Author:Brocali 05-04-2023 8 minute read

Usmle Transcript Eras Documents: The Complete Guide

Every program has specific guidelines for the documents that need to be included in your MyERAS® application. It is important to investigate each program's requirements beforehand to accurately assign the required documents.

You can perform various tasks within your MyERAS account, such as creating personal statements, selecting letter of recommendation writers, granting access to your USMLE or COMLEX-USA transcripts, and managing other documents. The main documents involved in ERAS are briefly explained below.

For more detailed guidance, refer to the Documents section in the My ERAS User Guide.

Tracking Documents

ERAS allows applicants to track the progress of their documents through the dashboard, which displays the status of documents such as uploaded but unassigned letters of recommendation (LoRs) and personal statements.

Uploaded but Unassigned LoRs -It is important to note the number of letters of recommendation that have been uploaded but not yet assigned to any program. This highlights the need for making appropriate assignments.
Unassigned Personal Statements - There are Personal Statements that have been saved, but they have not been assigned to any programs yet. This indicates it may be necessary to assign them to the appropriate programs.
The Status of latest USMLE Request - The present condition of the most recent application submitted to NBME or ECFMG for International Medical Graduate (IMG) Residency, following completion of at least one program application with a USMLE transcript attached.
The Status of latest COMLEX-USA Request - The present condition of the most recent NBOME application request is being reviewed after submitting at least one program that requires a COMLEX-USA transcript.
Additional Documents Status - The current condition of all other relevant papers is indicated as either Not Uploaded or Uploaded.

Photos

Programs frequently use a photograph to aid in distinguishing candidates during interviews. Candidates are required to upload their own picture on MyERAS by clicking on the "Upload New Photo" option within the "Actions" column. The photograph should adhere to specific size limitations.

Importance of photos in ERAS

According to the factual data provided, submitting a professional-looking photo is important in the ERAS application process. The photo must be in color, have a plain white or light-colored background, and meet specific dimensions and file specifications. The photo is considered a program's first impression of the applicant and should not be an image taken with a cell phone or cropped from another photo.

Guidelines for photo file formatting

Digital photos must be uploaded to MyERAS by applicants.
The photo must be in color, a full front view of the head and shoulders, and have a plain white or light colored background.
Dimensions: 2.5 in. x 3.5 in.
Resolution: 150dpi
File Size: 150kb
The photo should be recent and professional-looking and not taken with a cell phone or cropped from another photo.

Personal Statement

The personal statement should be a maximum of one page, well-written, and should highlight the applicant's experiences, skills, and goals. Applicants should proofread their personal statement carefully before submitting it, as errors or typos may reflect poorly on their application.

Additionally, applicants should avoid discussing controversial or sensitive topics in their personal statement, as this can potentially harm their chances of being selected for a residency program. Instead, applicants should focus on presenting themselves as professional, knowledgeable, and passionate about their chosen field of medicine.

The personal statement should be uploaded to the MyERAS application under the "Personal Statement" section.

The ERAS application opens for residency applicants to begin working on their applications in early July, and programs begin receiving applications on September 29, 2023. The deadline for applicants to certify their applications is October 21, 2023, and the Match Day is March 18, 2024.

It is important for applicants to carefully review and follow all instructions and deadlines to ensure their application is complete and considered by their desired programs.

An Important Note About Personal Statement Formatting

When making a Personal Statement, it is important to use only plain text formatting. This means avoiding HTML and other special text formatting options like bold, italics, underline, text color, and alignment. If you create your Personal Statement outside of MyERAS, it is recommended to use a plain text word processing application like Notepad for Windows users or Text Edit for Mac users. This will help keep your text as simple and clean as possible.

Note: Warning against plagiarism

Several websites offer samples of Personal Statements. It is important to avoid copying information from these sources without properly acknowledging the author. Hence, such an act is deemed as plagiarism.

LoRs: How to Upload LoRs in MyERAS?

To upload LoRs in MyERAS, applicants must create a Letter Request Form in ERAS and provide the form and Author Tip Sheet to their letter writers. The letter writers or their designee will then upload the LoRs directly to eras user guide.

Steps in creating, confirming, and uploading LoR entries

To use your Letter of Recommendation (LoR) during the application season, you need to create an individual LoR entry for each one.
Before a corresponding Letter ID can be produced, you are required to verify a LoR entry.
To upload a letter of recommendation, it is necessary to use the Letter ID noted in the LoR Request form and upload it via the Letter of Recommendation Portal (LoRP).
To resend their updated USMLE scores to the programs they have already chosen, applicants need to take action within the MyERAS system.

