ERAS and Frequently Asked Questions

ERAS

McGovern Medical School at UT Health at Houston, Orthopedic Residency Program participates in ERAS, the Electronic Residency Application System, developed by the Association of American Medical Colleges.  A completed application consists of the following:

  • Application with photograph
  • Curriculum Vitae (part of your application)
  • Personal Statement
  • Copy of USMLE Step 1 scores
  • Copy of USMLE Step 2 scores if available
  • Medical School Transcript
  • Medical School Dean’s Letter
  • Three Letters of Recommendation (additional letters are acceptable)

A completed application must be received through the ERAS Program by the middle of November of the year prior to start of the program year. Interviews will take place in mid-January.

ERAS Frequently Asked Questions

  • WHAT HAPPENS ON SEPTEMBER 1, 2022?
    • The ERAS Post Office opens to applicants and residency programs.  September 1st is the first day an applicant can apply to residency programs. There seems to be a sense of panic in some students that they MUST finish and submit their application on September 1st…THIS IS NOT TRUE.
  • WHERE DO I FIND MY USMLE I.D. #?
    • If you need to look up your USMLE ID# for your ERAS application, please go to the following website: https://apps.nbme.org/ciw2/prod/jsp/requestPass.requestPass. There is a link for students who do not know their USMLE ID.  It can also be found in the lower left hand corner on the front of your Step 1 score report (to the left of your mailing address).
  • DO I NEED TO WAIT UNTIL ALL DOCUMENTS ARE IN TO APPLY?
    • No.  You should send your application out as soon as it is complete and continue completing your application as documents arrive.
  • DO I HAVE TO WAIT FOR MY LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATIONS TO COME INTO YOUR OFFICE TO ASSIGN THE LETTER IN ERAS?
    • YES. LoR Authors must be finalized and the LoR uploaded to the ERAS Post Office by my Office in order for you to assign them to programs. The LoR checkbox will be disabled until both of these requirements are met. You can click on the ADTS trailing link located at the top of the MyERAS application to track the status of your documents
  • DO I HAVE TO WAIT FOR MY LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATIONS TO COME INTO YOUR OFFICE TO CREATE A LoR SLOT FOR A LETTER WRITER IN ERAS?
    • No.  Enter letter writer info as you know it. You can add, change or delete LoR info anytime throughout the process.  Changes can’t be made after the letter has been sent to your designated programs.
  • CAN I SEND MY APPLICATION OUT WITHOUT MY PERSONAL STATEMENT AND ASSIGNING MY LETTERWRITERS?
    • YES. ERAS recommends your application be as complete as possible before sending it to residency programs, i.e. assign personal statement, create a list of letter writers and assign, and authorize transmission of your USMLE transcript.  You can still continue to add new LoR authors etc and make changes to your LORs as long as the letter has never been sent.
  • WHEN ARE THE APPLICATION DEADLINES?
    • Deadlines are program specific.  September 1st-September 15th is a recommended ERAS target date to have a completed application out (including most letters of recommendation, photo and transcript).  The sooner your application is transmitted, the more likely it is to be reviewed by all programs, the more flexibility you will have in receiving and setting up interviews.  This is true for all programs not just ERAS programs. Most programs post deadlines related to the last date in which you can apply to their program.  These dates can be found on the AAMC/FREIDA website.
  • WHAT ARE THE STEPS IN THE ERAS PROCESS?
    • Once you have completed your ERAS application, you must “Submit” it to the ERAS Post Office for processing/certification.  You cannot apply to programs until your application is certified and sent (submitted). *It is extremely important that you proof your application carefully. “ONCE YOU HAVE SUBMITTED YOUR APPLICATION, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE ANY CHANGES TO THE CONTENT PORTION OF YOUR APPLICATION BUT CAN CONTINUE WORKING ON OTHER SECTIONS THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS.
    • To have your application transmitted to residency programs you must apply and process a payment on MyERAS. It is at this point, when programs can start receiving your documents (application, p.s., letters of recommendation, photo, transcript, USMLE transcript and MSPE (Oct 21st). Please read the manual carefully.
    • *You do not have to wait for your letters of recommendation to be in to send your ERAS Application or create a list of LoR(s) authors.
  • I SENT MY APPLICATION OUT ON SEPTEMBER 1st AND HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING, WHY?
    • Although your application has been transmitted, many programs do not begin downloading applications right away.  Each program has its own timeline and process.  Be patient.  Use the ADTS tracking system to see when programs are downloading your application.
  • WHEN DO AOA ELECTIONS OCCUR?
    • AOA elections occur in mid to late September. Only students who are in the top academic quartile of their class are eligible for election.  If you think you have a chance of being elected based on your own assessment of your academic performance you should answer, “AOA Elections held during senior year”.  Upon being elected you should update your response to “Member of AOA”.  This question is in the MyProfile section of your ERAS application which can be updated.
  • HOW DO YOU HANDLE LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATIONS IF YOU ARE APPLYING TO MORE THAN ONE SPECIALTY?
    • You do not have to request separate letters of recommendation.  All you have to do is request your letter writer NOT include the specialty in your letter.  ERAS can however handle specialty-specific LoRs from the same writer.  Please follow the MyERAS instructions by listing specialty next to letter writer’s name.
  • DOES MY MSPE COUNT AS ONE OF MY LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION?
    • NO.  You also DO NOT list or assign the MSPE.  It is sent automatically to your programs.  The same is true for your transcript.
  • DOES A CHAIRMAN LETTER COUNT AS ONE OF MY LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION?
    • YES.
  • WHAT IS THE AAMC ID?
    • It is a unique code number you receive when you register with AMCAS, ERAS or the NRMP.
  • IF I AM APPLYING TO A NON-ERAS PROGRAM, HOW DO MY LETTERS OF REC. & TRANSCRIPT GET SENT?
    • If you are applying to a non-ERAS or SF program, it is your responsibility to provide your letter writers and the Registrar’s Office with mailing labels to send your documents directly to the programs you are applying.  We cannot send letters received for ERAS to other programs.
  • GUIDES AND WORKSHEETS TO HELP RESIDENCY APPLICANTS COMPLETE THE MYERAS® APPLICATION.
    • Tools for Residency Applicants can be found at https://students-residents.aamc.org/attending-medical-school/how-apply-residency-positions/tools-residency-applicants/
  • HOW DO I REGISTER FOR THE NRMP (The Match)?
  • YOU MUST REGISTER FOR THE MATCH!
    • Applicant registration begins September 1st.  To begin the registration process for the 2022 Main Residency Match, go to the NRMP’s public website at www.nrmp.org, click Register/Login at the top of the screen, and then select “Applicant Registration”.  Registration for the Match is a multi-step, on-line process that includes completing the registration form, agreeing to the Match Participation Agreement, and paying the registration fee.  You must provide an email address so that the NRMP can communicate with you quickly and easily.  Update the information in R3 as often as necessary; if you fail to do so, you may miss important reminders or other information essential to the Match process.