ERAS Application Experience Entries: One Size Does Not Fit All

ERAS Experience Descriptions

Just as there is no “right” way to compose your residency personal statement there is also no one way to approach the ERAS application entry descriptions. Most applicants follow three primary styles:

The full description with insights approach

This approach #1 allows the applicant to write not only about his roles and responsibilities but also about what he might have learned or what insights he gained through a particular experience. Some people might advise you that this approach results in descriptions that are too lengthy, but with only 1020 characters allowed per description, you really can’t become too verbose.

I advise using this approach since it offers the greatest opportunity to showcase your accomplishments and insights. If the person reading your application would prefer to read less, she can always skim your entries,. It is best to use the space allowed to highlight your experiences, which will hopefully motivate the reader to meet you and click the interview box.”

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The shorter description approach

Using this approach, the applicant writes in full sentences about each description in a concrete fashion. She writes about what she did and her roles and responsibilities but does not include any additional insight or about “lessons learned.” This allows the descriptions to be complete but shorter than if the applicant took approach #1.