MD co ‘20 Residency Panic Thread

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Sandovalsel said:
Is no one panicking anymore like me?... We all good? Dont wanna be startin something lol
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I’m not anymore. I’ve transcended past panic. I’m now through the 5 stages of applying and I’ve reached acceptance. Acceptance that I’m actually in hell and none of this is real.
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Oh and I just got the most ridiculous rejection:
“Regretfully, I must inform you that despite your qualifications, your application did not receive sufficient priority to enable an interview with our program.”
Sufficient priority. I wanna just respond with a thumbs up emoji
 
samac said:
Oh and I just got the most ridiculous rejection:
“Regretfully, I must inform you that despite your qualifications, your application did not receive sufficient priority to enable an interview with our program.”
Sufficient priority. I wanna just respond with a thumbs up emoji
Click to expand...

Me, responding to rejections:

cc3.png
 
Sandovalsel said:
Is no one panicking anymore like me?... We all good? Dont wanna be startin something lol
Click to expand...
I feel like I'm starting to panic. Went into the process with no top choice + not tied to any particular geographic location or person + will be matching into a brand new state regardless since MP is so small... I just finished interview #8 with plenty more to go but haven't felt a good fit at any of them except for one. I feel like I get along with everyone fine at the superficial level but it's hard to gauge whether these are people I would want to be with when things get overwhelming/stressful :\ Also it doesn't help that most conversations at the pre-interview dinners/interview day are to learn about the program and not so much who the residents are as people. Are they good memers? Do they play videogames? Do they like anime? Would they join me in singing disney songs at 3am while on overnight call? :shrug:
 
samac said:
Oh and I just got the most ridiculous rejection:
“Regretfully, I must inform you that despite your qualifications, your application did not receive sufficient priority to enable an interview with our program.”
Sufficient priority. I wanna just respond with a thumbs up emoji
Click to expand...
Try this one
"Thank you so much for your interest in the ---- Residency Program at ---- University. We have a dilemma: we have had an inordinate number of outstanding candidates apply to our program. Despite having to unfortunately decline a number of candidates, after review of your file, we find it difficult to decline your application."
That's easy, don't decline it!
 
samac said:
Oh and I just got the most ridiculous rejection:
“Regretfully, I must inform you that despite your qualifications, your application did not receive sufficient priority to enable an interview with our program.”
Sufficient priority. I wanna just respond with a thumbs up emoji
Click to expand...

Yikes. I feel like this is an example of a program trying way too hard to sound eloquent or "nice" in their rejection email and they end up saying something really dumb and condescending lol. Seriously, how hard is it to just say "Unfortunately we have completed sending out invites. We wish you the best."
 
samac said:
Oh and I just got the most ridiculous rejection:
“Regretfully, I must inform you that despite your qualifications, your application did not receive sufficient priority to enable an interview with our program.”
Sufficient priority. I wanna just respond with a thumbs up emoji
Click to expand...

reply “ok boomer”


Sent from my iPhone using SDN
 
CidHighwind said:
At least they told you, aka stop sending us LOI letters haha. I found out for some of my programs because their last interview day was today...
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Good to know silent rejects still exist.
Im foreseeing that with many programs i havent heard back from yet
 
ciestar said:
Good to know silent rejects still exist.
Im foreseeing that with many programs i havent heard back from yet
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If a program hasn’t gotten back to you at this point there’s like a 90% chance you got rejected. Some that I emailed said I’m waitlisted or “on hold”, but most people don’t drop the “good places”. I’m assuming I get no more interviews, so that any extra that come will feel like a nice surprise.
 
CidHighwind said:
If a program hasn’t gotten back to you at this point there’s like a 90% chance you got rejected. Some that I emailed said I’m waitlisted or “on hold”, but most people don’t drop the “good places”. I’m assuming I get no more interviews, so that any extra that come will feel like a nice surprise.
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I literally received an IV like a week ago, which was a nice surprise.

Im more concerned with the two waitlists im on. Im not optimistic though.
 
ciestar said:
I literally received an IV like a week ago, which was a nice surprise.

Im more concerned with the two waitlists im on. Im not optimistic though.
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There’s like 2 waitlists I’m on that I’m “meh” on in terms of getting off of. Would be nice to get some more TY’s, but I feel like people won’t drop those.
 
CidHighwind said:
There’s like 2 waitlists I’m on that I’m “meh” on in terms of getting off of. Would be nice to get some more TY’s, but I feel like people won’t drop those.
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Ive interviewed at my top choice and I honestly don’t forsee me changing my mind on that. So if i don’t get off those WL’s, I think it just says I am where I am meant to be (hopefully).
 
ciestar said:
Ive interviewed at my top choice and I honestly don’t forsee me changing my mind on that. So if i don’t get off those WL’s, I think it just says I am where I am meant to be (hopefully).
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The WLs for me are more just to stay in one region. IMO one has a better shot at matching when you come in from the initial “wave” vs being their fill in.
 
