2013 scramble (post SOAP) thread

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Biff Tannen

Biff Tannen

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Please do not derail this thread. Let's leave it for those of us now scrambling. Best of luck everyone.
No interviews yesterday. Looks like most are waiting until monday.
 
I assume you either had already applied through ERAS to the programs and they weren't going through SOAP or applied last night through ERAS. There is (potentially) an open program that I hadn't applied to originally. The PC wasn't answering her phone after 5 but I got through to someone else who told me to leave a message for the PC. I just decided to apply through ERAS last night (what's another 25 dollars at this point) just in case they review apps over the weekend. Granted this is an advanced position so there is no rush but don't want to risk it!
 
Voicemail for one program said they will not entertain anything until after 5pm on friday. Emailed and got an auto reply stating to send all info via email, not eras. I cannot begin to imagine how many emails and calls these programs have been receiving over the weekend. I also wonder how many high rollers SOAPed into something and now the pool is filled with average joes lie us, lol.
 
Yep there was only 1 SOAP spot open (if it was really "open"- who knows) in my field. I have excellent stats, AMG applying to a very competitive field. While I knew going into this field that it was a possibility, this has honestly been the worst week of my life (granted if this is the worst thing I really can't complain). I at least have a spot for next year- can't imagine what the rest of you without something are going through. My heart truly goes out to you. Best of luck in this process.
 
Biff Tannen said:
Voicemail for one program said they will not entertain anything until after 5pm on friday. Emailed and got an auto reply stating to send all info via email, not eras. I cannot begin to imagine how many emails and calls these programs have been receiving over the weekend. I also wonder how many high rollers SOAPed into something and now the pool is filled with average joes lie us, lol.
Click to expand...

I have no idea how MSPEs, scores and LORs can be sent via email, esp. as LORs are waived.

I hate this. Getting into a helpless frenzy for this stuff and that to finally again end up alone in a ditch.
 
anybody have luck with non east coast time zones. or they also not answering phones Friday?

Eras still able to apply to programs? Will they be using this for scramble?
 
When was the first time you guys noticed the list change, I checked late friday night and it was the same?

10 med prelim down to 8
categorical down from 4 to 3?
Family down as well?

were programs filling over the weekend, did anybody answer phones.
DO you guys recall which were removed from list?
 
Anyone know why "R" programs are lumped together with "C" programs?
 
Anybody kind enough to post the empty prelim surgery positions? Resswap only has 3 positions, which just can't be right.
 
topscorer said:
I dont see anything on resident swap about getting LORs to email from ECFMG?

what tools were you referring to on reesswap?
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I think he/she meant that they have open spots so you can look there, not regarding the the lors.
 
anyone (like me) who applied to programs on friday after 5pm is probably disappointed... almost everything was full with NRMP not updating the list.... oh well, better luck next year!
 
anyone know how long programs generally take in this period to contact you? seeing as there is no time contraints as there was like SOAP... i don't know what to expect
 
called an unfilled program everyday last week and this week

they kept saying we have 300 from ERAS, our requirements are etc etc, which I was well above, to get IV, but would NOT take eras id or anything to check if my app was in pile of 300 they got for the positions they had

today I spoke to them again, and asked how do they know if the ERAS apps they are looking at are matched kids or not, and she said well they are applying after soap, but I applied months before soap, but after IVs were full? I applied to every program in the country so my entire SOAP was all reapply...

but after soap, you cannot RESEND applications correct? Am I the only one in this boat. Was everybody here applying with ERAS to NEW programs after SOAP and thus not have this issue. I'm thinking my app didnt even make it to the pile since I could not RE apply after soap?
 
Could the case. I'm not sure to be honest - the unfilled programs were programs that I had not applied to initially. There is only one program that I am eligible for at this point and I haven't been able to get a hold of anyone in the program (pure voice mail, autoreply emails). I check my email almost every 15minutes hoping for an IV.
 
joesephine said:
Could the case. I'm not sure to be honest - the unfilled programs were programs that I had not applied to initially. There is only one program that I am eligible for at this point and I haven't been able to get a hold of anyone in the program (pure voice mail, autoreply emails). I check my email almost every 15minutes hoping for an IV.
Click to expand...

No offense but realize that there are a few spots here and there, some which are not even advertised and that there are thousands of foreign grads trying to match. I would think the few spots will likely go to the few unmatched AMGs. Not trying to burst your bubble, just thinking you have to be realistic, that's all.
 
IamnotFreud said:
No offense but realize that there are a few spots here and there, some which are not even advertised and that there are thousands of foreign grads trying to match. I would think the few spots will likely go to the few unmatched AMGs. Not trying to burst your bubble, just thinking you have to be realistic, that's all.
Click to expand...

no doubt. can't blame a guy for trying to be optimistic. until it has 0 unfilled spots im not giving up!
 
