Advice for unmatched

[Joinedsolate]

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Congrats to all those who matched, you guys rock. Sadly, I did not. I thought I had a pretty decent shot, here are my stats:
Not a highly ranked school but top 5% in the class (no home program)
248 step 1, no step 2 yet, 2 first author pubs in PRO and Frontiers Rad Onc, 3 Rad Onc specific abstracts presented at conferences.
I had 9 interviews and still didn't match (caveat - 4 away rotations who all gave me an interview, may have just been throwing me a bone). My mentors were still pretty shocked.

Perhaps I stunk up the interviews but from the response I got people seemed to like me. I'm not sure where it went wrong. Anyways, I'm not ready to give up on Rad Onc, I've invested too much into it. I'll try my luck with SOAP but that's tough.

I was hoping someone could suggest what to do from here? I was probably going to do my intern year and apply again this year. Since ERAS I've published in 2 more journals (1 first author), submitted to ASTRO, am working on 3 more manuscripts, and I have an oral presentation at ABS. Is this enough or will they look for more in someone re-applying? What about a year of lab research? And if so, should that be done before or after intern year? Also, how difficult is it to apply into a PGY-II spot? Do spots open up after match?

Sorry for the long post and to take away from the joy most of you are experiencing, you deserve to celebrate. But any advice or information would greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[radtothebone]

Congrats to all those who matched, you guys rock. Sadly, I did not. I thought I had a pretty decent shot, here are my stats:
Not a highly ranked school but top 5% in the class (no home program)
248 step 1, no step 2 yet, 2 first author pubs in PRO and Frontiers Rad Onc, 3 Rad Onc specific abstracts presented at conferences.
I had 9 interviews and still didn't match (caveat - 4 away rotations who all gave me an interview, may have just been throwing me a bone). My mentors were still pretty shocked.

Perhaps I stunk up the interviews but from the response I got people seemed to like me. I'm not sure where it went wrong. Anyways, I'm not ready to give up on Rad Onc, I've invested too much into it. I'll try my luck with SOAP but that's tough.

I was hoping someone could suggest what to do from here? I was probably going to do my intern year and apply again this year. Since ERAS I've published in 2 more journals (1 first author), submitted to ASTRO, am working on 3 more manuscripts, and I have an oral presentation at ABS. Is this enough or will they look for more in someone re-applying? What about a year of lab research? And if so, should that be done before or after intern year? Also, how difficult is it to apply into a PGY-II spot? Do spots open up after match?

Sorry for the long post and to take away from the joy most of you are experiencing, you deserve to celebrate. But any advice or information would greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Sorry to hear about not matching. You've obviously put a lot of work into your goal of matching in Radiation Oncology based on your app. Obviously trying to go the SOAP route is a good idea, however if that doesn't work out I think you still have options. Spots definitely do open up during the year, and I would think you will have a shot there. As for what lead to this point, that's a tougher issue. Based on your report of your score, research record, etc, I would say those things do not need significant bolstering. If you remain unmatched, I would seriously contact people you worked with or interviewed with. Specifically, I would reach out to the attendings and program directors at the places you did your aways. Ask for an honest assessment of your application and what you need to improve upon. These are people that will almost certainly be looking to help you out and they may point out some easily correctable things that can improve your chances.

Keep your head up and know that I still think there are many avenues to lead you to radiation oncology. Some of the most successful and happy people I know in the field took unconventional paths to where they are now.

 

[Joinedsolate]

Sorry to hear about not matching. You've obviously put a lot of work into your goal of matching in Radiation Oncology based on your app. Obviously trying to go the SOAP route is a good idea, however if that doesn't work out I think you still have options. Spots definitely do open up during the year, and I would think you will have a shot there. As for what lead to this point, that's a tougher issue. Based on your report of your score, research record, etc, I would say those things do not need significant bolstering. If you remain unmatched, I would seriously contact people you worked with or interviewed with. Specifically, I would reach out to the attendings and program directors at the places you did your aways. Ask for an honest assessment of your application and what you need to improve upon. These are people that will almost certainly be looking to help you out and they may point out some easily correctable things that can improve your chances.

Keep your head up and know that I still think there are many avenues to lead you to radiation oncology. Some of the most successful and happy people I know in the field took unconventional paths to where they are now.

Excellent idea, and thanks for the encouragement! I appreciate it

 

[RadOncorBust]

Congrats to all those who matched, you guys rock. Sadly, I did not. I thought I had a pretty decent shot, here are my stats:
Not a highly ranked school but top 5% in the class (no home program)
248 step 1, no step 2 yet, 2 first author pubs in PRO and Frontiers Rad Onc, 3 Rad Onc specific abstracts presented at conferences.
I had 9 interviews and still didn't match (caveat - 4 away rotations who all gave me an interview, may have just been throwing me a bone). My mentors were still pretty shocked.

