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How to Make a Statement with Your ERAS Personal Statement

by Med School Tutors
Jun 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.

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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 . <<

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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.

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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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ERAS FAQs (10 Residency Application Questions Answered)

By Med School Insiders
July 10, 2023
Medical Student
ERAS , Residency Application

While on the surface, it may seem like it’s quite similar to your medical school primary application, each component of your residency application must reveal a deep sense of growth, maturity, and dedication to medicine. Residencies provide on-the-job training so that you can earn your medical license and begin practicing professionally as a physician. The stakes are much higher, and your application must reflect this.

For most programs, you will submit your residency application through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) , which is the centralized online application service applicants use to deliver their application and supporting documents to residency programs. ERAS simplifies the application process for applicants as well as their letter of recommendation authors, program directors, and Designated Dean’s Office.

In this post, we break down 10 frequently asked questions about the ERAS process, including how to apply, how much it costs, how the Match works, couples matching, and more.

When you’re done here, read our comprehensive residency application guide , which is updated every application cycle.

1. How Do I Access MyERAS?

To access MyERAS, you need to contact your Designated Dean’s Office, and they will give you a token (one-time access code) with which you can register for MyERAS. Your documents will not be uploaded accurately with a token from a different school.

Make sure that your token is from the current MyERAS season. A token from a previous season won’t work. You can only use an ERAS token once to register.

You also need an AAMC account to register for MyERAS.

2. How Much Do Residency Applications Cost?

ERAS application fees are based on the number of programs you apply to per specialty.

Applying to up to ten programs will cost you $99. Applying to 11-20 programs will cost $19 per program. Applying to 21-30 programs will cost $23 per program, and applying to 31 programs or more will cost $27 per program.

There are also additional fees, which include your USMLE transcript ($80) if you’re studying to be an MD or your COMLEX-USA transcript ($80) if you’re studying to become an osteopath (DO). Both of these are assessed once per season.

MyERAS will automatically calculate your fees. You can pay online using Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover. ERAS does not offer refunds, no matter the circumstances.

3. Do All Programs Participate in ERAS?

Most residency specialties use the match system run by the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP). Each participating specialty matches on the same day in mid-March.

A few specialties match early, while some use other matching programs. These unique matching specialties include Ophthalmology and Urology, which match in January, and military residency programs that use their own matching system.

Use the FREIDA website to determine which programs do not participate in ERAS.

4. How Does the Match Process Work?

The NRMP Match, based on a Nobel Prize-winning algorithm first outlined by Alvin Roth and Lloyd Shapley in the 1960s, is designed to even the playing field for residency applicants.

After the long and tedious process of applying for residency through ERAS, both applicants and residency programs submit their Rank Order List (ROL) in February.

A rank list is an ordered list of the programs an applicant would like to attend in descending order. Rank Order Lists are also completed by residency programs based on the applicants the program would like to recruit.

The Match algorithm prioritizes a student’s preference over a program’s preference but aims to find the best possible match for both students and programs.

Our YouTube video provides a visual example of how students are matched by NRMP.

5. When Is the ERAS Residency Application Deadline?

The ERAS season begins in early June. This is when you will obtain your token from your Designated Dean’s Office and gain access to MyERAS. You will use the next few months to fill in your application, request relevant transcripts, confirm your residency letters of recommendation , and fine-tune each component, such as your residency personal statement.

ERAS begins accepting applications in early September, and applications are released to programs at the end of September. It’s possible to receive an interview invitation as early as the next day, so it’s imperative to send your application as soon as possible. If you delay, you could miss out on the first round of interviews.

Technically speaking, the ERAS season ends on May 31, but disregard this! For your best chance of matching with one of your top programs, apply as soon as applications open at the beginning of September.

For more details, check out our 2023-2024 Residency Application Timeline and Month-by-Month Schedule .

6. Does Registering for ERAS Register You for NRMP?

No, registering for ERAS does not automatically register you for NRMP, as they are separate organizations. The Main Residency Match opens September 15, 2023. If you’re on top of your application materials and submit your residency application soon after applications open, you can register for NRMP after that.

Use the NRMP’s secure Registration, Ranking, and Results (R3) system to register and create a username and password. Note that just like with ERAS, 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. This will make it easier for program directors to identify you for placement on their program’s rank order lists.

Learn how to register for the Match .

7. How Does ERAS Differ From Medical School Applications?

ERAS and the Match are different from other applications because you will only match with a single program. When applying to medical school, you likely received multiple acceptances at different times and were able to choose the school you were most excited to attend.

But on Match Day, you will be told which program you matched into, if you matched into one at all. The Match is a binding agreement; you are not able to hold out for something better. You are required to matriculate to that residency program. This is why it’s so important to invest significant time in researching different programs and developing your Rank Order List (ROL).

Learn about 5 Factors to Consider When Choosing Where to Spend Residency .

While similar, the personal statement is also slightly different. You are no longer a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed premed; you are a young medical professional who has earned their doctorate, and your personal statement must reflect this deeper dedication to medicine.

You will not be able to rehash your medical school personal statement. The success of your ERAS personal statement depends on your ability to effectively communicate how your professional development and experiences in medical school have made it clear to you which specialty you belong in. Illustrate how you have matured with tangible examples, and make sure your personal statement ties into the overall narrative of your application.

Learn more with our Residency Application Personal Statement Guide .

8. How Many Letters of Recommendation Do I Need For Residency?

Envelopes - Residency Letters of Recommendation

While you can add an unlimited number of references, you can only submit 4 letters of recommendation per program. Your MSPE or Dean’s Letter do not count as one of your letters.

Your letters cannot be addressed to the specific residency program; they must be standardized instead so that your letter writers don’t need to draft multiple different letters.

