03-14-2008, 11:11 AM
SCRAMBLE ADVISORY FOR APPLICANTS
This Advisory is to educate applicants about how ERAS may be used during the
2008 Scramble period. Receiving this Advisory does not imply anything whatsoever about your NRMP Match status. All registered ERAS users will receive this notice. It should be used as a resource in preparation for the Scramble period, should you need it.
* Contact Programs: If you are unmatched, you should contact the program director of programs with unfilled position(s) before sending any information.
Program directors have been advised to post a voicemail or reply e-mail message outlining the necessary steps you need to apply to their program. The instructions should include whether they wish to receive documents via ERAS or e-mail.
* Scramble Dates: This year's Scramble runs from 12:00 noon EST on Tuesday, March 18th to 12 noon EST on Thursday, March 20th. During this time, the Scramble version of ERAS will be available.
Note: The MyERAS Web site will be open prior to 12 noon EST on Tuesday, March 18th to allow applicants to prepare their application for Scramble. However, any programs applied to before Scramble starts will incur the regular ERAS fee.
* Before Scramble: In the next few days, you should access MyERAS and confirm that the information in your Profile is up-to-date. You may also want to look at your Personal Statement to see if you should create a new one for Scramble.
* Computer Access: Use Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher to access MyERAS. If you are a Mac user, please use Firefox as your browser; we do not recommend using Safari for Macs.
* Scramble ERAS: During Scramble, applicants may apply to a maximum of thirty
(30) new programs and fifteen (15) programs to which you have already applied free of charge from 12 noon EST March 18th - 12 noon EST March 20th. Sending ERAS applications, during Scramble, is free if applicants meet the following
criteria: must have participated in ERAS during the regular season (applied to and paid for at least one program) and their account must be paid in full no less than two weeks prior to the Scramble period.
Note: 30 new programs and 15 reapply programs is an absolute maximum - applicants will not be able to apply to more than that during the Scramble period.
* ERAS Fees: Applicants with outstanding balances will not be allowed access to ERAS during Scramble. Check your account history for confirmation that previously submitted payment(s) have been received and processed. There will be no ERAS fees charged for applications transmitted during the ERAS Scramble period. If, however, you access MyERAS before 12 noon EST on Tuesday and you apply to programs before 12 noon EST, you will be charged for those programs.
Do not attempt to preempt the Scramble system. Note: 45 is an absolute maximum for programs (30 new and 15 reapply) to which you may apply - you will not be able to apply to more than 45 programs via ERAS during the Scramble period, even if you are willing to pay a fee to do so.
* Applying to Programs: During Scramble, select the programs to which you wish to apply. The NRMP's unfilled list will have the ACGME ID for the unfilled programs. Use the ACGME ID to search for and select programs quickly. The selected programs will appear on your 'Programs Selected' list.
Select the 'Apply to Programs' tab for a list of selected programs to send your application. Then, click the 'Apply to Programs' button. You will see an invoice with zero ERAS fees. Be sure to make any appropriate document assignment changes prior to applying, especially if you have special Scramble documents you would like to send. Once you see these programs on your "Programs Applied To" list, you know your applications have been transmitted.
* Reapplying to Programs: If you wish to reapply to a program during Scramble that you have previously applied to, click on the 'Reapply to Programs' tab.
You will then need to click on the check boxes in front of the programs where you wish to reapply. Once you click on the 'Reapply to Programs' button the applicable programs will show up under the 'Programs Applied to' tab with a description of 'reapplied' next to the program. Visit the Preparing for Scramble Web site (http://www.aamc.org/students/eras/info_s.../start.htm)
to view instructions for the reapply feature.
* USMLE/COMLEX Transcripts: The National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME), the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME) and the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) will process transcript requests received during the Scramble period. Applicants who have not previously requested electronic transmission of USMLE/COMLEX transcripts through ERAS will be charged the $50 NBME/NBOME/ECFMG fee. Applicants who have already transmitted scores via ERAS will not incur additional transcript fees.
* Applicant Document Tracking System (ADTS): During Scramble, there will be a special Scramble Edition of ADTS called ADTS Lite. It will not have all the functionality of the regular ADTS; however it will provide the necessary information to let you know whether programs have downloaded your application.
Special Scramble Rules apply:
- ADTS Lite will be available from 12 noon EST - 6:00 pm EST on Tuesday, March 18th.
- You will only be able to see the disposition of applications transmitted
during Scramble only (beginning 12 noon EST on Tuesday), including the 15
programs to which you reapply.
- Since all documents are generally transmitted together, individual documents will not be displayed.
- You will have the ability to view two options: 'Application has been
uploaded to the ERAS PostOffice' and 'Application has been downloaded by the
program'.
- Normal ADTS functionality resumes after 6 pm on Tuesday, March 18th.
* Post Scramble: At 12 noon EST on Thursday, March 20th, the ERAS Scramble period will end. Any programs applied to after that time will incur regular ERAS fees. If you do not locate a residency position during Scramble, consider our sister service, FindAResident (FAR). A number of programs will enter their post-match vacancies into the FAR service. FAR is an online service that brings together programs looking to fill positions with applicants seeking positions. Residency programs advertise post-match vacancies and applicants post their resumes for review. FAR allows you to search for open positions and notify programs of your interest online. Find out more about this service at www.aamc.org/students/findaresident.
For more information, visit our Preparing for Scramble Web page at:
http://www.aamc.org/students/eras/info_s.../start.htm. Please contact the ERAS HelpDesk at (202) 828-0413, M-F from 8am - 6pm EST, or at myeras@aamc.org with your questions about MyERAS. Contact the NRMP at (202) 828-0566 with your National Resident Matching Program questions.
