Welcome,
MATCH® 2026 Applicants!
Are you prepared to begin working on your ERAS application?
Our team at IMG Rotations has prepared the following step-by-step guide for you on how to complete your ERAS application!
Let's get started:
Your ERAS CV, which includes your Experiences and Publications, plays a vital role in your Match application by showcasing your distinct skills and achievements. Let’s explore the key aspects of constructing an outstanding ERAS application to help yours stand out.
Comprehensive ERAS Application Guide
If you're looking for expert support to help you complete ERAS Application Form, CV, Personal Statement, Program Selection, Interview Practice, etc. check HERE!
Understanding the ERAS Application
Table of Contents:
Introduction to ERAS
The Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) is a centralized online system used by medical students and graduates to apply for residency programs in the United States. This platform compiles personal, educational, and professional details into a single profile for program directors to review.
Obtaining and Registering for ERAS
International Medical Graduates (IMGs) receive their ERAS token from the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG). US medical students obtain their ERAS token from the Designated Dean’s Office at their medical school. When to Submit Your ERAS ApplicationAlthough there is no strict deadline for submitting your ERAS application, it is strongly advised to submit it before programs start their review process. For the 2026 Match cycle, program reviews begin on September 25 at 9 AM EST. Applications can be submitted as early as September 4, 2025, and it is recommended to do so between September 4 and September 24.
Note: Letters of recommendation may take several days to appear in the system after being uploaded by the letter writer, so plan accordingly.
When Should I Begin Preparing My ERAS Application?
The best time to start is now. Begin by brainstorming and listing your experiences, including key positions, events, and activities that have influenced your development as a physician. As you refine your list, tailor it to highlight the skills and experiences most relevant to your chosen specialty.
ERAS & Match 2026 Timeline
June 5, 2025:
ERAS tokens become available. You can begin filling out your ERAS application. You can start requesting Letters of Recommendation (LORs).
Tip: Request LORs early, physicians have demanding schedules and need time to write strong letters.
September 4, 2025:
The application submission period opens, and applicants can begin applying to residency programs.
September 25, 2025, 9:00 AM EST:
Residency programs begin reviewing applications.
Tip: To ensure your application is considered in the first review cycle, submit it before this date.
March 16, 2026:
Applicants receive notification of their Match status (whether they matched or not).
March 20, 2026Match Day! Applicants find out the specific residency program where they have matched.
Can I Submit My ERAS Application After the Deadline?
Although ERAS allows late submissions, it is highly discouraged. If you submit your application after a program has begun reviewing applications, your submission will not be visible to that program. Keep in mind that each residency program sets its own timeline for reviewing applications.
ERAS Application Sections
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Experiences
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Geographic and Setting Preferences
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Program Signaling
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Personal Information
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Biographic Information
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EducationLicensure
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Publications
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Experiences
ERAS CV provides a comprehensive overview of your professional, academic, and extracurricular activities. However, it is among the most time-intensive, requiring careful wording to effectively convey your role and contributions. To ensure a well-structured and compelling entry, start drafting early and focus on concise, impactful descriptions.
Formulating Your ERAS Experiences
For the 2026 Match cycle, ERAS has introduced a 10-entry limit for the Experiences section. Additionally, the updated format allows for more detailed categorization of each entry. Applicants can now specify the type of experience, as well as optional fields such as "Primary Focus" and "Key Characteristic" to highlight the core subject matter and takeaways of each role.
Guidelines for Selecting and Drafting ERAS Experiences
- Maintain a balance of confidence and humility in your descriptions.
- Be honest, while no official verification is required, interviewers can easily detect exaggeration.
- Have your ERAS application reviewed by a native English speaker to ensure grammatical accuracy and clarity.
For each experience, ERAS requires the following details:
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Organization: Name of the institution or employer.
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Experience Type: Select the appropriate category (e.g., clinical, research, teaching, leadership, etc.).
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Position Title: Examples include “Acting Intern,” “Student Volunteer,” or “Team Leader.”
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Start/End Date: If ongoing, select “I am currently working in this role.”
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Location: City and country are required; state and zip code are optional.
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Setting: Indicate whether the experience took place in an urban, suburban, or rural environment.
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Participation Frequency: Specify how often you participated (e.g., daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, annually).
