Step-by-Step Guide to the OBGYN Match System with ResidencyCAS for the Upcoming 2024-2025 ERAS Cycle

ResidencyCAS Important Updates for OB GYN residency applicants

While students traditionally have used the MyERAS portal to apply for medical residency in the US, starting with the 2024-2025 application cycle, all OBGYN applicants and programs will use a platform called ResidencyCAS instead of ERAS. Initiated by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) as part of a larger five-year project of the American Medical Association (AMA) that is focused on Revisioning Residency, this transition represents a significant change from previous years and has implications for both applicants and program directors involved in the residency selection process. If you are planning to apply to ob-gyn residency programs in the coming year, please be sure to read the following information carefully to help you understand the new steps involved and enhance your chances for a successful placement.

Section 1: ResidencyCAS Overview of the New OB GYN Match System with ResidencyCAS

In an effort to improve the transition from undergraduate to graduate medical education, and to streamline the process for both applicants and residency program staff, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), along with its Council on Resident Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology (CREOG) and the Association of Professors of Obstetrics and Gynecology (APCO), announced in January 2024 a new application system using the Residency Centralized Application Process known as ResidencyCAS for the 2024-2025 Match cycle. In its announcement, ACOG noted that “the adoption of ResidencyCAS by obstetrics and gynecology residency programs in lieu of the Electronic Residency Application Service, aka ERAS, will help ACOG cultivate a workforce that will sustain our specialty for years to come.”

Reasons cited by the organizers in making the switch from ERAS to ResidencyCAS include:
Streamlined process. The new application platform incorporates the full suite of interview-season functions, including application submission, review, offer and interview, and rank-order list submission. It is said to provide ob-gyn residency applicants with a more efficient application experience.
Lower costs. The new fee structures cut costs for applicants and the overall set of improvements are aimed at reducing administrative burdens forboth applicants and residency program directors.
Improved, more holistic review of applicants. The new service provides more data fields for applicants to present their credentials and allows data to be presented to programs in ways that showcase applicant strengths across multiple domains, expanding beyond the current emphasis on academics, test scores, and grades to other skill sets and abilities.
Improved alignment between applicants and their desired programs. The new Alignment Check Index allows students to compare their own characteristics and experiences with a residency program’s list of values and interests. Along with the program signaling option, the overall effect is intended to enhance the potential for more satisfying and better aligned matches between applicants and programs.

The initiative arose out of a larger research effort funded by the American Medical Association’s Reimagining Residency grant program aimed at improving the transition from undergraduate to graduate medical education. “The new platform’s convenient, easy-to-use application process” says the ACOG announcement, “will provide residency programs with a holistic view of applicants, facilitate exceptional alignment between applicants and programs, and contribute to a diverse workforce well suited to addressing the critical needs of the profession and patients we serve.”

This process is for ob-gyn residency programs only. Dual applicants who want to apply to other specialties in addition to ob-gyn will still need to use ERAS for those other programs. Steps for registering for ERAS and obtaining a token for participation are explained here.

Section 2: ResidencyCAS Detailed Steps of the New OBGYN Match System

Before applying, a good first step is to visit the ResidencyCAS website at where there are resources, tools, and tips for getting started. Another set of resources is provided by the Association of Professors of Gynecology andObstetrics (APGO) at their Right Resident, Right Program, Ready Day One: Applicant Resources webpage.

The following information explains the steps involved in the ob-gyn residency application process. They include:
Registering for ResidencyCAS
Using the Alignment Check Index (ACI)
Preparing Application Materials
Submitting Applications
Application Costs
Program Signaling
the Interview Process
Ranking Programs
Match Day and Post-Match Process

Registering for ResidencyCAS: To access the application, applicants will need to create an account by first obtaining an individual access link. IMGs should first make sure they have their ECFMG ID number. Then, they should fill out the Residency Application Support Form at ECFMG, which will authorize you to use ResidencyCAS and issue the access link via email to the applicant upon receiving the completed form and associated fee. (If there are any complications or questions, you may be contacted by a member of the ECFMG residency application support team.) Please keep in mind that if you are applying for additional specialties, e.g. Internal Medicine or Family Medicine, you also will need to complete the process for obtaining a MyERAS token and apply for those programs separately via ERAS. You can learn more at ECFMG’s webpage for OBGYN residency applicants. Once the access link is obtained, applicants can access the ResidencyCAS portal.

