MD & DO co'21 Residency Panic thread

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Interviewed at what’s likely my top choice today and I’m just convinced I bombed my interview 😭. I’m probably just in my head but man this season can’t end quick enough.

I was convinced I failed every test and board exam up to this point too so I’m sure I’m just overthinking.
 
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Banco said:
Damn was at an interview day and everything looked to be going really well, and I was planning on ranking the place higher than expected. Then we had a Q+A with the residents and well, now I'm ranking it lower than expected. Just did not vibe at all. Kind of sucks.
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Out of curiosity....what kind of stuff was said that made you do an about face?
 
Since we're talking about all kinds of letters now....

For those of you from last year who sent a Letter of Intent stating they're your number 1, did you guys match into that program?
 
How much emphasis are you guys putting on “the people” and your fit with the residents from pre-interview dinners? So far, I’ve put a lot of emphasis on it, and while I think that’s justifiable in a typical year, I’m starting to question my ability to get an accurate “gut feel” about people over zoom. Thoughts?
 
Last interview was today. Also started an audition rotation at my #2 place. This is a problem now, because my #2 just changed to #1b...
 
Do you guys think its easier to match higher on your rank list this year with all the hoarding and what not?
 
ciestar said:
I know this isnt a thread for me and my problems... but i am spiraling into my shopping obsession thing. And like everyone i know now is expecting and im like YESSS GIFTS FOR YOU ALL FROM MEEEE
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Man, you're doing so much better than me. Many of my friends recently gave birth and I'm like, "Congrats, your babies will get gifts after I match."
 
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Programs: why should we pick you? What do you bring to the program?
Me: blah blah blah...
Programs: not impressive

Me: what is your program #1 selling point?
Programs: blah blah blah
Me: (heard that many times)

What a stupid game we are all playing. Anyone have similar experience lol?
 
frenchyn said:
Programs: why should we pick you? What do you bring to the program?
Me: blah blah blah...
Programs: not impressive

Me: what is your program #1 selling point?
Programs: blah blah blah
Me: (heard that many times)

What a stupid game we are all playing. Anyone have similar experience lol?
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well damn I never broke it down like that lmaooo
 
frenchyn said:
Programs: why should we pick you? What do you bring to the program?
Me: blah blah blah...
Programs: not impressive

Me: what is your program #1 selling point?
Programs: blah blah blah
Me: (heard that many times)

What a stupid game we are all playing. Anyone have similar experience lol?
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Yes. My gripe is If “well I don’t have any glaring weaknesses” is a stupid response for me as the interviewee, it’s a stupid response for a program too. I’ve had more than one program try and evade the “what do you think could be improved on?” Question and it irritates me to no end.

Every program sounds the same to me at this point.
 
Oh
AnatomyGrey12 said:
Yes. My gripe is If “well I don’t have any glaring weaknesses” is a stupid response for me as the interviewee, it’s a stupid response for a program too. I’ve had more than one program try and evade the “what do you think could be improved on?” Question and it irritates me to no end.

Every program sounds the same to me at this point.
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ya This is another stupid game we play too...except this one you dug your own hole sound like...has not yet happened to me...🤣
 
Oligodinero said:
Out of curiosity....what kind of stuff was said that made you do an about face?
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They were highly disinterested in talking to us, seemed to scoff at basic questions, weren't really enthusiastic about the program. Vibe was totally off.
 
How many interviews did you guys do in total?
 
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AnatomyGrey12 said:
Haha no I didn’t say “I have no weaknesses.” I meant I don’t know why programs think it’s acceptable for them to do it when if we gave that answer as interviewees we probably wouldn’t end up ranked very high.
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Yes this drives me crazy.

Me: “Any big changes coming or things you’re looking to improve?”

PD: “No.”
 
3member said:
Boy I sure hope so. That being said, there were definitely a lot of the same people on my IV trail at different programs.
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At my most recent interview (which was my 9th or 10th I think?) I recognized all but one of the 25 interviewees. I had seen most multiple times. This is for a smaller subspecialty, but still, definitely a lot of overlap happening.
 
I've done 18 IM. I've seen repeat candidates 3-4 times usually in the big academic programs that interview tons of people in a day. Tbh I'm staring at myself the whole time and not really paying attention to the other candidates
 
Yeah, by my last 2 interviews it was wild how many of the applicants I recognized, especially in a similar regional clump of interviews.

