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Get y’ERAS in Gear :)

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Here’s a quick reminder for residency candidates: Programs can start reviewing ERASes, ResidencyCAS, and MSPEs at 9am EST on September 23. There’s an advantage to submitting your application so it’s in the first batch program directors (PD) see: As one of my PD friends wrote to me, since the residency application is arguably one of the biggest steps in one’s medical career, getting the application in as early as possible should be a given.

(On the other hand, if your application is not in its optimal form, waiting a few days is preferable to submitting an inferior ERAS that will be tossed into the “do not invite” pile.)

Please contact me ASAP for help.

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How Do I Strategically Apply in Two Fields?

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Occasionally I help residency applicants who are applying in two specialties. This tactic can be strategic in specific scenarios, but it also makes the process more complicated. Here are some quick clarifications to help:

1) Different personal statements can be assigned to different programs. This means you can assign a pediatrics essay to pediatrics programs and an internal medicine essay to internal medicine residencies. Of course, you need to have two versions of your statement, and you need to ensure you assign each correctly.

2) Different letters of recommendation can be assigned to different residency programs as well. (A maximum of four letters may be assigned to each program.) You’ll either need to have letter writers for different fields, letter writers who will craft two types of letters, generic letters (less compelling), or a mix of these approaches.

3) Assuming you are not applying in ob/gyn, EM, or their program variants (which require the ResidencyCAS), you will have one application, and it will go to all of your programs. So, for example, if you flesh out your membership in multiple pediatrics organizations in your ERAS activities, that list will be viewed by your internal medicine readers as well – and might make them question your commitment to IM.

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Check Out Key Match Dates and Two Safeguarding Policies for Applicants

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Recently, the NRMP hosted a webinar called, “Introduction to the 2027 Main Residency Match®.” There are two categories of take away points:

1) Key dates relevant for applicants:

September 15 — Applicant and medical school registration opens
September 23 — Applications available via ERAS and ResidencyCAS (OB/GYN and Emergency Medicine use ResidencyCAS)
February 1 — Ranking opens
March 3 — Rank Order List certification deadline
March 15–19 — Match Week and SOAP
March 19 — Match Day

2) Two policies particularly notable for applicants:

First, residency programs can’t extend more invitations than available slots and must give applicants at least 48 hours to respond.
Second, programs can’t ask applicants about their ranking plans, request preference signals, or solicit commitments to rank.

Here’s the webinar link.

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What is ResidencyCAS?

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ResidencyCAS is a centralized application platform that replaces ERAS for OB/GYN, Emergency Medicine (EM) and EM’s dual programs. It’s less expensive than ERAS for applicants, includes an optional “experience essay” for special circumstances, and has a more limited personal statement character count of 4000. 

There are advantages to ResidencyCAS, but if you’re applying in two specialties, you’ll likely need to manage two platforms (unless you happen to be applying in OB/GYN and Emergency Medicine). Here’s more information about ResidencyCAS.

For help, please contact me ASAP.

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Which Specialties are Using ResidencyCAS Instead of ERAS this Cycle?

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In place of ERAS, a few specialties will be using ResidencyCAS, another centralized application platform for residency programs. In the past, OB/GYN used the newer service, and this year, emergency medicine will as well. ResidencyCAS promises enhanced features like data analytics, specialty-specific design; a mobile platform; and a single system for applying, scheduling, and completing interviews. 

You can click toward the bottom of the page here for an applicant worksheet PDF both for OB/GYN and for emergency medicine.

Of course, candidates applying to OB/GYN or emergency medicine and a second specialty will still need to complete ERAS.

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About Dr. Michelle Finkel

Dr. Michelle Finkel

Dr. Finkel is a graduate of Stanford University and Harvard Medical School. On completing her residency at Harvard, she was asked to stay on as faculty at Harvard Medical School and spent five years teaching at the world-renowned Massachusetts General Hospital. She was appointed to the Assistant Residency Director position for the Harvard Affiliated Emergency Medicine Residency where she reviewed countless applications, personal statements and resumes. Read more

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