can you edit your personal statement after submitting eras

Can I Update My Personal Statement Throughout the Residency Application Season?

You can no longer edit many documents in ERAS once you have begun applying for medical residency. Yet, applicants may wonder, “ Can I still update my personal statement? ”  

According to the AAMC, the Personal Statement can be updated throughout the residency application season, even for programs you have already applied to. The following is directly from the AAMC:

Can I edit my Personal Statement after I apply to programs?

Yes, Personal Statements can be edited at any point during the application season – even when assigned to programs applied to. (Source – MyERAS Documents section of: https://students-residents.aamc.org/applying-residency/faq/faq-eras-residency-applicants/ )

Now, you may be wondering, “ Why would I want to update my personal statement in the middle of the season?” 

Reasons to Consider Updating Your Personal Statement

1) not getting enough interviews.  .

Perhaps you are running low on interview opportunities. As such, it is common to wonder what could be going wrong. One issue could be that you did not get the right help or enough help crafting your personal statement(s). It is very possible that your personal statement might be completely missing the mark. Additionally, it could be turning programs off from you as an applicant for reasons you did not realize before. 

2) Outdated or irrelevant information.

For example, some applicants leave an asterisk noting the arrival of test scores. Or, perhaps there were extenuating circumstances that you included in your original application which are no longer relevant to you anymore. 

3) New and important experiences. 

The application season takes many months. In September, when you may have applied, perhaps you didn’t have US Clinical Experience. But now you have a wonderful experience that would be very powerful and helpful for you to share. Of course, this is another great opportunity to keep fine-tuning your application throughout the season. 

Landing a residency position is challenging. Optimizing your application at all points of the residency season is important to overcoming the hurdles of residency. This is especially true for IMGs and/or those who have red flags in their application. Now, you may be thinking, “ Should I update my personal statement?” Our support staff is happy to provide guidance and input regarding this extremely important document. 

Call Residency Statement at 858-221-8590 or email support@residencystatement.com today. 

Related Posts

Should I Address Multiple Attempts on the USMLE Exams in the Personal Statement?

How NOT to Write a Medical Residency Personal Statement

Personal Statement’s Role in Post Match SOAP

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• ERAS Personal Statement Length: How to Say More with Less
• 7 Essential Residency Personal Statement Components for a Winning Application
• Crafting a Cohesive Application: Aligning Your Personal Statement with LORs
• Why Writing Your Residency Personal Statement Early Pays Off
• Residency Interview Planning: How To Plan Cost-Effective Trips
• Common Mistakes
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Your ERAS application is just one of many documents you’ll need to submit before you can apply to residency programs. There are a variety of application materials you’ll need to gather and input into the ERAS system:

Personal Statement

While your CV and transcripts are critical, the personal statement portion of the ERAS application might be the most crucial component of all.

The personal statement is essentially an essay, similar in some ways to a college entrance essay.

The personal statement is your chance to explain why you want to enter the specialty you’ve chosen. It’s your chance to further explain some of the skills or qualities you have that will make you a successful resident. It’s an opportunity to elaborate on why you’ve chosen to apply to a particular program.

Your personal statement should be detailed and anecdotal. It should have a thesis, a strong introduction, and a clear conclusion. And, of course, it should be perfectly written with perfect grammar and formal language.

Always proofread your personal statement and ask colleagues or mentors to read it over before you send it. (You can amend the personal statement after you submit your application, but it’s better to make sure that it’s faultless before submitting it the first time.)

Letters of Recommendation

Most residency programs require three letters of recommendation (LORs) but allow you to submit up to four.

These letters should be written from professionals who have supervised you in clinical settings, such as physicians with whom you have done rotations. At least two of those letters should be from physicians in the specialty you intend to train for in residency.

When requesting LORs, do so in a timely manner. Don’t wait until a week before the deadline to ask for a recommendation. Instead, make the request at least a month in advance to give the physician enough time to create a genuine, thoughtful letter.

You can store as many LORs as you like in the ERAS system. If you have five or six physicians you can ask for recommendations, do so. That way, you can pick and choose the most powerful ones or send different ones to different programs.

MSPE Dean’s Letter

The medical student performance evaluation (MSPE), is a letter from your dean’s office that provides a summation and general evaluation of your medical school performance. It contains your academic history and progress, as well as noteworthy characteristics that make you stand out from other students in your program.

Medical School Transcript

Whether you take the USMLE or the COMLEX-USA exam, you’ll need to submit your transcripts to all residency programs you apply to. You can request your transcripts directly through the  MyERAS  documents/additional documents section of the website.

ERAS Photo (Optional)

Including an ERAS photo is optional, but it can be an asset to your application if done the right way.

Your ERAS photo should be professional.

Try to take it with a high-quality camera in the proper lighting. It should portray you as someone intelligent, trustworthy, and hardworking. Put on a suit jacket or blazer, fix your hair, and smile!

Before uploading your photo, make sure it adheres to the ERAS photo requirements in terms of file size, resolution, and photo size.

USMLE Transcript or COMLEX Transcript

USMLE and COMLEX  transcripts are some of the only supporting documents you can submit after you’ve certified and submitted your application. However, if your scores are ready, it’s best to include them with the original application and other documents.

Different residency programs have different deadlines for submitting and uploading transcripts. Be sure to check with your chosen residency programs to ensure that you don’t miss their deadline.

Supplemental ERAS Application

As of September 2021, the AAMC is testing out what they’re calling the “supplemental ERAS application” in the fields of  dermatology , general surgery, and  internal medicine .

The supplemental application does not replace the ERAS application. It is used in conjunction with the main application as a way for residency programs to gain more insight into who you are as a candidate. Depending on the results of the 2021 supplemental application trial, it could become available to students in other specialties next year.

The supplemental application asks a few specific questions designed to get to know a student better.

Questions such as “have you overcome obstacles in your journey?” and “what are your five most meaningful experiences?” are designed to delve deeper into the student as a person, rather than just focusing on their work and educational experience.

Discover:  Moonlighting Medical Residents: Side Gigs to Make More Money

How to Fill Out the “Experiences” Portion of the ERAS Application

As you fill out your ERAS application, you’ll see individual sections that ask for personal and biographical information, educational information, and information about your experience.

It’s the “experience” section of the application that tends to trip people up.

Here are some tips on how to fill out the experiences section of the application.

The experience section is your place to discuss three specific things:

• Research experience
• Work experience
• Volunteer experience

In comparison to the application as a whole, it may seem like a small part, but it’s a chance to truly set yourself apart from the competition.

Choose the experiences that you’re most proud of or that are the most impressive. You do not need to detail every part-time job you’ve ever held, every club or organization you’ve ever belonged to, or every charity event you’ve attended. Instead, focus on a few key experiences that will make an impact and give a good overall sense of who you are.

