Applying for Residency: ERAS & The Match Hosted by ASG 21 February 2007

Important Concepts Residency application is not something that you send after gathering all your documents & scores. You will be working on it for SEVERAL MONTHS, and you must start before you even have your scores, and before you know where to apply and for what specialty. Keep the ball rolling: Big part of the process requires other people to submit things on your behalf (Dean’s Office, ECFMG, writers of L of Recommendation). They all take a long time and you may have to wait for them before going to the next step.

What You Will Need USMLE 1, 2 CK & CS. –You will not be able to study for Step 2 CK during USA electives. Letters of Recommendation –(get 3 from Poland, as many from USA as time permits) ECFMG Token: starts the long application process Personal Statement –Why do you want to go into this field? –Why our Program? –How will you contribute? Dean’s Letter Transcript

3 rd Year 1.Before end of 3 rd year: 1.Gather all 3 letters of recommendation from Poland ( start now ). 2.Find potential residency programs using FREIDA & Scutwork.com Do electives where you want / can get a residency. 3.Apply for Step 2 CK & CS ( by end of May ). 4.Make sure your index is fully signed.

Hospitals ERASECFMGDean’s Office Personal Data, CV, Personal Statement(s), Select Programs Dean’s Letter, Request Transcript, USMLE Photo+Application Request Token, Letters of Recommendation, USMLE Application Dean’s Letter, Transcript, USMLE Photo+Application Transcript, L of Recommend., USMLE Scores, Dean’s Letter All Documents

Summer after 3 rd Year 1.ERAS (Electronic Residency Application Service) opens July 1! 2.Get ECFMG Token from their website by July 15 (takes 2 weeks, prerequisite for everything else in the application process). 1.You will request each document (transcript, Dean’s letter) from Dean’s Office ( takes at least a week to sign ) 2.Documents + Letters of Recommendation have to be mailed to ECFMG ( takes 3-11 days ) 3.ECFMG will scan & upload them into ERAS Application ( takes 5-7 days ) 4.In total: 15 to 25 days between requesting a document and it being sent to residency programs.

Summer after 3 rd Year (cont.) 1.Once you have the ECFMG Token, open ERAS application by Aug 1 ( 2.Write & upload your Personal Statement by Sept 1. This is important and very time consuming. 3.Certify your application (you are certifying only your CV & personal data, you can add/modify everything later) ( Ideally by Sept 1). 4.Select at least some programs, start sending them your incomplete application by Sept Write yourself a Dean’s Letter and to Dean’s office for editing & signature ( by Sept 15). It has to go thru the 25-day process and be sent to your programs by Nov All USA Schools release Dean’s Letters on Nov 1.

September - December Take Step 2 CK before start of your electives (by mid September). Step 2 CS can be taken during electives (Oct-Nov) Get Letters of Recommendation from USA Electives –You CAN replace the Polish letters with USA letters as these become available. They will be transmitted to residency programs. Register with NRMP.ORG ( National Residency Matching Program ) In the past: –People have gotten invitations for interviews in October, before their applications were complete.

Tricks Contact each program by TELEPHONE and REQUEST an interview –See printed “Exhibit B: From Residency Program Director” for why this is very important. Come in person if you can. Ask for an interview where you are doing your elective. Send paper material (CV, thank you notes). Couples: –Call to “pull your significant other in.” Works!!! Even after deadlines! Go for 2 nd look after the interview.

Applying for Int. Med / Surgery Categorical position: Full Residency Preliminary position: First 1 or 2 years ONLY Internal Med categorical spots wide open to IMGs –2005 Average # applications/applicant: 37.8 [IMG] Surgery: Most foreign grads start as preliminary and shift to categorical. –So, make sure to apply for preliminary positions too! –Average applications/applicant: 25.9 [IMG, categorical] –Average applications/applicant: 18.8 [IMG, prelim]

Applying for “4 th year specialty” Ophthalmology, Dermatology, Radiology, Anesthesiology, Neurology, Otolaryngology, Orthopedics Must Apply in 2007 for 2009 position! –Must also apply separately for 1 st year starting 2007 Transitional Program Preliminary Internal Medicine Program Preliminary Surgery Program (beware: packed with surgeons!)

Match Rank programs only according to their appeal to you. Give no consideration to your chances of being accepted. Couples Match: Regular match with richer vocabulary. –Available to anyone: couples, friends, siblings, etc.

Where to apply? Apply to as many programs as you can Which programs? – 3-5 programs that are first tier –10-20 programs that are second tier –10-20 programs that are third tier