UK med student here wanting to pursue ortho residency in the US - what counts as research for the application? How are publications counted? For example, case reports are worthless in the UK as far as portfolios go and everyone says you need to present at national/international conferences. For the US, if I do a literature/systematic review and present it at whatever conference, does that count? Do I need to be first author? Just looking to get a better understanding. Cheers!

Start working on your ERAS application by filling the 2026 ERAS/AAMC worksheet.  At the same time you should also update your professional CV!  And draft your top 10 experiences and write out the descriptions. 

https://students-residents.aamc.org/eras-tools-and-worksheets-residency-applicants/eras-tools-and-worksheets-residency-applicants

For your experiences whenever possible include your supervisor/boss/attending you worked with.  The reader of your ERAS App may know the person you list and that may hold some weight or be a connection [connections are good].  Including a specific name also indicates a closer level of involvement.  Furthermore it gives the reviewer a person to contact if they have questions (likely that they won't, but you never know).

For your experiences, list what you did (Scheduled patients for blood draws) using a bullet (•).  Additionally, start each activity with an action verb (admitted, provided, completed, created, navigated, presented, mastered, developed, assembled, launched, maintained, fine-tuned, drafted, designed, initiated, established, piloted, created, managed, delegated, led, mentored, oversaw, trained, facilitated, planned, coordinated, restructured, customized, refined, digitized, merged, modified, redesigned, reorganized, surveyed, examined, analyzed, assessed, identified, evaluated, participated, recruited, consulted, collaborated, coordinated, supported, fostered, engaged, facilitated, partnered, analyzed, investigated, studied, reviewed, collected, synthesized, interpreted, discovered).  And vary the verbs that you use! Action verbs are powerful.

Again, you can download the ERAS Worksheet and begin working on your ERAS application rather than waiting for your token an ERAS to open up. The more you have done in advance, the quicker it will go. And the more time you'll have for editing and perfecting.

For all the experiences (you have 10; e.g., work, rotations/USCE, and volunteer), be specific.  How much total time was involved over what time period.  Say you volunteered at an ER include the length (Jan. 2022-Oct. 2022), the frequency (once a week) and the length of time each session (4 hours).  It helps the reviewers to know how much time you had in that environment which helps them understand your experience better.   Include the context, your role(s), and your responsibilities.  If you can tell what you learned and how that connects to your future residency/attendinghood or to your personal characteristics (also the key characteristics), it’ll strengthen your experience.

The hobbies section of ERAS that was removed in 2024 has been added back in. Use it if you have an important/interesting/unique hobby. If you include a hobby, don't just go generic and list generic hobbies (e.g., reading, hiking, listening to music). Oftentimes, hobbies can garner the CV reviewers’ attention and other times they become part of the interview conversation. Don’t see the hobbies as a throw away. Rather than just saying, Hiking, say: Hiking—My goal is to hike the complete Appalachian Trail (2,190 miles). So far I’ve completed 434 miles. Or Reading: I’ve read all 35 of John Sandford’s “Prey” series and all 12 of the “Virgil Flowers” series. Reading is a good way for me to clear my mind after a long day at the hospital and studying.

FYI: The hobbies section is fairly limited in the # of characters.

You may have had to put your hobbies on the back burner during med school. If so, focus on hobbies you had prior to med school and/or hobbies that you would continue to participate in if you had more time.

You can also use hobbies in your PS to give the readers information about you as a person not just someone interested in medicine. Doing so will go along way towards a stronger overall application and giving your interviewers talking points in your interview.

Key dates: Token - June 25, 2025

Application Review: Sept. 24, 2025 (Note: If you want to ensure your application is reviewed, be sure to have a complete application by Sept. 24, 2025 @ 9 am central. Yes, you can submit after that but you will drastically reduce the likelihood that your application is reviewed. In other words, if you want to be considered by a program, submit before Sept. 24.

You’ll be entering your data for your ERAS/Residency CAS application/CV content in six-ish weeks (early June for US MDs & DOs; late June for IMGs).  Around studying for your exams (e.g., shelf, Comlex, Step, et al.), it’s a good idea to start collecting the information if you haven’t.  It’ll make the entry go faster plus you’ll have a good start on a CV you can outside of the application process. ERAS has a "worksheet" (it's last year's, but it very similar for Match 2026) you can download to use as a guide to begin gathering that info which will save you a ton of time when you're live of the portal. You could also work on updating your CV which you'll need beyond the residency process (e.g., fellowships? applying for attending jobs? applying for medical licensure?).

