Applying, interviewing and not going into match?

[cardiomegaly]

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Hey everyone,

Just wondering what the consensus would be about going through the application process, interviewing, but then not going into the match.

Personal/family circumstances have come up, and I'm considering taking a year off before starting fellowship. I interviewed at a lot of great places, so I felt competitive, but just wondering if it would potentially screw me over for next year if I went through this again?

I really appreciate your help and $0.02. Thanks!

 

[CanIMakeIt]

Hey everyone,

Just wondering what the consensus would be about going through the application process, interviewing, but then not going into the match.

Personal/family circumstances have come up, and I'm considering taking a year off before starting fellowship. I interviewed at a lot of great places, so I felt competitive, but just wondering if it would potentially screw me over for next year if I went through this again?

I really appreciate your help and $0.02. Thanks!

You could match and then take a year off for personal issues if you have to. Who knows what is going to happen next year

 

[Mobitz3]

Not sure how it would go over if you matched and then took a year off. Your program would be down a fellow and not be too happy. If you didnt put a rank list in this year, I dont know if it would be that huge of a deal to get a spot next year. It would suck to have to go through the entire process again with letters, personal statement, interviews etc. You'd obviously have to address it this year with the programs you interviewed at and include it in your personal statement next year. But your situation is clearly better than applying, not matching and then reapplying. That being said, you are probably the most competitive the first time applying.

 

[ProgCoordinator]

Do NOT go through the match unless you will follow through. Should you choose to withdraw in order to take a year off from training, it would be a good idea to send an email to the programs with which you'd interview to explain that you have chosen to withdraw from the match in order to take a year off from training due to personal reasons. Period.

 

[hotshotdoc]

IMO Dont go to match at the first place

 

[CanIMakeIt]

Not sure how it would go over if you matched and then took a year off. Your program would be down a fellow and not be too happy. If you didnt put a rank list in this year, I dont know if it would be that huge of a deal to get a spot next year. It would suck to have to go through the entire process again with letters, personal statement, interviews etc. You'd obviously have to address it this year with the programs you interviewed at and include it in your personal statement next year. But your situation is clearly better than applying, not matching and then reapplying. That being said, you are probably the most competitive the first time applying.

That's true. If the program is one short then everyone else will have to pick up the slack. I say go the PC's advice - email all the programs re your situation and don't go through the match. Is your personal/family situation such that it won't be resolved by the time you start fellowship? Do you need to take the year off?

 

[genecancer]

Hey everyone,

Just wondering what the consensus would be about going through the application process, interviewing, but then not going into the match.

Personal/family circumstances have come up, and I'm considering taking a year off before starting fellowship. I interviewed at a lot of great places, so I felt competitive, but just wondering if it would potentially screw me over for next year if I went through this again?

I really appreciate your help and $0.02. Thanks!

I agree with many others here- dont go into match if you will not follow through.
BUT as someone who has been out of residency for 2 years and now applying, I would also personally reveal this to you: you are most competitive now than next year. Except you are going to spend the next one year buried in research or discovering the next big thing in Medicine!
If the personal/family issue is not life threatening, try and solve it within the 6 months after the match and go for fellowship. If it is financial, dont worry. I worked for 2 years as a hospitalist and I am still paying off debts so dont let money issues deprive you of a fellowship opportunity.
I will keep telling this to anyone that cares to listen: dont take time off after residency except your life/marriage depends on it. It does not get easier with time.
That said, rather than loose your life, a family member's life or loose your marriage, it is still okay to skip the Match. Good luck!