It’s a good idea to have one of your letters written by an attending or mentor in your specialty who you worked side-by-side with, as they will be able to authentically and specifically speak to your skills and why you belong in your chosen specialty. Choose writers from a variety of specialties who know you well and are willing to write you STRONG letters of recommendation. Just like with med school applications, a poor or lukewarm letter will only hurt your application.

You may also be required to obtain a letter from someone in a non-medical field. Each program’s specific requirements can be found on their website. Carefully examine these requirements to determine exactly what you will need.

Learn more with our ERAS Residency Letters of Recommendation Guide .

9. How Does Couples Matching Work?

If you’re in a committed relationship with another medical student in your current year and you plan on building a future together, couples matching makes sure your respective residency programs will be in the same geographic location.

Dating long distance while you’re both in residency will put a significant strain on any relationship, no matter how strong it is. It’s very unlikely your schedules will match up, and years of sporadic asynchronous communication is unfair to both of you.

However, it is important to note that your chance of matching at your top-choice program is lower when couples matching. While it’s a simple enough process, it will require a massive amount of compromise, coordination, and sacrifice.

In order to couples match, you need to pair your rank list with your partner’s. When you log into the NRMP website, both of you must agree that you want your rank lists coupled. After that, you will need to make your lists together and make sure each line matches up.

The matching algorithm will consider your pairs of program choices. You will match to your most preferred pair of programs on your rank order list where each of you have been offered a position. You will successfully match when both lists find a match on the same line.

While it’s a good idea to ask your deans and advisors for advice, the best resource you have for couples matching is other couples who have recently and successfully couples matched themselves.

For more information, learn from two physicians who successfully matched together: Residency Couples Match – Shedding Light and Debunking Myths , and be sure to read Couples in the Match on the NRMP website.

10. What Happens If You Don’t Match?

I Didn't Match Residency girl with hand on face

On the Monday of Match Week, you will find out if you matched but not where you matched. If you find out you did not match, you will need to participate in the Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP).

SOAP is a service of the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) and the channel through which qualified unmatched applicants in the Main Residency Match apply for and are offered positions that were not filled during the initial matching algorithm.

SOAP runs from Monday to Thursday and gives unmatched students another shot at matching with a residency program during a tumultuous four days of new applications and interviews.

Learn the ins and outs with our SOAP Match Guide (Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program) .

Unfortunately, even after participating in SOAP, there’s still a chance you will end up with a no match. While this is an undeniably hard pill to swallow, all is not lost, and there is plenty you can do to prepare for next year.

What’s most important is that you set time aside to acknowledge and process your emotions, which are sure to be overwhelming. Don’t take to social media; in fact, stay off of it altogether. Once you have processed the initial onslaught of these powerful emotions, begin to reassess your application and seek feedback. Where did you go wrong? Was there a notable weak area?

While almost every piece of your application can be improved, it’s best to choose a couple of problem areas and focus your effort there. Build a plan of attack, be on the lookout for opportunities, and utilize your time effectively to ensure you build a residency application you’re truly proud of.

Learn more: What to Do if You Don’t Match Into Residency (After SOAP) .

Perfect Your Residency Application With Med School Insiders

If you are hoping for a successful match on your first attempt, it is vital that you approach your residency application with care and tact. But you don’t have to do it alone.

Our team of doctors at Med School Insiders has years of experience helping medical students get matched with their ideal program. Don’t believe us? Just take a look at our results .

We can help you prepare a stand out residency application that gets you matched into your ideal programs. 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 .

For more strategies as well as the latest medical school and industry news, follow the Med School Insiders blog , which has hundreds of resources, guides, and personal stories.

Med School Insiders

2024-2025 ERAS Residency Application Guide

Read our ERAS residency application guide, which covers the ideal application timeline, what you need to include, mistakes to avoid, and FAQs.

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.

Residency Match Day - Student in yellow jacket

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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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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Updating Your Supporting Documents for the Post-Match SOAP

Letter of Recommendation

With Match Week approaching quickly, applicants begin to contemplate the chances they may have to participate in the Post-Match SOAP. Understandably, the Post-Match is not anyone’s ideal way of Matching.

However, those most prepared are most likely to succeed. Understanding the Post-Match SOAP process is one piece of the puzzle. The other half is correctly updating and preparing your application .

Updating Supporting Documents for the Post-Match SOAP

If you may be applying through the Post-Match SOAP, it is important that you take the time to update all your supporting documents. Of course, you can’t change your MyERAS Application once it has been certified. However, you can make sure your Personal Information and contact details are up-to-date .

Additionally, there are two documents you should also consider updating: your Personal Statements and your Letters of Recommendation .

Personal Statements

You can update your Personal Statement and resubmit it to programs at any point throughout the season. As such, preparing an updated Personal Statement for the Post-Match SOAP is also a great idea. Perhaps, you have new experiences to reflect on. More likely, however, you may be applying to additional specialties that you did not necessarily prepare for during the Main Residency Match.

Although most prospective residents apply during the summer, many of them participate in strong US Clinical Experiences (USCE) after applying. Unfortunately, potentially strong LoRs from these experiences will not be included in their primary application.

But, leveraging this USCE is a great way to boost your SOAP application. As such, keep the following in mind:

Request your LoRs as early as possible
Seek specialty-specific LoRs for all specialties you may apply to
Make sure to upload your LoRs promptly, as there is a significant processing time
If your LoRs are unwaived (and perhaps poorly written), get professional LoR Editing Assistance

Post-Match Resources

For additional SOAP resources, you should visit Electronic Residency to explore:

Post-Match Timeline
Data and Statistics
Program Compatibility Search engine
Preparation tips and strategies

So, if you are considering the Post-Match SOAP, remember to thoroughly research the process and update your application as much as possible. That way, you’ll be best prepared to Match! We wish everyone the best of luck!

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How to Write Your ERAS Personal Statement

Alexandra R., MD

A prospective resident sitting at a desk, working on her ERAS personal statement.

