MD & DO co'21 Residency Panic thread

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
Going to start emailing my reachable programs
NecrotizingFasciitis said:
Is it safe to say a program does rolling II's if they have 5 interview release days recorded on the Reddit spreadsheets at this point?

Asking cause it's one of my top programs and if it's a rolling system it's not as big a deal ya know. Definitely gunna hit them up with a LOI at some point.
Click to expand...

I know an IM program that has 3+ dates, but they're mostly full by that 3rd date already. That's my concern and why I'm going to reach out to places before it's too late.
 
Debating when to send letters of intent. I just finished drafting some of them, thinking later this week. I have plenty of interviews, just lacking in my target area
 
Let me just say how happy I am to have found this thread. I am panicking because I was told you need 10 ranks to feel secure matching. I'm US MD with a below average step 1 and no step 2 ck yet (took the test late October) applying anesthesia .

So far only sitting on 4 anesthesia interviews and 3 IM prelims interviews (one of the anesthesia programs I would almost rather not rank/match than go to). I am reeeaally hoping that most interviews just have not gone out yet.
 
KarlFranz said:
Problem is nobody knows anything about this cycle cuz of the lack of transparency. You also have people claiming their PDs and advisors are saying if you dont have 6 invites or more by Nov 14th we should be focusing on SOAP which is stress inducing.
Click to expand...

That doesn't sound like it makes sense for IM, according to charting outcomes for usmds, 6 contiguous ranks = 95% chance of matching? Also it seems like interviews this cycle are worth more since programs aren't handing out more interviews despite an increased number of applications.
 
notApenguin said:
That doesn't sound like it makes sense for IM, according to charting outcomes for usmds, 6 contiguous ranks = 95% chance of matching? Also it seems like interviews this cycle are worth more since programs aren't handing out more interviews despite an increased number of applications.
Click to expand...
Why would they be worth more? Still the same number of slots, same number of applicants.

All of those percentage chance things are BS. Got 16 IIs last year, interviewed and ranked 13, still SOAPed into a prelim.
Buddy of mine had 3 interviews, matched his top choice (from his application list, not his rank list).

AspiringERMD said:
Well... I didn't match last year, and I guess it has me feeling super-undeserving. Like, I do want the best potential doctors to become doctors. I don't know. *shrug*
Click to expand...
That's BS man. I understand the tendency...not matching is indescribably rough, and anyone who hasn't been through it is going to have a hard time *getting* how insignificant and crappy it can make you feel. But don't let the game ruin your confidence in yourself. Not matching does NOT mean you're undeserving, it means the game is flawed. The absolute best thing you can do is to have people contact people on your behalf. Trust me, if you suck, they wouldn't be willing to do so. I think the number one gap in my app last year was the lack of people to network for me and advocate for me. I had great LORs, but a phone call goes a long way.
 
mehc012 said:
Why would they be worth more? Still the same number of slots, same number of applicants.

All of those percentage chance things are BS. Got 16 IIs last year, interviewed and ranked 13, still SOAPed into a prelim.
Buddy of mine had 3 interviews, matched his top choice (from his application list, not his rank list).
Click to expand...

At least for IM there are actually 132 less usmd applicants compared to last year, although for most other specialties the number of usmds applying has increased from last year. Also I'm assuming that competitive applicants are over-interviewing this year given the ease of virtual interviews meaning programs will have to go further down their rank list to fill their spots. Also, I'm sorry your last cycle didn't go as well as you had hoped, 16 interviews seems like a very good number for any specialty. It sounds like you had must have had some really unfortunate luck, I hope you are much happier with your outcome in this cycle!
 
mehc012 said:
All of those percentage chance things are BS. Got 16 IIs last year, interviewed and ranked 13, still SOAPed into a prelim.
Buddy of mine had 3 interviews, matched his top choice (from his application list, not his rank list).
Click to expand...

What specialty did you apply the first time?
 
Lu_Xun said:
What specialty did you apply the first time?
Click to expand...
It's earlier in the thread, as well as other threads. Not to say I'm unwilling to discuss it, I just want to make sure I don't fully derail the thread, as I feel I've gotten the discussion I needed to move forward. I mention it only because it is a very relevant anecdote going into another Match. Nothing is ever certain in this crazy game, and that's in a NORMAL year!

Gen surg application, coming from upper-mid tier med school with 260ish on both Step 1 and 2 CK, Honors on all rotations except Peds (HP), good LORs, no red flags. Yes, I promise there's not something missing from this description. I know it sounds ridiculous; felt ridiculous too. But scout's honor.
 
KarlFranz said:
Problem is nobody knows anything about this cycle cuz of the lack of transparency. You also have people claiming their PDs and advisors are saying if you dont have 6 invites or more by Nov 14th we should be focusing on SOAP which is stress inducing.
Click to expand...
Aren't you at 5 tho?
 
notApenguin said:
At least for IM there are actually 132 less usmd applicants compared to last year, although for most other specialties the number of usmds applying has increased from last year. Also I'm assuming that competitive applicants are over-interviewing this year given the ease of virtual interviews meaning programs will have to go further down their rank list to fill their spots. Also, I'm sorry your last cycle didn't go as well as you had hoped, 16 interviews seems like a very good number for any specialty. It sounds like you had must have had some really unfortunate luck, I hope you are much happier with your outcome in this cycle!
Click to expand...
Where can we see the total # of applicants this cycle?
 
I'm a non-US img with no interviews, Step 1-250, Step 2- 264, YOG: 2018, waiting for ECFMG certificate. I'm starting to panic right now and I'd appreciate any input.