Using the Alignment Check Index (ACI): A key feature of the new application process is to encourage applicants to thoughtfully identify programs that fit with their interests and experiences. In the past, some applicants chose a “scatter shot approach,” thinking that they should apply to as many programs as possible in the hopes of gaining an interview and an eventual match. But this resulted in higher costs for the applicant and an overabundance of applications for a program to review and consider, many of which did not match well with their preferences and requirements. The Alignment Check Index was developed as an optional tool applicants can use to get a better sense of how to align their interests and experiences with the values and criteria of the various residency programs.

The ACI tool can be used early in the process – even while starting to prepare the application. How does it work? Participating programs indicate their preferences by weighting six different domains of inquiry: 1. Academic metrics (e.g., USMLE Step Scores, clerkship grades, AOA, GH); 2. Work Experience (e.g., Non-career related work, manager experience); 3. Community Service/Advocacy (e.g., Volunteerism, blood drive, outreach clinic.); 4. Research Experience (e.g., Local/national meeting presentation, first authorship); 5. Teaching Experience (e.g., Tutor, curriculum design, Teach for America); and 6. Background/Lived Experience (e.g., URM, First generation MD, raised by single parent, etc.). Applicants will not know how or whether the programs responded, but meanwhile they can do their own self-assessment based on these same six domains and select a group of programs for comparison. The ACI tool will generate a list from highest alignment to lowest alignment that the applicant can consider as part of their selection and ranking process when it comes time to submit applications to their chosen residency programs.

To learn more, see the Alignment Check Index (ACI) that includes a worksheet that can be used in the self-assessment process. The tool interfaces with the AMA’s FREIDA residency program database, so applicants can sign up and access the tool here.

Learn more at https://freida.ama-assn.org/residency-alignment.

Preparing Application Materials: The following is a list of documents needed to apply for obstetrics-gynecology residency programs. Any new or modified requirements specific to the OBGYN match are highlighted to the extent possible.
ResidencyCAS Application: This is the basic general application that resembles the Common Application Form (CAF) in the ERAS system. There is an ResidencyCAS applicant worksheet available to help students gather the necessary information for completing the official application. The ResidencyCAS application includes sections on: Personal Information; Academic History (including test scores and previous residencies and fellowships): and Supporting Information such as professional experiences, non-medical employment, publications and presentations, and hobbies and interests. The Supporting Information sections have been expanded to allow for more details than in previous years and to encourage applicants to include experiences that may be considered non-traditional or extraneous to the OBGYN specialty. In choosing professional experiences, applicants can identify up to 12 overall, of which three can be designated as “most important.”
Personal Statement: This document is the same as for previous years. It can be prepared separately, but the final version will be copied and pasted into a textbox of the online application form. A typical personal statement is usually said to be from 750-800 words, but can range from 500-850, depending on program requirements. The content should be geared towards the reasons for choosing the OBGYN specialty, including background, experiences, and personal motivations.
Official Medical School Transcripts: As in previous years and with all specialties, a copy of the student’s transcripts (officially translated into English by a certified transcription service) should be included as part of the application that is uploaded to ResidencyCAS. Please note that, when completing the ResidencyCAS online application, students also will be required to report all undergraduate and medical schools attended regardless of whether the coursework was relevant or completed.
Medical School Performance Evaluation (MSPE): Also known as the Dean’s Letter, this document is required by all programs. The AAMC has prepared an MSPE template to assist IMGs and their medical schools with preparing the MSPE and has advice for crafting the document that includes keeping it to no more than 7 pages. IMGPrep offers a guide for preparing the MSPE with detailed information for putting it together. Within ResidencyCAS, applicants can either upload a PDF of their signed MSPE or can obtain instructions for how to advise their dean’s office to upload the document directly to the online platform.
USMLE and COMLEX Test Scores: Program requirements vary, but they usually include at a minimum the applicant’s USMLE Step 1 test results. The ResidencyCAS platform enables applicants to authorize provision of transcripts to selected programs.
Letters of Recommendation (LORs) and Standard Letter of Evaluation (SLOE): : These letters can be facilitated through the ResidencyCAS portal. A student should gather a total of at least three LORs and no more than a maximum of four (one of which should be the Standard Letter of Evaluation (SLOE). In addition to the SLOE, the other 2-3 LORs should preferably be from an Ob-Gyn physician to the extent possible, but can also be from faculty members, preceptors, or other persons who can attest to the student’s background, experiences, and capabilities.
It should be noted that the SLOE document has become even more highly emphasized in this round of applications for ob-gyn residency programs. There are options for a single evaluator or a group evaluation. The APGO Applicant Resources webpage includes Ob-Gyn SLOE Resources section that provides a template and guide along with other tips to help the evaluator(s), the student, and advisors in the process. IMG applicants should be particularly prepared to select an evaluator or evaluators who will agree to complete the SLOE according to template guidelines. The person completing the SLOE should not also write an LOR.
Other (Curriculum Vitae (CV) and Headshot): Applicants will be expected to generate their CV directly through the ResidencyCAS online portal rather than upload a PDF file. In addition, a headshot (photograph) is also required as part of the online application.

