)
• What are your greatest strengths?
• What are your greatest weaknesses?
• Describe a time when you overcame a great challenge.
• Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years?
• Describe a research project you were involved in?
• Name 3 things wrong with the U.S. healthcare system and propose some fixes.
• What is your interest in this program?
• How do you manage stress?
• How do you handle interpersonal conflict?
• Describe a time where you disagreed with someone or something and how you handled it.
• Describe an accomplishment you are most proud of.
• What are you looking for in a residency program?
• What do you like to do outside of medicine?
• What other specialties did you consider?
• What is the most interesting case you have encountered?
• How would you handle a non-compliant patient?
• What would you do if you saw a senior resident or attending do something wrong?
• Please explain any gaps or discrepancies in your education.
• What elements do you think make a great ____? (fill in specialty)
• What 3 words would your patients describe you with?
• What 3 words would your colleagues describe you with?

Stand out from equally qualified applicants during your interview to match with the residency of your choice — we can help.

General tips on interview day:

• Attire: Dress professionally, and remember this is not a fashion show. If you happen to be up to date on the newest fashion trends, just remember that your interviewer might not be. Your clothes should be neat and presentable and should not distract from the content of your message. The same goes for jewelry — try not to wear anything that draws the attention away from you.
• Stature: Sit upright and lean in, just like you would when speaking to a patient. Body language conveys interest, so leaning back with crossed arms may send the wrong message.
• Framing: If you’re participating in a virtual interview, ensure that you look great in the frame by being well-dressed in a well-lit area. Make sure that the background behind you appears professional. Having interesting items in your room that are visible on camera can be excellent conversation starters.
• Ask Questions: Every interview will end with the same question: “What questions do you have for me?” The only wrong answer is to walk away without asking questions. Be prepared with some questions of your own.
• Letter of Intent : Send thank you notes to all interviewers. And, after you’ve completed your interviews, send a letter of intent to your top choice.

The Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program

What is the SOAP program? The SOAP program is designed to fill in the gaps left by the algorithm for applicants that did not get paired up. The Friday before Match Week kicks off, applicants are notified if they are eligible for the SOAP. This has nothing to do with your match results.

To be eligible for SOAP, you must be:

• Registered in the main match through NRMP.
• Available to start residency in June.

SOAP works in a completely different way than the NRMP. There is no algorithm for SOAP at this time. If you find out you don’t match on Monday of Match week, you obtain access to a list of all unmatched programs through the NRMP website. There, you can select and apply to as many as 45 programs.

The programs can then call and interview you over the phone over the next several days. You are not allowed to contact programs during this time.  

SOAP offers are extended in 3 rounds, starting with 2 on Wednesday morning and one round on Thursday. Most positions are filled in the first round. 

The offers during those rounds are valid for only 2 hours. You can either accept, reject, or do nothing. If you do not respond in those 2 hours, your acceptance will be forfeited and will not be extended to you in other rounds. 

On Thursday afternoon, the SOAP offers end. If you still have not matched by this point, you still have access to that updated list of unfilled programs. However, the rules change: You may contact the programs on that list and ask for interviews. They can extend an offer to you at any time. 

This process is available from Thursday of Match Week until May 1st.

Planning 3rd & 4th Year Rotations

When should I apply to get matched for residency? You should apply to get matched for residency in the late summer/early fall of your fourth year of medical school.

Before the application process begins, a successful bid for residency requires careful planning of the second half of third-year and the first half of fourth-year. The important parts here are away rotations and use of electives.

Away rotations are particularly useful for you to find out more about a program, while at the same time, showcasing your talents. These are essentially working interviews, or audition rotations. Away rotations should be chosen based on your interest in matching into one of these locations. As a bonus, you can use them as a required rotation. 

When using an away rotation as an elective or a sub-internship rotation (aka ‘Sub-I’), you’ll also get a free interview out of the rotation without having to travel back for another visit. Keep in mind that nearly every medical school has time set aside for you to do interviews in your fourth year, so don’t feel compelled to get all your interviews done through away rotations.

In general, it is unwise to do your first core rotation as an away rotation at a program you’re interested in. If you haven’t done internal medicine yet, don’t show up to an audition rotation for internal medicine. Sure, you’ll learn a ton about the program, but you won’t make a strong impression.

You want to show up to audition rotations at your best, so do a Sub-I or just an elective in that specialty late in your third-year or early in your fourth year.

Regarding timing, there is no right time to do your audition rotation, but there is a wrong time.

Early in your third year when you’re not strong clinically is not the best time. Another time to avoid is when your rank order list is close to being due in February. The ideal time anywhere from late Spring of your third year through the end of that calendar year.

Practically speaking, you cannot use all your electives and away time to do audition rotations. Your school will have limitations, and you don’t want to spend your whole fourth year doing the same rotations at different hospitals. 

Most applicants can afford to do 1-2 of these and get further exposure to these programs from interviews. Every school is different, so make sure you sit down with your deans to find out how many aways you can do, when you can do them, what specialties you can do them with, and how much time is set aside for electives.

A Note for International Medical Graduates

International medical graduates (IMGs) are inherently at a disadvantage compared to American medical graduates (AMGs) for multiple reasons. 

Most program directors are familiar with and confident about the medical education AMGs receive. IMGs are seen as somewhat of an unknown to many programs, who already have a large pool of applicants applying for a smaller group of positions. 

IMGs need to have more competitive stats. That means higher USMLE or COMLEX scores, more research, and more volunteer activities — anything that helps give an edge when applying. Other than that, all the same principles for a successful application apply to the IMG, whether you’re from the US or not. 

One note that is particularly important is selecting IMG-friendly states. Consider looking at the data to identify programs that tend to accept IMGs, and avoid programs that have a history of not accepting IMGs.

Once you’ve identified which states match IMGs into the specialty of your choice, the next step is to look at the Residency Explorer tool to specifically find out how many IMGs match into specific programs.

The residency application process is a long road requiring ample planning. From carefully selected audition rotations all the way until Match day, staying ahead of the curve by being prepared is the key to success!

Schedule a free consultation with a member of our enrollment team to see how we can help you nail your residency interviews.

Renee Marinelli, MD

Dr. Marinelli has practiced family medicine, served on the University of California Admissions Committee, and has helped hundreds of students get into medical school. She spearheads a team of physician advisors who guide MedSchoolCoach students.

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