Advice on my weird situation?

[desperate1]

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Hi, I was hoping to get some advice from you experts!

I got a prelim surgery and a neurology during the scramble. The prelim is a designated spot which means they would only give it to me if I have an advance position. unfortunately, the neurology spot did not work out, and now I can't take the prelim spot. But they said they would take me if I find an advance position!

It's now late July and it does not look good for any advance positions. I did find a research job that pays. should I just enjoy this research year and re-apply for the next match season? i'm calling programs like everyday now and it's very disappointing!

thanks
🙂

 

[Blade28]

What happened to the PGY-2 Neuro spot? Did you sign a contract?

 

[BlondeDocteur]

Neuro requires a full 10 months of internal medicine before you're allowed to start. A prelim surg spot wouldn't cut it. OP, is there any chance of holding on to that neuro position if you switch ASAP to medicine?

 

[dragonfly99]

Don't panic. If you end up needing to do a research year, that is O.K. It would actually be better than "using up" a year of your GME residency funding on a surgical prelim year if you really want to do neurology. Can you give us more details of how the neuro spot fell through? If neuro is what you really want to do, I would try to get a medicine prelim spot, because as mentioned above by blond-doc, that is what you need to advance to a PGY2 neuro spot. Keep your eyes on the prize...

Not sure what went on with your neuro spot, but I have observed that there are neuro spots open periodically on sites such as openspots.com, suggesting that getting in to neuro is possible, though I'm sure the spots are sought after, etc.

I know a year sounds like a long time, but really it's not. Having to do a research year really isn't the end of the world, and could help your resume. Still, you need to aggressively pursue finding yourself a neuro spot while you are there doing your research year. Can you match into a categorical neuro spot (i.e. one that includes a PGY1 medicine year guaranteed with it?). Sorry for my ignorance, but I'm not sure if there are programs in the Match like that. Also, can the person and/or institution you are doing research for do anything for you, in terms of pulling strings to help get you a medicine prelim spot for the next year?

The other thing to keep in mind is if you do the Match this year, and match into a neuro program, but somehow don't get a medicine prelim spot, sometimes the neuro program director where you matched can help you dig up a prelim spot. I guess it depends where you matched, but I know some of them have been known to do this.

 

[desperate1]

Wow, Thank you all for very helpful advice.

1. The neuro spot fell through during the scramble b/c they found someone else more qualified. I did not want to burn any bridges with them b/c I'm planning on re-applying there anyway.


2. I honestly did not know that I had to do prelim MEDICINE, (THANKS BLOND)so I'm glad that whole thing didn't work out anyway, so I wouldn't waste a prelim year like DRAGONFLY said. And apparently, most of the programs here where I'm doing research at are "competitive" so I'm even more incline to take something now and NOT risk another season of the match!

3. Having all that, I was lucky enough to find a spot for Pathology, my original specialty that I'm interested in. So things might look a bit brighter, we'll see in a few weeks!!!

Thank you all for your comments. I'm so happy to see all the responses 🙂

 

[BlondeDocteur]

Oh dear, now I'm confused.

You had a spot in neurology-- as in, you signed a contract-- but then you say they gave it away to someone "more qualified?" I'm pretty sure (no, I'm absolutely sure) that's not allowed.

You don't "have a spot" until you've signed the contract, period. And once you've signed the contract, it's final-- they can't take it away.

But now you've snagged a categorical pathology residency? Because someone quit or their visa fell through or something? So are you a path resident?

 

[dragonfly99]

It sounds like he/she found a pathology spot.
That sounds good. I'd recommend that to trying to work the scramble, etc. if the OP is pretty interested in pathology. It's just hell going through that scramble and people LIE LIE LIE (have friend who went through this x 2 years trying to get an upper level surgery position). It sounds like she/he might have had a verbal commitment for a neuro spot, but then lost out when the program director, etc. decided to take a different person. They can't take your spot if you get it through the Match, but during the scramble pretty much anything goes.