Man the number of people I've come across who love almost everything about a program but His/Her holiness the SO does not approve of the area....I'm so happy I am completely in control of everything in this process
 
sharkbyte said:
Man the number of people I've come across who love almost everything about a program but His/Her holiness the SO does not approve of the area....I'm so happy I am completely in control of everything in this process
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It definitely complicates thing.
That said... my SO “not approving” of the area of a program matters only because of their job. Id rather not do a long distance thing, js.
 
ciestar said:
It definitely complicates thing.
That said... my SO “not approving” of the area of a program matters only because of their job. Id rather not do a long distance thing, js.
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Depends on the job and how far each person is willing to commute. I’m thankful for being able to have complete say in where to go. A 1 hour commute for each partner shouldn’t be a dealbreaker depending on the program IMO.

My choice will be whether to pick mid-tiers in an excellent location or upper-mid/lower-top tiers in meh locations.
 
Anyone know what the chances are of matching top 3? Is it about 78-80%? meh? Just help a brotha/sista out with this whole mess lol.
 
Sandovalsel said:
Anyone know what the chances are of matching top 3? Is it about 78-80%? meh? Just help a brotha/sista out with this whole mess lol.
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I think the consensus is that this is pretty person dependent. Are your top three reaches? Safeties? Did you crush an AI at one? Is one your home program? Does your application have red flags or is it stellar? Are you couples matching? Are your top three combined programs with fewer spots than categorical spots? The list goes on and on.
 
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Sandovalsel said:
Anyone know what the chances are of matching top 3? Is it about 78-80%? meh? Just help a brotha/sista out with this whole mess lol.
Click to expand...

Depends on three things:
1) The specialty: FM/Psych/Peds vs Neurosurgery/Derm/Plastics (In neurosurgery its probably like 25% match top 3 if I was going to guess)
2) The tier of programs: Even in IM if your top 3 are Harvard, Hopkins, Stanford, your odds aren't great. If it's 3 low tier community programs, your odds are probably 99%
3) The quality of the applicant: 250+/260+, AOA, Top 10 school vs 210 with board failure from bottom school

There are way too many factors that play into whether you'll match your top three, but nationally I think it's right about 75-80%,
 
One also has to assume that most people rank their home program very highly, and your home program is more likely to take you. Even for something competitive like Ortho/NSGY, most will match at either their home program or an away, and most people will rank those programs highly. Even if your list is top heavy, if those interviews came from applying vs them being “courtesy interviews”, chances are still pretty good you’ll match at your top 3-5 if you interviewed well (since your app was that good to get you those interviews)
 
marathonermedicinegal said:
Eh. Marriage is for life and I signed up for it knowing it would complicate the match for me. My spouse definitely does not act entitled about it though as you’ve implied. We just both want to be happy and that is fair 🙂
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I'm married and did not get that impression at all. I think they are simply saying they are happy they get to choose solo and not have to worry about the impact on another person, which is fair.
 
Works the other way as well in terms of being single and picking programs. If you’re married, you may feel more willing to choose a great program in a not-great place because you’re not worried about the dating scene there. Much more likely to want to spend 4-5 years in New Haven or Rochester if you already have a SO.
 
marathonermedicinegal said:
I have a bit of a dilemma. I interviewed at a program that was absolutely perfect in my eyes. Great residents, amazing faculty, unique things about the program that were perfect! But it is in a high COL area where our standard of living would fall, it is freezing (it snowed a ton while I was there too), and my spouse is really not excited about the area. Bummer!

Hoping to just move on and focus on the other places I’ve been that are in cheaper areas that are also great places, but my spouse would have more ability to thrive in.

Why can’t a place be a perfect program in a perfect location? Lol
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Can your SO get a job there, have a life there? It is hard not to consider your SO. Next year, my spouse will have to leave his job, his trainer, his friends. It is a big deal, and I will take his feelings about the area seriously.
 
in FM, how likely is it to match in to your top choice? 225/252 step scores.
 
marathonermedicinegal said:
There are no schools with the degree program that he wants to pursue in that city. Most of the other places I’ve interviewed at have great ones for him in their cities. We’ve locked down 3 really great programs for me that have schools with great degree programs for him.

He left a good job in a city he was familiar with to move up with me for med school. It’s his turn to shine, and I am okay with that.
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That’s my feelings on the subject. My husband has sacrificed a lot for me over the years. I can’t be selfish and ask him to give up a job where he is on track for great things.