4 Keys to Writing A Compelling Residency Application Personal Statement

There are a variety of mixed opinions about the importance of the ERAS personal statement in the residency application process. Some people think that a personal statement, if it is captivating enough, can be your gateway to obtaining an interview. Others, however, think that a personal statement is simply a formality and that most programs do not take the time to look at it closely. Thus, in the latter scenario, the main goal is to not have your personal statement stand out in a negative way. Regardless of what you have heard and may continue to hear throughout the residency application process, you need to interpret the advice in the context of your particular scenario: decide for yourself how important the ERAS personal statement may be in the setting of your background and experiences as well as how important it may be for the field that you are applying into.

In general, you should start working on your ERAS personal statement early so that you can have multiple rounds of revisions. It is actually completely normal (and a good sign) if you end up having multiple completely different versions! The hardest part is sitting down and starting- just do it! The earlier you start writing, the more time you have to continue re-working and re-thinking your story. Sometimes it’s even good to put it away for a few weeks at a time so that when you look at it again you can have a fresh perspective. Remember, having a great personal statement hook is a key component to writing a compelling statement that residency program directors will actually want to read. The hook is so important, we have actually dedicated an entire post to writing it correctly here. Sometimes it’s even good to put it away for a few weeks at a time so that when you look at it again you can have a fresh perspective.

How Long Is Residency by Specialty?

Choosing Your Specialty: Gaining Insights from Clinical Clerkships

Once you feel comfortable with a first draft, consider who you would like to share it with to receive constructive feedback. Ideally, it would be somebody whose opinions you value and who has demonstrated some success of their own accord – either friends who have gone through the application cycle and matched at one of their top 3 ranked programs, or faculty you have developed a relationship with. Often, medical schools also have advisory deans or some advising office, who may provide valuable insight into what residency program directors are looking for. An alternative advising source may even be the career center at your university. Even though career centers advise undergraduates, professional degree students (MD, JD, MS, etc), and even graduate students, their writing advice is broadly applicable to any field and their close attention to detail can be invaluable. Additionally, if you have friends that have applied in previous years, particularly in the same specialty in which you are currently applying, it can be helpful to see if they feel comfortable letting you read their statement – this can give you insight into the many shapes and form the PS may take and can provide helpful tidbits of information they’ve gleaned from the application process itself. You can also ask your advising office / deans for examples of personal statements specific to your specialty. In the event that you exhaust the resources available to you and you still feel uncertain about your statement, we welcome residency applicants to look into our residency matching services at Elite Medical Prep. We offer focused professional personal statement help from students who have successfully matched into some of the most competitive and prestigious residency programs in the world.

Keep in mind that you do not need to incorporate everyone’s feedback into your personal statement. However, it is helpful to have multiple people’s advice and perspective, thus we encourage you to reach out to more than one person. We took a survey of our EMP tutors and ~60% said they worked with 6+ people, ~30% worked with 3-5 people, and 10% worked with <3 people to edit, read, and provide suggestions.

Lastly, once you have your personal statement finalized, please make sure you know what it is about. More than 85% of our tutors surveyed had an interview question about something specifically relating to their personal statement that was not anywhere else on their application. Be ready to talk about whatever stories you included—use the personal statement as an opportunity to help you shine and be remembered in a positive way!

We surveyed our tutors about advise they received about their own personal statements and collected feedback points from ERAS personal statements they have reviewed to see what feedback you should remember:

1) Don’t make your ERAS personal statement too long:

The structure of the personal statement should be about 4 paragraphs.
You do not want it to be more than one page single-spaced (standard font like arial or times new roman, size 12).
If your personal statement is too long, it is even more likely for programs to not read it completely.

2) Don’t make your ERAS personal statement weird or controversial:

“It’s okay to make your personal statement ‘vanilla’. You don’t want it to be a red flag /too creative that it strikes readers the wrong way.”
“It’s far more likely that your personal statement will be entirely forgettable than that stand out, and that’s OK. Better to have a relatively bland, but acceptable PS and otherwise stellar application than to have a stellar application tainted by a PS that went too far in trying to be too interesting or original, or having something you write strike a reader the wrong way.”
“Never write about something that could possibly make you cry if brought up.”
“ Unless you feel very strongly about certain political beliefs or controversial topics (i.e. abortion) and would not want to be at a program where anyone felt otherwise, it’s probably better to avoid writing about anything polarizing in your statement.”
“Your personal statement should be neither personal nor a statement”… basically, you aren’t necessarily going to stand out with your personal statement, you just want it to support the rest of your application, and it doesn’t need to be groundbreaking.”

3) Highlight what uniquely draws you to that particular specialty:

“Remember that everyone reading your statement has gone into the field you have chosen and they know why it is awesome – so avoid singing general praises of a field – it needs to be PERSONAL!”
“Tie everything into why you chose that particular specialty.”

4) Make your statement easy to read by telling a short and concise story about yourself:

“That was way too long and formulaic. Cut to the chase but also paint a story rather than tell one.
“Tell a unique story that gives insight to who you are as a person.”
“Think about the purpose of your personal statement in the context of all the other components of your application: this is mainly useful as more of a personality gauge – ie who are you and what makes you tick?”
“After reading your personal statement, the reader should come away with the feeling that they really want to meet you – not that you just summarized your ERAS in paragraph form. This is your opportunity to convey what is intangible on ERAS and in your letters – so use it as such!”
“Even though your life is not coherent, you should present a coherent narrative – and make it brief! Not more than 500 words.”
“Build a story around an interesting fact or experience.”
“Show, don’t tell” – Try to use anecdotes as much as possible

Good Luck!!!

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Writing a brilliant Personal Statement for ERAS application

Your personal statement is a page-long window looking into you - your story, your experiences, aspirations, regrets, goals, losses, anecdotes, everything.

If you can put anybody else’s name on your PS and it would still be relevant, then you need to do a better job at making it unique and “your” PS.

