Attempting to match near SO, how much does marital status matter?

[plshelpvanxious]

Sorry in advance if this has been answered before.
I'm hoping to match as close to my SO as possible. I know that program directors consider personal connections like a spouse or family in the area.
Does being married carry significantly more weight than dating for many years or being engaged?

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[Chibucks15]

Well married is legal on top of committed relationship, so yes I would assume it carries more weight.

 

[sanfran256]

Yes but you shouldn't assume it will play a major role in their ranking of you. Many people will have an equally valid reason to be in the area!

 

[Tenk]

Yes but it’s not a good reason to get married. In fact, that’s a terrible reason to get married.

 

[plshelpvanxious]

Yes but it’s not a good reason to get married. In fact, that’s a terrible reason to get married.

Yeah I agree, I'm not planning my marriage around improving my match. We've already talked a lot about marriage, so if anything it would be a factor I'm considering for the timing of marriage - like whether to wait until we have funds for a wedding or to just make it legal whenever we're ready and have a ceremony years later. I was just wondering if it would make a difference at all in helding us move closer together.

 

[CidHighwind]

They consider it but ultimately interviewing well and being a “fit” with the program is a lot more important than being married. Especially if you live in a region like the south or Midwest where everyone has a SO.

 

[CherryRedDracul]

If a program really wants an applicant, and they know the SO is applying to another residency in the same institution, the two PDs may talk. At most, it may boost the less competitive applicant's chances of matching at that institution.