need advice--did not match, reapply next year...

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Hello,

I am writing for advice. I unfortunately did not match this year. I tried to scramble, but it was impossible. Anyway am doing a transitional year this upcoming year, (not at a EM residency place unfortunately). I need advice on how the application process happens the 2nd time around from someone hopefully who has gone through it. I did 3 away rotations in EM last year, got good letters, and had really good feedback. I ranked 10 programs.
I am a DO student. Anyone have any advice? Obviously, I really won't be able to do another away rotation next year(besides I did 3 this year and it didnt help). If I get offered an interview at a place I interviewed this year, do I have to repeat the interview? Can I use the same LORs? Any advice would be helpful. For those of you that applied while doing an internship, how do you get time away to do interviews?

Any advice would help. Thanks!

Originally Posted by joaquin13

Hello,

I am writing for advice. I unfortunately did not match this year. I tried to scramble, but it was impossible. Anyway am doing a transitional year this upcoming year, (not at a EM residency place unfortunately). I need advice on how the application process happens the 2nd time around from someone hopefully who has gone through it. I did 3 away rotations in EM last year, got good letters, and had really good feedback. I ranked 10 programs.
I am a DO student. Anyone have any advice? Obviously, I really won't be able to do another away rotation next year(besides I did 3 this year and it didnt help). If I get offered an interview at a place I interviewed this year, do I have to repeat the interview? Can I use the same LORs? Any advice would be helpful. For those of you that applied while doing an internship, how do you get time away to do interviews?

Any advice would help. Thanks!

Yes, you can use the same lors. If you are able to do a EM rotation as one of your electives in the TY program early and use that letter as well. If you are offered an interview at the same places, you have to interview once again with the same people. Keep your head up, I appied twice myself. Fortunately I matched this year.

You can use the same letters of recommendation. But for the re-applicant, what is more important than those letters are the letters that come from your transitional year. Those will be more indicative of your abilities and work ethic. Assuming you do well your transitional year to date, you have one advantage that new applicants don't have: a solid work history.

Thank you all for the advice, anything well help at this point. I found out that we do get to do an elective during my transitional year (which is a DO traditional year with no assoc EM program--I was begging for the spot since I waited so long after trying to scramble for EM spots). Only problem is that my elective month is already scheduled for March, and I'm not sure I can change it now.
But I do have some strong LORs from good programs, and I thought I did well on interviews, but I thnk my problem now, that I look back on it, was that I tried to rank a ton of Calif programs (there were 4 in my top 5) and was not more proactive about my other programs. Anyway any more advice? I have been very shell-shocked to say the least.

Originally Posted by joaquin13

Thank you all for the advice, anything well help at this point. I found out that we do get to do an elective during my transitional year (which is a DO traditional year with no assoc EM program--I was begging for the spot since I waited so long after trying to scramble for EM spots). Only problem is that my elective month is already scheduled for March, and I'm not sure I can change it now.
But I do have some strong LORs from good programs, and I thought I did well on interviews, but I thnk my problem now, that I look back on it, was that I tried to rank a ton of Calif programs (there were 4 in my top 5) and was not more proactive about my other programs. Anyway any more advice? I have been very shell-shocked to say the least.

I would recommend calling some of the programs where you applied and ask some of the friendlier program directors for any advice they could offer to make your application stronger. Maybe there was something in your application that stuck out and hurt you in the long run, like a bad letter or something. It would stink to work for a year with the hopes of matching into EM, with the same application not realizing what could have made it better.

Good luck! Stay strong!

Originally Posted by papichulodoc

I would recommend calling some of the programs where you applied and ask some of the friendlier program directors for any advice they could offer to make your application stronger. Maybe there was something in your application that stuck out and hurt you in the long run, like a bad letter or something. It would stink to work for a year with the hopes of matching into EM, with the same application not realizing what could have made it better.

Good luck! Stay strong!

That sounds like good advice. I will definitely do that. Should I do it now (since match just happened) or wait awhile? I never had any negative feedback during any interviews, and was only told excellent things about my application, but obviously they didn't like something! Anyway thanks for everyones advice!!

Originally Posted by joaquin13

That sounds like good advice. I will definitely do that. Should I do it now (since match just happened) or wait awhile?

I would recommend to do it now, while it's still fresh in their minds.

Originally Posted by joaquin13

I never had any negative feedback during any interviews, and was only told excellent things about my application, but obviously they didn't like something!

I don't think anyone would ever tell you during the interview. It's in the their best interests that everyone ranks them as highly as possible. Don't take it personally either, you were probably on everyone's list, but this year was a very tough year. I met some amazing people on the interview trail.

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I am trying to tell myself that this year was a tough year, but it's still hard to think that not one program had me high enough on their list to match. I keep thinking of things I could have possibly done, like contact programs that were lower on my list (and not as competitive as the ones at the top) and express my interest in their program more, etc. I will try to call them asap and ask if there was anything on my app that I can work on. Should I ask to speak with program director, or email them?

Anyone else go through the same thing already and match successfully? Any more advice for next year? Its rough to think about doing the app season/interviews/waiting for match again, it makes me sick to think about it!