It is important that you have honest comprehension of your story - what genuinely got you interested in this profession, what you look for in life and residency, what are your career goals, what aspects of it are important to you, and how have your experiences shaped you? A generic copied cliché answer won’t work anymore. You have got to think. I HIGHLY recommend you sit down one day with a blank page and formulate the answer to all of these for yourself. Free-form thinking is all you want here, don’t limit yourself.

Some brain fodder for you to formulate answers to (These experiences can be drawn from anywhere and anytime in your life – clinical work, volunteer work, hobbies, vacation times, family, etc.)

What first drew you to medicine?
Was there an experience, clinical or otherwise, that had a significant impact on you? What was it, and why is it meaningful?
When did you know you wanted to pursue the specialty in question? What attracted you to the specialty?
What are your greatest qualities? When have you demonstrated these qualities?
Where do you see yourself 20 years into your career as a physician?
What’s an important part of who you are that isn’t on your resume?
Who are your role models, and why?
What are your most meaningful extracurricular activities? Why?
What’s an accomplishment you are most proud of?
What was your most enlightening moment?
What medical cause do you care about most, and how did you come to care about it?

This list will help you immensely while writing your personal statement. You will be asked multiple times during interviews - “What are some qualities that you bring to the table”? This will be your go-to list for all questions of that kind as well.

Instead of writing in your PS that you have a particular quality, try to show by citing an example when you demonstrated that quality.

🔷 WHAT SHOULD I WRITE?

Having a structure to your PS is extremely important, in my opinion, with a proper theme for each paragraph and not random subjects woven together to make an essay. Here is a rough template that I followed.

Paragraph-1

The essence of your first paragraph should be what got you interested in the specialty. It has to be interesting; no way around it. Please don’t start with a quote - it’s cliché. You can talk about any particular case you came across or any experience you had, or just about anything, as long as it’s interesting and relevant to you.

Paragraph-2

In this paragraph, you can go into more detail as to why you like the particular specialty specifically.

Paragraph-3

Talk about why you are a good fit for this specialty. Talk about your experiences (do not reiterate your CV, though. Noone wants to read it twice) and why they are relevant to you, how they helped shape the person that you are today, and how this person is ready to face the challenges of residency. Talk about the specific qualities/traits you acquired from those experiences.

Paragraph-4

Write about your future goals in the field. Doesn’t have to be a specific fellowship but a general idea of what kind of physician you see yourself as, say around, in 10 years’ time. You can also talk about your expectations from a residency program. Even though you shouldn’t overplay it and make it seem like you’re cherry-picking, you don’t want to seem too desperate to just get any program with no clear insight as to what you want from the program either. This is also where you talk specifically about what excites you about the program and personalize your PS for it.

The personal statement can weed out applicants who don’t demonstrate an adequate understanding of their specialty of interest or who come across as pretentious and pompous. For this reason, in addition to the basic requirements of proper grammar and spelling, you’ll need to strike the right tone with your essay: seeming aware of your motivations and accomplishments to date, passionate about what you hope to achieve in the specialty, and also humble.

Some tips for the content of your PS

If you have failed an attempt on a step exam, you can address it in your personal statement in terms of what you learned from it. If you’d rather keep it positive, that’s good too. You do not have to explain.
Do not talk about your achievements from very early on, like in high school. It would show you did not have the same passion/achievements in college for you to be able to talk about it.
It can be tough, but try to tread the thin line between sounding boastful and being too modest. You want to hit just the right amount of each so you are able to convey your aptitude without shoving it in the face.
“Show rather than say” - rather than saying “I am hardworking” or “I advocate for my patients”, give an anecdote where you actually showcased that quality. It’s much more credible and interesting.
Keep it professional but a little personal – think of your PS as a guided view into your professional self but colored by your personal experiences that led you to that professional stance.

🔷 HOW LONG DOES IT HAVE TO BE?

One page in ERAS is the way to go, even if you have to edit and cut short quite a bit. Nobody wants to read more than 1 page, no matter how interesting your life may have been. Try to write compact sentences.

When you paste it into ERAS, make sure you first go through a simple formatting app like TextEdit (if on Mac) to get rid of any unnecessary gaps, periods, etc.

🔷 WHEN TO START WRITING?

Contrary to popular opinion, it does not make a lot of sense to me to start writing your personal statement too early and way before you would need it. Most of you, you are yet to have the experiences that you would want to talk about during your internship or electives, so it’s alright if you start writing it a few months from when your applications are due. You can definitely keep a running list of ideas when sudden light bulbs go in your head and then build on them later.

The level of maturity and insight you actually have into the profession and upcoming training (especially the not-so-glamorous parts of it) reflects in your personal statement. It takes time to get clarity on the specialty you are applying for - exactly what intrigues you about it, what your future goals are in that field, what you are looking for in a program, etc. You do not want to sound uninformed or delusional by any means, so take your time to build that awareness and comprehension.

That being said, do not delay it to a point where you don’t have time to be innovative and have to churn out an average one because you are close to the deadline. Yes, PS can be edited throughout the season even after you have certified and submitted your application, but you never know when programs might view yours. You need to have enough time to get it reviewed and make it free of errors.

🔷 PERSONALISING YOUR PERSONAL STATEMENT

Quite naturally, programs do like to see that you have put the time and effort into researching why they are a good fit for you. I would recommend that you try to keep the overall body and structure of your PS the same for the common draft but modify the last paragraph to personalize it for the programs that you are especially interested in. This last paragraph should outline the specific factors why you like the program a lot and should be genuine. Vague statements asserting that the program is a good fit for you without any supporting evidence or information are useless, so do your research and work on articulating the reasons for your interest in each program. Do not regurgitate information from the website either, but frame it in your own words. Also, personalization does not just mean changing the program name. Trust me, it would look really bad if you were just using the same draft and cutting-pasting the program name each time and thinking you were “personalizing” it. You need to do more.

