Why to save the CAF after the Residency Match ?

While ERAS is certainly getting better each year with new features, a lot still remains to be desired - like, having all residency programs mention their selection criteria, USMLE score cut-offs and visa policies uploaded and visible through MyERAS itself - hmmm...on second thoughts, that would put the IMG friendly programs list blog out of service ;-)

After the NRMP match is over, all that data that you typed in onto the Common Application Form (CAF) on the Electronic Residency Application System (ERAS), will be wiped out or deleted on May 31st. After that even though you will have the same AAMC ID when you re-register for the next match, you will be handed a clean slate on the MyERAS application to fill in information totally afresh - the Personal Statements will be deleted too.

All you have to do is open the CAF using the "View your CAF" button under the "Application" tab after you logon to MyERAS, then copy-paste the entire CAF onto a word document / notepad, so that you can simply copy-paste the same when its time to reapply or while applying later for fellowships.

Unmatched candidates are more than likely to have already saved the CAF and Personal statements onto their computers while participating in the scramble, but if not, read on...

You would probably not forget the time and efforts it took for you to jog backwards on your memory lanes to recollect mentionable things that you did or achieved and then writing up a summary of that in a presentable & concise way, while filling up information on the CAF during the residency application time. Hence, if you did not make it in the match and will be reapplying, it certainly makes sense to save up your CAF and personal statements for reuse, if not already. Not that you can save and then 'upload' it directly for the next season, but copy-pasting from a saved copy is still much desirable that typing again and besides, it will save you from forgetting things to add.

Saving the CAF also makes sense for candidates who matched - how ?

1. All the information will come in handy and convenient to copy-paste while applying for fellowships

2. Useful for candidates who intend to apply again for the next match to try and shift to another program.

One might wonder why MyERAS would not let all that data just sit there - the biggest reason against that would be there is no way of knowing before hand, if an applicant will be reapplying for the match or not.

Well...a simple, teeny-weeny tip for sure - but worth it later and if you did it before May 31st....so quit looking at this article and hurry ;-)

Where do you mention USCE (Observerships / Externships ) etc. on the CAF ?

Been thinking on that question lately ? Well, here's some help !


My apologies for a small digression = One of the problems that the Medical informaticians face is trying to 'structure' all medical information so that it becomes computable - of course the objective is noble, but trying to fit something as fuzzy as medicine into binary predefined templates is a very long shot, in fact almost impossible. For example, you can never have just have a "Yes" and "No" dropdown for a question as simple as "Does the patient have clubbing of the nails?", coz' even for the same patient, different physicians will answers like "yes", "no", "not sure", "maybe", "need second opinion". etc. , depending on their experience, expertise and perceptions. Almost nothing in medicine operates on rigid single-values, is mostly a range.

Likewise, while the CAF on the MyERAS application tries its best to 'structure' all candidate responses, there will always be information that does not have a well defined space to fill in !

A common question is where should the candidates mention those various types of non-curricular clinico-medical experiences (Both US and Non-US) like Observerships, Externships, Electives, Externships, etc.

This is what the CAF clearly mentions below the Experiences section title bar"

"Include Clinical and Teaching experience as work experiences, include all unpaid extra-curricular activities and committees you have served on as volunteer experiences "

That should include all types of clinical experiences - including Observerships. Though some say it would go as voluntary experience - but my principle is, do not undersell yourself and besides, as an observer, you are really gaining work experience and not volunteering your services to the hospital.

If it is of any help - I have put up a sample filled out section for an Observership experience on the Page 5 of ERAS - Check it out by clicking on the accompanying image on the left.


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There will also be additional points on your resume that you may not find a predefined 'structured' place on the CAF for - for example, some candidates might take some Continued Medical Education (CME) credits or short courses like BLS (Basic Life Support), ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) . etc - Where Do you mention All those ?

Use the "Other Awards/Accomplishments" sub-section located on Page 12 (Miscellaneous section) of the CAF for all such information




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