I applied mainly to visa friendly programs but, I'm starting to feel like there's something wrong with my application. Is it my YOG? I don't have much USCE but a few observer ships maybe that's why?

Should I reach out to programs?
 
Espressso said:
www.aamc.org

ERAS® Statistics

This page contains current and historical data related to ERAS applicants and applications.
www.aamc.org www.aamc.org
Click to expand...
Asaadac31 said:
I'm a non-US img with no interviews, Step 1-250, Step 2- 264, YOG: 2018, waiting for ECFMG certificate. I'm starting to panic right now and I'd appreciate any input.

I applied mainly to visa friendly programs but, I'm starting to feel like there's something wrong with my application. Is it my YOG? I don't have much USCE but a few observer ships maybe that's why?

Should I reach out to programs?
Click to expand...
From what I've seen last year, IMGs get interviews last! Your time will come.
 
7A12610C-1ED4-4919-815E-C65825F4EFE5.jpeg
 
Finding humor in the idea of just be patient, IIs will come...and months later they never come. Basically like being stood up on an online date.
What stage of grief is that?
 
Updates and my thoughts so far.
DO with below average on both steps, bottom half class rank that applied EM. Location: Midwest (lived in the same midwest state my whole life so no "connections" to any other locations). No red flags. 1 eSLOE, 1 Sub specialty SLOE, 1 OSLOE

UPDATED/EDITED: 16 II's:
- 8 university/county, 8 community.
- 2 are from programs I rotated at, 3 IIs are from former DO programs, 2 from my home state
- Geographic distribution: 5 Midwest, 5 south/southeast, 3 Northeast, 1 East coast, 2 North/upper-midwest?
- 2 Rejections (1 was a huge reach program).

Things I did that may have helped:
- Networking: Of the places i didnt audition, around half were programs I either met with via EMRA residency fair or had reached out and talked with residents over the summer, or attended zoom stuff etc. Legit had faculty at a program i applied like a random twitter comment of mine and then got an invite from them like 2 hours later (probably total coincidence but still lol)
- unique PS/ECs/leadership. Multiple years of ER experience before med school.
- Also i'm assuming my SLOE was good based on rotation feedback but unsure exactly what i'm ranked.
- I believe i applied very strategically (in terms of being a below average DO): Applied to about 50% community and 50% Uni/County. Of the community programs I'd say roughly half were former DO programs. I dont think I applied to a single program that didn't have at least 1 DO in each PGY class.

Feeling very fortunate and will def be dropping II's (plan to do 12-15 tops). Still lots of programs that still haven't sent out interviews
 
Last edited:
To try and ease more peoples minds. Got an invite from Utah yesterday after having assumed they were done and I wouldn't hear anything because they sent two big waves in the first week. They had literally every interview day in november and december open and that is with no january dates even listed. These programs are opening more slots as they send batches out.

Also got a goodie bag from a program in the mail today with some popcorn and coffee and stuff so that was nice lol.
 
I wouldnt read too much into it. You are a DO with low step scores in a year thats very bizarre and most average MDs are struggling to get invites. Its just not ideal for you. Give it another week and see. If you still have nothing then reach out.
 
kazekage2016 said:
DO, low board scores. Going for IM, applied 100 places. 0 IIs so far....what to do
Click to expand...
You should evaluate your app. Are you comlex only? What do you mean by low board scores? Are we talking Level/step1 410/198 or are we talking like 510/215? Did you research every program you applied to to make sure they take DOs? If the majority of places you applied are community programs that take DOs and they HAVEN'T sent out IIs yet, I wouldn't worry yet. However if they did send them out you should prep some LOIs. Look through some of the community programs on freida and residency explorer that have very high % DOs and consider applying to a few. I am COMLEX only with a score of around 530. I applied 80 IM programs in the midwest/northeast and just recieved II #12 with a solid mix of Community and academic. A lot of my COMLEX only DO friends have similar II numbers too. I'm not saying this to brag, I just think you need to seriously evaluate your application and your application strategy. It is also still very early, and it's entirely possible that by the end of this week you will have 10+ IIs.
 
mehc012 said:
Oh wow, these Zoom interviews are ROUGH. So much harder than in person.
Click to expand...

Why do you think that? Just out of curiosity.

I've liked being able to go drink a gallon of coffee between interview people. And I feel like it's less stressful too because it's just as weird for them as it is for us; we all in the same awkward virtual boat!
 
NecrotizingFasciitis said:
Why do you think that? Just out of curiosity.

I've liked being able to go drink a gallon of coffee between interview people. And I feel like it's less stressful too because it's just as weird for them as it is for us; we all in the same awkward virtual boat!
Click to expand...
The timing is very quick and I’ve found it’s kinda hard to fully show body language and stuff. It hasn’t been awful but the main part that’s rough is the resident dinner and such. They all try but it’s impossible to to recreate normal dinners and such
 
Any advice on how to phrase an email letting a program know i'm canceling my interview and no longer wish to be considered by them? struggling here. i'm sure this should be easy but i feel bad and don't know what to say.

i already canceled on thalamus but feel like the right thing to do is also write and tell them, instead of just leaving it as unscheduled
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

J
Class of 2025 ERAS Panic Thread
Replies
23
Views
4K
Darrow O'Lykos
Darrow O'Lykos
P
Extensions/Interruptions Panic
Replies
8
Views
2K
premedpower8484848
P
ooh a bean
Co’23 ERAS Panic Thread
2 3 4 5
Replies
205
Views
33K
SpoiledMilk
S
LiteralLungs
Co-authors on project
Replies
1
Views
742
@#Frogthejam#@
@
D
TAMU-COM CO 2028 Schedule
Replies
2
Views
610
wysdoc
wysdoc
Top