AAAmeds said:
How many interviews did you guys do in total?
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14 in Gen surg - feeling pretty comfortable with this number as it's a good spread of tier. Don't expect any more and wouldn't do any more unless it was some dream reach or something.
 
efle said:
Y'all are so much braver than me, I'd love to cancel some but knowing people who had to SOAP, suffering through the interviews seems the lesser evil
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How many interviews are you going on, efle? Thought there was a >95% chance of matching after 12 II’s
 
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CavsFan2016 said:
How many interviews are you going on, efle? Though there was a >95% chance of matching after 12 II’s
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17, median ranks for matched apps last year was 14. I know it's safe to cancel a couple more, but then I think about the risk-reward of SOAPing vs taking a morning off, and figure I'd better suffer through it.
 
efle said:
17, median ranks for matched apps last year was 14. I know it's safe to cancel a couple more, but then I think about the risk-reward of SOAPing vs taking a morning off, and figure I'd better suffer through it.
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Yeah 17 is probably overkill but that decision is up to, obviously. Whatever makes you comfortable
 
iamarosepetal said:
i love my top 4 and would be happy to match there but after that 🙁
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Same, top 2 programs both seem PERFECT for me, but then the next 10 ranks would all mean sacrificing the dream of buying our first home for another 5+ years.

CavsFan2016 said:
Yeah 17 is probably overkill but that decision is up to, obviously. Whatever makes you comfortable
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You know what I just looked at the curve and even 14 is overkill. Odds are >90% at 8, >95% at 12. I'm going to cancel 2 more tonight
 
I will have 12. I have my top choices, but it was honestly a miracle I even got into a DO school let alone made it this far. I’ll grin all the way to the bank matching the bottom of my list lol.
 
AnatomyGrey12 said:
Same, past my top 2 I’ll still he happy but every program has some combo of pro/con, anything past 13 and I’ll be pretty devastated (although relieved to have matched).
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I've got 3 that I would be thrilled with for training and location. The next 5 I'd be happy with - they're potentially more renowned programs, but in areas that are less ideal for me, but I would be able to make my peace with it knowing that at least they had something going for them. After 8, I would definitely be disappointed.
 
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I definitely recognize a lot of the DO ortho studs by now, seems like the same group of 10-15 DOs are getting the same non-rotator invites

In terms of rank list as it stands rn id be STOKED and popping bottles if I end up on my top 7, past that id be a mix of disappointed yet relieved I at least matched my desired specialty. Except one program at the bottom of my list I have considered not ranking and taking my shot at the SOAP instead, just malignant vibes in every sense of the word (which IMO means a lot coming from a surgery applicant lol)
 
Banco said:
They were highly disinterested in talking to us, seemed to scoff at basic questions, weren't really enthusiastic about the program. Vibe was totally off.
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Ugh, yeah, I had kind of a weird resident social at my top choice. I'm chalking it up to zoom though, cause I still think it's the best program for me. The other applicants were pretty quiet and the residents first told us the group last week was more lively (????) and then complained about the cost of car insurance. Hey, we all have our days.

I'm on 11 out of 12 and I am dragging! I wish I had canceled yesterday's interview. Decent program honestly, just not one of my favs and when they say things like, "We definitely want you here!" I felt super awkward and had a hard time gauging how to respond. Guess I am not good at "playing the game". I'd be psyched for any of my top 3, happy with top 9, and after that still grateful to match. Will pain me a little if a program I ranked higher than where I match ends up in the SOAP, but I am telling myself that's unlikely.
 
Naruhodo said:
Ugh, yeah, I had kind of a weird resident social at my top choice. I'm chalking it up to zoom though, cause I still think it's the best program for me. The other applicants were pretty quiet and the residents first told us the group last week was more lively (????) and then complained about the cost of car insurance. Hey, we all have our days.

I'm on 11 out of 12 and I am dragging! I wish I had canceled yesterday's interview. Decent program honestly, just not one of my favs and when they say things like, "We definitely want you here!" I felt super awkward and had a hard time gauging how to respond. Guess I am not good at "playing the game". I'd be psyched for any of my top 3, happy with top 9, and after that still grateful to match. Will pain me a little if a program I ranked higher than where I match ends up in the SOAP, but I am telling myself that's unlikely.
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This definitely happens on our end too. I saw an applicant wince when myself and my co-intern gave our “favorite thing about the program” and there was a pause before the PGY2s went (not because they are uninvolved or hate it, they just both were super laid back people), but of course there is no way to explain that in the moment. I think we all have off days. Plus it depends on how programs divide the rooms. Mine typically has one resident from every level of training (or something like that) in each room which means it’s great for “hmm I’m not sure how that’s been this year, PGY3, what do you think?” but not great for showing all the rapport that each class has from within itself because with covid we haven’t really had much opportunity to spend time with our seniors.
 
DO applying FM. Got 20 invites, went on 15. I'm in a not-so-great place because I have fallen head over heels for my #1 and honestly don't like any of the rest. Don't get me wrong, I would be thrilled to match but I just know how sh***y the sinking feeling in my gut would be if I didn't match #1. I can already feel it now...
 
Hey! I recently started posting a guide to clinical rotations that I'm working on (link in sig). I'd love it if I could get some opinions from y'all, especially 4th years who've been through it all with me now and newer residents who have more recently transitioned from the med student -> resident role. I realized while I was writing that only having a single point of view is a significant weakness in a subjective topic like this, so additions and differing opinions would be super valuable.
 
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