If you have a bevy of experiences, a good way to cut down on them is to limit your experiences to those that occurred during or just prior to  medical school .

When you describe your experiences, do so with clear, concise, and powerful language. Don’t go into excessive detail. Detail only the most important aspects or elements of the experience.

Related:  Understanding Your Resident Doctor Employment Agreement

Prepare to Pay ERAS Fees

Along with submitting your application and supporting documents, you’ll have to pay some fees for ERAS to submit your information to the residency positions you’re applying for.

The standard application fee is $10, which allows you to apply to a maximum of ten residency programs.

If you intend to apply to more, you’ll have to pay more:

• For every additional program 11-20: $17 per program
• For every additional program 21-30: $21 per program

In addition to application fees, there are also transcript fees to submit your test scores. Both the USMLE and COMLEX transcript fees cost $80 each.

Common ERAS Application Mistakes

The ERAS application process can be complex, as it involves many different parts.

To make the process run smoothly, avoid these common mistakes that many medical students make:

Submitting Your Application Before It’s Perfect

Take the time to make sure that your application is error-free.

Once you submit and certify your application, the only thing you can amend is your personal statement. All other information must remain as is, so triple-check that your information is correct.

Attempting to Change Document Assignments

There may be instances where you want to assign specific letters of recommendation to specific programs.

Once you assign a LOR to a particular program, you cannot reassign it. Make sure that you attach the right LORs to the correct residency applications.

Creating a Generic Personal Statement

Your personal statement is your chance to stand out from the competition. Take the time to craft a well-written statement that’s unique and captures who you truly are.

Omitting Supporting Documents

You can’t send applications to residency programs if they’re missing supporting documents. Omitting or missing documents (whether intentionally or unintentionally) can delay the application process.

Waiting Until the Last Minute

Don’t wait until a day or two before the September deadline to start working on your application. The ERAS application takes time, so it’s best to begin working on it as soon as you receive your token.

Once your application is complete and you’ve checked to ensure it’s perfect — certify it. There’s no need to wait until the day before the deadline to submit.

Not Knowing the ERAS Timeline

In the spring of your third year of medical school, check the ERAS website or the  AAMC website  for a complete and accurate timeline of the application process for the upcoming year.

While deadlines generally fall around the same time each year, specific dates can change. It’s crucial to have all relevant dates on your calendar to avoid missed deadlines.

It’s never too early to start planning for your future. Read:  The 3 Biggest Financial Mistakes New Doctors Make

What IMGs Need to Know About the ERAS Application Timeline

For  international medical graduates , there is one more crucial step in submitting an ERAS application:

Applying for ECFMG certification.

All IMGs must apply for certification from the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates before they can register with MyERAS. The ECFMG provides the residency tokens required to register for MyERAS, so you’ll need your ECFMG identification number in order to receive your registration token.

There are many steps in the ERAS application system, and they’re all necessary to participate in the NRMP and learn which program you’ve matched with on  Match Day .

For more information on ERAS, ECFMG certification, or applying to residency programs,  contact Physicians Thrive now .

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What can I do after my ERAS is submitted?

• Thread starter rendezvous14
• Start date Aug 20, 2010

rendezvous14

• Aug 20, 2010

Full Member

rendezvous14 said: This is not clearly addressed on the ERAS website..AFTER it is submitted, can I.. ..add a new LOR writer? ..edit my personal statement? ..add a new personal statement? I want to submit ERAS on 9/1, but I want to be sure I can make some changes later. Click to expand...

• Aug 21, 2010

If you haven't already, you should really read the myEras User Guide. The short answer - once certified/submitted, you can't change your application , but you can change your profile, documents and list of programs. View attachment 15387 From page 26: Submitting Your Application Review your application carefully before certification. The checklist function will alert you when it finds obvious errors, like a missing USMLE ID or application pages that were not completed. The checklist will not notify you if you have misspelled or omitted a word in your application. Once you have completed your application, you will need to submit it to the ERAS PostOffice for processing. You cannot apply to programs until your application is certified and submitted. You may only certify and submit your application once! Once you have submitted your application, you will not be able to make any changes to it or update any information on your MyERAS Application. There are no exceptions. Submitting your MyERAS Application is like placing a written application in the mailbox; you cannot get it back. Be sure your application is complete and correct before submitting. During certification, graduates of U.S. medical schools who are applying for positions will have to select Yes or No to the question, “Do you give your dean’s office permission to view your application once it has been submitted?” This question must be answered to certify and submit your MyERAS Application. Once you certify and submit your MyERAS Application, you will be unable to change your selection. It is recommended that you give your dean’s office permission to view your MyERAS application, in case you have to participate in Scramble. Note: The designated dean’s office for U.S. graduates will be able to view an applicant’s MyERAS application only after the applicant has released it. Remember, you may update the information in your Profile at any time. Likewise, you may also update or change your document assignments or add new programs at any time.  

• Aug 24, 2010

yes, i read this, and this is what i was referring to when i said the eras website wasn't clear..it says you can update/change your letter writers and documents, but it doesn't explicitly state if you can add new letter writers and/or new personal statements  

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How to Make a Statement with Your ERAS Personal Statement

• June 29, 2023
• Reviewed by: Amy Rontal, MD

Dr. Leila Javidi, Taylor Purvis, and Dr. Brian Radvansky contributed to this article.

Starting your residency application can feel like an overwhelming task, especially when it comes to writing your ERAS personal statement. It’s not clear why essays of this nature are so intimidating—maybe it’s because not all medical students are well-versed in language arts, many of us dislike writing, or maybe just the thought of putting “who you are” onto paper brings to the surface some uncomfortable feelings of self-awareness (whoa—this just got intense!).

This is a joke or course, but to be honest, sometimes when we sit down to write our ERAS personal statement we immediately think things like, “I’m not that interesting,” or “I haven’t done anything cool in life, I’ve spent most of my time in school thus far.” And that is completely normal. The majority of us haven’t had those pivotal moments in life that shake the ground beneath us and form a new foundation for who we are, and that’s OK!

Your ERAS personal statement isn’t intended to be a best-selling memoir. It’s intended to add another dimension to the otherwise black-and-white application full of scores and grades. It is an opportunity to show program directors your personality, what motivates you, and what you’re looking for in a residency program.

While you’ve probably heard all of this before, we bet you have more specific questions about how to tackle the ERAS personal statement. All of us sure did! So, without further ado, h ere are answers to the 12 most important questions about medical residency personal statements.

12 Frequently-Asked Questions About the ERAS Personal Statement

1. How big of a deal is my ERAS personal statement to program directors?

According to the 2020 NRMP program director survey , 78% of program directors cite the ERAS personal statement as an important factor in deciding which candidates to interview,  making it the fourth-highest ranked factor behind USMLE Step 1, USMLE Step 2, and letters of recommendation. So, it’s pretty important in the grand scheme of your application!