This Advisory is to educate applicants about how ERAS may be used during the
2008 Scramble period. Receiving this Advisory does not imply anything whatsoever about your NRMP Match status. All registered ERAS users will receive this notice. It should be used as a resource in preparation for the Scramble period, should you need it.
* Contact Programs: If you are unmatched, you should contact the program director of programs with unfilled position(s) before sending any information.
Program directors have been advised to post a voicemail or reply e-mail message outlining the necessary steps you need to apply to their program. The instructions should include whether they wish to receive documents via ERAS or e-mail.
* Scramble Dates: This year's Scramble runs from 12:00 noon EST on Tuesday, March 18th to 12 noon EST on Thursday, March 20th. During this time, the Scramble version of ERAS will be available.
Note: The MyERAS Web site will be open prior to 12 noon EST on Tuesday, March 18th to allow applicants to prepare their application for Scramble. However, any programs applied to before Scramble starts will incur the regular ERAS fee.
* Before Scramble: In the next few days, you should access MyERAS and confirm that the information in your Profile is up-to-date. You may also want to look at your Personal Statement to see if you should create a new one for Scramble.
* Computer Access: Use Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher to access MyERAS. If you are a Mac user, please use Firefox as your browser; we do not recommend using Safari for Macs.
* Scramble ERAS: During Scramble, applicants may apply to a maximum of thirty
(30) new programs and fifteen (15) programs to which you have already applied free of charge from 12 noon EST March 18th - 12 noon EST March 20th. Sending ERAS applications, during Scramble, is free if applicants meet the following
criteria: must have participated in ERAS during the regular season (applied to and paid for at least one program) and their account must be paid in full no less than two weeks prior to the Scramble period.
Note: 30 new programs and 15 reapply programs is an absolute maximum - applicants will not be able to apply to more than that during the Scramble period.
* ERAS Fees: Applicants with outstanding balances will not be allowed access to ERAS during Scramble. Check your account history for confirmation that previously submitted payment(s) have been received and processed. There will be no ERAS fees charged for applications transmitted during the ERAS Scramble period. If, however, you access MyERAS before 12 noon EST on Tuesday and you apply to programs before 12 noon EST, you will be charged for those programs.
Do not attempt to preempt the Scramble system. Note: 45 is an absolute maximum for programs (30 new and 15 reapply) to which you may apply - you will not be able to apply to more than 45 programs via ERAS during the Scramble period, even if you are willing to pay a fee to do so.
* Applying to Programs: During Scramble, select the programs to which you wish to apply. The NRMP's unfilled list will have the ACGME ID for the unfilled programs. Use the ACGME ID to search for and select programs quickly. The selected programs will appear on your 'Programs Selected' list.
Select the 'Apply to Programs' tab for a list of selected programs to send your application. Then, click the 'Apply to Programs' button. You will see an invoice with zero ERAS fees. Be sure to make any appropriate document assignment changes prior to applying, especially if you have special Scramble documents you would like to send. Once you see these programs on your "Programs Applied To" list, you know your applications have been transmitted.
* Reapplying to Programs: If you wish to reapply to a program during Scramble that you have previously applied to, click on the 'Reapply to Programs' tab.
You will then need to click on the check boxes in front of the programs where you wish to reapply. Once you click on the 'Reapply to Programs' button the applicable programs will show up under the 'Programs Applied to' tab with a description of 'reapplied' next to the program. Visit the Preparing for Scramble Web site (http://www.aamc.org/students/eras/info_s.../start.htm)
to view instructions for the reapply feature.
* USMLE/COMLEX Transcripts: The National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME), the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME) and the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) will process transcript requests received during the Scramble period. Applicants who have not previously requested electronic transmission of USMLE/COMLEX transcripts through ERAS will be charged the $50 NBME/NBOME/ECFMG fee. Applicants who have already transmitted scores via ERAS will not incur additional transcript fees.
* Applicant Document Tracking System (ADTS): During Scramble, there will be a special Scramble Edition of ADTS called ADTS Lite. It will not have all the functionality of the regular ADTS; however it will provide the necessary information to let you know whether programs have downloaded your application.
Special Scramble Rules apply:
- ADTS Lite will be available from 12 noon EST - 6:00 pm EST on Tuesday, March 18th.
- You will only be able to see the disposition of applications transmitted
during Scramble only (beginning 12 noon EST on Tuesday), including the 15
programs to which you reapply.
- Since all documents are generally transmitted together, individual documents will not be displayed.
- You will have the ability to view two options: 'Application has been
uploaded to the ERAS PostOffice' and 'Application has been downloaded by the
program'.
- Normal ADTS functionality resumes after 6 pm on Tuesday, March 18th.
* Post Scramble: At 12 noon EST on Thursday, March 20th, the ERAS Scramble period will end. Any programs applied to after that time will incur regular ERAS fees. If you do not locate a residency position during Scramble, consider our sister service, FindAResident (FAR). A number of programs will enter their post-match vacancies into the FAR service. FAR is an online service that brings together programs looking to fill positions with applicants seeking positions. Residency programs advertise post-match vacancies and applicants post their resumes for review. FAR allows you to search for open positions and notify programs of your interest online. Find out more about this service at www.aamc.org/students/findaresident.
For more information, visit our Preparing for Scramble Web page at:
http://www.aamc.org/students/eras/info_s.../start.htm. Please contact the ERAS HelpDesk at (202) 828-0413, M-F from 8am - 6pm EST, or at myeras@aamc.org with your questions about MyERAS. Contact the NRMP at (202) 828-0566 with your National Resident Matching Program questions.
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