The Most Common ERAS Mistakes—and How to Avoid Them
ERAS is your first impression to programs, but most students unintentionally weaken their application with preventable mistakes. These errors don’t reflect intelligence—they reflect lack of guidance. Here’s how to avoid the pitfalls that quietly lower interview invites.
1. Turning Experiences Into Job Descriptions
Listing tasks (“rounded on patients,” “collected data”) adds no value.
Programs want:
- Reflection
- Impact
- Growth
Replace descriptions with stories:
“I learned…”
“This experience taught me…”
2. Writing a Personal Statement With No Theme
A strong statement answers three questions:
- Who are you?
- Why this specialty?
- What future physician are you becoming?
If your PS feels like a résumé in paragraph form, it needs restructuring.
3. Generic Program Signals
Programs can sense when a signal is random.
Show intention:
- Geographic ties
- Prior rotations
- Specialty alignment
- Life goals
Make signals meaningful—not scattered.
4. Weak LoRs From the Wrong People
The worst letters? Generic ones.
The best letters?
- Detailed
- Personal
- Comparative
Choose attendings who know you, not just ones with big titles.
5. Submitting an Application Without a Cohesive Narrative
ERAS should read like a story, not a spreadsheet.