Now, from experience in talking to different program directors and mentors, it’s clear that the most important thing is that your ERAS personal statement is well organized, well written, with proper grammar, no red flags, and that it’s only one page single-spaced. The standard ERAS personal statement length is typically 500-800 words (roughly four paragraphs).

A personal statement typically isn’t the “maker” of your residency application—however, it can be a deal “breaker” if it doesn’t have those attributes. That said, if you have a memorable, well-written personal statement, program directors will mention it, and it will make you stand out as an applicant. If they are on the fence about whether or not to interview you, a personal statement could potentially be the deciding factor. So, it’s pretty important!

2. What are things I should include in my ERAS personal statement?

A good ERAS personal statement should include the following: 

A catchy introduction to grab the reader

There are different ways to go about doing this, but if you’re stuck, an effective way to grab the reader’s attention is to open with a patient vignette. An interesting case is sure to pique the curiosity of your reader and keep them engaged as they read. Preventing boredom is something to strive for, as your application is one of perhaps hundreds that they are reading.

Ultimately, though, remember this is a personal statement. After you reveal the diagnosis or outcome of the patient vignette, you need to let the reader know what the case meant to you! The point of relating the vignette is to reveal something about yourself, not just present an interesting story about a patient. 

An overview of your desirable qualities

When letting the reader know what your positive qualities are, it’s important to remember a basic rule of good writing: SHOW, don’t tell. For example, instead of saying you are compassionate, describe a story from your life that demonstrates your compassion.

Highlights from your life experience 

This includes jobs, extracurricular activities, and hobbies that would help you to be an ideal candidate for whichever residency you are applying to. Pro tip: DON’T REGURGITATE YOUR CV. This is your opportunity to tell people things that aren’t on your CV. Do you play chess in the park every Saturday, or have you traveled to some amazing places? Tell us about it!

You shouldn’t rehash your CV in your personal statement, but it is a great place to elaborate on activities listed on your CV. It can be used to explain why those activities are so important to you, how they have helped you grow as a person, and other things that don’t often shine through on the CV itself.

Proof of why you should be accepted 

The most important part of your statement is providing proof of why you should be accepted. Describe your strengths, but do not talk about things too generally. You should be able to back up everything you say. Give details and examples. Which doctors have you shadowed? What kind of research have you been involved in, and where was it published? Don’t just mention that you have volunteered, say the names of places you were at and what you were doing.

Why you are interested in your specialty

This doesn’t have to be a profound story, but it should be the truth!

What you are looking for in a residency program

Is a strong procedural curriculum important to you? Is the culture of the program more important? Try to mention things you know your programs of choice embody.

Address any red flags on your application

Did you do poorly on Step 1? Did you take a leave of absence for a long time? Best to just come out and talk about it without being defensive. Show how you have grown from the experience, rather than apologizing for it!

A cohesive closing statement

Sometimes the first and the last sentence of the statement are the hardest to come up with, but it’s worth your time to make it tidy, even if it isn’t profound.

3. What are things I shouldn’t include in my ERAS personal statement?

Controversial topics.

Stay away from extreme religious or political statements. It doesn’t mean you can’t say you are an active member of church, but don’t use this as an opportunity to discuss whether or not you are pro-choice. You never know who is going to be reading this, and anything too polarizing can be off-putting for some readers. 

Feelings of bitterness or negativity

Leave out any traces of bitterness, defensiveness, or anger about anything that has happened in your life. Everything must have a positive spin.  

Too much self-praise or too much modesty

Avoid talking about yourself in a glorifying manner, but don’t go too far the other way and come off as too modest.

Too many qualifiers

You don’t want to go overboard with the qualifiers, which are words such as “really,” “quite,” “very,” etc. In fact, in many cases, it’s better not to use them at all. 

“Flowery” language you wouldn’t use in real life

It’s a personal statement, not a creative writing assignment. Keep the language in your statement simple. You’re not going to score any points by using unnecessarily fancy words. Your goal is clear communication.

Also, don’t try to sound like a doctor. This is just another way of trying to impress the reader. You want the reader to like you based on the way you write, not be turned off because you are trying to impress them.

“Try to avoid using a lot of jargon and abbreviations,” advises Mary Dundas, educator at Academized. 

Exaggerations

Avoid talking hyperbolically about how passionate you are. As noted earlier, it’s better to show than tell so give examples of things you have done. Above all, keep the writing in your statement professional.

If you avoid these common mistakes, you’ll be way ahead of most applicants! 

4. How can I make my ERAS personal statement unique?

As evidenced by The Voice and American Idol , it is everyone’s impulse to divulge their “sob story” to help them stand out and garner sympathy from the audience. While it’s important to include stories that helped shape you as a person, it is very transparent and cliché to talk about that person you know who was struck by a medical tragedy, and how ever since you vowed to “save people.”

The best way to make your statement unique is to allow your personality to shine through. Use your words, your humor, and your depth to tell your story. Find a way to show yourself to your reader, and if you do this, your essay will be unique!

5. Should I have more than one ERAS personal statement to upload?

In short, absolutely have multiple personal statements to upload. Especially if you are applying to more than one specialty, it’s essential that you have several versions of your personal statement.

That doesn’t mean you have to write a whole new one, you just have to tailor it to fit that specialty. If you’re applying for a preliminary year, tailor your personal statement to explain how important you feel a solid foundation in medicine is for dermatology (or whichever specialty you are applying to) and what you’re looking for in a preliminary year.

Furthermore, I found that for the programs I really wanted to interview with, I would upload a tailored personal statement for that program saying something like, “I am seeking a family medicine residency position with ABC University program because of their dedication to XYZ.” Simply name-dropping their institution and noting the strength of their program demonstrates your attention to detail and interest in their institution. Even if you are an amazing applicant, if a program doesn’t feel you are interested in their specific program, they won’t interview you. It’s best to make sure you give those out-of-state programs some extra attention so they know you are willing to relocate for them!

Lastly, you should know that you can upload as many versions of your personal statement as you like onto ERAS, but be especially careful when uploading and make sure you apply the correct personal statement to each program! Triple-check your work! Pro Tip: Use your file names to help you stay organized. Pick a format and stick with it, such as “PS-JohnsHopkins,” “USCF-PS,” etc.

6. When should I start writing my ERAS personal statement?

The sooner the better, people. Get cracking now! You can even begin to think of ideas during your third year as you develop your interests in specific specialties. As ideas come to you, jot them into your phone so you don’t forget!

One of the best ways to begin writing your personal statement is to go over some questions about yourself. Ask yourself, who are you and what drives you forward? Think about the kinds of things that interest you and why you developed those interests. Maybe consider some mistakes you have made, how you learned from them, and how they have changed you. Or ask yourself, how do your interests and personality contribute to the goals you have set? 

Think about those kinds of questions and write down the answers. Reflect on them, put them away, and come back to them. Then, use them to form an outline—this will help you figure out all your points and what you want to say before you start writing. 