Tips for Preparing and Organizing Application Materials: It is important to allow sufficient time to pull together all the required documents. The ResidencyCAS application, the Personal Statement, the MSPE, the SLOE, and the LORs all involve multiple steps, and the last three require signatures from other people to complete. It is a good idea to store Materials, checklists, and worksheets in a Google folder for easy reference and access.

Submitting Applications through ResidencyCAS: Once all required documents and materials have been uploaded and the application has been filled in, the ResidencyCAS system will mark the application “Complete.” The overall package will then be ready for submitting to selected programs during the Application Submission period that starts on September 5, 2024 and ends on September 25, 2024.

It should be noted that the letters of recommendation and the SLOE will need to be manually designated to each program chosen by the applicant. All other application components will be automatically designated to each program as part of the overall transmission via the ResidencyCAS system.

The following is a timeline for various phases of the application process:
9/05/2024 Application process begins
9/25/2024 Application deadline. All applications must be marked Complete by the ResidencyCAS system.
10/29/2024 Interview offers from programs can begin to be released (Interview offers limited to the number of interview spots.) Applicants are allowed a minimum of 48 hours to respond to interview offers
11/01/2024 Interviews occur no earlier than 11/01/2024
11/27/2024 Last deadline for notifying applicants of final status (e.g. waitlist, rejection)
03/21/2025 Match Day 2025 (Match week is March 17-21.)

Application costs: According to ResidencyCAS, it “is offering a redesigned pricing model wherein applicants can submit up to 18 applications at a flat rate of $99 (the number of signals in OBGYN is also 18). Subsequent applications are $18/application up to 30 applications and $23/application thereafter. They claim that this new pricing model equates to a significant 20% reduction on average costs when compared to previous application cycles. In addition, ResidencyCAS will be offering a fee assistance program to qualified applicants.” An application fee calculator is available on the ResidencyCAS website as a downloadable Excel spreadsheet.

Program Signaling: As an extra step in the process, applicants for obstetrics and gynecology residency programs may choose to indicate up to 18 programs as being of special importance to them through a system known as Program Signaling, also known as Preference Signaling. Given that many students tend to send out many applications, program directors end up with a lot of applications to review each year. Thus, getting a signal that the student has a high interest for that particular program can be “an extra data point” in the review of that application.

Program signaling varies across programs and medical specialities. The program is voluntary, so both applicants and programs must opt in to participate. For participating OBGYN programs, there is a two-tiered system. At the time of application, applicants can choose up to three programs as being of high interest (gold signals) and up to 15 as being of preferred interest (silver signals) for a maximum of 18 programs. Such signals let the residency program staff know at a glance that the applicant has expressed explicit interest and, while there is no guarantee, this can encourage a closer look at the application than might otherwise have occurred. It should be noted that program staff can only see whether their program is signaled by the applicant; they do not see results about other programs, nor do they see whether an applicant has chosen not to use signaling in their process.

As with the MyERAS portal, the ResidencyCAS portal has a Program Signaling section. It is important to note that applicants must assign a signal in the portal prior to sending the application to the program. Once the signal is assigned and the application sent, the signal is locked in and cannot be undone.

Does signaling work? Usage of signaling information varies across the more than 18 medical specialties that use the system. Some programs choose not to use signaling at all. But according to one study of more than 200 participating OBGYN residency program directors, approximately a third of those responding reported using program signaling as a tiebreaker after initial application reviews, and more than forty percent reported hiring applicants they might not otherwise have chosen without the program signaling that helped them give those applicants a closer look.

Insiders caution applicants against “over-strategizing” about their use of signaling. Rather, choices should be thoughtful and sincerely directed toward programs of highest interest – even if achieving an interview without signaling seems like a sure thing. And obviously, applicants still need to meet eligibility and other program requirements, so program signaling is not a way to get noticed by programs that would eliminate an applicant for other reasons.

