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ApplicantGuide; How to start 2012 match application!!

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match-2012
15K views 104 replies 33 participants last post by  Tofu 
#1 ·
Start, if you haven't yet, gathering your unwaived LORs, MSPE, Med. sch transcript. Work on your personal statements (one for each specialty, and even if you want to personalize you can do one for each program). Get a professional photo of yours (digital or scan an already existing one).

June 22 buy your eras token from your oasis account.
July 1st register in eras and get your aamc from there.

Go back to oasis, upload your photo from your computer, then fill up the dsf form with the names of LOR writers and specialty as well as MSPE and med school T. and send them in one envelope to the address prnted on the dsf.

Start working on your eras CAF and application. Upload your PSs from your computer to eras.

After you say thank you for this post, start selecting the IMG friendly programs in eras in the specialties you are applying to in preparation for the big day SEPTEMBER 1ST.

Feel free to shoot any questions related to this process and keep posted with us in this forum for further instructions and directions from the moderators ;-) :cool:
 
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#2 ·
Hi Applicant Guide,

May I know if you can apply to programs before September 1? as in start selecting programmes to apply for and paying money to ERAS?


is September 1 the day that programs start downloading applications or the day when u can start selecting programmes, pay money and assign ur LORs?

Thank You for your help!
 
#3 ·
first of all thanks for this usefull post....now i have some questions:

1. you said 'Go back to oasis, upload your photo from your computer, then fill up the dsf form with the names of LOR writers and specialty as well as MSPE and med school T. and send them in one envelope to the address prnted on the dsf.'.....i will get 3 LOR'S all from US physicians(i am an IMG) but I decided not to see what they will write in the letter; i know i have to print that letter cover/sheat from my ERAS account but since i will get all 3 LOR'S and i will not see what they write, i have to give an individual prepaid envelope with the ECFMG adress to each one of the doctors; when you said to send them in 1 envelope, you meant ALL the LOR'S/papers or EACH LOR/paper(or if it's possible to somehow send less envelopes to ECFMG/ERAS by mixing some papers in different envelopes);

2. if anybody can give some ideeas about that professional photo....photo has to be done by a professional photographer, how big has to be(meaning megabites), how much has to be the resolution, etc

one more time thank you so much for your post and good luck to everyone!
 
#4 ·
@leftose you can start selecting your programs once you register to eras but you can't click "submit app" until september 1st, on that day you will be able to make your payment. PDs will start downloading your app shortly after submission.

@anatomie

1-I meant the unwaived LORs (which you can see) together with other documents with one dsf only in one envelope.

Waived LORs should be sent from the writer office directly to ecfmg not by you, you can't get this LOR to your hand whatever. you might make it easy for them by giving them already paid envelope (although not necessary at all as all institutions have their mailing services set) together with separate cover letter and dsf.

2- it shouldn't be a sofisticated photo, any passport photo is ok if you are looking or dressing good. these are the specifications:
Photograph

Should you be selected for an interview by a program, the program will use your photograph to identify you at the interview and as a memory aid when creating a rank order list.
If you wish to submit a photograph, you must submit a digital photograph via ECFMG's OASIS. Photographs mailed to ERAS Support Services at ECFMG for scanning will not be accepted.
Your photograph must:
  • Show a clear, front view of your full face only. Your face should be in the middle of the photograph, and your expression should be natural with your eyes open and looking directly ahead.
  • Be a color photograph with a light-colored background.
  • Be equivalent to wallet or passport size.
Guidelines for Submitting a Photograph

Before you attempt to submit a photograph, make sure that it conforms to the following specifications:
  • It must be in the Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) format.
  • It must have a resolution of 300 pixels wide by 300 pixels high or 240 pixels wide by 320 pixels high, and a color depth of 24-bit color.
  • The source of the digital photograph should be either a digital camera or a print photograph scanned into a digital format.
  • If a print photograph is scanned, it must be scanned at a resolution of 150 dots per inch (dpi) and with a color depth of 24-bit color.
  • The maximum file size accepted will be 100,000 bytes (100 Kb).
Login to ECFMG's OASIS and click on the link for ERAS Support Services. From the ERAS Support Services page, select "Upload Photograph." Click the "Browse" button to select the photograph file from your computer, then click "Upload" to upload the photograph. You are not required to submit a DSF when you upload a digital photograph through OASIS.
You will receive confirmation of acceptance if the system uploads your digital photograph successfully.
If your photograph is rejected, you will need to resubmit it.
To make your photograph available to programs, you must assign it on the Programs tab of MyERAS.
Please allow one to two business days for the photograph to be uploaded to your ERAS application.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you participated in the ERAS 2011 season and submitted a photograph, ERAS Support Services will reuse that photograph for ERAS 2012. If you wish to submit an updated photograph, follow the instructions above. If you resubmit your photograph, it will permanently replace the previous photograph.
 
