As an older candidate, you generally have a lot to offer by way of clinical, research, volunteer, and other experience in the medical field. While this is good for showing programs you have stayed relevant in the medical field, it can also be a double-edged sword. The message your residency application conveys to Program Directors and Interview Committees must be carefully balanced between your experience and an openness to learn.

Your ERAS Application needs to convey you are:

• Lifelong learners who are knowledgeable enough to contribute, but flexible enough to not try and teach the teachers.
• Enthusiastic and dedicated to start a new step in your medical career
• Modest about your past achievements, but confident in your ability
• Respectful and appreciative of the education they have to offer
• A team player, able to work with a diverse age group

It may feel complicated, but any candidate who comes off as arrogant or know-it-all by excessive bragging about their past experience will not be received well by Program Directors or Interview Selection Committees. The best traits to focus on are modesty, hard-working, respectful, and flexible.

The most useful thing any candidate with a professional gap can do for themselves is obtain more US clinical experience.

US clinical experience is defined as any hands on work with patients in a US medical environment. Some examples of this are Externships, Clerkships, sub-Internships and any other clinical rotations. Observerships, research and volunteer experience will help, but is not as powerful as US clinical experience.

Other Suggestions:

• Have the reason for your professional gap explained clearly in your MyERAS Application and/or Personal Statement
• During interviews, have a good answer prepared for why you have a gap as well