Some programs specifically mention it on the website whether they want a personalized statement or not, so make a note of that. Some require a separate “optional” essay allowing you to discuss why you want to attend that program and how your future goals align with it. If that is the case, write a separate essay, and omit the personalized paragraph from your personal statement.

For the programs I wasn’t personalizing it for, I made sure to at least keep the 2 distinct versions correct - whether it was a community or a university/affiliated program (differing in the last paragraph) - and assign them appropriately.

The absolute last thing you want is a goof-up and the wrong personal statement being uploaded to a program. Save each personalized personal statement with the program’s name right in the title, and upload it very, very carefully when you get to it. It never hurts to double or even triple-check.

🔷 REVIEWING YOUR PERSONAL STATEMENT

Before uploading, no number of checks is too many checks when it comes to making sure the grammar is correct, and you do not have any typos. While it might be an unintentional small error, it can make you look careless, and you do not want that by any means. Grammarly can do a great job at helping you with this.

Get it reviewed down to a T. Get some of your friends to read it and tell you what they think of the overall picture and what they think is the message they’re getting from it. They’ll all have a different perspective and be able to guide you on what they think about it from multiple aspects. You want to run it by someone who has a good hold over the language as well, so they can correct grammatical errors for you if there are any. Get professional help if you feel you need it. PS is important, do not take it lightly. It might not be able to get you an interview if your profile is completely out of what the program requirements are, but a well-written one can certainly tip the scales in your favor when you are on the fence.

I got my PS reviewed by 5 people - of which some commented on the big picture and what they thought of it overall, and a couple who made sure even a full stop wasn’t out of place.

🔷 Miscellaneous tips:

Try not to completely modify your story or fabricate an entirely untrue one for the sake of fitting into the mold of what you feel is a “good PS”. Your story is just as interesting to make your PS unique.
Keep a running log of interesting patients you came across during your medical school rotations, internship, electives, or any other work experience you had. This will help you greatly when you write your PS, and you will find yourself pulling these anecdotes to talk about during your interviews. Honestly, I like going through my log from time to time, just to walk down the memory lane and see how far I’ve come.
You do not need to use flowery language. Keep it easy to read.
It should all read seamlessly as one story, and not random paragraphs stitched together. They should all bear the same coherence.
If you have a particular hobby that is very important to you, try to leverage it to showcase a particular skill that might help you in the specialty you are applying for.
DO NOT title it, sign it with your name, or end it with “Thank you for considering my application”.
If you are using a patient story, modifying it a bit to keep it interesting is fine, but making up an entirely untrue patient story just for the sake of it should be avoided, as you might be asked to talk about it in your interview, and you’ll be busted then.
Try to be politically correct and avoid commenting on any controversies.

Confessions of a Program Director: The Residency Personal Statement - Thalamus

Although the residency personal statement is rarely the part of the application that determines interview eligibility, it is still a major source of stress for many medical students. For some of you, this is an opportunity to show off the non-scientific side of yourselves. Perhaps this is even a strong point!

thalamusgme.com

Confessions of a Program Director: The Residency Personal Statement - Thalamus

Kimberly D. Manning, MD on Twitter: "1/Residency Interview, Circa 1995Him: "You say here in your #PERSONALSTATEMENT 'Research is the linchpin of a thriving academic medical center.'" Me: smug smileHim: "Tell me what you meant by that." Me: 😳Rut roh.Real talk? I just wanted to use the word "linchpin." pic.twitter.com/jRDq2eJ9Uu / Twitter"

1/Residency Interview, Circa 1995Him: "You say here in your #PERSONALSTATEMENT 'Research is the linchpin of a thriving academic medical center.'" Me: *smug smile*Him: "Tell me what you meant by that." Me: 😳Rut roh.Real talk? I just wanted to use the word "linchpin." pic.twitter.com/jRDq2eJ9Uu

twitter.com

Kimberly D. Manning, MD on Twitter: "1/Residency Interview, Circa 1995Him: "You say here in your #PERSONALSTATEMENT 'Research is the linchpin of a thriving academic medical center.'" Me: *smug smile*Him: "Tell me what you meant by that." Me: 😳Rut roh.Real talk? I just wanted to use the word "linchpin." pic.twitter.com/jRDq2eJ9Uu / Twitter"

Writing Resources: Personal Statements and Letters of Recommendation

While OCPD doesn't not endorse any copy editing service, students could perform a google search for copy editing to find proof readers. It is every student's responsibility to research and validate their options so please make sure to engage in due diligence if contracting any service.

career.ucsf.edu

Writing Resources: Personal Statements and Letters of Recommendation

ERAS Changes to Personal Statement Format

AAMC’s ® ERAS ® system generally makes small changes to their systems to improve performance and generally make life easier for medical residency applicants. This year, they’ve made quite a few big changes to their timeline , but there was an unexpected change as well.

This year, ERAS announced they would be allowing several additional formatting options on the Personal Statement page such as:

Strikethrough
Align Right
Increase Indent
Decrease Indent
Insert hyperlink

A Note from ERAS: “ Personal Statements created outside of MyERAS should be done in a plain text word processing application such as Notepad (for Windows users) or SimpleText (for Mac Users). Personal Statements created in word processing applications not using plain text may contain hidden and potentially invalid formatting. ”

But, what does this mean?

While it’s kind of ERAS to allow for more freedom in formatting for the Personal Statement– just because it’s available, doesn’t necessarily mean you should use these options.

The medical residency Personal Statement is a professional and formal document , and should be treated as such. You wouldn’t normally use bolding, italics, underline, or strikethrough in a formal document as these are looked at as unprofessional.

You should NEVER EVER use:

Bullets – All content should be in paragraph form, bulleted lists are lazy!
Numbering – For the same reasons as bulleting.
Centering – Not considered proper formatting for a professional document.
Align Right – For the same reasons as Centering.