Hey all i actually matched in the field i wanted at 5:30 on Friday. Please for the rest of you dont give up until you see that 0. I think i was a special case with program because i had already interviewed there and was passed over because grades were missing from my transcript due to my school.This program was still searching for applicants and i am the only i know of that matched through scramble with them. They said they would not be sending me anything about roster until monday making me believe they will be searching until then. Keep up the good work everyone!!!!
 
topscorer said:
called an unfilled program everyday last week and this week

they kept saying we have 300 from ERAS, our requirements are etc etc, which I was well above, to get IV, but would NOT take eras id or anything to check if my app was in pile of 300 they got for the positions they had

today I spoke to them again, and asked how do they know if the ERAS apps they are looking at are matched kids or not, and she said well they are applying after soap, but I applied months before soap, but after IVs were full? I applied to every program in the country so my entire SOAP was all reapply...

but after soap, you cannot RESEND applications correct? Am I the only one in this boat. Was everybody here applying with ERAS to NEW programs after SOAP and thus not have this issue. I'm thinking my app didnt even make it to the pile since I could not RE apply after soap?
Click to expand...

Programs can still look you up with your AAMC ID, even if you applied prior to SOAP, so rest assured...if you applied to the program at any point through ERAS, the program can find you (and it's the easiest way for us to locate your application, IMHO).
 
Yes but when I called program and asked how did you get pile of 300 applicants to consider for IV, they said ERAS

and I said but most of ERAS is matched kids, so how would you know

and they said well 300 people applied after SOAP, so obviously they didnt match

and I said well What if I applied months ago, before SOAP

and she was quiet for a second, and I realized, despite calling everyday, this program had not seen my application it seemed.
 
topscorer said:
Yes but when I called program and asked how did you get pile of 300 applicants to consider for IV, they said ERAS

and I said but most of ERAS is matched kids, so how would you know

and they said well 300 people applied after SOAP, so obviously they didnt match

and I said well What if I applied months ago, before SOAP

and she was quiet for a second, and I realized, despite calling everyday, this program had not seen my application it seemed.
Click to expand...

Well, since my program DID participate in SOAP, and we received calls from both SOAPers AND those who applied before SOAP, I can assure you (general you) that if you (general you, again) called with your AAMC ID number, we were able to access your application regardless of when you applied.

Please keep in mind that programs can filter applications any way they want. It doesn't matter if your application came pre or post-SOAP...if we choose to un-filter all applications, then we have access to everyone who applied, regardless of when the application came in.

Perhaps your application may have been in a filter that the program set up (thereby rendering your application un-viewable if they chose not to remove the filter), or they may have reviewed your application and chosen to not extend you an interview. Really, there's no way of knowing, and the coordinator to whom you spoke may not have had the authority to tell you anything about the status of your application. It just depends on the program.
 
For those who do not match and have to SOAP: Do not give up. I went through it with rads. All I could think about is how much money (I prefer to call it green toilet paper), time and energy I wasted going through so many interviews. What made it particularly frustrating was the positive feedback I received from many of the programs. It still gives me the chills just thinking about it. At the time I thought I had a good chance at matching somewhere but it did not turn out that way.

Take a deep breath and meet with your mentor(s). Come up with a plan and go through with it. Do not give up on programs you previously applied at but did not receive an interview. The program that I ended up getting was one of those programs that did not interview me during match season but I DID apply to.

I did not give up on rads even though I did not match. I worked too hard to improve my application just to give up and switch specialties. I ended up getting an offer at a solid program at a decent location (southeast) and took it.

It was much harder trying to find a prelim. I ended up getting one on Thursday of match week. I just have to go through one year at a surgical prelim at Albert Einstein Montefiore.
 
Bilboquet said:
Hey all, I am in the precarious position of having neither matched nor scrambled. I'm a US citizen / allopathic grad who was applying for anesthesia. I'll be honest my first couple of years in school were terrible and I barely eeked out of Step 1. It was weird, because I had done well in undergrad. I took a couple of years off to reevaluate my decision to do medicine and also got tested for learning disabilities (which I had none) and sleep apnea - which I found out I have. Got put on the CPAP and returned and completed my 3rd and 4th years above average with an average step 2 score. Cast a big net for anesthesia applications, but didn't get any interviews (aside from my home program). Prelim interviews were similarly a bust. Needless to say, didn't match.

That brings us to now. My advisers suggest I apply for categorical medicine next year and that I do an away rotation for a new letter prior to graduation. I'm not sure they are following a proven method or just suggesting what they think will be the right way to go. Does anyone have any suggestions?