If you still feel like you just don’t know how to get started, give the five-point essay format a shot and see if it works for you. In short, you begin with a paragraph that is about four or five sentences long. The goal of this first paragraph is to grab a reader’s attention. Use the next three or four body paragraphs to talk about yourself. Try and have one of them focus on your clinical understanding, while another talks about service. Then end with a solid conclusion paragraph that mirrors your introduction, summarizes who you are, and ends by looking toward the future. 

7. Should I ask for any help with my ERAS personal statement?

Yes. Yes. A thousand times, YES! Absolutely ask for feedback on your personal statement. After getting your draft finished, show it to whoever will look at it—however, please remember to take everyone’s advice with a grain of salt and to strongly consider the source. It is absolutely essential to have your personal statement reviewed by an objective third party to ensure that the message you are trying to communicate is loud and clear. This means that you shouldn’t give it to a friend or family member who is going to placate you with a useless, “Yeah, looks great!”

Find a mentor, advisor, chief resident or attending, someone who is accustomed to reading ERAS personal statements, and get feedback from them. You can be certain that going through this step will only make your personal statement better. If you take their advice and don’t like how things are panning out, you can always revert back to an older draft.

But in just about every case, another set of eyes to give you big-picture feedback on what you’ve written will improve your piece. Do this early in the process, when you have gotten a simple draft together, so that you don’t present someone with an idea that you are married to, only to find out that it doesn’t come through clearly.

Be sure to ask other people what they think of your draft, but be careful about asking other students for help. Sometimes they get weird, and try to give you advice about making your statement more like theirs because they want to feel justified in their own efforts.

Finally, it should be mentioned that there are services out there that will “write your personal statement” for you. Aside from the obvious reasons why not to do this, you have to be really careful. Those services don’t know you, don’t know your voice, and oftentimes have very generic ways of putting these statements together.  Using a service to help polish your statement, though, is A-OK. Some you may find useful in that regard are ViaWriting , Writing Populist , StateofWriting , and SimpleGrad .

Lastly, you may consider working with a residency counselor who can help set your application apart with insider advice and ensure you optimize all elements of the residency application process. Our residency consultants are residents and attendings who have successfully guided hundreds of students from residency applications through the Match!

Typical residency consulting work consists of:

Not sure if a residency consultant is the right fit for you? Take this quiz to see if you would benefit from some extra guidance during the residency application process!

8. Where can I find examples of ERAS personal statements to inspire me?

Every good writer learned how to write by reading the works of other people. This includes personal statements! Very often your career offices from your undergraduate studies will have examples of personal statements that can serve as inspiration for your own masterpiece. You can also ask older classmates and recent graduates if they would feel comfortable sharing their personal statements with you. 

Remember, too, that inspiration can come from nontraditional sources. Try reading poetry or a novel before sitting down to write your statement. You might be surprised by how it helps to get your creative juices flowing!

9. Is it better to cover all of my experiences, or focus on a few in particular?

It’s better to focus on several key experiences rather than provide a broad overview of your life up to the present time. Your resume will fill in any gaps for your reader. The point of the personal statement is to spend a few paragraphs reflecting on one or two themes that define who you are as a person. Stay focused, and go deep!

10. How much should I share about my career goals in my ERAS personal statement?

Remember, the majority of training programs you will be applying to are academic medical centers. For those programs in particular, make sure to emphasize why an academic environment is a good fit for you. This does not have to mean research! Perhaps you like the idea of becoming a clinician educator and want to be at XYZ program for the opportunity to teach medical students. 

Likewise, if you are applying to a program at a community hospital, make sure to reflect on how your career goals are suited for that environment. Maybe private practice is on your radar, or you want to practice in a hospital that is more close-knit than a large academic center.

Whatever the case, try to make your stated career goals align with the orientation of the program you’re applying to. In reality, you may have no idea what direction you want your career to go in. But for a personal statement, try to commit to one general theme if possible.

11. What about my personal statements for preliminary or transitional year programs?

For applicants who are also applying to preliminary or transitional year programs, it can seem daunting to tailor your personal statement to a position that isn’t part of your ultimate specialty. But don’t worry—preliminary and transitional year programs still want to know who you are as a person and why you’re interested in anesthesiology, dermatology, or whatever advanced specialty you’re aiming for. You don’t need to change your personal statement as much as you may think!

The goal of a personal statement for these one-year programs is not to convince the reader that you suddenly love internal medicine despite going into radiology. The reader knows this is a temporary stopping place for you. Instead, emphasize the traits that make you YOU and will enhance their hospital!

12. What if I’m interested in a non-traditional path after residency?

Some of you may be thinking of alternative career paths after residency such as consulting or pharmaceutical work. It’s probably best to leave those specific goals out of your ERAS personal statement and allow readers to assume that you want to continue in clinical medicine after graduating from residency. You might want to instead phrase it as something you want to be incorporated into your clinical career, but not something you would leave medicine for, even if that’s what you have in mind!

Remember, you are under no obligation to share your every thought and desire in a personal statement! These statements are being read by reviewers who dedicated their lives to education and clinical medicine, so keep that in mind.

Further Reading

Keep these tips in mind as you write your ERAS personal statement, and you’ll be way ahead of the other applicants. If you start to get stressed out, remember, you have an amazing story to tell, and we are here to help tease that story out from the confines of your brain! For more help, reach out to one of our residency advisors .

Looking for more help during the residency application process? We’ve got you covered with more (free!) content written by Blueprint tutors:

• How to Get Standout Letters of Recommendation for Your Residency Application
• How to Maximize Your Chances of Matching With Your Dream Residency
• What’s It Like Working With a Medical Residency Consultant?
• Residency Interview Tips & Tricks: The Ultimate Guide
• Dual Applying for Residency: Is It Right For Me?

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2025 ERAS Application Updates 

I hope you enjoy reading this blog post.

If you want our team to help you with your Residency Application,  click here .

Dear Residency Aspirants,

I hope you are gearing up for a relentless yet exciting 2025 Match season! This blog aims to update you on the new changes to the 2025 MyERAS Application.

✅ Changes in Fee Structure ✅ Updates on Program Signaling ✅ Section Changes ✅ New Features in the Residency Explorer Tool ✅ Thalamus Information for ERAS Applicants

Before we get started, if you are looking for a comprehensive ALL-IN-ONE Application Resource for MATCH® 2025, including ERAS application template, personal statement examples, MSPE samples, LOR examples, and much more, click here .

We also have detailed guides on how to complete your ERAS application , how to write your personal statement , and 200+ residency interview questions .

Changes in Fee Structure

The fee structure has been revised to be more cost-effective, offering savings of up to 36% for most applicants. Additionally, those with expanded AAMC Fee Assistance benefits can receive a 60% discount on up to 50 applications. This is great news, as the Fee Assistance Program will now be extended to ERAS residency applicants.