Perhaps I stunk up the interviews but from the response I got people seemed to like me. I'm not sure where it went wrong. Anyways, I'm not ready to give up on Rad Onc, I've invested too much into it. I'll try my luck with SOAP but that's tough.

I was hoping someone could suggest what to do from here? I was probably going to do my intern year and apply again this year. Since ERAS I've published in 2 more journals (1 first author), submitted to ASTRO, am working on 3 more manuscripts, and I have an oral presentation at ABS. Is this enough or will they look for more in someone re-applying? What about a year of lab research? And if so, should that be done before or after intern year? Also, how difficult is it to apply into a PGY-II spot? Do spots open up after match?

Sorry for the long post and to take away from the joy most of you are experiencing, you deserve to celebrate. But any advice or information would greatly appreciated. Thanks!

I did not match either a few years ago, and had 8 interviews and positive feedback. I'm so sorry for you, that was one of my worst days ever...really felt like I had wasted 5 years of my life (I did a research year). Now I'm in a Rad onc residency at a program better than most places I interviewed at, so keep your head up, good things can still happen.

On paper, you have a good application, so I wouldn't give up. I called several PDs at places I had interviewed. A few refused to talk to me but a few gave me honest and encouraging feedback. One program had ranked me number 2 and another #3 on their list but just matched someone higher. I did my intern year at a program that I knew thought well of me and had a few attendings at different institutions trying to help me find out about any PGY2 openings. I reapplied the next year and was ready to go though the process again. Fortunately, I was able to get offered a position about 5 months into my intern year. Again, I couldn't be happier where I am now. There's no way to lessen how much this hurts now, but keep hope....things can still turn out well.

If there's anything I can do to help or questions I can answer about the process for the unmatched, feel free to board mail me (or whatever it's called)

 

[medgator]

Fortunately, I was able to get offered a position about 5 months into my intern year. Again, I couldn't be happier where I am now. There's no way to lessen how much this hurts now, but keep hope....things can still turn out well.

This happens quite a bit, OP. I would def recommend proceeding on to intern year so you can be eligible to take these spots that might open. Your app seems decent.

My understanding though is they aren't allowed to offer these spots outside the match anymore.... maybe someone with more recent experience since the SOAP came into being can comment on this

 

[sim13]

So sorry that you didn't match. The same thing happened to me a couple years ago and I still have PTSD from that email 'Congratulations, you've matched to a one year position." Even though many mentors told me that not matching was a fluke, I was still too scared to risk reapplying and getting rejected again. So I decided to SOAP into a radiology program in my home state. (There were no unfilled rad onc spots that year in the soap)A few months into my intern year I began to really regret my decision and applied for a rad onc spot outside the match, which I got, but unfortunately led to a match violation and a whole lot of drama I never imagined being involved in. I can honestly say I am happy with radiology, but I know that i will always be thinking "what if?" So my advice would be to definitely apply again as an intern. Don't settle for a different specialty in the soap. Worst case, you are delayed a year. In comparison to radiology at least, it is still a 6 year track counting fellowship so it really wouldn't have made a difference in the large scheme of things.

 

[Joinedsolate]

Thank you all for the responses, it seems like going through with intern year and re-applying is the way to go. Sim13 I'm sorry about all that you went through but it sounds like you're happy now and it worked out well. Hopefully it works out for me too. Thanks!

 

[Haybrant]

.edited

 

[brizo..dakuwaqa]

Situation a little complicated here but I'm in desperate need of answers...
I am a Canadian citizen who graduated in November from Ross University in the Caribbean.
My step scores were both 231. GPA was 3.8.
All my interviews gave me positive feedback during and after interviews, via email.
I didn't match and now that the first round of SOAP has gone by, I still haven't received any offers.
I applied to psych and family medicine (both really not that competitive)...
What will be my options if I go completely unmatched? I really want to be a psychiatrist. And i honestly don't care where at in the world. I personally do not like the healthcare system in the states so working as a medical officer/intern/resident ANYWHERE ELSE in the world would be ok for me.. if that's possible. any countries recommended?
I'm also open to other options involving either teaching, etc..
I am currently living in central america where I see patients daily as a family practitioner.
Any advice greatly appreciated 🙂 Thank you in advance!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ohioapplicant]

^ this is the rad onc section you should post your question in Psych, FM, or the general ERAS forum

 

[brizo..dakuwaqa]

Sorry thank you!

 

[xrthopeful]

So what happened, OP? Did you SOAP into RadOnc? if not will you reapply? good luck!