I think my biggest issue is that I've been in school for seemingly so long and my first two years just brought shockingly low scores. My clerkships scores are almost a 180 turn, but I don't think many programs dove into my application after looking at the top sheet. It goes without saying that I've been depressed about the whole situation, but I also feel like I have a chip on my shoulder with a lot to prove, to not only others, but myself. Any advice or suggestions would be much obliged.
Click to expand...
A couple of ideas:

1. You didn't mention when you got your Step 2 score. If you applied without it, you're unlikely to get any nibbles. If you did reasonably well on it, that would be at least some evidence that your prior problems are behind you.

2. You should consider asking your school whether you can delay graduation for another year. This would allow you to do a bunch of away rotations and more rotations at your home institution. You need to make certain that you shine as much as possible at an away rotation. You might want to do a few rotations at a single program -- so you get comfortable with their EMR's and system. Or, focus your extra year only at your home institution and get lots of Sub-I's done. You want to prove that you can do well in challenging rotations.

3. You may need to rethink anesthesia. If you get no interviews, you're not going to get a spot. You'll need to consider less competitive spots -- IM, Psych, FM, and Neuro. PM or PM&R also a possibility. And you'll probably be applying to prelim surgery spots also. (Getting into anesthesia from prelim surgery is not unheard of).
 
Bilboquet said:
Hey all, I am in the precarious position of having neither matched nor scrambled. I'm a US citizen / allopathic grad who was applying for anesthesia. I'll be honest my first couple of years in school were terrible and I barely eeked out of Step 1. It was weird, because I had done well in undergrad. I took a couple of years off to reevaluate my decision to do medicine and also got tested for learning disabilities (which I had none) and sleep apnea - which I found out I have. Got put on the CPAP and returned and completed my 3rd and 4th years above average with an average step 2 score. Cast a big net for anesthesia applications, but didn't get any interviews (aside from my home program). Prelim interviews were similarly a bust. Needless to say, didn't match.

That brings us to now. My advisers suggest I apply for categorical medicine next year and that I do an away rotation for a new letter prior to graduation. I'm not sure they are following a proven method or just suggesting what they think will be the right way to go. Does anyone have any suggestions?

I think my biggest issue is that I've been in school for seemingly so long and my first two years just brought shockingly low scores. My clerkships scores are almost a 180 turn, but I don't think many programs dove into my application after looking at the top sheet. It goes without saying that I've been depressed about the whole situation, but I also feel like I have a chip on my shoulder with a lot to prove, to not only others, but myself. Any advice or suggestions would be much obliged.
Click to expand...

How important is anesthesiology for you? You should always have a backup esp. when you do not see many interviews coming your way. I have a friend who let go of DO match for EM and did not match in NRMP. He ended up scrambling for FM and getting the spot. Part of this game is to realize your own strengths or weaknesses and aim appropriately. I know another person who barely passed step1, failed step2 clinical and written and retook, passed within the application cycle. He matched his #1 FM in NRMP.
 
Bilboquet said:
I'd say it's important, but I'm realistic enough to not put all my eggs in one basket. I figured my likely scenario this year was going to be doing a year of prelim medicine and I applied to a great many of those programs as well, but apparently was not competitive enough for prelim spots either. I'll likely be applying to IM, psych, and/or PM&R as well as anesthesia in the next cycle.
Click to expand...

There you go. You learn and you move on. You will do great in the next cycle. It is already April, interviews will begin in no time for the 2014 cycle. 👍 The guy I mentioned who failed both parts of step 2 applied to a total of 110 places, got 9 interviews, ranked 6 and matched #1.
 
For all those scrambling....

Don't give up. There is hope. I matched to an Advanced program but not a prelim. No luck on SOAP.

I spent every weekday hustling, making phone calls, basically doing everything but sacrifice hoboes to the Devil. Stressed so much I gained weight and couldn't sleep. I was outraged at a system that awarded people who could "play the game" better but probably shouldn't be directly caring for patients.

Now you're playing a game that rewards quantity over quality. Hustle, hustle, hustle those calls. One of those calls turned into a prelim year, with some good bites that had potential but wouldn't develop for several months.

You're frustrated, depressed, angry....yeah the system bites. But keep trying. There is hope. Its the system that is pumping out more grads than spots, yet bemoans the physician shortage. And I've discovered Program Directors who aren't fans of the system either; they understand how great future physicians can fall through the cracks.

And also consider plans B-Z. Do what you can to try to have as much control over the situation you can. Think of some research...delay graduation for a year and get another degree. Whatever keeps your spirits up and going. There WILL be dark times when you feel the world is ending, but like kidney stones these too shall pass. And remember how you feel, because at least some of us will be able to make changes once we become part of the system.

Good luck, and God bless.
 
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