Advice on scrambling or applying via eras next year?

[resident2be]

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I'm in a unique situation and was wondering if anyone out there had a similar experience or know of anyone else who has. So I screwed up on my boards, BIG TIME, and so now i'm off-cycle. I will officially graduate in Sept. and can begin residency then-- should I try and "scramble" or take any open spots that are available and be an off-cycle resident or should I just wait and enter next year's match? Specialty doesn't matter at this point, I just want a residency!

I'm completely emotionally burned out from the trauma of trying to pass boards (which I eventually did and am cleared for step 2)-- so even if i enter next year's match, i'm a little bit screwed given my boards history and will already be less competitive than those who have perfect board scores. If I try and take any open spot this year, it will most likely be in a less than desirable location, or a malignant/****ty program where no one else wanted to go there, or in a specialty I REALLY don't want to go into....and plus, i'm a little burned out and could use at least a month or two to decompress.

I'm not sure which one is the better option-- if I wait until next year's match, I will have A LOT of time off and fear that I will lose my clinical skills (I was thinking I could always volunteer somewhere and try to maintain those skills....but even with that it won't be the same as actually practicing). If I scramble into something now (which i'm sure there are VERY few spots open the moment)-- I may end up hating my life for the next few years, it's just a big risk.

What do you guys think? Serious helpful posts ONLY please! I really don't need any negative opinions on how screwed I am- I already know that!

 

[DocDanny]

You are in no emotional state to start residency. I would wait. Volunteer, study, work on yourself.

Don't you need to take Step 2 to apply for a residency? It's easier, but it's no cakewalk. Why did you struggle on Step 1? How many times did you take it? Make sure you fix this for the next Step.
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I really wouldn't settle on some desperation residency. Go where you are happy. Use time off to think about what you want from your career.

What supports do you have? Family, friends? Boy/girlfriend? Lean on them now. Find something to do and get yourself sorted out. Otherwise you are going from the frying pan into the fire.

IMO, you don't lose than many clinical skills. My third year, I had a span of time that included OB, Peds, then Psych. Then Step 2 Studying. I literally didn't do a physical exam on an adult patient for... 6 months.

I got an Honors my next rotation, my first of M4 year. So don't keep an idle mind, and I think you'll be ok.

Medicine is like riding a bike. Or making sweet, sweet love. Once you've learned how, you don't forget. Even if you go a long time before doing it again, the lessons soon come back to you.

 

[Law2Doc]

...
Medicine is like ... making sweet, sweet love. Once you've learned how, you don't forget. Even if you go a long time before doing it again, the lessons soon come back to you.

I thought you were the guy who can't get dates and now you're the love expert...

Anyway, I agree that resident2b needs to slow things down, pass step two and get back onto a match cycle. A research year with ample time to take step 2 might be the right play here. Grabbing something just to not lose a year is always foolish.

 

[DocDanny]

LOL.

It was just a joke.