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Primary Focus (Optional): Choose the focus that best describes the subject matter of your experience.
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Key Characteristic (Optional): Identify the area of personal or professional growth influenced by this experience.
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Context, Roles, and Responsibilities: A free-text section where you describe the experience in detail.
Tips for Crafting Strong ERAS Experience Descriptions
Character Limit: Each entry allows a maximum of 750 characters (not words).
Readability Matters: Use bullet points to make information easy to scan.
Proofread Thoroughly: Ensure there are no spelling or grammatical errors.
Use Strong Action Verbs: This makes your descriptions more engaging and impactful.
Your experience descriptions should be concise yet informative, offering a clear understanding of your responsibilities, skills gained, and overall impact. Avoid writing long paragraphs, instead, use brief, structured points to outline your role and contributions.
Note: While ERAS does not allow bullet points within the CV portal, you can draft your descriptions in a Word document using bullet points for clarity, then format them appropriately when copying them into the ERAS system.
Although bullet points are generally recommended for readability, certain experiences may be best conveyed in a short narrative format. Regardless of structure, your description should answer the following key questions:
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What was the nature of this experience?
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What skills did you develop?
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What were your key responsibilities?
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How did this experience contribute to your personal or professional growth?
By thoughtfully structuring your experiences, you can present a compelling application that highlights your qualifications and makes a lasting impression on program directors.
What Are the Eight Categories of Experiences in ERAS?
When completing the ERAS application, you will classify your experiences into one of the following eight categories:
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Education & Training: This category includes clinical rotations, clerkships, acting internships/sub-internships, externships, and observerships completed during your medical training. If you are an international medical graduate (IMG) with US clinical experience, it is essential to describe these experiences and highlight your familiarity with the American healthcare system and culture.
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Military Service: If you have served in the armed forces, include your military experience in this section. Emphasize transferable skills such as leadership, teamwork, discipline, and crisis management, as well as how these attributes have shaped your professional growth.
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Extracurricular Activities & Clubs: This category covers non-medical activities such as sports, music, theater, or any other personally meaningful hobbies. Including extracurricular activities helps present you as a well-rounded applicant, showcasing qualities like commitment, creativity, and discipline outside of the medical field.
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Professional Organizations: List memberships in local, national, or international professional organizations where you have played an active role or held a leadership position. Simply mentioning membership without meaningful involvement is not recommended.
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Research: Include basic science, translational, and clinical research experiences, whether paid or unpaid. Provide a concise description of your research topic, but focus primarily on your responsibilities, contributions, and skills gained. Do not list publications or conference presentations here, as these belong in the separate Publications section.
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Teaching & Mentorship: Use this section to describe teaching-related activities, such as tutoring, mentoring peers or junior students, or assisting in medical school courses. Highlight your role and the impact of your teaching experience.
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Volunteer Work, Service & Advocacy: This section includes unpaid service, nonprofit work, and advocacy initiatives. Volunteer work does not have to be medical but should demonstrate your dedication to serving others. Paid positions should not be listed here, they belong in the Work section.
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Work Experience: List paid employment under this category, except for research roles (which should be categorized under Research). If you are currently employed, describe your job responsibilities, scope of work, and relevance to your career path.By organizing your experiences strategically, you can ensure your ERAS application effectively showcases your qualifications, skills, and professional development.
Focus Areas for ERAS Experiences
When categorizing your ERAS experiences, you will be asked to select a primary focus area that best represents the nature of each experience. The available options include:
Basic Science Research, Clinical and Translational Research, Community Engagement and Outreach, Customer Service, Healthcare Administration and Management, Expanding Access to Healthcare, Medical Education and Teaching, Music, Athletics and Arts, Health and Wellness Promotion, Public Health Initiatives, Quality Improvement and Patient Safety, Social Justice and Advocacy, Technology and Innovation in Medicine.
Key Characteristics for ERAS Experiences
In addition to selecting a focus area, applicants are encouraged to highlight key characteristics that reflect the skills and qualities developed through each experience. These include:
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Effective Communication
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Analytical Thinking and Problem-Solving
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Cultural Competence and Awareness
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Empathy and Compassion
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Ethical Judgment and Professional Responsibility
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Creativity and Innovation
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Dependability and Accountability
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Resilience and Adaptability
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Self-Reflection and Continuous Improvement
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Collaboration, Teamwork, and Leadership.
