AAMC MyERAS Medical Residency Headshot Specifications
Every September, tens of thousands of graduating medical students and IMGs submit their applications through the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) MyERAS portal. A rejected photo delays residency program transmission.
fact_checkOfficial AAMC MyERAS Photo Rules
2.5 × 3.5 in
5:7 Portrait Ratio
375 × 525 px
Exact 150 DPI render
Max 150 KB
Strict portal limit
JPEG (.jpg)
Color photograph
Format Your ERAS Residency Photo in 10 Seconds
Auto-crop to 375×525 px and guarantee under 150 KB without server uploads.
1. Why the 150 KB Limit Causes So Many Failures
Most medical school headshots taken by professional studio photographers are exported at 5 MB to 15 MB in high resolution. When applicants try to upload the raw file directly into MyERAS, the portal throws an unhelpful error message: “File size cannot exceed 150 KB.”
ReadyToSubmit Global uses intelligent in-browser compression to scale your headshot to 375 × 525 px and compress it to roughly 70–110 KB, well under the 150 KB ceiling while preserving crisp facial features.
2. Professional Residency Headshot Etiquette
While technical compliance gets your photo past the upload validator, residency program directors look for professionalism:
- Attire: Professional business attire (suit jacket, tie, blouse) or clean white coat if customary.
- Background: Solid neutral grey, navy, or off-white backdrop. Avoid distracting outdoor or hospital hallway backgrounds.
- Framing: Center head and shoulders. Head should take up approximately 60–70% of the vertical frame.
- Expression: Approachable, confident smile directly towards the camera lens.