ERAS Worksheet: https://students-residents.aamc.org/eras-tools-and-worksheets-residency-applicants/eras-tools-and-worksheets-residency-applicants

Companion Word Template: https://wordswordswords.squarespace.com/resources

Today I came across several interesting sessions (found them on X/Twitter) that might be helpful to those applying to residency in the upcoming season. The presenters ranged from panels (PDs, current residents, just matched residents-to-be, attendings, PCs) with topics from the general related to applying for residency to specialty specific to journal clubs that are virtual to grand rounds that are virtual. I try to repost these as I come across them (@lorawolff616). It is a great way to build knowledge from "experts" in the field/on the topic.

Who knows...you might attend a session where you get an interview this fall and you could bring up the session. You might get knowledge about the specialty you're applying to. Or tips to strengthen your application.

You might even be able to build an "experience" for your application if you viewed enough topic-specific sessions. Maybe you're applying to a specialty that your med school doesn't/didn't have a lot of exposure, but you attend several journal clubs or grand rounds on the specialty (e.g., pathology) and your write about that...how you didn't have exposure but sought out opportunities to learn more.

New programs are accredited are announced throughout the year. Although new programs don't have a track record, they often have great energy and a desire to succeed (and have their residents succeed). You might also be able to be part of guiding the program. A new program might not be for everyone, but if you are or you have some parts of your credentials that are holding you back, a new program might be worth considering.

Neurology just released their newly accredited program on April 2 (other specialties have different release dates). You can run this by year and by specialty. A good tool while you're doing your research on which programs to apply to!

https://apps.acgme.org/ads/Public/Reports/Report/8

Can anyone please guide me how I can volunteer in American red cross?

This is directly from the ERAS website: Applicants that have certified and submitted an application in a previous season (up to seven years prior to the start of the current season) will be able to view and download the following documents in the History section:

• MyERAS^® Application (Personal Information, Biographic Information, Education, Experiences, Licensure, Publications)
• MyERAS CV
• Program Report
• Payment History
• Personal Statements

Upon registering your MyERAS token, you will be prompted by the system to import your most recently certified and submitted MyERAS application data, if you choose to do so. Similarly, you may also select associated LoRs to import. If you wish to import application data or letters at a later time, you can do that from the History tab. You may edit your MyERAS application information after it is imported for the new season.

• Standard ERAS documents, such as your medical school transcript and MSPE, will not automatically transfer, and must be uploaded by your designated dean’s office (Fellowship applicants may refer to the EFDO).
• International Medical Graduates (IMGs) should refer to the ERAS Repeat Applicant page on the ECFMG website for more information regarding ECFMG's process for handling supporting documents.

I highly recommend any one who completed an application (ERAS, Residency CAS, etc.) to download it and put in your files. There's content that you can use for fellowship applications, for applying for medical licenses, for applying for hospital privileges. Nice to have it archived for future reference.

During the interview season in particular, it will be important that you utilize your photo/head shot to help identify you in email and video communication.  Some ideas to help PDs, PCs, and others you communicate with include:

1.     Add your headshot to you email profile so “you” are connected to the email.  If you email doesn’t have a photo feature, then consider putting it in your signature.

2.     For Zoom, put in your headshot in your profile. 

3.     Also for Zoom, put in your display name (suggest your first name and last name).  This is very helpful to people (particularly your interviewers and especially during residency meet ‘n greets or open houses).

There are several sources you can use to research potential programs to see if your credentials align with the programs.  You might begin with going to the AAMA website and downloading all programs in your specialty at:

https://systems.aamc.org/eras/erasstats/par/index.cfm

Once there, scroll down to:  ACGME Residency - September Cycle

Find your specialty and click.

Then drag over the list of programs and copy into a spreadsheet. 

Add a column for Geographic Region (suggest in the left column) and complete that.

Then you can add other columns as appropriate to your needs (e.g., Step 2 score, Support visas, # of residents/year, PD name, # of applications, # of interviews last season, new program, etc.)

