MD & DO Co’22 ERAS Panic Thread

Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine
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fldoctorgirl said:
I feel like this is true of most jobs though? And there's lots of programs that don't restrict how you use your vacation.
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In many jobs, if you’re gone your work just doesn’t get done while your gone, or it’s redistributed. But there tend to be a lot more people to distribute it to. If it’s a job with a small team, then you have the same problem.

Like in the Navy you generally can’t take more than 16 days of leave in a row because it would unduly burden the division or workcenter.

Restricting to a week at a time seems really excessive. But I’m guessing that’s their reasoning.
 
Matthew9Thirtyfive said:
In many jobs, if you’re gone your work just doesn’t get done while your gone, or it’s redistributed. But there tend to be a lot more people to distribute it to. If it’s a job with a small team, then you have the same problem.

Like in the Navy you generally can’t take more than 16 days of leave in a row because it would unduly burden the division or workcenter.

Restricting to a week at a time seems really excessive. But I’m guessing that’s their reasoning.
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2 weeks I get. 1 is really restrictive for travel.
 
So I recieved an email for a second look from one of the programs Interviewed at.

What exactly is this?

Should I go even if I literally dont have anymore questions? I’d say the program is maybe my top 5 for now but jesus I dont want to sit there pretending to have questions. Thats what the resident meeting and interview was for.
 
BeroPR said:
So I recieved an email for a second look from one of the programs Interviewed at.

What exactly is this?

Should I go even if I literally dont have anymore questions? I’d say the program is maybe my top 5 for now but jesus I dont want to sit there pretending to have questions. Thats what the resident meeting and interview was for.
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The programs that have offered second looks so far made it seem like it was optional at least in Neurology. It's mostly for people that may still be deciding on their ranking lists or were still unclear about some stuff about the program.
 
DrStephenStrange said:
The programs that have offered second looks so far made it seem like it was optional at least in Neurology. It's mostly for people that may still be deciding on their ranking lists or were still unclear about some stuff about the program.
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I've gotten a number of these invites too. They are clearly optional but my question is: does going to these visits affect rank?

I've heard officially that it doesn't as far as what NRMP guidelines dictate, but does anyone know how this works in practice? It is a lot of time/money to travel across the country for several days if doing so isn't going to even give us an opportunity to increase our favorability to a program or offer us anything beyond a brief tour and responses to questions we already likely know the answers to. Especially after already going on the interview and sitting through the resident Q/As.
 
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Psych1912 said:
I've gotten a number of these invites too. They are clearly optional but my question is: does going to these visits affect rank?

I've heard officially that it doesn't as far as what NRMP guidelines dictate, but does anyone know how this works in practice? It is a lot of time/money to travel across the country for several days if doing so isn't going to even give us an opportunity to increase our favorability to a program or offer us anything beyond a brief tour and responses to questions we already likely know the answers to. Especially after already going on the interview and sitting through the resident Q/As.
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Ask a resident if the program is going to submit the rank list before or after the second look, if you’re feeling ballsy.

One of my programs has been very clear they plan on having a second look, but stated in writing that they will submit their rank list early and the second look is going to be after they submit their rank list so we can truly feel free to attend or not. If a program isn’t spelling that out, it’s kind of hard to say if it will affect you.
 
NicMouse64 said:
This process is so random. I got 2 more interview invites today. I was sitting at 7 at the beginning of january and got 4 in the 2 weeks. Very weird but I am thankful. Just interesting how late things can go.
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Wow that's awesome! Congrats. Meanwhile I haven't heard anything for 6 weeks haha.
 
MedScat said:
I sent a LOI on Monday and it has been cricketsssss. I cced the residency coordinator too hoping they would send me something but, nothing.
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I did the same thing yesterday morning and no reply. I think the best thing to do is not look into it! I can't see them seeing it and just not responding at all. At this point, I'm chalking it up to them be flooded with other emails and responsibilities, as it's got to be a crazy time for PDs
 
I would be very curious how meaningful the LOI actually are. I’m not a program director by intentional fortune, but I basically ignore or throw away everything sent to me and rely solely on ERAS.

I’m not suggesting that you don’t send them. Do whatever you feel like. Just don’t be surprised if no one on the receiving side really cares.
 
SurfingDoctor said:
I would be very curious how meaningful the LOI actually are. I’m not a program director by intentional fortune, but I basically ignore or throw away everything sent to me and rely solely on ERAS.

I’m not suggesting that you don’t send them. Do whatever you feel like. Just don’t be surprised if no one on the receiving side really cares.
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Unfortunately, there are programs who care. There are programs who have stated that they care if applicants interact with their social media.