#5 ·
@Applicant Guide......first of all many many thanks for your reply; it is very useful and cleared my questions; second: somebody post a comment and said that this forum it's most likely the best....I totally subscribe to this ideea and I regret i did not found it much earliear;

one more time thank you for your reply!
 
#6 ·
thnx for ur sweet helpful Post i have Q

I did all what u said, Now, i got an ECFMG token, i tried to apply to get AAMC ID and it says it will open on 1st of July 2011,

so do i have to wait till that time to get AAMC ID,

and i they say to visit a link and check for "For Residency Applicants"

i did tht .. but didn find tht link, does this mean that i have to wait till 1st of july to get ?

thnks alot

:)
 
#7 ·
@anatomie you are wellcome, yes this forum is the best, you may click on the thank you button ;-)

@Gamer you are right, ERAS will open on July 1st. Mean time start preparing your documents, photo ( I think you can upload it now in your oasis), personal statements and (in your computer, to upload them later to your eras).
 
#9 · (Edited)
Thank you very much for this helpful post.

I need alot of help and have many questions and problems facing me to ask concerning ERAS:

1- I waived my right to see the LoR, can I ask the LoR writer to send it to my medical school to be sumitted through the EMSWP and it wiil stell be considered as waived LoR?. And should the LoR writer send it as hard copy or email to my medical school? And if it should be a hard copy my medical school has to scan it and upload it through EMSWP or how? And do I have to attach cover sheet to the LoR which is send through the EMSWP?

2- I got my LoRs now, but I stell dont have the AAMC ID number and in the cover sheet it says to the LoR writer to write my full name and the AAMC ID number in the LoR ?!!

3- LoRs Submitted to ECFMG Electronically via the new service called the Letter Writer Portal (LWP) should be attached with a cover sheet ?

4- Can I get LoRs from a specialty doctor to another specialty programe, like from a pediatrician for IM programe director ?

5- Is there a big difference between waived and unwaived LoR?

Much appreciate your help and much thankful to this forums

Thanks in advance
 
#10 ·
@rahul_usmle
unwaived LOR is those that you already have in your hand, ie you didn't waived your rights to see them.
waived means the LOR writer will not handle it to you, he have to send it directly to eras after you print for him the cover letter and dsf form.

@drmuh
1-EMSWP is a new thing to IMGs that I really have no clue about. Pleae contact ECFMG as soon as possible to reslove your questions.

2-you will get your aamc id after you register with eras on july 1st. if you have your LORs wiith you, then you might either add them on the top or forget about it, it is not obligatory as long as you are sending the dsf form in the same envelope.

3-you don't need dsf so you will not need cover letter as well.

4-yes you can, but make sure they don't recommend you to a specific specialty, ie general recommendation to residency.

5-many debates about it , but my own simple opinion based on experience in the last few years:
a-know what in your letter better than regretting later.
b-it will be faster to you to get it know and send it on july 1st, rather than wait for dsf and cover letter to send to lor writer who in turn had to write it and send it
c-no difference in the number of interviews in those with waived and non waived, Although waived migh be considered more professional
 
#16 ·
Hi...i have a few question. I just graduated in dec 2010, ive cleared my CS and im taking the CK next wednesday. I haven't taken the Step 1 as of yet.

1- Can i still work on my application once i have cleared the CK or is the result of a Step exam a requirement?

2- Is it possible to still be eligible for the match if my Step 1 score comes out sometime in september or like mid october??

Thank you I'm really confused and stressed out because i want to get residency next year.
 
#17 ·
@Intmed yes you can and must initiate the process, get your eras token and gather your LORs and other documents.