 

[desperate1]

I prefer to not go through the match again, that's why i'm doing all this crazy work.

thanks for all the comments everyone!

 

[DOCTORSAIB]

Man, have these PDs lost their humanity? They realize that the scramble blows major elephant balls for the student. And yet they give a "verbal" okay but then screw you over b/c they found someone more qualified. That's just flat out wrong. Not to mention UNPROFESSIONAL (ironic that med schools give lectures on this very topic).

SDN should compile a list of such programs so future applicants are aware of these loser PDs.

OP, keep us posted. G'luck.

 

[Blade28]

Whenever you get a verbal contract, ALWAYS ask for a contract right away. They can fax it over and you can sign it and fax it back.

Until you have a signed contract in your hands, keep calling around for a position and don't take anything for granted.

 

[desperate1]

yes doctor blade,

I've learned my lesson now. I just hope that this time around it'll be better. I spent way too much money during the last match. It was really tough for us because we were doing a couples match.

If you guys have more advice for the second part of my interview, that would be great. The chairman of that department emailed me after the interview and said that they like me and I would do "quite well" in their program. But I don't believe any body anymore!

In the meantime, i'm going to try and take step3, if you guys have advice on that, please PM me.

Thank you all 🙂

 

[dragonfly99]

To the OP:
Can your medical school help you out in any way? It's really in their interest if all their graduates match, and it sounds like you are a pretty OK applicant if you have gotten this far.
I agree w/other posters though about keeping your eyes/ears out for other open spots that you'd be willing to take, until you have a signed, paper contract in your hot little hands...
Sorry about your situation. It really sucks. You WILL make it, though. Worst case if this falls through is you'll get a residency next year. Most important is to not burn any bridges...i.e. not get any attendings or programs mad at you. They pretty much have all the power, and you don't have jack.

 

[desperate1]

Thanks Dragonfly!

You are really encouraging and it makes me feel so much better! I am on the look out for other positions. And i'm sorta preparing for the case that it doesn't work out. I definitely do not want to burn any bridges right now. It just sucks to re-apply now through ERAS and waiting around for this pathology spot.

I'm a FMG, so my school is not going to help me at all. My wife's an US grad, excellent candidate, her school met with us and "tried" to help, but they essentially didn't do a whole lot! Her current program director said, and again, who could trust them, that they would "highly consider" me next year. But anyway, I guess i'm lucky enough to have a paid research job now, right?

So my plan now is to continue doing this research thing, re-apply through ERAS now, go on those interviews in August, and then we'll see.

I know that getting a limited license takes a long time also, especially for FMGs, so I hope that if this path program takes me, I won't have to wait until like December to start!

Thanks again for your advice!

 

[buckley]

whoa! i haven't signed anything with my advanced neurology spot---they told me they issue out contract May before the start of the year. Should I be woried that they find someone more qualified too?

 

[Winged Scapula]

whoa! i haven't signed anything with my advanced neurology spot---they told me they issue out contract May before the start of the year. Should I be woried that they find someone more qualified too?

Did you match or take the position outside of the match? (sorry I can't remember your story)

If its the former, then they are obligated to give you the spot or face NRMP violations. If its the latter, they are under NO obligation to you and yes, could give the spot away. I would ask at least for a letter of intent if they won't send you a contract.

 

[buckley]

Thanks. Went through the match...so I guess that leaves some relief.
I did ask for a letter of appointment, and was told they issue that only in May...

 

[Winged Scapula]

Thanks. Went through the match...so I guess that leaves some relief.
I did ask for a letter of appointment, and was told they issue that only in May...

I wouldn't worry then if you got the position through the match. It would be highly irregular for them to break the match contract (even if nothing is signed) unless you fail to adequately finish your PGY1 year.

 

[desperate1]

If you got a spot through the Match, then you should not worry about anything! all these things happened to me during the scramble, so that's kinda different! and so I wouldn't recommend the scramble for anyone!