Let’s be honest: Most ERAS applications? They’re boring.
Not because the students are boring. But because the way they present themselves on paper… completely blends into the pile. I say this with love — and with the experience of reviewing 50+ applications and helping students match into their top-choice programs (including competitive ones like ENT, plastic surgery, general surgery).
And I need to tell you something most advisors won’t: Your experiences don’t speak for themselves. It’s your job to make them stand out — clearly, concisely, and compellingly.
Otherwise? You risk getting overlooked by a program director who’s reading application #147 that day, BORED out of their mind, hoping for an applicant who makes them feel something.
Let’s break it down.
Why your ERAS application might be failing you
Here’s the trap most students fall into:
- Trying to “sound professional” by using overly complex, robotic language
- Copying the structure of what they’ve seen on sample applications
- Writing vague or repetitive descriptions that don’t show impact
- Assuming the name of the organization or title of the activity is enough to impress
Here’s the truth:
✔ A title like “Research Assistant” doesn’t mean anything without context
✔ Being part of a committee doesn’t show leadership if you don’t explain what you did (and what impact it had)
✔ Volunteering for 100 hours doesn’t mean you learned anything if you don’t reflect on it
And the result?
You blend in. Your application becomes another forgettable page in a stack of hundreds. And you miss out on interviews you were completely qualified for.
Now that we’ve called it out… let’s fix it.
How to make your ERAS application stand out
Step 1: Start every description with a power action verb
Weak: “I was involved in organizing health events for the community.”
Strong: “Led the planning and execution of 3 community health events attended by 200+ underserved patients.”
Avoid passive phrasing. You want to start each entry with a word that shows initiative and involvement — verbs like led, created, implemented, facilitated, presented, mentored, collaborated.
This immediately signals that you played an active role and weren’t just along for the ride.
Step 2: Quantify your impact whenever possible
Numbers catch the eye and give concrete proof of your contribution.
Weak: “Participated in clinic activities and provided support.”
Strong: “Assisted in patient education for 25+ individuals per shift in a free clinic setting, focusing on diabetes and hypertension management.”
How many hours? How many patients? What outcomes did you help achieve?
Even small contributions become powerful when made specific.
Step 3: Highlight your role — not just the group
One of the most common mistakes I see: describing what “we” did without saying what you did.
Weak: “Our research team investigated the role of X in Y and presented findings…”
Strong: “Compiled and analyzed data for 300+ patient charts; co-authored abstract presented at the AAMC conference.”
Program directors want to know what you contributed, learned, and gained from the experience — not just that you were present.
Step 4: Use professional but natural language
Here’s your permission slip: You don’t need to sound like a thesaurus.
Keep your language professional, yes — but let it sound like something a real person wrote (and please, no chatGPT!).
Avoid overcomplicated phrases like: “Undertook a rigorous endeavor to develop my interpersonal acumen through diverse interdisciplinary interactions…”
Instead say: “Improved my communication skills by coordinating care with nurses, attendings, and patients during daily rounds.”
You’re writing for humans. Make it readable.
Step 5: End with a reflection — if space allows
The best activity descriptions don’t just describe what you did. They show why it mattered to you.
Even a one-sentence takeaway can elevate your entry:
- “This experience solidified my desire to pursue internal medicine.”
- “I developed a deeper understanding of patient-centered care and health equity.”
- “Reinforced my commitment to surgical education and mentorship.”
This helps programs understand what kind of physician you’re becoming — and whether your values align with theirs.
Bonus tips to avoid common ERAS mistakes:
✨ Use bullet points for each activity description — they’re easier to read than blocks of text (and this will save you space to use for conveying impact instead of using filler words)
✨ Don’t leave the hobbies section blank — it’s a goldmine for interview conversation (I got asked about my hobbies at every single interview, and many of my students have told me the same)
✨ “Most meaningful experiences” should show personal growth, not just prestige
✨ Assign your documents to programs properly (you’d be shocked how many forget!)
✨ Make sure your personal statement is unique and not just a repeat of your CV
✨ Check every section for clarity, grammar, and impact — multiple times (and ideally, have someone else check it too. I always go over the ERAS descriptions with my students multiple times before they submit their application)
Want help with all of this?
I wrote a 22-page ERAS Guide that walks you through every section of the application — with strategies I’ve used to help 50+ students match into their top-choice residencies. It also includes examples from my own application that helped me match into my top choice general surgery residency program.
You’ll learn how to:
✔ Choose which activities and experiences to include
✔ Write clear, compelling activity descriptions with examples
✔ Select and describe your “most meaningful” experiences
✔ Format and enter research presentations/publications
✔ Write hobbies that make you stand out in a sea of future doctors
✔ Navigate setting/geographic preferences and impactful experiences
All of it — in one easy-to-follow guide.
It’s on sale for a limited time for only $25 right now. Click here to get it here.
Your application is your story. Tell it well. Tell it with clarity. Tell it in a way that gets you in the door.
You’ve worked too hard to let a bland application cost you your dream match.
I’ll help you make sure it doesn’t.