Applying for residency can be a challenge but MyERAS (My Electronic Residency Application Service) makes it easier to manage your application with one streamlined platform. If you are a medical student or will soon be graduating from medical school and looking to apply for residency, it’s important to know more about MyERAS. In this guide, we’ll share everything you need to know about MyERAS so you can apply to your desired residency program and match.
What is MyERAS?
MyERAS is an online application system developed by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) to assist medical students and graduates in applying to residency and fellowship training programmes in the US. Applicants can now submit a single, comprehensive application to a large number of programs concurrently.
Key Features of MyERAS
Centralized Application: Submit one application to multiple residency programs.
Document Management: Upload and manage personal statements, transcripts, letters of recommendation, and more.
Program Research: Search for programs based on speciality, location, and other criteria.
Application Status Tracking: Monitor the status of your application and document submissions.
Steps to Get Started with MyERAS
First Digit: Your ERAS Token: This must be obtained through your medical school or, if you are an international graduate, through the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG).
Sign up for MyERAS: Create an account on MyERAS using your ERAS token. Enter your information and create your profile.
Finish Up! Make sure to fill in all sections of the application, such as the ‘About You’ part, your ‘Education and Training’, ‘Work History’ and any ‘Certifications’.
Then upload them, please: all the other things required of you, the application, the personal statement, the letters of recommendation, and the transcripts.
Choose and Apply to Programs: Find the programs that may offer a career path you’d like to pursue. To keep track of your options, save your favourites and apply.
Key Sections of the MyERAS Application
Personal Information: Includes your contact details, citizenship status, and other personal data.
Education: Details about your medical school education, any additional degrees, and relevant coursework.
Experience: Information about your clinical experience, research, volunteer work, and other relevant roles.
Licenses and Certifications: Include your medical licenses, board certifications, and other relevant qualifications.
Personal Statement: A narrative that describes your motivations, experiences, and why you are a good fit for your chosen specialty.
Letters of Recommendation (LoRs): These are the most important endorsements written by a mentor, professor or other professional who has a track record of evaluating candidates like you for their stellar work.
How to Upload Documents on MyERAS
Personal Statement: What excites you about this specialty? What do you have to offer this specialty in return? Make sure it shows in your statement of purpose. Customise it for each specialty that you are applying to.
Letters of reference: Ask for them early and be sure they are submitted via the MyERAS Letter of Recommendation Portal.
Transcripts and MSPE: Check in with your medical school to make sure your Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE) and transcripts are uploaded.
Scores from the USMLE or COMLEX examinations will be released only if you authorise through MyERAS.
Program Search and Application Submission
Program Search Tool: Place filters on to achieve your ‘dream list’, ‘realistic list’, and ‘safety list’ via the search feature on MyERAS residency programs by specialty, location, versus, program details, and interview offer.
Safeguard Your Preferences: Preserve programmes in your list to benefit from your loved ones.
- Application Submission If your application is complete and your documents have been uploaded, click the ‘Submit Application’ button. Once you submit your application, an email will be sent to your programs. They will acknowledge receipt of your application. Please save a copy of this response for your own records. You can request a copy of your submitted application anytime by emailing us.
Tips for a Successful MyERAS Application
Start Early: Gather your documents and fill out your application long before the window opens.
Make It Specific: Try to avoid trite statements and generalizations; tailor each one towards your interest in that particular speciality.
Ask for Great Letters of Recommendation: Choose the people who know you best to write on your behalf.
Review Your Application Carefully: Proofread all sections for errors, typos, and completeness before submitting.
Understand Program Requirements: Research each program’s requirements to ensure your application meets all criteria.
Common Mistakes to Avoid in MyERAS
INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS: Marking all application fields as completed and attaching all required documents does not guarantee your submission. Please click on ‘Continue Application or Edit Application’ to confirm that all parts of your application are complete before pressing ‘Submit’.
Generic Personal Statements: Programmes are looking for applicants interested in their specialty. Tailor your personal statements.
Flimsy or Nonexistent Letters of Recommendation: Make sure the letters supporting your candidacy are strong and individualised, and that they are submitted before the deadline.
Not Researching Programs: Applying to programs unrelated to your academic profile is a waste of time and money.
Late Submissions: Submitting late allows programmes to begin reading applications as soon as those applications are available, which could potentially leave you out if they’re interviewing early applicants.
MyERAS Timeline
May – June: Obtain your ERAS token and begin setting up your MyERAS account.
July – August: Complete your application, request letters of recommendation, and write your personal statements.
September: Application submission opens; early submission is recommended.
October – January: Interview season; prepare and attend interviews with programs.
February: Submit your Rank Order List in the NRMP (National Resident Matching Program).
March: Match Day; find out where you will start your residency.
Conclusion
MyERAS is an unparalleled tool to the residency application process. Amidst an ocean of missed cycles and Program Directors that have been on both sides of the residency match, my early career advice to you is to maximise the use of your MyERAS application to the fullest extent possible. Do your homework, don’t wait until the last minute, and be detail-oriented, and you will boost yourself to the top of the stack of an applicant pool.
FAQs
What is MyERAS used for?
The application in MyERAS (a CRMS for entering the residency and fellowship programme in the United States) is meant to be completed once and sent to multiple programmes at the same time.
How do I get an ERAS token?
US medical students get their ERAS token from their medical school, while international medical graduates get theirs from the ECFMG.
Can I edit my application after submission?
No: applications submitted are not editable. Just before you send it off, check that all information is correct.
How many programs can I apply to through MyERAS?
Apply to as many programmes as you want, but take into account application fees.
When is the best time to submit my application on MyERAS?
If you make your application early within the application window, there is a greater probability of having interviews.
If you want to match into that dream residency we mentioned earlier, step one is mastering MyERAS. Study the sections of this guide and you’ll find the right path forward – and perhaps a few extra tips to make your application shine for the programmes you most want to attend.