USMLE

The Importance of USMLE transcripts in MD residency application that the USMLE transcript is required by many MD residency programs as part of an application to be considered for their positions.

Authorizing and permitting the distribution of USMLE academic records within the United States.: - In order to assign their USMLE transcript to the programs they choose, applicants are required to give permission for its release.
Covering the Cost of USMLE Transcript: The NBME or ECFMG (for international medical graduate residency) requires a single payment of $80 to send USMLE transcripts to the programs chosen by candidates.
Looking at the Status Report for USMLE Requests - Individuals who have submitted their USMLE requests can keep track of the progress of their applications for specific programs by referring to the USMLE Requests Status Report.

COMLEX-USA

Many residency programs accredited by the AOA and ACGME require a D.O. to submit the COMLEX-USA transcript. applicant’s application to be considered for their positions.

Applicants must authorize the release of their COMLEX-USA transcript in order to make assignments of the transcript to the programs they designate.

The NBOME or ECFMG (for international medical graduates pursuing a residency) requires an $80 fee for sending COMLEX-USA transcripts to the programs chosen by applicants. This is a one-time charge.

Candidates have the option to check their COMLEX-USA Requests Status Report in order to monitor their requests for each program's status.

MSPE

Who is responsible for uploading MSPE?

The office of the specific dean that an applicant is designated to is tasked with the responsibility of uploading the MSPE or Dean's Letter into the ERAS system for applicants seeking residency. Details on this can be found in the section for frequently asked questions.

Special instructions for IMG residency applicants

For IMG residency applicants, it is important to note that they must indicate in their MyERAS account whether they or their medical school will provide a Medical School Performance Evaluation (MSPE or "Dean's Letter") and a Medical School (MS) Transcript to the ERAS Documents office at ECFMG.

Additionally, the ECFMG Status Report, which confirms the ECFMG certification status, will be uploaded by the ECFMG into the applicant's MyERAS account. All required documents must be uploaded and assigned to specific programs in order for an application to be considered complete.

Medical School Transcript

Who is responsible for uploading MS Transcript?

It is the responsibility of the Designated Dean's Office of an applicant to upload their MS Transcript in English to the ERAS system for residency applications.

Special instructions for IMG residency applicants only

IMG (International Medical Graduate) residency applicants must indicate in MyERAS whether they themselves or their medical school will provide a Medical School Performance Evaluation (MSPE or “Dean’s Letter”), Medical School Transcript, and ECFMG Status Report to the ERAS Documents office at ECFMG. Instructions for submission can be found on the ECFMG website.

The ECFMG Status Report confirms the ECFMG certification status for an IMG residency applicant and is uploaded by the ECFMG into the ERAS system. The report contains information regarding the date and year of successfully completing the ECFMG Certification tests, but it does not contain any details regarding your USMLE scores.

Conclusion

MyERAS is a digital platform used by medical students and graduates to apply for residency programs. It allows users to manage their application documents, including personal statements, letters of recommendation, transcripts, and photos. The platform also provides a dashboard to track the progress of documents and their statuses.

Applicants must follow specific guidelines, such as file size and formatting requirements, when uploading their documents. Additionally, they must authorize the release of their USMLE and/or COMLEX-USA transcripts and pay a fee for transmitting them to designated programs.

Medical school performance evaluations and transcripts are uploaded by designated Dean's Offices or, in the case of IMG applicants, through the ECFMG Documents Office.

Frequently Asked Questions about Usmle

How long should Eras personal statement be?

The recommended size for a residency personal statement on ERAS is one page or 500-800 words. Aim to write with clarity and brevity.

Can you submit Eras without letters recommendation?

You don't need to wait for your recommendation letters to arrive before submitting your ERAS application or compiling a list of authors for those letters.

What is the ECFMG status report ERAS?

The ECFMG Status Report lists the month and year when you passed your ECFMG Certification exams, but it doesn't show your USMLE scores. These scores can only be reported with an official USMLE transcript. The report includes details on your USMLE/ECFMG Identification Number and applicant name.

How to get USMLE transcript authorize release?

If you want to get your USMLE transcript, you should visit MyERAS and authorize the release of your transcript by accessing the Documents Additional Documents section. Make sure to read all instructions and information related to the release of your USMLE transcript.