For more details on ERAS experiences, visit the AAMC website here.
What Are the Three Most Meaningful Experiences in the ERAS Application?
In the ERAS 2025 application, applicants have the opportunity to designate up to three experiences as their "most meaningful." For each selected experience, an additional 300 characters are provided to explain its significance in shaping personal and professional growth. When writing this section, incorporate the Focus Area or Key Characteristic previously selected for the experience. Instead of reiterating the skills acquired or responsibilities held, focus on why this experience was particularly impactful in your journey toward becoming a physician. According to ERAS guidelines, applicants should:"Reflect on the experience and explain why it was meaningful and how it influenced you. This essay should not describe what you did in the experience or list a set of skills that you developed or demonstrated during the experience."
What Is the Impactful Experience in the ERAS Application?
This section allows applicants to describe any significant challenges or hardships that have influenced their path to residency. These challenges may have occurred at any stage of life and can provide important context for an applicant’s journey. This section is optional, but applicants who have faced significant adversity are encouraged to complete it. Examples of impactful experiences may include: Family circumstances (e.g., being a first-generation college student), Financial hardships (e.g., working to support oneself or one’s family), Community challenges (e.g., living in a low-resource area, facing food insecurity, or growing up in a high-crime neighborhood), Limited educational opportunities (e.g., restricted access to academic resources or training), Personal life events (e.g., loss of a family member or other major hardships). Not all applicants will have an impactful experience to report, and programs do not expect everyone to complete this section. However, if you have encountered significant challenges, it is strongly recommended that you provide a concise yet meaningful response. The character limit for this section is 750 characters, including spaces.
Hobbies and Interests in the ERAS Application
The Hobbies and Interests section in the ERAS application offers applicants an opportunity to highlight their personality, passions, and diversity beyond academic and professional achievements. This section allows residency programs to gain insight into your values and interests, helping them assess how well you might integrate into their community. When describing your hobbies, aim to showcase commitment, passion, or leadership qualities, whether through sports, the arts, volunteering, or personal pursuits. Thoughtfully presenting your interests can help set you apart and create talking points for interviews.
Geographic and Setting Preferences in the ERAS Application
In this section, applicants can indicate their geographic preferences by selecting up to three US regions where they are most interested in training. Alternatively, applicants may choose “No preference”, signaling that they are open to programs nationwide.
Important Considerations: If you select specific regions, only programs within those regions will see your preference. For example, if you choose the Pacific region, programs in New England will not be aware of your selection.
If you select “No preference,” all programs will see that you have no geographic preference.
If you choose not to answer, programs will receive no information regarding your location preference. Additionally, applicants may write a brief explanation (up to 300 characters, including spaces) about their geographic preference.
This explanation will be shared: With programs in the selected regions (if a preference is indicated), With all programs (if no preference is selected).
Should You Select a Geographic Preference?
Data from AAMC suggests that choosing three geographic divisions is more strategic than selecting “No preference.” The following statistics illustrate how program directors use geographic preference in their evaluation process:
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86% of program directors use geographic preference as a screening tool before reviewing applications in depth.
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58% send interview invitations to all applicants who selected their region.
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74% consider geographic preference as part of a holistic review process.
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88% use geographic preference as a tiebreaker when deciding whom to interview.
Thus, strategically selecting three geographic regions may increase your visibility and improve your chances of securing interviews.
Geographic Regions in the ERAS Application
The Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) divides the United States into 9 geographic regions, allowing applicants to select up to three preferred regions for residency training. The regions and their corresponding states are as follows:
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New England: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont.
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Middle Atlantic: New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania.
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East North Central: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin.
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West North Central: Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota.
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South Atlantic: Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia.
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East South Central: Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee.
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West South Central: Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas.
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Mountain: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming.
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Pacific: Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington.
Applicants who select specific regions will have their preferences shared only with programs in those areas. Those who do not indicate a preference will have their applications reviewed without regional bias by all programs.
What are the Different Setting Preferences in ERAS?
The Setting preference feature allows applicants to indicate the type of environment they prefer for their residency training. This option helps tailor the application process to better align with the applicant’s personal interests and professional goals.