Instead, applicants are encouraged to give thoughtful consideration to criteria such as training goals, culture, and geography in their signaling decisios. And getting feedback from an outside advisor to determine the candidate’s eligibility and best chances for selection is also strongly recommended.

Tips for using Program Signaling: ResidencyCAS provides a guide to applicants and their advisors on points to ponder in selecting programs for signaling.

Supplemental Application and Assessments

Ranking Programs

To prepare for the Match process, applicants will be expected to prepare a rank order list of their desired programs from most preferred to least. The ResidencyCAS portal is designed to interface with the National Resident Matching Program’s Main Residency Match service. NRMP has prepared a detailed guide for Entering and Certifying a Rank Order List that applies to all residency applicants, including those for ob-gyn residency programs.

Interview Process: Applicants can use the ResidencyCAS portal to manage the interview stage of the process. The interview portal will go live in October 2024. Per agreement among ob-gyn residency programs, applicants can expect that all interviews will be virtual. Individual programs may choose to contact the applicant directly via email to schedule an interview and/or extend an offer.

The ACOG RRR program offers an Interview Day Best Practices for Ob-Gyn Applicants infographic to applicants prepare for interviews.

Match Day and Post-Match Process: [Describe the new timeline and process for Match Day. Explain any changes to the post-match SOAP (Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program) process for unmatched applicants. Provide advice on steps to take if not matched.]

According to the AMA, “the actual Match process for ob-gyn applicants will continue to be conducted through the National Residency Match Program (NRMP). This new application does not change how the applicant or programs interact with the NRMP Match system. If applicants go unmatched, the new platform will allow applicants to upload all necessary materials to enter the Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program.”

How does it work? It is important to remember that registering with ResidencyCAS will not enable you to gain access to the Match. You must register separately for the Main Residency Match with the National Residency Match Program. Registering is a multi-step process that starts with your basic personal information and your ECFMG ID number. You can visit Your Guide to the Main Residency Match for more information that includes a video especially for IMGs. In addition, the NRMP recently prepared a Match FAQ for ob-gyn applicants to help applicants better understand how to make the most of the Match process.

According to ResidencyCAS, “couples who wish to couple’s match will be able to use that indication on their ResidencyCAS application so individuals participating in the NRMP Match as a couple may link their rank order lists if they wish. The new platform will support applicants through the NRMP’s Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP) process.” Multispecialty applicants will need to enroll in both ResidencyCAS and ERAS (and also register with NRMP) to engage fully with the Match process.

The organizers of this new initiative say that, “ResidencyCAS is an innovation for OBGYN, promising a new era of efficiency, equity, and excellence in applicant evaluation and residency program selection.”

The revisions to the application are aimed at gaining a more holistic review of applicants by programs. The applicant can benefit from lower costs and from being able to align their interests and capabilities with the needs and preferences of the residency programs.

Applicants have many options to stay apprised of the latest developments and updates. The Right Resident, Right Program, Ready Day One (RRR) website includes significant resources for students/applicants to help them through the application process, including a series of webinar recordings. Applicants can stay informed about updates and changes.by accessing a downloadable RRR app for both Android and Apple phones

The new ResidencyCAS portal officially opened on June 5, 2024. Applicants can proceed to register and check out the platform. They can also use the ResidencyCAS applicant worksheet that provides a preview of the online application.

The next webinar for Ob-Gyn Residency Applicants is focused on IMGs. Details are below:
Navigating ResidencyCAS as an IMG OBGYN Applicant
July 17th, 2024 at 6:00 PM ET
Please click here to register for the webinar

The changes described in this step-by-step guide go into effect for the 2025 Match Year and are applicable only to the obstetrics and gynecology medical residency programs.

Readers of this blog entry and step-by-step guide are welcome to leave comments with any questions and they are invited to share their own experiences with the new process.

Feel free to subscribe to this blog for more updates and helpful articles on residency applications.

Do you want to receive personalized guidance and support or have other questions? We can help. Contact us at contactus@imgprep.com to learn more.

For more written information, please see the articles listed below:

What to know about the new OB-GYN physician residency application
Learn about the new OBGYN residency application platform
APGO Residency Readiness Application Platform
APGO Residency Readiness Application Platform FAQ

IMGPrep is a leading educational consulting firm dedicated to assisting IMGs in reaching their goals, dreams, and potential. Check out our other Articles and learn more about IMGPrep services at: www.IMGPrep.com.

IMGprep is not associated with the AAMC® NRMP®the MATCH® or the ECFMG

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