And this is how the fees compare to the existing fee structure.

Source : AAMC

However, this structure only applies to residency applications; fellowship programs are not included in this change.

Looking for a full ERAS Application Template including samples of Experiences, Education, Geographic Preferences, Publications, and Personal/Biographic Information? Get your FREE ERAS Template here !

Changes in Program Signaling

Signaling is a crucial component of the ERAS application process, highlighting your genuine interest in specific programs. Many programs utilize these signals to determine which applicants to invite for interviews.

Since the allowable number of signals differs by specialty, it’s recommended to use them strategically, targeting programs where you see the best fit.

The following specialties are participating in the signaling process for the 2025 season.

Source: AAMC

Section Changes

The main section changes in ERAS 2025 are:

• Questions regarding ACLS, BLS, and PALS certificates have been removed from the “Personal Information” section but now you can add these certificates under “Licenses & Certifications”.
• Hobbies & Interests have been removed from the menu of selected experience types but are now a separate section under the Experience part of ERAS.
• Self-identification section has been expanded to include more options for ethnicity.
• Honors & Awards is a new subsection under Education that allows you to add multiple honors and awards.
• Professional membership now is a subsection under Education where you can add each membership separately.
• The Medical Education/Training Interruption has been modified to only include professionalism or academic issues (excluding health, disability or family status).
• Language section : Now there is a question to check whether you meet the Advanced level for English language proficiency. You don’t need to add a proficiency level to other languages you add.
• Publications : AMA citation style has replaced the APA style

Additional Features in the Residency Explorer™️ Tool

There are several changes made to this tool in order to provide an optimal application experience and offer invaluable information to assist you in your journey.

Interview Insights : Compare your profile with previous candidates who received interview offers from your target programs.

Updated Program Signals and Geographic Data : Access data showing the interview invitation rates for applicants based on their use of Program Signals and geographic ties to the programs.

Custom Profile Matching : Find programs that align with your specific needs and career goals by selecting program characteristics that are important to you.

Verified Data from Trusted Sources : The Residency Explorer Tool offers data verified directly from six national organizations involved in the residency transition.

If you are looking for a comprehensive ALL-IN-ONE Application Resource for MATCH® 2025, including ERAS application template, personal statement examples, MSPE samples, LOR examples, and much more, click here .

Thalamus Information for ERAS Applicants

You now have access to a unified platform that streamlines and improves the process of scheduling and managing interviews.

Applicants will have free access to all thalamus products and they can set up their thalamus accounts starting July 2024.

When can I submit my ERAS application?

You may begin submitting your ERAS application starting September 4, 2024, at 9 AM EST.

When will program directors be able to review my ERAS application?

Program directors will be able to review your ERAS application starting September 25, 2024, at 9 AM EST.

When is it recommended to submit my ERAS application?

It’s advisable to submit your ERAS application 1-2 days before residency programs begin reviewing applications to ensure a smooth submission process. Although programs start reviewing applications on September 25 at 9 AM EST, submitting your application around September 23 or 24 can help avoid potential delays caused by website crashes or other technical issues. This proactive approach allows time to address any unexpected complications that may arise during the submission process.

Is there a difference between submitting my ERAS application on September 25 or an earlier date?

No, because they will all be stamped by the same time, which is Sep 25, 9 AM EST.

Is there a difference between submitting my ERAS application on September 25 or later?

Yes, it is recommended to submit your ERAS application before programs can review applications on Sep 25, 9 AM EST. If you submit later, programs might not review your ERAS application if they already downloaded applications prior to your submission.

We hope this blog has given you valuable insights into the new changes of ERAS 2025.

If you need help with editing your ERAS application or having an expert lay an eye on it and give you comprehensive feedback, don’t hesitate to reach out to us  HERE !

You can also bundle your personal statement editing with ERAS application editing and interview preparation by signing up to our Match Application Packages HERE .

If you have any questions about any of our services, don’t hesitate to reach out to our customer support service here .

Good luck with your application and always remember, The Match Guy is here for you!

To your Match, The Match Guy

The Pathways for ECFMG Certification for MATCH 2025

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ERAS and Frequently Asked Questions

• Our Faculty

The UTHealth Houston Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Program participates in ERAS, the Electronic Residency Application System, developed by the Association of American Medical Colleges.  A completed application consists of the following:

• Application with photograph
• Curriculum Vitae (part of your application)
• Personal Statement
• Copy of USMLE Step 1 scores
• Copy of USMLE Step 2 scores if available
• Medical School Transcript
• Medical School Dean’s Letter
• Three Letters of Recommendation (additional letters are acceptable)

A completed application must be received through the ERAS Program by the middle of November of the year prior to start of the program year. Interviews will take place in mid-January.

ERAS Frequently Asked Questions

• If you need to look up your USMLE ID# for your ERAS application, please go to the following website: https://apps.nbme.org/ciw2/prod/jsp/requestPass.requestPass. There is a link for students who do not know their USMLE ID.  It can also be found in the lower left hand corner on the front of your Step 1 score report (to the left of your mailing address).
• No.  You should send your application out as soon as it is complete and continue completing your application as documents arrive.
• It is a unique code number you receive when you register with AMCAS, ERAS or the NRMP.
• Tools for Residency Applicants can be found at https://students-residents.aamc.org/attending-medical-school/how-apply-residency-positions/tools-residency-applicants/
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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

10 Residency Application Red Flags (Don’t Make These Mistakes!)

We break down 10 residency application red flags programs watch out for. Don’t make these mistakes!

Do You Get Paid in Residency? How Much Do Resident Doctors Make?

Learn how much resident doctors are paid, the hours they’re expected to work, and whether or not residents feel they’re fairly compensated.

How Long Is Residency? (By Specialty)

We discuss the length of the complete doctor journey and include a chart that shares average residency lengths for the most common specialties.

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• Residency Application

ERAS Application Guide: Timelines and Expert Tips

Featured Expert: Dr. Monica Taneja, MD

Unlock the door to your dream medical residency with this guide on how to navigate the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) so that you can submit an application that wows! Don’t worry if you are unsure of how to prepare for residency applications . This blog cuts through the confusion, providing you with a clear timeline, expert tips, and guidance on navigating ERAS. If you're ready to ace your application and become a resident doctor , you're in the right place! 

>> Want us to help you get accepted? Schedule a free initial consultation here <<

Article Contents 9 min read

What is the eras application.

ERAS, or the Electronic Residency Application Service, is a digital platform that simplifies the residency application process. Developed by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), ERAS allows candidates to electronically submit applications to residency programs nationwide.