Below are the available setting options in ERAS:
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Urban: Refers to the core areas of cities, known for their high population density, extensive infrastructure, and concentrated buildings, houses, and railways. These areas are typically non-agricultural in nature.
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Suburban: These are less densely populated areas located on the outskirts of cities. Public transportation options tend to be limited, requiring the use of private vehicles for commuting.
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Rural: Areas characterized by open, undeveloped land with a low population density. Rural regions often rely on agriculture and natural resource industries as their primary economic drivers. Additionally, applicants can choose combinations of settings, such as rural/suburban, suburban/urban, or no preference. Applicants will also have the option to write a brief explanation (up to 300 characters, including spaces) detailing why they prefer a particular setting or why they do not have a preference. This explanation will be shared with all residency programs.
Program Signaling
Applicants are given the opportunity to signal their interest in a specific number of residency programs within each specialty. This signaling feature allows applicants to express a preference for certain programs, as the number of signals is strictly limited. It is highly recommended that applicants allocate all of their available signals to the programs they are most interested in, including both their home institution programs and those where they have completed rotations or research. Programs that receive a signal from an applicant will be notified, while those not selected will not be aware of the applicant's preference. This means that programs will be able to see if they were not signaled, providing a clear indication of the applicant’s interests. The number of programs an applicant can signal will vary depending on the specialty.
Given the limited number of signals and their significance, we strongly advise applicants to use their signals wisely and strategically.
Personal Information
Basic Information
Your personal details are essential for confirming your identity, including your full name, contact address, and phone number. Since email will be the primary communication method throughout the Match process, it is crucial to provide a valid and regularly checked email address. Similarly, although less frequently used, your phone number should also be current and accurate, as it may be needed for occasional contact. This personal information can be updated at any time during the Match season.
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Address: You should include a mailing address on your ERAS CV, whether it is within the U.S. or abroad. For applicants living outside the US, it is common to list the address of a US-based friend or relative for mail correspondence. Additionally, you have the option to include a permanent address on your ERAS CV that differs from your mailing address.
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Work Authorization: Indicate your work authorization status in the U.S., such as whether you are a U.S. citizen, Green Card holder, or hold another status. If you are not authorized to work, specify your preference for a J1 visa, H1B visa, or both. Additionally, you must state whether you are currently residing in the US.
Match Information
If you intend to participate in the NRMP Match, select the appropriate option in this section. Enter your NRMP ID (available from mid-September) and include any details about your interest in the Couples Match or Urology Match.
Additional Information
Provide your USMLE/ECFMG ID, which is used to link your USMLE transcript to your ERAS application.
Biographic Information
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Self-Identification: You have the option to include your ethnicity information in your ERAS CV. Including this data allows residency programs to understand the diversity of their applicant pool, which is often an important aspect of their holistic review process. It can also help programs assess their success in attracting diverse candidates, enhancing the educational environment and better preparing residents to serve varied populations. For programs focused on promoting diversity in healthcare, this information may also be used to support initiatives aimed at addressing health disparities through education and community involvement.
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Language Proficiency: There is now a section to confirm whether you meet the required advanced level of proficiency in the English language. You are not required to specify your proficiency level in any additional languages you list.
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Military Service Information: Indicate whether you are obligated to fulfill any military or other service commitments.
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Hometown(s): You can select up to three hometowns where you have lived or currently reside. Mentioning your hometown can emphasize your connections to a specific geographic area, which may be of interest to programs seeking candidates with local ties.
For a comprehensive guide on writing your personal statement and tips on what to include in this crucial document, be sure to check out our services HERE.
Education
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Higher Education: This section is for detailing your undergraduate and graduate college education. Most International Medical Graduates (IMGs) will select "None," as the pathway to medical school differs outside of the United States. If this applies to you, provide the relevant information, such as the institution, field of study, degree awarded, and other pertinent details. Master's degrees are included in this category.
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Medical Education: In this section, list your medical school details, including the country, institution, degree obtained, and the month and year of graduation. You will also need to include the start and end dates of your medical school education. Be aware that the date you receive your degree may not align with the dates you started or finished your medical school program, as degrees are typically conferred a few months after completing coursework or final exams.
