I was asked to post this by the big dogs over at the AANS.
Questions and Answers Regarding the 2009 Neurosurgical Residency Match Process
As of the 2008-2009 match cycle, neurosurgery has changed from an early match to the NRMP match. Below, we discuss some of the common questions and answers regarding the new match process.
What is NRMP?
The National Resident Matching Program is a non-profit organization established in 1952 to help match and provide a uniform date of appointment for Graduate Medical Education trainees.
What is ERAS?
ERAS stands for Electronic Residency Application System. It is a service that transfers applications, application materials, and supporting documents to the programs where you are interested in applying. ERAS consists of MyERAS (applicant portal), the Dean’s office workstation (Medical School portal), the Program Director’s workstation (Program’s portal) and the post-office (databank that transfers information from the dean’s office to the programs of interest).
How does this process work?
Applicants get an electronic token from their dean’s office. This will allow applicants to log into MyERAS, the application portal.
Applicants complete the residency application and provide supporting documents including letters of recommendation, supporting documents, etc.
Programs contact the ERAS office periodically to download application materials.
What are the important dates with the new match process?
Mid-late June 2008: ERAS 2008-2009 applicant users guide is made available.
July 1, 2008: MyERAS website (https://services.aamc.org/eras/myeras/) is open.
August 15, 2008: Applicant registration begins at 12 pm EST.
September 1, 2008: Institution/program registration begins at 12 pm EST. ERAS post-office opens at 8 am on September 2.
November 30, 2008: Applicant registration deadline (a late fee of $50 must be paid after this date) for applicants who register. NOTE: Some individual programs will have earlier deadlines (for individual program deadlines see http://www.societyns.org/2009%20US%20Neurosurgery%20Program%20Interview%20dates.xls).
January 15, 2009: Rank lists can be submitted starting at 12 pm EST.
February 25, 2009: Applicants and programs must certify their rank order lists by 9 pm EST.
March 16, 2009: Applicants matched and unmatched will be posted to the website at 12 pm EST
March 19, 2009: Match Day…Match results for applicants posted at 1 pm EST.
March 20, 2009: Hospitals send letters of appointment to matched applicants after this date.
Are there registration fees?
The NRMP registration fee for all applicants is $40.00 through November 30. Registrations completed after November 30 will be accepted with an additional $50.00 late fee until the rank order list deadline in February. For the couples match, there is an additional $15 charge for each partner. Additional fees will be made for more than 20 programs for
single applicants and more than 30 programs for each partner of a couple.
ERAS charges processing fees based on the number of programs applied to per specialty. Refer to page 28 of the ERAS 2009 – MyERAS User Guide (Residency) at http://www.aamc.org/students/eras/resources/downloads/2009myerasresidency.pdf.
When will programs grant interviews?
For tentative interview dates, see http://www.societyns.org/2009%20US%20Neurosurgery%20Program%20Interview%20dates.xls. The interview cycle can be highly variable, as some programs have not adjusted to the new ranking system. The best way of checking for interview dates is by contacting the individual program of interest.
How does the NRMP match accommodate couples who are matching?
This may be easier logistically than the early match. The NRMP allows two individuals to form pairs of choices on their primary rank order lists which are then considered in order of preference when the matching algorithm is run. The algorithm considers only a couple’s primary rank order lists when attempting to find a match. For more information see http://www.nrmp.org/res_match/special_part/us_seniors/couples.html
Can a rank-list be changed?
The rank-list can be changed until 9 pm on the deadline for rank-list entry.
How do applicants know if they have matched?
At 12 pm on the Monday of Match Week, March 16, 2009, applicants can find out if they matched by logging into the NRMP website.
How do applicants know if they have not matched?
Unmatched applicants who certify a rank list will be given access to a list of unfilled programs at noon eastern time on Tuesday of Match Week, March 17, 2009.
NOTE: Applicants may not contact unfilled programs prior to noon that Tuesday!
Where can I find more information?
The Society of Neurological Surgeons website related to the match is http://www.societyns.org/match_information.html
The ERAS website is www.aamc.org/audienceeras.htm
The NRMP website is www.nrmp.org