You may consider using:

Increase/Decrease indentation

Use these tools with caution. Aligning left should be ok, because this is common formatting for any written paper. However, indenting can eat up valuable space in your document. If you choose to indent, consider not putting spaces between your paragraphs (this is not advised as it makes the document harder to read).

If you have a professional website, possibly consider hyperlinking to that website to help Program Review Committees get to know you better beyond the Personal Statement . But, this will only work if the Program Director is reading the Personal Statement on a computer as opposed to a print out.

These new changes to the Personal Statement formatting options are exciting, but remember to use common sense when deciding to use any of them. If you are in doubt, it’s better to go without.

Writing an Effective Introductory Paragraph – Personal Statements

Welcome to the 2016-17 Medical Residency Application Season

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Interview Prep: Anticipating Questions Based on Your Personal Statement

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Stay Updated

Genshin Impact version 4.6 arrives April 24

Full details on new recruitable team member, new explorable area, and more.

Greetings, Travelers! Today we are excited to announce that Genshin Impact ‘s version 4.6 Two Worlds Aflame, the Crimson Night Fades is arriving on April 24. With this update, we can’t wait to show you the power and the past of our frenemy, Arlecchino. After the crisis of Fontaine, the Fourth of the Fatui Harbingers is finally ready to meet us again as both a recruitable team member and a formidable Weekly Boss.

More surprises continue to pop up across Teyvat. A large submerged ancient empire that flourished and demolished before the birth of the Court of Fontaine is finally revealing itself in the Sea of Bygone Eras. Meanwhile, Arataki Itto and Dvorak are going to rock Inazuma with a music festival and concert tour.

The Knave and the Father

In the Archon Quests of Fontaine, Arlecchino made an indelible debut even without showing her hand, balancing the fine line between ally and adversary. Upon version 4.6, we can discover more about her power, the roles she plays, and the past that made her who she is today.

As the Fourth of the Fatui Harbingers, Arlecchino aka The Knave shows an overwhelming strength in combat with her use of Pyro and a polearm, as well as her special mechanic — Bond of Life. First found in some Fatui Operatives and certain weapon effects around Fontaine, the Bond of Life effect stays on its target and prevents healing until the victim receives the same amount of healing equal to the active Bond of Life. However, Arlecchino is able to utilize the Bond of Life on herself to strengthen her own attacks.

When Arlecchino becomes a member of your team, piling up her Bond of Life with her Elemental Skill and Elemental Burst is the key to surviving and sustaining an efficient offensive rhythm. When Arlecchino is affected by a Bond of Life greater than or equal to a certain percentage of her Max HP, she will enter the Masque of the Red Death state, converting her Normal, Charged, and Plunging Attacks to deal Pyro DMG which cannot be overridden, and consuming a portion of her current Bond of Life to increase her DMG of Normal Attacks and reduce her Elemental Skill’s cooldown time. Arlecchino’s Elemental Skill can apply Blood-Debt Directives and deal DMG to multiple targets. The Blood-Debt Directives can be absorbed to increase her Bond of Life when she uses a Charged Attack, or heal herself when she uses her Elemental Burst. And her Elemental Burst is the only way to heal herself in combat due to her unique Talent.

If you encounter The Knave as your enemy in the new Trounce Domain, out-healing the Bond of Life and repaying the Blood-Debt Directives she applies to you will be crucial to victory. So long as you are affected by the Bond of Life, all her attacks against you will be enhanced. But if you manage to out-heal the Bond of Life and repay the Debt, you will be rewarded as your Charged Attacks against her are enhanced. As the fight proceeds to later phases, The Knave will gradually reveal more of her true power as her crimson bone wings unfold. Travelers who reach Adventure Rank 40 or higher can now challenge her directly via the Quick Challenge feature in Adventure Handbook, or follow her Story Quest to embrace the challenge.

Despite being a ruthless Fatui Harbinger with horrifying power, Arlecchino is also called Father by the children from the House of the Hearth with great trust and respect. The House of the Hearth is a Fatui intelligence organization operated by The Knave. It takes in children who no longer have a home due to all manner of reasons, and teaches them a variety of disciplines. In Arlecchino’s Story Quest Ignis Purgatorius Chapter, you may find out the unique charm of this character and why she is called Father through her past.

Arlecchino and Lyney may be recruited in the first half of version 4.6 Event Wishes, followed by Wanderer and Baizhu in the second half. In addition, the new weapon Crimson Moon’s Semblance, a 5-star polearm that can enhance combat abilities regarding the Bond of Life, will also become available in the first half of version 4.6.

Symphony of a lost empire

Venturing southeast from Romaritime Harbor nestles a small village named Petrichor. Here begins a new adventure to discover the fabled kingdom of Remuria, a once thriving realm, yet now cradled by deep water, slumbering soundlessly with its narrative lost to the waves. Ruled by King Remus, Remuria mysteriously disappeared in history, well before the establishment of the Court of Fontaine.

However, strange occurrences started to emerge in Petrichor recently. Led by a talking cat, we’ll navigate through the sunken castle and dive into an enchanting and vibrant deep-sea area Sea of Bygone Eras to unveil the truth behind the kingdom’s fall. Even a mysterious dragon of dreamy appearance will await silently ahead.

King Remus also composed a Symphony, carried with wondrous power that you may use to unleash special soundwaves, resonating with a variety of swaying or wandering underwater creatures and mysterious mechanisms during the adventure. Meanwhile, the centaur-shaped boss enemy Legatus Golem awaits in the recess of the Faded Castle with its sword, shield, and a blazing melody of flames.

Time to Rock for Life

Back to Watatsumi Island in Inazuma, a music tour organized by Arataki Itto and Dvorak is on its way. The music tour Iridescent Arataki Rockin’ for Life Tour de Force of Awesomeness will rock and roll for life, honoring a brave puppy who saves countless lives of other creatures on the battlefield. The passion also needs a stage to perform, which will split into 3 main stages of preparation, including playing different instruments at wills, collecting items, and restoring the melodies by filling in missing notes. Participants of the festival may have the chance to obtain a brand-new instrument Nightwind Horn and the opportunity to watch Itto perform on stage in person!

