The Open Residency Application Platform
The History of Residency Applications: A Broken System
The residency application process wasn’t always the juggernaut it is today. Decades ago, applying to residency programs was decentralized, with each specialty and hospital handling applications independently. While imperfect, the system allowed specialties and programs to tailor their processes to their needs.
Then came ERAS.
Introduced by the AAMC, the Electronic Residency Application Service promised to streamline the process for students and programs alike. What started as a convenience quickly transformed into a monopoly, dictating the residency application landscape. Today, ERAS is a sprawling system that dominates nearly every specialty, collecting over $120 million annually from medical students desperate to secure their future.
But beneath the polished surface lies a stark reality.
Why ERAS Is Failing Students and Programs
ERAS has become synonymous with profit-driven bureaucracy, sacrificing fairness and innovation for financial gain. Here’s how:
Crushing Costs for Students:
Medical students, already burdened with debt, face exorbitant application fees to participate in ERAS. While the service should be a bridge to opportunity, it often feels like a paywall, pricing out those who can least afford it.Rigid, One-Size-Fits-All Design:
ERAS was not built to accommodate the nuances of different specialties. Whether it’s Obstetrics & Gynecology or Surgery, all programs are forced into the same mold, stripping them of the ability to customize workflows, prioritize unique criteria, or address the specific needs of their field.Neglecting Programs’ Needs:
While students foot the bill, residency programs are left with outdated tools, minimal support, and limited features to evaluate candidates effectively. Specialties with unique requirements are forced to adapt to ERAS, rather than the other way around.Monopolistic Practices:
The AAMC’s partnership with Thalamus, a for-profit company, has handed enormous power to a private monopoly. They control sensitive data, dictate system functionality, and operate with little oversight or accountability. The result? A system where programs and students are left powerless.Lack of Innovation:
The monopolistic grip has stifled creativity and progress. With no competition or incentive to improve, ERAS has become a bloated, outdated platform that serves the interests of corporations rather than those of students and programs.
The Toll of a Broken System
For students, the process is financially and emotionally draining, with limited transparency and few tools to highlight their unique strengths.
For programs, the system is restrictive and poorly suited to their needs, hindering their ability to recruit effectively.
For hospital corporations and enterprises, the lack of flexibility and ownership over the process leaves them with subpar solutions.
It’s not just inefficient – it’s unethical. And it’s time for a change.
ORAP: A New Era in Residency Applications
At ORAP, we’re building something better. The Open Residency Application Platform is designed to give control back to the people who matter most: students, programs, and hospital corporations.
What Sets ORAP Apart?
A Flexible Fee Model:
We believe in affordability and fairness. That’s why the cost of applying is determined by the specialties, not dictated by a single profit-driven corporation.- Some specialties may choose to offer free applications.
- Others may set a flat fee, capped at $99 to apply to all programs in that specialty.
No more runaway costs. No more financial stress.
Empowering Programs and Specialties:
Specialties, hospital corporations, and enterprises can create, customize, and own their application processes. Whether you’re a small specialty with unique needs or a large hospital group managing multiple programs, ORAP puts you in charge.- Tailor workflows to suit your requirements.
- Integrate powerful tools for validation, scoring, filtering, and interviews.
- Maintain control over your data and processes.
A Platform Built for Innovation:
ORAP offers all the features programs and specialties need to run a modern, effective residency application process:- Validation with 3rd parties for scores, MSPEs, transcripts, and LoRs.
- AI-powered and traditional filtering options.
- Integrated tools for holistic reviews, evaluations, and interviews.
- A scheduler and ROL (Rank Order List) builder.
Field-Proven Technology:
ORAP isn’t just a concept; it’s a tested and trusted system ready to revolutionize how residency applications are managed.
Why ORAP?
Because residency applications should serve students and programs, not profit-hungry monopolies. ORAP levels the playing field, offering a fair, transparent, and customizable platform that adapts to the unique needs of every specialty and program.
With ORAP:
- Students gain an affordable, transparent, and stress-free application process.
- Programs gain control, flexibility, and powerful tools to find the best candidates.
- Enterprises gain the freedom to build and own their application systems.
Residency isn’t one-size-fits-all. With ORAP, it doesn’t have to be.
ORAP is currently exclusively open to medical specialty organizations, hospitals, and hospital networks that are interested in revolutionizing the residency recruiting process.
If you are eligible please fill-in the following form and we will get back to as soon as possible.