Return Of Documents Service & Post-Match Scramble

Hello people ! Bracin' up for the match yet ? Do you feel the passing time getting longer and patience getting shorter? Probably a bad time to remind you fellas of the post-match scramble - but being prepared is ...well being prepared :-)

With your documents resting with the ECFMG, many USMLEtoMD readers had a question about getting those documents back on time for the scramble. As most of you should already know - ERAS Support Services at ECFMG’s Return of Document Service (RODS) allows international medical students and graduates who apply to residency programs via the AAMC’s Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) to request the return of eligible documents.

Hopefully, most programs will request your application to be forwarded only through ERAS - but some may want you to fax them or you might exceed the 30-program limit on applying to programs via ERAS during the scramble.

1. Apply for the RODS service as soon as you can - expected to begin anytime in February, keep checking back into your OASIS accounts - the link to a RODs request would be the last one on the left side-bar, after you logon to OASIS

2. If you are not located in the US, you could give a US mailing address if you got a friend / relative staying in the US - that should make it faster. Yes, ECFMG will mail it to the US address for you instead of international - the disadvantage being that a tracking service will not be provided for US shipping. Once the documents are received, all your US contact needs to do is scan them for you and e-mail them to you for the scramble.

3. RODS service DOES NOT return the Letters of Recommendation that you waived your right to see - which I have already covered in the disadvantages of waiving one's right to view LORs. In that case, as ECFMG suggests:

"Instruct the programs to retrieve the documents electronically using the ERAS Program Directors’ Workstation. If there are unusual or extenuating circumstances, program coordinators may send a written inquiry to eras-support@ecfmg.org. The subject line should include your name and USMLE/ECFMG identification number. Programs must detail the unusual or extenuating circumstances and provide their contact information in the e-mail."

OR if it's possible to get another original copy of the letter from the recommender ...Now is the Time !


And if you are someone not participating in the coming scramble, but getting ready for the next match season - your take-home lesson is:

"Make good-quality Copies of All original Documents before submitting to ERAS for Residency Applications", so that you are assured of having faxable copies in hand on time for the scramble.



Also Read:

- RODS FAQs on ECFMG