Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I finalize Letter of Recommendation (LoR) writers?
- How do I assign my LoRs?
- Why don’t I see my documents tracked in OASIS?
- How do I request to have my documents returned?
- My documents are not originals. What is the significance of not submitting original documents?
- I have a Dean’s letter not a Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE). Can I still submit it?
- How do I answer the question, “Are you certified by the ECFMG?”
- What visa status should I enter in my Profile?
- How do I create my Personal Statement?
- How do I register at MyERAS?
- How do I request my USMLE transcripts for my ERAS application?
1. How do I finalize Letter of Recommendation (LoR) writers?
The Letter of Recommendation (LoR) section of MyERAS allows you to create a list of individuals who will write letters on your behalf. New for ERAS 2009, you can finalize your LoR writers before you apply to programs. In previous years, an LoR could not be attached to your electronic application until you assigned the LoR to at least one program to which you had applied. This year, as soon as you finalize your LoR writers, ERAS Support Services at ECFMG will receive an update that allows us to scan your LoRs and make them available to programs when you apply. ERAS Support Services at ECFMG strongly recommends that you finalize your LoR writers once you have registered at MyERAS.
To finalize an LoR writer, create a new letter writer by clicking “Designate a New Letter of Recommendation Writer” in the Documents section of the AAMC MyERAS website. Fill out the information and click “Save”. Repeat this process for all of your designated letter writers. After you have finished designating your letter writers, click the check box(es) next to the writer(s) that you wish to finalize, enter your MyERAS password in the box provided, and click “Finalize”.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Once you finalize the letter writer, you cannot edit the designated LoR request. It is your responsibility to follow-up with letter writers and confirm that your LoRs have reached ERAS Support Services at ECFMG in time to meet program deadlines. (See Step 8: Assign Documents to Programs in AAMC’s Application Process Guideline.
Tip: Although you cannot edit or delete LoR requests that have been finalized, you may de-assign and delete an LoR request if it was never sent to a program; you may also re-assign a new LoR in its place at any time.
2. How do I assign my LoRs?
To assign your LoRs:
- Log into MyERAS with your AAMC Identification Number and password.
- Click on the Documents tab.
- Go to “Letters of Recommendation.”
- Click on “Designate a New Letter of Recommendation Writer.”
- Enter the name and title/department of the letter writer and the specialty to which the letter will be assigned.
- Click “Save.”
After designating your letter writers, click on “Programs Selected” or “Programs Applied to” and check the box next to the letter you want to assign to your program and save the entry.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are applying to more than one specialty and want to assign a letter to programs in multiple specialties, you should only designate the letter writer once. Do not designate the same letter writer separately for each specialty. Instead, when designating the letter writer, indicate that the letter is for “all specialties.” For example, if you are applying to Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, and Family Medicine and want to assign the same letter to programs in all of these specialties, designate the letter writer as described above and enter “all specialties” in the field “Specialty(s) to which this letter will be assigned.” You will then be able to assign the letter to programs in all of your specialties.
3. Why don’t I see my documents tracked in OASIS?
Currently, it takes three to five business days from their receipt at ECFMG for documents to appear in your OASIS account.
4. How do I request to have my documents returned?
ERAS Support Services at ECFMG offers a service that allows international medical students and graduates who apply to residency programs using ERAS to request the return of eligible documents. It is expected that this Return of Document Service (RODS) will open in February 2009 for the ERAS 2009 season. All RODS requests must be made on-line through ECFMG’s OASIS; written requests will not be accepted. There will be a nominal fee associated with the RODS system. If you use RODS, you will be required to make a credit card or electronic check payment via ECFMG’s OASIS. To pay by electronic check, you must have a checking account at a U.S. bank and either a valid U.S. driver’s license or a U.S. Social Security Number.
5. My documents are not originals. What is the significance of not submitting original documents?
Any disadvantages of not submitting original documents are determined by the programs and not by ERAS. ECFMG’s policy requiring original documents is consistent with the current standards set for U.S. medical graduates.
6. I have a Dean’s letter not a Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE). Can I still submit it?
You can submit a Dean’s letter as your MSPE. The term “Dean’s letter” is no longer used. The term “Medical Student Performance Evaluation” has been implemented to better describe the purpose of this document, which is to evaluate the performance of the medical student. It is not a letter of recommendation. The content of the MSPE/Dean’s letter is what matters, not the name of the document.
7. How do I answer the question, “Are you certified by the ECFMG?”
Because this information is located in the Profile section, you can update your answer to this question at any time during the ERAS season. If you are not certified at the time you complete the Common Application Form (CAF), you should answer “No.” Once you become certified, go to the Profile section and change your ECFMG certification status to “Yes.”
After you update the Profile section and save the entry, the information will be automatically uploaded to the ERAS PostOffice, where it can be accessed by all of the programs to which you have applied. ERAS Support Services at ECFMG will also automatically update your certification status in your ECFMG Status Report and upload it to the ERAS PostOffice.
8. What visa status should I enter in my Profile?
Because this information is located in the Profile section, you can update your answer to this question at any time during the ERAS season. There are two sections that relate to visa status. One section asks for your current visa status. The other section asks for your expected visa status at the time you would enter the program. Should your visa status change, go to the Profile section and update it.
9. How do I create my Personal Statement?
To create your Personal Statement:
- Log into MyERAS with your AAMC Identification Number and password.
- Click on the Documents tab.
- Go to “Personal Statements.”
- Click on “Create a Personal Statement.”
- Enter “Personal Statement Title” and “Personal Statement Content.”
- Click “Save.”
After creating your Personal Statement, click on “Programs Selected” or “Programs Applied to,” and check the box next to the Personal Statement you want to assign to your program, and save the entry.
10. How do I register at MyERAS?
To register at MyERAS:
- Go to www.aamc.org/eras.
- Click on “MyERAS – Applicant work area for creating applications.”
- Click on the “Register” button located in the center of the page.
- Follow the instructions for each step.
- Provide the required information.
Be sure that all information provided is correct. Once you have registered, your information cannot be changed. Be sure to record your AAMC Identification Number before leaving the registration section.
11. How do I request my USMLE transcripts for my ERAS application?
You must authorize the release of your USMLE transcript through the Documents tab of MyERAS. There is a $60 fee for this service, which covers the entire ERAS application season.
The authorization and distribution of your USMLE transcript is a four-step process. You need to:
- Verify that the correct USMLE ID is in your Profile.
- Authorize the release of your transcript.
- Decide whether you want to have it resent automatically when a new score becomes available.
- Assign your USMLE transcript to your applied-to programs in MyERAS by clicking on “Programs Selected” or “Programs Applied to” and checking the box next to your USMLE transcript.
When you are finished, save the entry.
