I think they do it to somehow keep their health insurance costs down.
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MD co ‘20 Residency Panic Thread
Started by Horners
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I plan on being back May 1st. Residency doesn't start until mid June at least. lol
Alright, which institutions will have an alcohol or tobacco drug test here?
Cant promise that I will stay clean off these substances in May and early June...
Cant promise that I will stay clean off these substances in May and early June...
I think the ones in Houston have like tobacco testing?
This is the second night in a row I've woken up in total panic of ending up at my rank #2, which is located in the opposite side of the country. I never thought I'd be one to have this sort of reaction to change, I've held it together pretty well so far in my life.
I really hope I get my number 1, I have even started looking for apartments and stuff, but I keep reminding myself not get my hopes up just incase it doesn't happen
I hope I get my #2. If I matched my #1, I'm worried I'll have regrets of not going to my #2.
What should I be doing right now to prepare for SOAP, if it comes to that? My specialty will have very little (if any) spots so I would in all likelihood be going into a different specialty - should I research the specialties that tend to have several positions through SOAP and prepare for those? Just choose one now? As for letters, do they need to be from physicians in that specialty itself? Or can I have some of my current letter writers re-tool their letters so that they are recommending me for something else?
No one should be researching SOAP. Seriously, if you are a US MD you are fine.
Really, really want my #1 too. It also would mean i wouldnt have to move. My 2-6 would require that (albeit, not too far, but moving sucks), unless i want a longer commute (over an hour at one place)
I definitely want my #1 and would be cool with my #3. My #2 is ranked as such because of location and part of me would prefer to not end up there because there are better programs on my list.
But on the other hand I'd be in the city I actually want to be in so I just don't even know people.
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Roughly 6% of USMD seniors didn't match last year. While not a large number, it's significant enough that it's not completely irrational to worry about SOAPing. These people aren't always bad candidates either. Some of them are 250s/260s with mostly honors, etc. Granted we don't know how they interview and most of them were likely going into very competitive specialties, but still. Better to be prepared than caught off guard.
Terrible damn advice.
The tough thing w SOAP is that you don't know until you know. So it's hard to research because you genuinely don't know how it'll play out.
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Is there anything anyone can even do to prepare a SOAP application?
Isnt it just your ERAS?
Isnt it just your ERAS?
The big thing is learn how the process works. You have a short amount of time to send applications out. If you think you’re likely to soap you can get a new letter of recommendation.
if you applied specialty maybe have a primary care PS ready.
US MDs have a historical match rate of 95%. The percentage not matched are in the teens for the super competitive specialties like ENT, Derm, Ortho and Neuro Surg. Low end is <2% for IM and Peds.
Unless you are applying into a super competitive specialty OR have a reasonable reason to be concerned (lack of interviews, failed CS, etc) it is not worth wasting time to prep for SOAP. Statistically you have a higher chance of matching to a place you ranked 4th or below so spend your time apartment hunting.
Still, it’s terrible advice.
there’s people who are surprised every year by having to SOAP. I wouldn’t tell people to spend hours preparing, but at least know how it works just in case you’re caught off guard.
apartment hunting doesn’t do anything now either, considering you don’t know where you're going to end up.
My good friend had only 6 interviews, so they have a backup personal statement and a letter from an IM program.
So 3 rounds. 15, 30, 30 apps each. You accept the first slot, you can apply for all available slots in all available specialties?
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You can apply to any slot available in any speciality. 🙂
I've heard of some people getting pretty amazing residency spots from the SOAP. Kinda crazy.
I assume those are people who didn’t match their subsspecialty and soaped into a less competitive specialty (Ortho to rads or something)
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Yup. And they're so happy in the place they SOAPed into. Blows my mind.
Is anyone else's school making them attend random match week meetings the morning of March 16th?
Thank god no. I am super surprised my school isn’t doing this though.
Nope... what would be the purpose of such a meeting, especially if you don't need to SOAP?
What if you do? Everyone now knows bc you’re not at the meeting lol
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Only if you need to SOAP.
Lol my school throws us to the wolves, if you have to soap you better hope you have a handle on it
Yikes.... that’s a little terrifying. Mine already told us they have a good system and will support us through it...
I haven't heard anything. Just a goddamn fundraiser for some admin who sends us reminder emails.
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Our school covers every window looking in to the deans offices so you can’t see who’s having to scramble. Also love that we don’t have to walk across a stage and announce where we matched.
That’s so nice. Last year they set it up so that everyone opened it at the same time at their own little cocktail table with their family/friends and then could go up on the stage later if they wanted. They switched it back to “finding out on stage in front of everyone” this year so I’m not going and doing my own thing instead.
An hour later is the only problem with this lol
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That sucks. Can’t you go and just not find out on stage?
That was my original reason for not going but they have added additional things to the event that have strengthened my conviction to not go - non-university guests having to pay, standing room only for all guests (one of my guests needs a knee replacement so that’s not happening), they are only opening them a half hour early, etc.
It is really hitting me how bad I want to match somewhere. I know we have all worked so damn hard for so damn long - it feels so frustrating that here we are twiddling our thumbs again.
They make your guests pay to stand??!
Thats bad. Damn
What kind of hogwash is that?
My school didn’t even have a match day event until last year. I’m glad we do now. Family can come and sit with you and then everyone opens their envelopes at once.
They get to pay for parking too! It seems like the event was really geared towards people whose whole lives are entwined with the hospital - most of your friends are residents or in med school, maybe your family is out of town and would only come for convocation, you want to tell your favorite faculty member where you matched? But for me most of my friends and family are not part of the medical community so I would rather spend it with them in a different setting.
Edit: To be clear, I would 100% pay for parking and entry for my guests if we were doing Match day. But I would much rather treat them to a nice brunch where we can all sit and be together when I find out.
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Aren’t you at USUHS? Didn’t most of your class “match” months ago?
Yeah that’s why they didn’t have a match day thing. They started two years ago having a match day event on the military match day. We have a match day in December when the results of the military “match” are released all at once. So the school does it the day before now since the results are available online at midnight. It’s nice to be able to have something.
My school charges for parking... but it’s in philadelphia where parking is limited as it is. They arent charging me for my husband though. The train would be cheaper than driving, but that hasnt been decided yet.
My school invites all the military, uro, and ophtho matches to match day. They all get an envelope to open and get to celebrate with their friends
That’s nice. Only a few people from our school end up going through the civilian match so we don’t do anything for it I don’t think.
