Re: scramble
InSitu - 01-22-08 20:05

On scramble day the less docuemtns you send the better. Remember that the fax and email you are sending is unsolicited so the best way to go about that is to send a good coverpage and then if they request to send ALL docuemtns then prepare all for submission. ERAS is the best bet to send docuemtns if requested by the program after viewing your coverpage. ERAS holds all your official documents. Anyone please add.

Re: scramble
radhamesramos - 01-22-08 21:06

But through ERAS you can only apply to 30 programs, no more. Documents shoud be: ECFMG certificate, Grades, LORS, ERAS cv, and that's it. Some programs would like the Personal Statement.

Re: scramble
medinfo21 - 01-23-08 15:22

Hi Insitu,
Can u please explain me in detail about Coverpage, that we have to send to programs during scramble. Thanks.

Re: scramble
docraj - 01-23-08 17:18

forget the scramble it never works. Believe me I tried it

Re: scramble
InSitu - 01-23-08 21:19



Too many applicants for a limited number of positions not everyone get a chance but not trying is also not a good choice. You never know when it works for you and very hard to tell.

Re: scramble
radhamesramos - 01-24-08 10:22

Try a paid service, do it yourself and with some friends and use ERAS 30 programs....I did all that last year and got nothing...but maybe that's me, so good luck to you

Re: scramble documents needed?
medinfo21 - 01-24-08 22:01

Hi Insitu,
I am waiting for ur reply.
can u plz tell me what is cover page ( to submit to programs during scramble).
what should i include in it?
thanks.

Re: scramble documents needed?
InSitu - 01-24-08 22:18



Coverpage should include everything a residency program will be interested in seeing. Exams scores, year graduation, UCSE, Citizenship, Languages, and introduction to you and major accomplishments. Of course your email and phone number.

Re: scramble documents needed?
medinfo21 - 01-29-08 12:29

Hi Insitu,
Do you mean CV? coverpage and CV both r same?

Re: scramble documents needed?
TheOne - 02-06-08 20:25



In someway they look similar to each other.

Re: scramble documents needed?
InSitu - 02-06-08 21:22

A coverpage is smaller version of your CV. In other words tell residency programs your credentials, if you meet their credentials and they are interested they wil call you and ask you to send the rest of the documents through ERAS or fax.

Re: scramble documents needed?
katiaf - 02-06-08 21:50

radhamesramos, hi,

Can you comment about "paid services" to help send documents during scramble? I imagine something like the eletronic residence.com. Do you know some others? Are they helpful and honest? Thanks.

Re: scramble documents needed?
mindswapper - 02-07-08 16:37

@ Insitu,

I was thinking I should send all my documents.

What would the Electronic Residency do? Don't they send the whole application profile (incl. CV, CAF, LoRs, MSPE, transcript, USMLE scores, etc) in the 1st few minutes of the Scramble?

Is sending a cover letter itself enuff?

Re: scramble documents needed?
TheOne - 02-07-08 16:42



No one would go through all your documents on the scramble day, cover letter would be fair enough to drag attention.

Re: scramble documents needed?
mindswapper - 02-07-08 16:44



Then what does the Electronic Residency send in the 1st few minutes?

Re: scramble documents needed?
TheOne - 02-07-08 17:43

Let's ask InSitu..

Re: scramble documents needed?
InSitu - 02-07-08 18:03

The scramble submission on the first minute should not be more than a coverpage. You do not want to flood residency programs with documents they have not asked you to send yet. You need to tell them who you are and your credentials and if they like you then they have many options:

1. They will look up your application online with Electronic Residency
2. They will ask you to fax all your documents
3. They will ask you to send an ERAS application

If everyone sends 20 docuemnts imagine what will happen to residency programs on that day. Yes there is still many who flood the programs and these will most likely thrown away. Since ELectronic Residency are the first to send they will not compete against thier own customers sending all docuemtns, but only a cover page. Then program will access rest of the application online through a unique code by fax, and by email they send your information along with a direct link to your porfolio. Residency programs do not like attachments and thats why electronic residency provides them with a direct link to your documents.

ELectronic Residency hosts the largest applicant database for the scramble and you will be part of the database even if you do not pay for the service. Their paid service includes the fax and email and featured placement in their database.

Re: scramble documents needed?
katiaf - 02-07-08 18:18

InSitu, Hi,

But if you are not using Eletronic Residency (U$635) and you are applying through ERAS (maximum of 30 programs you can apply at scramble) you do not have to send any faxes, isn't it? I say that because I think the Program Director can access your eletronic file at ERAS database. Am I correct? Of course phone calls and emails you can and should do to be more aggressive, and other people cannot do that for you.

Re: scramble documents needed?
InSitu - 02-07-08 18:36

Yes thats true. You have to make a decision to fax and email or not if yes then consider a service. Why? Because you will not suceed doing it on your own, period. If you do not fax or email then devote yourself to calling the unfilled from your NRMP account and use the 30 application limit through ERAS.

Re: scramble documents needed?
InSitu - 02-07-08 18:37

The good thing about faxing and emailing is that you are exposing yourself to ALL available programs and not only limited to the 30 applications through ERAS which is not fax or email submission.

Re: scramble documents needed?
katiaf - 02-07-08 19:17

Thanks, In Situ,

And sorry if I insist on this point, I just want to make it clear for me, and hopefully others.

If you apply during scramble through ERAS (limit 30) you don't need to FAX because your file (CV, PS, transcripts, etc) are in the eletronic database. You need to FAX documents only if u are going to apply to extra (more than 30) programs. Then services like eletronicresidency ($$$) will help you. Is that correct?

Re: scramble documents needed?
InSitu - 02-07-08 23:42



You are looking to expose your application to the maximum number of programs and that is ELectronic Residnecy faxing and emailing. ERAS simple does not reach all and the same for phone calling since most numbers are busy on Scramble day. But remember phone calling the programs has a great importance in improving your chances same as faxing emailing and ERAS. I know few people who got residency position calling the programs.

Re: scramble documents needed?
InSitu - 02-07-08 23:45

You said "If you apply during scramble through ERAS (limit 30) you don't need to FAX "


I do not see why sending 30 (Only 30 applications) through ERAS means no fax. rememebr what I said: there are 4 things you must to to improve your chaces to the max on scramble day:

1. ERAS
2. Fax
3. EMail
4. Phone call

none replaces the other.

Re: scramble documents needed?
InSitu - 02-07-08 23:46

By the way ERAS DOES NOT fax and email. ERAS provide same access toyour application same as the pre match perio which is thorugh download only.

Re: scramble documents needed?
radhamesramos - 02-09-08 15:13

it is like a second roundof applications. Actually it was proposed a couple of years ago, to avoid the scramble problems, and give a fair opporunity to all