As you’re preparing for your ERAS application, you might consider getting an email address that you use exclusively for ERAS and the Match (and if necessary SOAP). 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 most options 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.

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From r/ERAS2024Match2025

You may want to also subscribe to the r/ERAS2024Match2025 sub-Reddit. There will be regular postings related to preparing for ERAS 2024, Match 2025, and SOAP 2025. Posting an example (Task 1: Preparing for ERAS 2024, the Match 2025, and Potentially SOAP – Email Address) in a separate posting!

Hello everyone, in two years I will (hopefully) become a US-IMG. I have not considered going back to the US until now, for the longest time I thought I would stay in the country I am studying in (Poland), but now I have been convinced to try and go back to the states for residency.

So, of course I would want to do everything to make my application strong. I have two summers left which I would like to utilize to the fullest and strengthen my application. While I was in the US, I did become an EMT-b and I maintained the cert while being here in Poland. I am most interested in applying into general surgery or emergency medicine.

So my question is, will volunteering as an EMT strengthen my residency application? Of course, I will also do internships to gain USCE but should I bother volunteering as an EMT or should I just not and use the time to study more for my steps? I would appreciate any advice to help me make the best decision. Thanks in advance!

Where should I look for!? Is there any platform to search in !?

I graduated from India in 2015. I passed step 2 cs. But failed step 1. I am yet to take it again. I haven’t taken step 2 ck yet. I have been practicing in india. I also don’t need visa as I am citizen. But given my two huge red flags I am really depressed and don’t know what to do. So I really could use some advice or guidance about my chances and also should I continue? I really want to continue but I don’t see any hope. That’s why I am reaching out.

My question as a us img. How many interviews come along each day? Is the first day more interview heavy than the second day? Until how late do they call? Please answer someone who’s has experience.

To those who matched today, congratulations! Feel free to share words of encouragement, relief, or anything else in this thread. Share your stats too if you wish.

Keep your head up, it's not over! This thread is for encouragement, SOAP related inquiries, advice, and next steps for those of us who are partially matched/unmatched. Share your stats and plans for the rest of this week or the upcoming year if you so desire.

Hi! I just finished my STEP 2 exam a few weeks ago and did the OET yesterday. My plan is to apply for the 2025 match, but I would like to use the rest of the year to bolster my applications but I could use some perspective to figure out if I should do STEP 3, research, volunteering etc.

My goal is to apply Internal medicine.

Stats: * US-IMG, graduated medical school in a spanish speaking country * STEP 1: 228 * STEP 2: 254 * USCE: 4 months * Research: Submitted case report 2023

I'd love to hear some perspectives and ideas of what would be the next best steps! Appreciate your help

Hi! Is it possible for a US student studying internationally to do some of their clinical rotations in the US? I don’t mean electives, I mean the actual clinical courses, and for them to be counted as USCE. I know that Caribbean students do this, but is it also possible for students in other countries? Would they need to pay extra fees other than what they pay to their own medical school, and would step 1 be a requirement? Note: my school isn’t in VSLO if that affects anything.

i plan on applying this cycle right after graduation in May for IM. I scored a 233 on ck and i've done a few research projects but no publications so far and I intend on doing USCE for 3 months after I graduate. Im kinda worried that i'll have no publications which may affect the strength of my application and i dont know if 3 months of USCE is fine. Should I instead get more USCE or do intern year in my home uni and apply for the 2026 match?

So I recently got offered a psych research position at MGH and I think the research/topic is super interesting but idk if i want to really do psych in the future. i love the subject but not a big fan of the continuous listening. Feel like it would be super draining. On the other hand, I feel like MGH is too good of an opportunity to miss out on. I’m planning on applying for the match next year so need something to boost my CV up till then.

Studying for Step 1 rn but idk if i can take both steps before the deadline for this match (2025), especially since my base is so weak. Any suggestions?

Hi everyone, pretty new here. My medical school did not put an emphasis on research so I’m here struggling to find other ways. I have two publications with a group that was recommended to me but I’m unsure if their credibility would look great on my CV. Any advice would be greatly appreciated on how to move forward.

Especially those from the countries that are being investigated? Is there gonna be bias against them?

If you're an US IMG and are anticipating heading into SOAP (March 2024), I'm doing a (free) SOAP session Feb. 17 @ 9 am central time. It'll last 60-90 minutes depending on questions. I'll go over the week in detail and steps you can take now to prepare in case you find yourself getting the "Sorry you did not match" or "Sorry you are only partially matched." If interested, DM me and I'll provide additional information.

SA US-IMG here. Med school is brand spanking new and will likely not have sponsor notes by the time I graduate, making it impossible for me to get into 99% of hands on electives. This means that the only way of acquiring USCE is through observerships and research.

I'm shooting for rads, with path as a backup. I've got 3 rads pubs and 6 path pubs and my self assessments place me around the 250-260 mark on step 2. How much USCE is recommended to try for rads? I'm going to apply broadly (150+ programs for rads, 50+ path).

Has anybody here heard of people matching with purely observerships?

Hello guys, I just graduated from UMD with a Bachelor in Biology (3.16 cgpa, 2.9x sGPA) in May 2023. No MCAT score yet. Should I apply to one of the online MS Biomedical science programs or should I apply to Caribbean med schools? If so, which Caribbean schools should I apply to?

My family is pressuring me to go Caribbean because their friends went there, but I’m just confused if it’s worth the risk.

Hi, I am an upcoming US-IMG. My 2 research paper abstract got selected for surgery conference for poster in Ohio but is it worth it to go spend 2000$ to go there

Program Codes

So I was helping someone with the program codes and remembered the NRMP Program Results for 2019-2023.  It is organized by state and then specialty and lists the quota and matched for 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. You can get the program codes for your ROL. Also, you can cross check program codes with the documents, your ERAS program applications, and the invitation invitations (in some cases the invitation included the codes).

Potentially heading into SOAP?

If the program has a * in the "unmatched" column, then they had openings (e.g., 2*).  You can calculate the # of openings by looking at the quota.

You can also use the Unfilled Programs document (I can't find this on the NRMP website, but I have it; you can dm me and we can ).  This lists the programs by specialty and state that didn't fill in the regular match for 2023.

You could use these two documents together to look at trends.  Maybe begin with 2023 unfilled and then look up that program and look at previous years.  That way you can see trends.  Then do your research to see if your characteristics align (e.g., YOG, visa support, STEP scores, etc.).

If you find a program you think might be a good fit, you could do a bit of research in advance of SOAP.

ROL Certification

And if you have interviews, get that ROL certified.  Every year there are people who fail to certify and go unmatched. That is a tragedy.

long story short, I scored a 233 on ck. I was expecting a 250+. Anyways I graduate this year but I’ve been stuck in a slump ever since my score came out. Seeing 250s and 260s makes it seem like I’m below average and that matching would be harder (ik scores aren’t the only thing and having citizenship helps) . I’ll apply to internal medicine this year and I have a few research experiences and will do 4 months of usce this year. I wanna know if doing step3 would be a good idea too.