ERAS makes it easy for students to apply to multiple programs, which is a huge time-saver especially when applying to highly competitive residencies. In fact, to maximize your chances of matching, admissions expert Dr. Monica Taneja offers this advice:

“If you are a strong applicant applying to a less competitive specialty you can apply to fewer programs likely 30-40. As your specialty gets more competitive the number of programs you apply to should steadily increase. For hyper-competitive programs such as ophthalmology, I heard of applicants applying to all available programs.” – Dr. Monica Taneja, Harvard South Shore, Psychiatry 

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

Looking for the ERAS fellowship application guide?

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

The National Resident Matching Program’s (NRMP) Main Match algorithm plays “matchmaker” in setting up applicants and programs based on the preferences in their Rank Order Lists.  

For applicants who do not initially match with any programs, unfilled residency positions are accessible through the Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP), providing another opportunity to secure a position. 

You MUST register through both the ERAS and NRMP\u202f residency match services \u202fto submit your residency application AND register for the Match.  ","label":"Important!","title":"Important!"}]" code="tab3" template="BlogArticle">

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

ERAS Application Timeline and Important NRMP Deadlines

Official match results are available   "}]">

To ensure a successful ERAS application process and to increase your chances of matching, you need to plan ahead. In fact, our experts agree that starting the process early is a key factor in submitting a winning application. Here's a timeline of tasks to complete:

Each program has their own requirements for the ERAS application. Be sure to check these criteria for the programs you are applying to before you make document assignments in the MyERAS® portal.  

Personal Information 

Accurately filling out your personal and biographic information in ERAS is crucial. Double-check for typos and ensure that all information matches your official documents. This section sets the foundation for your application, so accuracy is key. 

Curriculum Vitae 

On your residency CV , provide a detailed account of your educational background, including medical school, publications, and additional training programs you have completed. Don't just list them—highlight your roles, responsibilities, and accomplishments to give a clearer picture of your capabilities. Emphasize clinical, research, and volunteer experiences to showcase your diverse skills and   contributions.

Residency Application Tip : Be sure to carefully follow the instructions provided; programs want to see that you are meticulous and detail-oriented. Your CV section will stand out if you only include relevant information and relate your experiences back to the program’s mission statement.

Personal Statement 

The residency personal statement is an opportunity to tell your unique story and explain why you are pursuing a residency in your chosen specialty. You should follow the personal statement requirements of each school and program you are applying to in order to increase your chances of matching. Applicants can create as many personal statements as they like, but only one can be submitted to each program. 

The personal statement can be up to 28,000 characters, including letters, numbers, spaces, and punctuation. When drafting personal statements outside the MyERAS application, use a plain text word processing application like Notepad (for Windows) or SimpleText (for Mac). 

“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 

Residency Application Tip : Instead of simply listing your experiences and motivations, create a captivating narrative. Start with a strong hook to draw the reader in, then take them through pivotal moments of your journey as a medical student. Make sure your story clearly conveys what motivates you and leaves them feeling inspired to support you in the next phase of your path to becoming a doctor.

To improve your chances of matching, take advantage of the newly updated ERAS experiences section . Here's how: You can now include up to 10 experiences, categorizing them to your preference. Plus, you have the opportunity to highlight up to three experiences as your most meaningful, giving programs deeper insight into your journey as a medical professional. Additionally, a special "impactful experiences" section lets you share significant obstacles you've conquered along your medical school path.  

Residency Application Tip : To maximize the impact of your ERAS experiences section, focus on specific skills and qualities like leadership and collaboration. Use concrete examples and quantifiable achievements that highlight your contributions. Doing so will provide residency programs with a clear picture of your potential.  

Letter(s) of Recommendation 

Letters of recommendation are crucial for your ERAS application. These letters, typically one to two pages, are uploaded through the ERAS Letter of Recommendation portal by the writer or someone they designate. You will need to create a separate entry for each letter. Once this is done, an associated Letter ID will be generated. This ID is used when the letter is uploaded to the portal. Students can designate the assignment of up to four letters to each program, and we recommend having no less than three per program.     

Residency Application Tip : Aim for a diverse set of referees who can speak to different aspects of your candidacy, such as clinical abilities, research aptitude, and personal attributes. Consider providing them with a packet of information about your achievements, goals, and the specific programs you're applying to so they can tailor their letters to each program's requirements and preferences.  

Check out our quick tips on how to enter letters of recommendation into ERAS.  

USMLE Transcript and/or COMLEX-USA Transcript

Include your USMLE and/or COMLEX-USA transcripts in your ERAS application, when required. These transcripts provide residency programs with your examination scores, which are critical for assessing your readiness for residency training.  

In the MyERAS® portal, you will need to authorize the release of these transcripts and assign them to the programs you designate. 

Medical Student Performance Evaluation    

The Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE) , sometimes referred to as a Dean’s Letter, is a comprehensive objective evaluation of your performance during medical school.  

The Designated Dean’s Office is responsible for uploading the MSPE into the ERAS system. Residency applicants do not need to assign the MSPE themselves; it is automatically sent to all the programs they apply to. In the Additional Documents section of ERAS, applicants will see "No Available Action" for the MSPE. 

Residency Application Tip : Research your medical school's MSPE policies early on to find out if and how you can participate in your MSPE process. Ask to meet with the Dean(s) responsible for writing the MSPEs to address preliminary questions, clarify any ambiguities in your performance, and improve the representation of your strengths. 

Medical School Transcript

Your medical school transcript is a record of your academic performance. Your Designated Dean’s Office is responsible for uploading this information to your ERAS application. Ensure that your transcript is accurate and complete, reflecting all your coursework and grades. Medical school transcripts are automatically sent to all the programs you apply to.  

Photo 

A clear, professional headshot can help residency programs remember you during the review process. Ensure that your photo is high-quality and presents you in a professional manner. Students must upload their own photo that is 2.5 inches x 3.5 inches with a resolution of 150dpi and 150kb file size.  

Need practice with residency interview questions? Watch this!

Submitting an ERAS application that impresses and increases your chances of matching is no small feat. With a lot already on your plate, getting expert support can make it easier. Consider using an ERAS application review service to ensure your application is complete, error-free, and optimized for success. Former BeMo Student Qianyu Guo had no regrets about the decision to get help with the ERAS application process. 

“Dr. Arrash Allahyar was super kind and knowledgeable. Definitely an A+ experience! He took the time to answer every single question I have. He has also provided extremely helpful and actionable advice to improve my ERAS application. We all know how stressful residency application can be. I definitely feel that Dr. Arrash Allahyar is somebody you want to talk to in this process, not only for boosting application itself but also for calming your nerves! He definitely gave me a lot confidence and provided a solid plan to move forward. I highly recommend him and wish to work with him again in the application process.” – Qianyu Guo, Former BeMo Student 

Residency interviews and your rank order list .

In late September into October, residency programs will begin reviewing applications and sending out interview invitations. ERAS programs have the flexibility to use various methods, like the ERAS Interview Scheduler, telephone, or email, to schedule interviews. It's important to regularly check your email and MyERAS® Message Center for interview updates. Interviews scheduled outside the ERAS system won't appear in the MyERAS® portal unless manually added to your calendar. 

