Do These 3 Things Before Submitting your ERAS…
Written by Nina Madjer, MD
The ERAS submission date is just around the corner and now is the time to cross your Ts and dot your Is. The hard work is done. All that is left to do is to hit SUBMIT! Or is it…?
Here are three small things you can do before hitting submit on your application:
Add fun, interesting, BUT TRUE hobbies and interests to that section of your application. I recommend applicants take advantage of this section. Not only is it another way to help programs learn more about you, but it can spark interesting conversations during your interviews. Too often applicants dismiss this section. Instead of elaborating on things they do outside of medicine, they put generic topics like exercising, traveling, leisure reading, and spending time with friends and family. While I’m sure this may all be true, this is an opportunity to think outside the box and be specific.
CAUTION: Make sure your interests and hobbies are real and true. Don’t “spice things up” with false claims of talents or hobbies. It will come back to haunt you. Here are some examples of how to make this section more appealing and interesting.
Example #1: Don’t say: traveling.
-Possible alternatives based on your travels: Traveled to 29 states, road trip fan, hiked through 22 U.S. National Parks.
Example #2: Don’t say: exercising.
-Do say: hiking, marathon training for a Chicago marathon in [insert month/year], weight training
Example #3: Don’t say: leisure reading
Do say: Top 3 favorite books: X, Y, Z. Currently reading: A, B,C
2. Check for grammar or typos
You can print out a copy of your application, which may make it easier to review. Make sure that you and people you trust (friends, family) take one last look over your application. You can also use a free site like Grammarly to review your spelling and grammar. To do this, first, transfer your paragraphs into a Microsoft Word Document alongside the free Grammarly app online. It looks unprofessional if you submit professional documents that have grammatical errors and spelling typos. Maybe a new set of eyes is just what it needs to make sure everything is ready for submission.
3. Be confident in yourself.
This is it! You’ve made it. This is your opportunity to showcase yourself and your professional journey thus far. Be confident in yourself.
Now take a deep breath, it’s time to hit SUBMIT!
