Read this first - Most Frequently Asked Questions about ERAS Application

Can you apply for residency if your step 2 CK socores is still pending? Can I apply before I get my scores or I would get rejected since I don't have it ready? comments are greatly appreciated

 How will I know that my docs have been uploaded/ When will my docs be uploaded?

I graduated in 2003 and some programs require graduation cut off date of 5 years or less. Can I still apply? Are they very strict?

Yes, most of the programs have filters which will remove your application. Some programs are strict, while others are relaxed about this criteria. So I would not waste money on them. If you feel the rest of your credentials are good and you still want to try, you can mail them requesting them to have a look. But the chances are very slim.

Since we registered step 3 in FSMB but not in ECFMG, do we need to do any thing for the score to show up in the USMLE transcript?   

When we click on eras"request for usmle transcript" thing do we pay the 70$ then or 
We pay when we apply and assign it to program?

I am doing an observership in a teaching hospital in Internal medicine. Should I mention it in my CAF (does it negatively affect my FM and petiatrics application) or i should mention in my Internal medicine personal statement?

I just received an email from ERAS stating about an issue with a LoR. The LoR's writer had recommendeds me for an specific speciality and the LoR slot as I put it says multiple specialties.The email from ERAS states: "
You can either confirm that you want the letter uploaded to “Multiple Specialties”, but will only apply to General Surgery residencies or create a new slot for “General Surgery.” Please respond to this email and let us know how you wish to proceed. This letter will remain on hold until we hear from you."

Will creating another slot displace the previous one? Can we delete or edit a reserved slot?

Call up or email ERAS and tell them you will apply only to General surgery and to upload in your existing slot. They are just bringing it to your notice so that you do not use a LOR mentioning Surgery as your interest for any other specialty, which would be a disaster.

Once you talk to them, and confirm it they will upload in a day or two.

I did an observership in psychiatry for 3 months, but I plan to apply only for another specialty (FM and IM). If I write psychiatry observership in CAF will it be unfavourable for my IM and FM application?

You should mention it. It will not affect your application, but try to have an explanation if asked during interviews.

Alternatively, you can try to justify it in your Personal Statement.

You can apply. But there is a small risk that somebody from the other program may see you if you were to go for an interview. Definitely, there is no way they can know through ERAS. When you apply use different personal statements and justify why you are applying to that specialty.

If they do come to know and ask about it in the interview, prepare for this question and answer why you applied to both specialties. 

OASIS only shows LORs which have been received. Once they are scanned they will appear in ADTS under the title "documents in the post office'".

Access ADTS through the AAMC site or log into MyERAS--->Track Applications----> MyDocuments

You can start applying from 8 AM on September 1st but it make no difference. Most programs do not start downloading the applications for several weeks. Community based programs start downloading after a few days and start looking at from mid September to October. University programs start downloading a bit later.