Resonating the spirit of rock music, the Windtrace: Seekers and Strategy event is back in Mondstadt with a few upgrades. This beloved hide-and-seek game between Rebels and Hunters now adds the Surveillance Zone where captured Rebels will be detained for a short period, and a Signaling Device to repair as a new goal of Rebels.

There are still more surprises waiting, but we will keep this sharing short and sweet. With version 4.6, we hope Arlecchino, the ancient empire undersea, and the rock tunes from Itto can give you a fun and unexpected experience!

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ERAS® Residency Applicants FAQ

New section.

FAQs will be updated throughout the 2024 ERAS® season (June 7, 2023 to May 31, 2024).

Getting Started

MyERAS Application
MyERAS Documents
ERAS Policies

When does the 2024 ERAS season open?

The 2023 ERAS season will close on May 31, 2023. The 2024 ERAS season opens on June 6, 2023.

How do I find out which specialties and programs will be participating with the ERAS program?

A list of participating specialties and programs can be found  on the ERAS website . On rare occasions, a program will sign up initially to participate in the ERAS system and later withdraw their participation. Sometimes, the program does not communicate the withdrawal to ERAS staff; therefore, it is imperative that applicants contact ALL programs to ensure that they are participating in ERAS before submitting their application materials to them. Unfortunately, the ERAS system does not offer refunds for any reason including applications sent to nonparticipating programs. That’s because once an application has been sent to a program, the service has been rendered.

How do I apply to a specialty or program that is not participating with the ERAS system?

Not all specialties or programs participate. If a program is not participating, then you should contact that program to determine how to apply. Specialties and programs that are interested in joining the ERAS system should visit the ERAS for Programs: Getting Started page .

How do I gain access to the MyERAS portal?

To access the  MyERAS portal, first contact your Designated Dean’s Office; they will issue you an ERAS token, which is a one-time access code used to register for the MyERAS system .

I am having trouble logging into the ERAS system after it's been closed for maintenance. Any tips?

Please try clearing your browser cache or opening the ERAS system in a new browser. Here are instructions to clear your cache in Chrome , Firefox , Microsoft Edge , and Safari . While most AAMC services support certain browsers , w e recommend Mac users use Firefox or Chrome.

Can I have multiple tabs open in my desktop browser while in the ERAS system?

We recommend users do not have multiple tabs open in their browser when accessing ERAS applications.

Who is my Designated Dean’s Office?

When can i get my eras token for the 2024 season.

Each Designated Dean’s Office establishes their own token distribution procedures for residency applicants using ERAS. These dates may vary.

What do I need to know before I register with the MyERAS system?

You must obtain an ERAS token from your Designated Dean’s Office. If you use an ERAS token from another school or organization, your documents cannot be accurately uploaded.

Make sure that you are using an ERAS token for the current MyERAS season. The system will not allow you to use an ERAS token from a prior season to register.

An ERAS token can only be used once to register. Be sure to enter all information accurately.

You need an AAMC Account in order to register your ERAS token. If you do not have an AAMC Account from the prior MyERAS season or use of another AAMC service, you will need to register for one. Please contact the AAMC Support Center (ASC) (Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. ET) for assistance.

When I register with the MyERAS portal, am I automatically registered to participate in NRMP® or any other matching service?

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

What are the fees associated with using the MyERAS system?

Fee information can be found on the  Fees for ERAS Residency Applications  page on the ERAS website.

What methods of payment can I use to pay for fees in the MyERAS system?

Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover are accepted methods of payment.

Will there be a supplemental ERAS application for the 2024 season?

There will not be a supplemental ERAS application for the 2023-24 cycle. For two ERAS application cycles, the AAMC enhanced, researched, and refined new MyERAS content via a supplemental ERAS application. Moving forward, applicants and advisors can expect the content of the MyERAS application to reflect these findings.

IMAGES

How to Prepare ERAS Personal Statement Properly
Complete Guide to the Residency Match Process, Including the ERAS
Go for Writing a Personal Statement With Well-Experienced Pros
Guide on ERAS Personal Statement Length & Writing Tips
How to Write the Perfect Eras Personal Statement
Gastroenterology Personal Statement Samples

VIDEO

ERAS 2024: Major changes and how IMGs should prepare their CVs
MyHR+
How to write your personal statement for residency- step by step and top mistakes to avoid
How NOT to edit your Residency Personal Statement 📑
The Personal Statement that can give you an interview
Employee Training

