Supplemental ERAS Application 2022-2023

There are many components to creating a successful MyERAS Application, and during the 2021-2022 Match cycle the AAMC introduced a new one: the Supplemental ERAS Application. They designed this application “to help students share more about themselves and assist program directors in finding applicants that fit their programs’ setting and mission.” Below, we will explore the requirements and impact of this application in the 2022-2023 Match cycle.

Initially, there was a lot of confusion about what information should be included in the Supplemental ERAS Application, as well as how this would affect the process for both applicants and program directors.

After a year of experience and consultation, we now have a clear understanding of what to expect within the Supplemental ERAS Application.

First, let’s talk about what this application consists of and who may need to complete it.

Do all residency applicants need to complete the Supplemental ERAS Application?

Applicants in the following specialties during the 2022-23 Match cycle may need to complete this new ERAS component:

• Adult Neurology
• Anesthesiology
• Dermatology
• Radiology (diagnostic and interventional)
• Emergency Medicine
• Internal Medicine (categorical)
• General Surgery
• Internal Medicine/Psychiatry
• Neurological Surgery
• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Orthopedic Surgery
• Pediatrics
• Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
• Preventive Medicine
• Psychiatry

On September 7th, 2022, the AAMC will begin sending invitations with personalized links to applicants who save or apply to a program in one of the specialties above.

The Supplemental ERAS Application is optional, but we highly recommend it if any of the programs you apply to participate. Beginning in early July, the AAMC will provide a list of residency programs participating in the Supplemental Application on their website.

What is the timeline for the Supplemental ERAS Application?

Per the AAMC:

What content is included in the Supplemental ERAS Application?

There are three sections of the application:

1. Past Experiences – The experiences section is divided into two parts, meaningful experiences and impactful experiences. You can choose up to 5 experiences, but each is allotted only 300 characters so it is best to be concise and to the point while also providing context for the reader. The impactful experiences section allows 750 characters and can include more personal details about hardships you have overcome on your road to residency.
2. Geographic Preferences – The geographic information section gives the opportunity for an applicant to describe their interest in particular geographic divisions or urban or rural settings.
3. Program signaling – Program signaling allows applicants to express heightened interest in a residency program at the time of application. In turn, these signals are intended to help program directors identify these applicants more easily. Program signaling does NOT affect the number of applications you submit. However, each specialty provides a limit to the amount of programs you can flag as preferred.

You can find more information on the AAMC website.

How was the Supplemental ERAS Application used by Program Directors?

The introduction of the Supplemental ERAS Application created new ways for applicants to set themselves apart, as well as for Program Directors to filter through the large pool of candidates. Some programs found it helpful to use the geographic preferences as a way to consider candidates they previously may have overlooked due to a stark difference in geographic lifestyle. Similarly, many Program Directors utilized the program signaling heavily from the moment they had access to the submissions by filtering for those that had marked their program as preferred. Directors found this was a quick way to gauge candidates with a genuine interest. 

With Match season almost in full swing, let us help save you time. If you need assistance optimizing and editing your Personal Statement, Letters of Recommendation, or the written sections of your MyERAS Application, contact our Support team by emailing us at support@residencyexperts.com or calling (858)-221-8580 to see how we can help!

Learn more about Editing and Optimization for the Supplemental ERAS Application here.