@there is no deadline for submission of LORs, but the earlier you send them to eras the earlier they get uploaded. Upload time is usually 2-4 weeks so may sure you send them before the end of June otherwise you will risk that they might not be uploaded to apply with complete app on September 1st. However if you couldn't do that it is still ok to send thme later at anytime and PDs will be updated by eras and your app will take another look ;-) My advice is send whatever you have after July 1st then send the other stuf whenever available.

@amych
the result of the step is not a requirement, you can start working on your app., get your eras token and wait for july 1st to come.
the result is only required for the rank/nrmp match by mid februaury.

Make sure you Submit your application to the programs on September 1st whatever your score situation otherwise you may not get interviews.
 
#20 · (Edited)
Can you please explain what this means ..??..I found it in MyERAS page..

MYERAS ALERT:
Applicants will not be able to certify their applications until July 15, 2011 when July cycle programs have the ability to download applications. Please use this time to begin the application process, and fill out the information requested within the MyERAS application.
I am kinda worried because i just sent my MSPE and transcript yesterday ( JULY 6) to ECFMG / ERAS..

Are we supposed to send those after JULY 15 only ???
 
#21 ·
Can you please explain what this means ..??..I found it in MyERAS page..

MYERAS ALERT:
Applicants will not be able to certify their applications until July 15, 2011 when July cycle programs have the ability to download applications. Please use this time to begin the application process, and fill out the information requested within the MyERAS application.

I am kinda worried because i just sent my MSPE and transcript yesterday ( JULY 6) to ECFMG / ERAS..

Are we supposed to send those after JULY 15 only ???
This is not for IMGs, it is only for osteopathic pathway applicants.
 
#25 ·
I'm and IMG and I had 3 months of USCE. Should i mention that in the option for mentioning one's experience (in the subtitle of Work).

Thanx.
I think u should mention that in education
Eg
march 2011 to June 2011. Xyz hospital USA or break it up into months/deptts

FEB 2010 to feb 2011. Your home med school
month 200_ to feb 2010 your med school

Hope this helps
 
#23 ·
Hi applicant guide

Thanks a tone for simplifying the steps...

On my MyERAS homepage I have a message that kinda says "Applicants will not be able to certify their applications until July 15,2011 when programs have the ability to download applications. Please use this
time to begin the application process, and fill out the information requested
within the MyERAS application."
Now what is this supposed to mean.??

Programs start downloading our applications from July 15th? Isn't it supposed to be September 1?

Pls advise as it's kinda spooky!

Thanks
 
#27 ·
Thanks a tone for simplifying the steps...

On my MyERAS homepage I have a message that kinda says "Applicants will not be able to certify their applications until July 15,2011 when programs have the ability to download applications. Please use this
time to begin the application process, and fill out the information requested
within the MyERAS application."
Now what is this supposed to mean.??

Programs start downloading our applications from July 15th? Isn't it supposed to be September 1?

Pls advise as it's kinda spooky!

Thanks
This is not for IMGs, it is only for osteopathic applicants. PDs will see your app only on Sept 1st when you apply.
 
#28 ·
Thanks applicant guide for d amazing post!!!

Ve a couple more doubts however,

1. by medical transcript, is it just the one that has the list of our marks the one we sent during our verification, or should v send our degree as well?
2. my medical transcript is printed on a paper that has my school emblem on the background. so it ok if i send a xerox of that? coz there was somthin mentioned in the ecfmg about the transcript not bein on a busy?? background??
3. should i get my transcript attested my the principal? or just a copy will do?
4. under what documents in dsf do the evaluation forms i got from a couple of univ in us during clerkships ?? or is there no use in sending them?:)
5. can i send the mspe in the sealed envelope my college gives it in, the transcript and a couple of lors from my college prof in the same courier at once?? coz my college doesnt really post the mspe so will it still count as bein sent from college?? coz it freakin 4000 rs per courier...:indifferent:

I know its a lot of questions!!! but really great if you could suggest what to do??:)
 
#29 ·
@Haritha

Hi Haritha
1-transcript is the paper that show your marks, you can send a copy (they don't need the original).
2-if the xerox copy is difficult to be read, then yes send the original.
3-copy will do, they already have the original.
4-no use in sending these evaluations as no place to upload them to, but you still can send your US LORs if you have from these rotations.
5-In the match there are no documents that SHOULD be sent directly from the college, you can send them all together in one envelope, except for waived LORs should be send by the writer.
 
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