COMMENTS

Personal Statement
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 ...
Can I Update My Personal Statement Throughout the Residency Application
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.
ERAS 2023
and ERAS. • Return to MyERAS to update your Personal Information as needed, resend your updated USMLE and/or COMLEX-USA scores, and make changes to program selections and assignments as needed. • If you have not already done so, Certify and Submit your application by the end of the season if you
2024 MyERAS® Applicant User Guide
Applying to residency or fellowship programs is an exciting and challenging time. The AAMC and the ERAS ® program are committed to supporting you as you take the next step in your medical career using the MyERAS ® system.. The 2024 MyERAS Applicant User Guide provides information about all sections of the 2024 application, including the newly added geographic preferences section and the ...
The Top ERAS Personal Statement Requirements You Need To Know
The length of an ERAS personal statement is generally one page. In words, that's about 500-600 words. The other format requirements include: Write your statement in plain text in either Notepad (for Windows) or Text Edit (for Apple) Or. Write your statement directly into the online dialog box.
12 Top Questions About the ERAS Personal Statement
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 ...
2024-2025 ERAS Residency Application Guide
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.
ERAS Application: A Guide to Match Your Top Residency Program
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.
ERAS FAQs (10 Residency Application Questions Answered)
ERAS application fees are based on the number of programs you apply to per specialty. Applying to up to ten programs will cost you $99. Applying to 11-20 programs will cost $19 per program. Applying to 21-30 programs will cost $23 per program, and applying to 31 programs or more will cost $27 per program. There are also additional fees, which ...
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).
Updating Your Supporting Documents for the Post-Match SOAP
You can update your Personal Statement and resubmit it to programs at any point throughout the season. As such, preparing an updated Personal Statement for the Post-Match SOAP is also a great idea. ... while constantly striving to provide the best ERAS Application supporting document review, editing and feedback services available with research ...
MyERAS® Certify and Submit
Certify and Submit. The applicant's MyERAS® application is presented here for a final review. Applicants should take this opportunity to ensure there are no omissions or inaccuracies before certifying and submitting their MyERAS application. Applicants must indicate whether they would like to grant the ERAS Fellowship Documents Office (EFDO ...
Can you continue to add personal statements after ERAS ...
Additionally, I just checked and even though my personal statement is submitted to every program, there is a "create new" button for me to add another one. So it seems like what you'd like to do is possible. Just do everything BUT assign your personal statement, and add that in later on. 4. needtoretake123. • 2 yr. ago. Also curious about ...
Can I Update My Personal Statement Throughout the Residency Application
While many documents are locked into EREAS once you have begun applying, applicants may wonder, "Can I still update my personal statement?" ... ERAS McGovern Medical School at UT Health at Houston, Orthopedic Residency Program participates in ERAS, the Electronic Residency Application Plant, developed by the Association of American Medical ...
How to Write Your ERAS Personal Statement
4) Make your statement easy to read by telling a short and concise story about yourself: "That was way too long and formulaic. Cut to the chase but also paint a story rather than tell one. "Tell a unique story that gives insight to who you are as a person.". "Think about the purpose of your personal statement in the context of all the ...
Can I Update My Personal Statement Throughout the Residency Application
You can nope lengthy editing many documents include ERAS once you have begun applications for medizinischen residency. Nevertheless, applicants may wonder, "Can I still update my personal statement? According to the AAMC, the Personal Statement can be updated throughout an residency application season, even by programs you have already uses to.
Submitted personal statement, but can still edit?
Sep 15, 2017. #8. mcl said: Simple answer--if you submit a revised version today, there is no way a program will know it's not original. More complex answer--When you edit a personal statement, the new version replaces the old. Programs will get a notice, if they look for it, that a new personal statement was submitted.
Editing Personal Statements after Certifying and Submitting ERAS app
You fill out sections, assign all the documents, certify, submit and pay up. At that point, you've applied. AAMC FAQs page says "Yes, Personal Statements can be edited at any point during the application season - even when assigned to programs applied to." 3. Reply.
Writing a brilliant Personal Statement for ERAS application
If you have failed an attempt on a step exam, you can address it in your personal statement in terms of what you learned from it. If you'd rather keep it positive, that's good too. You do not have to explain. Do not talk about your achievements from very early on, like in high school. It would show you did not have the same passion ...
MyERAS® Application for Residency Applicants
The MyERAS ® application is the form you will use to enter information about yourself. You will submit the MyERAS application along with your supporting documents when you apply to programs. Programs will use the information in your MyERAS application to determine if you are an eligible candidate for their program.
ERAS Changes to Personal Statement Format
AAMC's ® ERAS ® system generally makes small changes to their systems to improve performance and generally make life easier for medical residency applicants. This year, they've made quite a few big changes to their timeline, but there was an unexpected change as well.. This year, ERAS announced they would be allowing several additional formatting options on the Personal Statement page ...
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ERAS® Residency Applicants FAQ
Each Designated Dean's Office establishes their own token distribution procedures for residency applicants using ERAS. These dates may vary. U.S. Medical Schools and CaRMS can begin issuing tokens when the 2024 season opens on June 7, 2023. The ECFMG will begin issuing ERAS tokens for the 2024 season on June 28, 2023.

How to Make a Statement with Your ERAS Personal Statement

12 Frequently-Asked Questions About the ERAS Personal Statement

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

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

A catchy introduction to grab the reader

An overview of your desirable qualities

Highlights from your life experience

Proof of why you should be accepted

Why you are interested in your specialty

What you are looking for in a residency program

Address any red flags on your application

A cohesive closing statement

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

Feelings of bitterness or negativity

Too much self-praise or too much modesty

Too many qualifiers

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

Exaggerations

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Further Reading

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ERAS Application: A Guide to Match Your Top Residency Program

Article Contents 16 min read

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

Looking for the ERAS fellowship application guide?

How to Navigate the ERAS Application

Step #1: Check Program Requirements and Deadlines

“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.

Step #2: Get Your ERAS Token

Step #4: Fill Out Your Personal Information

Step #5: Start Your MyERAS Application

Step #6: Certify and Submit Your Application

Test Transcripts

Personal Statements

Letters of Recommendation

Step #8: Register for the Match!

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

Step #10: Assign Your Documents to Residency Programs

Step #11: Check Status of Your Applications

ERAS Timeline and Important Dates

How to Prepare for ERAS Applications in Medical School

Choose a Medical Specialty

Apply for Clerkships

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ERAS FAQs (10 Residency Application Questions Answered)

1. How Do I Access MyERAS?

2. How Much Do Residency Applications Cost?

3. Do All Programs Participate in ERAS?

4. How Does the Match Process Work?

5. When Is the ERAS Residency Application Deadline?

6. Does Registering for ERAS Register You for NRMP?

7. How Does ERAS Differ From Medical School Applications?

8. How Many Letters of Recommendation Do I Need For Residency?

9. How Does Couples Matching Work?

10. What Happens If You Don’t Match?

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2024-2025 ERAS Residency Application Guide

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How to write your personal statement for ERAS/residency applications