How you fill out your ERAS application communicates to programs the kind of resident you would be. Would you be the kind of resident who skips over details, or one who is thorough in his or her work?

The first step is to make sure you have a U.S. mailing address, if not also a U.S. permanent address. If you are not in the U.S., then you need to find a way to get here. Even if you are here only for a few months for an observership, put your U.S. address as both your mailing and permanent address. You want to show you are fully committed to being in the U.S.

Make sure your address is spelled, capitalized and punctuated correctly.

Make sure you have at least a U.S. mobile phone number.

List your mobile phone number as your preferred phone number, and make sure your phone numbers are formatted appropriately and consistently. Use either (###) ####### or ########## for the format; if in doubt, use ##########.

For your work, volunteer and research experiences, put as much key information in the header, and make sure all header fields (i.e., instiution, title, supervisor, and hours per week) are filled out.

Do not repeat information in the description from the header. Each item of your description should start with a specific past participle; it should not be a sentence, and it should not be vague (e.g., worked). Do not bother with trying to make them bullet points. They will be easy enough to read as it is, and trying to get the formatting correct will not be worth the time spent doing it.

Keep the descriptions focused on what you did. If describing a research experience, for example, do not talk about what the project or lead investigator was doing as something separate from you. Instead, describe what you did within the context of the project.

Be specific, concise and thorough, and tailor your descriptions toward the specialty/specialties you are applying for.

Always provide a reason for leaving. If nothing else, put "Successfully completed ___."

Medical school clinical rotations are not work experience. Candidates from medical schools providing a dean's letter instead of an MSPE, or an incomplete MSPE, or candidates from Carribbean medical schools will want to put the rotations as work experience. The better option is to get your medical school to send a wellprepared MSPE. You can also discuss your rotations in your personal statement, and they can be discussed in your letters of recommendation.

Observerships and extenships are work experience, not volunteer experience. It is not a question of whether the position is a paid one. A volunteer experience is one you do to give something to someone, like building houses for Habitat for Humanity or going on a medical mission.

Do not gloss over your hobbies and interests. This is a unique opportunity for you to stand out from the other candidates. Think about hobbies and interests as potential conversation starters during an interview. Provide two or three that are unique to you, specific and welldeveloped. For example, instead of "reading," put "reading 19thcentury Russian literature"; instead of "baking," put "baking and decorating brownies for my friends' birthdays." Put whatever is true.

Share This ERAS Application Video:
   • Tips for Preparing a Successful ERAS ...  

See Our Other Medical Residency Application Videos:
   • Applying to Medical Residency  

See Our Personal Statement Videos:
   • Personal Statement Tips  

Subscribe to Our Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/c/DLAEditors?...

Learn More About Our Professional ERAS Application Services:
http://www.dlaeditors.com/for_applica...

Meet Your DLA Team:
http://www.dlaeditors.com/meet_your_d...

Follow Us:
  / dlaeditors  
  / dlaeditors&proofers