Table 1.

The prisoner’s dilemma applied to the ERAS application strategy

	Group 1: Students apply to and accept interviews from only their top-choice programs	Group 1: Students apply to as many programs as possible
Group 2: Students apply to and accept interviews from only their top-choice programs	Training programs grant more interviews to truly interested and qualified students with less emphasis on ERAS filters such as USMLE scores and in-state location resulting in a more diverse resident body. Students are less constrained by in-state location. Both groups of students benefit.	Group 2 students who applied only to their top-choice programs are more likely to fail in the match. Group 1 students benefit by overapplication.
Group 2: Students apply to as many programs as possible	Group 1 students who applied only to their top-choice programs are more likely to fail in the match. Group 2 students benefit by overapplication.	Training programs are overwhelmed with applications and filter them by the USMLE score and in-state location. Qualified students with lower USLME scores cannot get interviews, resulting in a less diverse resident body. Students are more constrained by in-state location. Both groups of students are harmed by overapplication.

Note: ERAS = Electronic Residency Application Service; USMLE = US Medical Licensing Examination.