Check out our free resources designed to help you nail your residency interviews !  

After completing their interviews and evaluating residency programs, applicants must finalize their preferences in their residency rank order list and submit this to NRMP. Simultaneously, program directors provide the NRMP with a list of applicants they've interviewed and wish to accept for training, also ranked in order of preference. 

You can use the personal experiences and advice of admissions experts Dr. Monica Taneja and Dr. Neel Mistry to help you create your personal rank order list. Dr. Taneja used geographic location and her interview experiences to guide her choices.  

“I picked based on the city I wanted to live in and then based on where I connected most with the residents and leadership who I interviewed with. I really struggled with ranking my top 2 programs. I made a number of pro/con lists and ultimately one program I felt I jived with slightly more than the other.” – Dr. Monica Taneja, MD, Harvard South Shore, Psychiatry 

Dr. Mistry also considered location, and a few other criteria when creating his rank list.  

“I ranked all programs based on proximity to home (location) first and foremost. The next was quality of resident training (i.e., weekly rounds, resident teaching, exposure to a breadth of cases, fellowship potential) and wellness culture (time off for residents, planned activities, measures to prevent burnout, etc.).” – Dr. Neel Mistry, MD 

The  Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program  (SOAP) is a way for unmatched applicants to secure a residency position before the official results are released on Match Day. Applicants can access a list of programs with available positions and apply through MyERAS® to try to secure a spot that went unfilled. 

During this time, unmatched applicants are permitted to update their personal statements and submit additional letters of recommendation via the MyERAS® portal. Make sure to update your personal statement to include new experiences or customize it if you are applying to different specialties. Also, consider adding letters of recommendation obtained after your initial application. 

Residency Application Tip : If you’re participating in SOAP, 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! 

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

ERAS and NRMP Application Fees  

Students are also required to pay USMLE and COMLEX-USA transcript fees, which are $80 each.  ","label":"Note","title":"Note"}]" code="tab2" template="BlogArticle">

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.

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.

Monitor your application status through the MyERAS® portal, where you can track the receipt of your supporting documents and view any interview invitations. 

While you can't modify your certified MyERAS® application, you can upload new recommendation letters and edit your personal statement at any time during application season.

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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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ERAS Support Services

Application process.

Important Note: If you are applying to certain residency specialties, including Obstetrics and Gynecology, Plastic Surgery, or certain programs in Anesthesiology, please see Support for ResidencyCAS and CentralApp Residency Application Services for information on how ECFMG can support your application.

• Select your residency programs of interest. There are many things to consider when exploring potential residency programs. Your residency is important because it is a time of tremendous growth both in your clinical knowledge base as well as your professional development. To achieve your goal of entering a residency program, you should effectively research programs, compare your qualifications, pinpoint your preferences for residency training, and compare programs.
• Prior to applying via ERAS ® , contact your programs of interest to determine their minimum eligibility criteria, MyERAS application deadlines, licensure requirements , and institutional policies about visas, if applicable. Much of this information can be found on each program’s website. A list of programs participating in ERAS can be found on the AAMC's website.
• Review the ERAS Timeline and Fees .

Selecting a Residency Program

Before you begin the MyERAS application process, consider your career path by researching one or more medical specialties. Selecting a medical specialty is best done with the help of advisors and mentors. It may be helpful to consult physicians practicing in the specialties you are considering. You should also consider the degree to which a given specialty would be professionally rewarding. For each specialty, it may be useful to research the overall number of positions available, the degree of competition typically experienced in obtaining a position, and the experience of prior international medical graduates, particularly graduates of your medical school, in obtaining residency positions. Detailed information on the number of positions by specialty, offered and filled by the NRMP, is available on the NRMP website .

After you have selected a specialty or specialties, you must decide to which programs within those specialties you will apply. Factors that you may wish to consider in selecting programs include the location of individual programs, their hospital affiliations, program and institution accreditation status, and the performance of their graduates. For more information about specialties and programs that participate in ERAS, refer to the ERAS Participating Specialties and Programs on the AAMC's website.

The AAMC has also worked collaboratively with nine other organizations, including ECFMG, to develop Residency Explorer , a tool that allows applicants to research residency programs across 25 specialties. Applicants can use Residency Explorer to compare their own characteristics to those of applicants who previously matched to those programs. Please note that Residency Explorer does not advise applicants on where they should apply or to which programs they may match. However, it may help applicants identify programs worth researching further.

The American Medical Association (AMA) also provides a free on-line Residency/Fellowship Training Program Search through FREIDA ™ .

Register for ERAS

• Obtain a Residency Token via ECFMG’s OASIS in the ERAS Support Services section.
• Use your Token to register at the AAMC’s MyERAS . If you have not already done so, you will be asked to create an AAMC username.

Obtain a Residency Token

Log in to ECFMG’s OASIS and select ERAS Support Services from the menu. You will then see the option to Request a Residency Token.

When will Tokens for ERAS 2025 be available? Tokens for ERAS 2025 became available on June 26, 2024.

How much does the Token cost? There is a $165 non-refundable fee for this service.

How can I pay the Token fee? When you request your Token using OASIS, you can pay on-line using a credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express). You can also pay by electronic check from a checking account at a U.S. bank.

Once I request the Token, when will it be issued, and how long will it be available? After your payment is approved, click Continue on the payment confirmation page for immediate access to your Token. Your Token will remain on the ERAS Token Request page in OASIS and may be accessed at any time during the ERAS season.

Can I use my ERAS 2025 Token to apply in future seasons? No. The ERAS software will not recognize a Token issued for previous ERAS seasons. You need one Token per ERAS season, and you can use that one Token to apply to as many specialties and programs as you want during the ERAS season. You can also use your 2025 Token to apply for both a clinical year position (PGY-1), which begins in 2025, and for an advanced position (PGY-2), which begins in 2026 (e.g., Radiology, Neurology, etc.).

I am not a residency applicant. How do I request a Fellowship Token? Fellowship Tokens must be requested through the ERAS Fellowships Documents Office (EFDO) . Tokens requested through ECFMG’s OASIS are for residency applications only. If you are currently enrolled in a residency program and require a Token for a fellowship application, you must request your Token through EFDO.

Complete the MyERAS Application

• Once you have registered at MyERAS, you can begin to work on your MyERAS application and Personal Statement . You can also create your personal list of Letter of Recommendation (LoR) authors and confirm the authors for upload.
• IMPORTANT NOTE : You will be required to certify your MyERAS application on-line at MyERAS. Do not certify your application until you are absolutely sure the information that you have provided is accurate and complete. Once you certify your application, it cannot be changed. ERAS Support Services at ECFMG does not have access to your MyERAS application.