Luckily my top program wouldn’t require us to move, but I’ve considered other programs along the way where we would.
 
Beginning of the cycle thank you emails:

“Thank you so much for the gracious opportunity to grant my worthless self an interview. I love you all so much, I would personally take a bullet for your pet cat. Please send my warm regards to the janitor who I happened to smile at on the tour of the hospital!

Willing to work for free!!”


End of the cycle thank you emails:

“The food was alright, frankly I wouldn’t order the eggplant parm again, get chicken parm next time you cheap MFs.

PS. The water bottle gift ya’ll gave me is leaking so can I get another one? Thanks.”


Sent from my iPhone using SDN
 
rukia013 said:
I feel like I'm starting to panic. Went into the process with no top choice + not tied to any particular geographic location or person + will be matching into a brand new state regardless since MP is so small... I just finished interview #8 with plenty more to go but haven't felt a good fit at any of them except for one. I feel like I get along with everyone fine at the superficial level but it's hard to gauge whether these are people I would want to be with when things get overwhelming/stressful :\ Also it doesn't help that most conversations at the pre-interview dinners/interview day are to learn about the program and not so much who the residents are as people. Are they good memers? Do they play videogames? Do they like anime? Would they join me in singing disney songs at 3am while on overnight call? :shrug:
Click to expand...

I feel the same way. I’ve been on 8 and have really only felt the “fit” at one that I did a subinternship at, but I’m not sure if they can meet all of my interests. I’m not sure which specialty you’re applying to but I usually ask what the residents enjoy doing and it’s pretty conversational about things outside of medicine also. I really hope I feel the “fit” every one describes. I also have trouble gauging how my interviews are going but heard I interview well in the past so hopefully programs feel the same.
 
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MerYangBey said:
3 more to go. I’m actually looking forward to being back on a rotation and on a normal schedule. I can’t keep eating junk food and living in hotels.
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I wouldnt mind being off forever lolol
But i dont do another rotation until after MLK day.

I have five left... ugh
 
ciestar said:
I wouldnt mind being off forever lolol
But i dont do another rotation until after MLK day.

I have five left... ugh
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Do you think residents feel the same way when they are ready for rotations to be over with lol, and ready to graduate???
 
4 more interviews left.
I can’t imagine liking them more than the interviews I’ve already had and I feel like I’m just playing a numbers game at this point
 
Do you guys take it as a red flag if you ask a resident why they chose their program and they just say “that’s how the match works”
 
Curious question to all, how far would you guys/girls would you want to go down on your rank list??
 
Sandovalsel said:
Curious question to all, how far would you guys/girls would you want to go down on your rank list??
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I would be genuinely thrilled with everything except my last rank. I’m ranking it because with my number of invites I would be stupid not to. But that’s the only place I think I would actually be unhappy - didn’t vibe with residents, leadership, program, or location.
 
Sandovalsel said:
Curious question to all, how far would you guys/girls would you want to go down on your rank list??
Click to expand...

Thats what im wondering...
I will ultimately have 17 to rank (maybe 18 if i get off one waitlist..)
Might not rank programs out of my geographic comfort zone.
 
Questions for you all: what resources and methods did you use when applying to residency? Did you use Doximity database and/or Freida database? For people applying IM as DOs: How many audition rotations did you do? Are they easy or hard to set up? Are you getting lots of interviews so far (including places you did audition at)? To how many programs did you apply to? What would you say the average step score is among people you've been interviewing with so far? Just an OMS-2 trying to stay proactive that's all. Thank you for helping already.
 
DrStephenStrange said:
Questions for you all: what resources and methods did you use when applying to residency? Did you use Doximity database and/or Freida database? For people applying IM as DOs: How many audition rotations did you do? Are they easy or hard to set up? Are you getting lots of interviews so far (including places you did audition at)? To how many programs did you apply to? What would you say the average step score is among people you've been interviewing with so far? Just an OMS-2 trying to stay proactive that's all. Thank you for helping already.
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I did not use freida or doximity. I am more geographically limited and applied to all the FM programs in that range basically. FM is really different, though. Scores aren’t emphasized much at all.

VSAS does exist for audition rotations, that is a good place to start. Freida would come in handy here since you’ll know more what you’re looking at and if you dont see that program on VSAS, you contact directly.
 
I feel like a jerk. I went to a prelim medicine program and there was only one other MD student interviewee. The rest were from carribean schools and DO schools. Part of me felt like this was a “red flag”, but then I felt bad about looking down on others and not realizing that they all probably have good apps.

Giovanotto said:
If I ever become a PD I will, not kidding, DNR people who send thank you emails.
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Thank you emails IMO are worthless. Either go all out with a handwritten card or don’t bother.
 
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