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Postgraduate Training: This section should include information about any current or past residencies, fellowships, or other postgraduate training you have completed. Note that only ACGME-accredited residencies, AOA internship/residency/fellowships, and ACGME/RCPSC/UCNS fellowships should be included here. If you have completed a residency or fellowship that is not accredited by these organizations, you may wish to include it under the “Experiences” section instead.
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Extensions and Interruptions: This section seeks to determine whether your medical training was delayed or interrupted due to professional or academic reasons. As stated in the ERAS guidelines, this question is not intended to request information regarding your health, disability, or family matters. If your interruptions or extensions were caused by reasons unrelated to your academic or professional performance, such as personal health or family issues, you may wish to answer “No” to this question. If you answer “Yes,” be prepared to provide a clear explanation of the circumstances surrounding any delays or pauses in your training that were linked to academic or professional matters.
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Honors and Awards: In this section, specify whether you are a member of prestigious medical honor societies such as the Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) or the Gold Humanism Honor Society. These respected national societies recognize outstanding achievement in the medical field and have chapters at many medical schools in the United States and some internationally. Next, list any honors or awards you have received. Include the title of the award, the date it was granted, and a brief description explaining why you were selected for the recognition. Highlight the significance of each honor to underscore its importance in your academic or professional journey.
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Membership in Professional or Honorary Societies: List your memberships in professional or honorary societies related to your field of interest. Example: Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) - June 2024 to Present. American College of Physicians (ACP) - Jan 2025 to Present.
Licensure
State Medical Licenses:
If applicable, this section requires you to provide your U.S. state medical license number and its expiration date. However, most applicants will not have a U.S. state medical license at the time of applying for residency, so this question can typically be skipped.
Additional Questions: You will be asked to disclose any information regarding misdemeanor charges, malpractice claims, licensure suspensions, or criminal history. If you hold board certification in any medical specialty, please mention it in this section.
Other Certifications: Here, you can include any additional medical certifications you have earned, such as Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS), or Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS).
Publications
The Publications section plays a crucial role in showcasing your research contributions. Additionally, many academic and competitive residency programs value applicants with a solid research background.
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Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles/Abstracts: This category refers to articles or abstracts that have been published and assigned a volume, issue number, and page numbers. You will need to provide the article’s title, a list of authors (in the format of Last Name, First Initial, Middle Initial), the name of the journal in which the article appeared, and the publication details. Conference abstracts that have been published in a peer-reviewed journal should also be included here.
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Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles/Abstracts (Unpublished)Submitted: These are manuscripts that have been submitted to a journal for publication but have not yet completed the peer-review process.
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Under Review: Once a submitted paper passes the initial editorial check, it moves to the peer-review stage. At this point, it is referred to as "under review."
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Accepted/In-Press: These are articles that have passed peer review and been formally accepted for publication by a journal. Although they may not yet be copy-edited or formatted in the journal’s style, they are considered accepted. In-Press articles have been accepted and usually formatted according to the journal’s style; however, the specific issue in which they will appear has not been finalized.
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Preprints: These are early versions of research papers that have not yet been peer-reviewed. They are often shared on preprint servers to quickly disseminate findings, gather feedback, and establish a record of priority. Although not peer-reviewed, they can be cited and may undergo revisions before being submitted for formal peer review and publication.
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Oral and Poster Presentations: Oral and poster presentations refer to research work presented at scientific events and conferences. These do not include presentations conducted during medical school or other didactic sessions. Additionally, you may enter information about a forthcoming presentation if the abstract has been accepted for a future conference. However, do not include abstracts that have been submitted but not accepted for presentation.
Certify and Submit
Ensure that all information is accurate and free of spelling or grammatical errors. Once you certify your ERAS CV, no further edits can be made, except for personal details. It’s highly recommended that you have your ERAS CV reviewed and edited by a professional advisor or someone with strong language skills to ensure it is polished. Before submitting, review or print a copy of your CV to assess its appearance. We hope this guide helps you create a standout ERAS CV!
If you require assistance with editing your ERAS application or would like an expert to provide thorough feedback, don’t hesitate to contact us HERE!
You can also combine personal statement editing, ERAS application review, and interview preparation by signing up for our Match Application Packages HERE.
For any inquiries about our services, feel free to reach out to our customer support team HERE.
Good luck with your application, and always remember, IMG Rotations is here to support you!