Submit Supporting Documents

• Begin submitting your supporting documents to ERAS Support Services at ECFMG. See Submission At-a-Glance for details on submitting ERAS documents.
• Refer to your list of confirmed LoR Authors in MyERAS and provide your letter writer(s) with the Letter Request form. The Request Form includes all information your letter writer(s) will need to submit an LoR through the AAMC’s LoR Portal .
• If you participated in ERAS 2024, you are eligible to reuse documents that were available in your previous application. For information, please review Reusing Documents .
• If your medical school participates in the ECFMG Medical School Web Portal (EMSWP) ERAS program, the school must submit your medical school transcript and Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE) via EMSWP ERAS. To find out if your school participates in EMSWP ERAS, contact the Dean’s office of your medical school.
• IMPORTANT NOTE : Supporting documents may take up to five business days to process once submitted. You should make every effort to ensure your supporting documents are received by ECFMG in time for evaluation by programs and to meet program deadlines.
• Track the status of your documents in MyERAS.

Apply to Programs

• On September 4, at 9:00 a.m., Eastern Time in the United States, you may begin applying to programs. All applications submitted September 4 through September 25 will appear to programs as submitted on September 25. ERAS Support Services at ECFMG highly recommend that you submit all of your supporting documents no later than September 17 to help ensure their availability on September 25 at 9:00 a.m., when programs begin accessing applications.

Register for the NRMP Match

• Beginning on September 16, register with NRMP in order to participate in this season’s Match.

Monitor Your Applications

• Go to the Applied-to Programs section of MyERAS to verify which programs have received your application.
• MyERAS will display the date and time each document was made available to each applied-to program. MyERAS will not display whether a program has viewed the application and supporting documents.

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Important Dates

• Labor Day Holiday: ERAS Support Services will close at 1:30 p.m. on August 30 and reopen September 3.
• September 4: Applicants may begin applying to ACGME-accredited programs through the MyERAS website. Programs may begin viewing applications on September 25.
• September 16: NRMP registration for the 2025 Match opens at 12:00 p.m. on the NRMP website.
• September 17: ERAS Support Services strongly recommends that you submit your MSPE, medical school transcript, and LoRs as soon as possible, but no later than September 17.

All times shown are Eastern Time in the United States.

Stay Connected

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

Quick Links

• Announcements
• Residency Explorer
• Tools for Residency Applicants
• Policies and Procedures Regarding Irregular Behavior
• IMG Performance in 2024 Match
• Charting Outcomes in the Match for IMGs, a report by NRMP  

[Last update: July 19, 2024]

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Can the Personal Statement be edited after "certify & submit"?

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MyERAS® Documents for Fellowship Applicants

New section.

• Sign In to MyERAS
• ERAS® Fellowship Application Timeline
• ERAS® Participating Specialties and Programs

Within your MyERAS ® account, you may create personal statement(s); identify the people who will write your letters of recommendation (LoRs); and release your Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination of the United States (COMLEX-USA) and/or United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) transcripts. You will also assign most documents to the programs, track the status of these and any additional ERAS documents. Applicants should research programs individually to determine those requirements before making document assignments.

The ERAS Fellowship Documents Office ( EFDO) is the Designated Dean's Office for all fellowship applicants whether a U.S. medical school graduate or an international medical school graduate. Applicants should visit the EFDO website for information about submitting their documents for upload or obtaining contact information when additional information is needed. The EFDO no longer accepts paper documents for fellowship applications. Documents sent via mail or courier to their offices will not be processed.

EFDO Online Services allows applicants to upload certain document types themselves, as well as send requests to your medical school to upload their MSPE and medical school transcript. A unique link to the EFDO Online Services account for each applicant is only available within the MyERAS portal on the Additional Documents page under Documents.

Below you will find an overview of each of the main documents used in ERAS. For detailed information, please see the Documents section of the MyERAS user guide.

Tracking Documents

Uploaded but Unassigned LoRs - Count of LoRs that have been uploaded but are not assigned to any programs, highlighting that assignments may need to be made.

Unassigned Personal Statements - Count of Personal Statements that have been saved but are not assigned to any programs, highlighting that assignments may need to be made.

Latest USMLE Request Status - Current status of the latest request made to the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) or the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates ( ECFMG) (for IMG Residency) after at least one program has been applied to with the USMLE transcript assigned.

Latest COMLEX-USA Request Status - Current status of the latest request made to the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME) after at least one program has been applied to with the COMLEX-USA transcript assigned.

Status of Additional Documents - Status of all other applicable documents as either Not Uploaded or Uploaded.

Dimensions: 2.5 in. x 3.5 in.

File Size: 100kb

Personal Statement

Special Note About Formatting

Creating LoR Entries - You must create a LoR entry for each LoR you intend to use during the application season.

Confirming LoR Entries - You must confirm a LoR entry before an associated Letter ID can be generated.

Uploading LoRs - The Letter ID contained in the LoR Request form must be used to upload the associated LoR through the Letter of Recommendation Portal (LoRP) .

Assigning LoRs - Applicants may assign of up to four (4) LoRs to each program.

Authorizing the Release for the USMLE Transcript - Applicants must authorize the release of their USMLE transcript in order to make assignments of the USMLE transcript to the programs they designate.

Paying for the USMLE Transcript - The NBME or ECFMG (for IMG Residency) charges a one time fee of $80 for transmitting USMLE transcripts to the programs designated by applicants.

Viewing the USMLE Requests Status Report - Applicants can view the USMLE Requests Status Report to track the status of their USMLE requests by program.

Authorizing the Release for the COMLEX-USA Transcript - Applicants must authorize the release of their COMLEX-USA transcript in order to make assignments of the COMLEX-USA transcript to the programs they designate.

Paying for the COMLEX-USA Transcript - The NBOME or ECFMG (for IMG Residency) charges a one time fee of $80 for transmitting COMLEX-USA transcripts to the programs designated by applicants.

Viewing the COMLEX-USA Requests Status Report - Applicants can view the COMLEX-USA Requests Status Report to track the status of their COMLEX-USA requests by program.

Medical School (MS) Transcript

American board of surgery in-training examination (absite), img-only documents.

ECFMG Status Report: The ECFMG Status Report confirms the ECFMG certification status for an IMG residency applicant. This report contains the month and year that examinations were passed for ECFMG Certification, but does not contain your USMLE transcript.

Please contact the AAMC Support Center (ASC) .

Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. ET

Closed Thursday, 3:30 - 4:45 p.m. ET

Please visit ERAS ®  Fellowships Documents Office (EFDO) website.

Please visit this page to stay up to date on ERAS news and announcements.

The MyERAS User Guide, ERAS timeline, FAQs and more are available to provide helpful information to fellowship applicants about the MyERAS application and ERAS process.

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*While most AAMC services  support certain browsers , the PDWS does not fully support Safari. We recommend Mac users use Firefox or Chrome.