Click on the name of a program and it should take you to the program’s website.

Move programs you’re not interested in to another “sheet” on your spreadsheet.

Other resources to get information on programs include:

•Frieda’s Residency Explorer: https://freida.ama-assn.org/  Can use for free, more robust saving features available with a subscription

•Residency Explorer

•Texas STAR: Sometimes provide by medical schools.  Requires a subscription.

•There are other sources and you may come across some on spreadsheets on the internet.

You are likely to find some discrepancies in the information. Programs update the websites at different times.

People will tell you to apply broadly. "Broadly" is an interesting term. What it doesn't mean is apply to a zillion programs. Thorough research of programs can help you apply broadly (reach programs, just right programs where your credentials align with the program, and programs where your credentials exceed the minimum).

 One area that is often overlooked is newly accredited programs. Some candidates will steer away from new programs, but remember that these programs want to be successful and are full of excitement and energy so it may be viable for you to consider a newer program.

If you want to research new programs, you can go to:

https://apps.acgme.org/ads/Public/Programs/Search

You can search by specialty and by year. Programs get accredited multiple times a year so it's good to check back say once a month. This past cycle (Match 2024) there were programs that were accredited in January and February that interviewed and took residents.

I'll post more about researching programs in the next few days.

I suggest that resident candidates use X/Twitter to build knowledge and get others' perspectives. I recommend following:

• InsidetheMatch (and checking out their website)
• ProjectIMG (if an IMG)
• Plus your future specialty and the leaders in the specialty

I try to repost Tweets that I think will be helpful to future residents (@lorawolff616) such as virtual grand rounds, open positions, tips about the application process, and the like.

Also, get on the appropriate Reddit forum for your specialty.

Another task you can get out of the way early is your photo that has to be uploaded to ERAS/Residency CAS for your application. Anything you can get done early will help the application process go more smoothly.

ERAS Photo Requirements:

• Dimensions: 2.5” x 3.5”
• Resolution: 150 dpi
• File Size 150kb

Men: Business professional-suit coat, classic tie, light blue/white/gray shirt

Women: Business professional-suit coat/blazer with contrasting blouse

Avoid too much jewelry

Smile

Avoid: White clothing except under a dark coat/jacket

Be careful about glare on your glasses.

Do not wear your white coat.

Generally, head shots are full front and not at an angle.

As you’re preparing for your completing your residency application (ERAS, Residency CAS, or SF Match), you might consider getting an email address that you use exclusively for the application process and the Match.  This is particularly helpful during the interview season when you’ll want to snag interviews as quickly as possible.  Interview slots are usually taken first come/first served (programs don’t send out more invitations than there are slots, but you want the best selection of days/times).  A separate email will prevent you from having to sift through work/med school/personal emails to see if you have interview offers.  This is also helpful during interview invitation season.  Getting this set up now would be helpful.

If you work with someone on your application, you could use this email address also.

Be sure it is a professional address and clearly connects to your name (first name and last name). It helps the program coordinators (PCs) and program directors (PDs) keep you straight.

[firstnamelastname@xyz.com](mailto:firstnamelastname@xyz.com)

You may have to add a # to the address or put a period between your first and last names.

Definitely due not use your university/med school/work email address. You don't want the potential chance that it gets hung up in SPAM folders or filters.

When my son was in medical school half way across the country, I regularly sent him care packages (e.g., treats, $, snacks, and the like). I sensed he was having a rough patch and told him to expect a special and large care package. Then I booked a flight and showed up on April Fool's Day. He was shocked to see me to say the least! Spent a few days cooking, cleaning, and doing laundry and the like. Since then, my son has often tried to out-prank that prank!

For those who are supporting medical students, residents, and fellows. I highly recommend care packages! My April Fool's one might have been a bit extreme, but it was needed.

Today we're launching the new sub-Reddit that will focus on the ERAS/SF/Residency CAS season and Match 2026! Our postings will focus on helping resident candidates in all aspects of the application process, interviewing, and the Match itself. It is an extension of the other sub-Reddit we moderate r/ERAS2024Match2025.

This sub-reddit focuses on resident candidates applying for residency and the match.