Cortex 2026

The 2025-2026 season is here! As your program begins receiving applications, we’re here to help you prepare.

Cortex, powered by Thalamus is now available complimentarily to all ERAS-participating programs to facilitate technology-assisted holistic review.

If you’re new to the application review process, or using Cortex for the first time, now is the perfect time to get familiar, complete training, finalize scorecards, and set up your workflows. Cortex integrates with Thalamus Core and Cerebellum to provide comprehensive tools and streamline recruitment!

New User Experience!
Cortex has an updated look and feel this season, following our rebrand announcement this spring. Check out more here.

Cortex simplifies your entire application review process by allowing you to screen/review, evaluate and select applicants in one centralized, secure system. Use structured scorecards to ensure a consistent, holistic review aligned with your program’s goals and collaborate seamlessly with faculty while tracking progress in real time.

Best of all, Cortex integrates with the Thalamus Holistic Review, competency-based scoring system, which automatically combines application review scores and notes, with those from the interview process and aggregates all data to automatically build rank lists in Thalamus Core! Plus, components of the data flows into Cerebellum for comprehensive insights

Practice with the Cortex Sandbox

A demo version of Cortex, the Sandbox, is here! Explore features and test workflows using mock applicant data, alongside your program's established filters, scorecards, applicant indices, keywords, and more!

The Cortex Sandbox is fully integrated into the Thalamus platform and available to all program users, with no separate login or website required. It offers a low-stakes space for faculty and reviewers to get familiar with workflows before the season begins.

Access the Sandbox from your profile menu in the top right corner of Cortex using your regular login credentials.

STEP 1

Explore Free Cortex Training Options

Cortex Office Hours: Interactive, virtual sessions to get you up to speed quickly.

Thalamus Webinar Series: Free, virtual sessions to support every stage of recruitment.
Preparing for Your Season
Managing Your Season
Wrapping up Your Season

Building the Future of Recruitment with ERAS and Thalamus: Cortex Webinars.

Thalamus University Online Academy: 24/7, on-demand training for programs and applicants.

Cortex Training Videos

Cortex Roadmap: Step-by-step guide.

Cortex Roadmap

STEP 2

Create Your Program's Scorecards

Creating a Scorecard: This is crucial for structured holistic review. Set up your scorecards in Cortex to guide your team's evaluation process.

***Practical Tip: Define the key criteria that are most important to your program's goals, then design your scorecards around these.

Steps to Create Your Program's Scorecards:

Create competencies and questions
Build the scorecard
Add questions to the scorecard
Assign reviewer weights (optional)

Cortex Scorecard Guide

STEP 3

Set Up Your Review Workflow

Enable Cortex for Faculty: Grant your faculty reviewers access to Cortex. They'll need this to begin reviewing applications.

Plan Your Workflow: Decide how your team will use Cortex for screening, scoring, and making decisions.

Utilize the Cortex Sandbox: Loaded with sample data, enable your faculty to use the Cortex Sandbox to validate and practice executing your workflow.

Access the Sandbox from your profile menu in the top right corner of Cortex using your regular login credentials.

Go to Cortex

Is Your ERAS Program Cortex-Ready?

Make the Switch to Cortex for Your Application Review

Experience the Power of Filtering

Practice with the Cortex Sandbox

Combine Scores for Long-Term Insights

What You Should do before the Season Opens:

Follow these steps to get your application review process set up in Cortex.