Because of the above, we really don’t have much of a choice if we want to maximize our odds of matching. I wish the match rules included ZERO or FORMALIZED post-interview communication, but it doesn’t and so here we are.

Programs send little trinkets and GrubHub money after the interview day, so applicants sending LOIs is pretty… simple, in comparison
 
Ganon said:
Unfortunately, there are programs who care. There are programs who have stated that they care if applicants interact with their social media.

Because of the above, we really don’t have much of a choice if we want to maximize our odds of matching. I wish the match rules included ZERO or FORMALIZED post-interview communication, but it doesn’t and so here we are.

Programs send little trinkets and GrubHub money after the interview day, so applicants sending LOIs is pretty… simple, in comparison
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Oh, I know programs send goodies bags. They send them to everyone though on the off chance that the most highly desirable candidate is swoon over by the gesture. It never (or maybe extremely rarely) happens though.

During the discussion of rank lists… none of that fluff stuff is relevant though. It’s all about scores, publications, LORs and the ability to articulate a career plan. No one ever brings up “but this person sent a letter to me expressing interest” as a way to tip the scales. At least not in my 10 years.

As an aside, the fact that communication happens through program social media is just sad… but I realize I am of a different era where that wasn’t even a thing.

Either way, that’s all beside the point. My point is if you send a LOI don’t be surprised if 1) they ghost you or 2) it’s impact is negligible. But I get it, in the lottery system, you don’t win by not playing…
 
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SurfingDoctor said:
Oh, I know programs send goodies bags. They send them to everyone though on the off chance that the most highly desirable candidate is swoon over by the gesture. It never (or maybe extremely rarely) happens though.

During the discussion of rank lists… none of that fluff stuff is relevant though. It’s all about scores, publications, LORs and the ability to articulate a career plan. No one ever brings up “but this person sent a letter to me expressing interest” as a way to tip the scales. At least not in my 10 years.

As an aside, the fact that communication happens through program social media is just sad… but I realize I am of a different era where that wasn’t even a thing.

Either way, that’s all beside the point. My point is if you send a LOI don’t be surprised if 1) they ghost you or 2) it’s impact is negligible. But I get it, in the lottery system, you don’t win by not playing…
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Absolutely, even if it's 1/100 odds of making a difference I know *tons* of applicants who applied to >100 spots, so... They'll miss the shots they don't take.

When discussing IMGs who don't have the luxury of *not* sending LOIs, the math gets even screwier.

One thing that has been constant in my medical education, though: The people in power (including my Dean) love to bemoan how silly the system is while literally being leadership in the system. Change has to come from somewhere, and it should come with the experienced folks, not the idealistic applicants who's motives are naked.
 
Ganon said:
Absolutely, even if it's 1/100 odds of making a difference I know *tons* of applicants who applied to >100 spots, so... They'll miss the shots they don't take.

When discussing IMGs who don't have the luxury of *not* sending LOIs, the math gets even screwier.

One thing that has been constant in my medical education, though: The people in power (including my Dean) love to bemoan how silly the system is while literally being leadership in the system. Change has to come from somewhere, and it should come with the experienced folks, not the idealistic applicants who's motives are naked.
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Dean: “The system is broken… so let’s make it moar stupid and screwy”

The perfect analogy of the US education system.
 
There's a long reddit thread right now that has the premise that student rank doesn't matter for applications either. (Again, you can't generalize anecdotes from specific PDs for specific specialties).

So basically... Nothing matters. And step 1 is P/F starting this year.
 
Ganon said:
There's a long reddit thread right now that has the premise that student rank doesn't matter for applications either. (Again, you can't generalize anecdotes from specific PDs for specific specialties).

So basically... Nothing matters. And step 1 is P/F starting this year.
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are they also saying AOA doesn’t matter?
 
Ganon said:
There's a long reddit thread right now that has the premise that student rank doesn't matter for applications either. (Again, you can't generalize anecdotes from specific PDs for specific specialties).

So basically... Nothing matters. And step 1 is P/F starting this year.
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Well, if you listen to the rhetoric out there, residency match will soon consist of a computer generated lottery, with no criteria for selection. Of course I'm being sarcastic.

Students must always strive to give their best while in medical school, stay focused, study hard, research early if you know the field you want to enter, secure mentors, understand the importance of securing excellent letters of rec., be early and likable when on rotations and do not be the person that wants to show every other student up.
 
I've figured out ranks 1-4. 5-10 gets dicier because they're programs I could realistically end up, having a hard time putting them in the right order.

I also interviewed at one program that I would be the first class for....it would legit be my dream program structure wise if only I were applying like 3 years from now. So I don't know how to rank them because program design + location = perfect for me, but don't know how I feel about being a first class.
 
fldoctorgirl said:
I've figured out ranks 1-4. 5-10 gets dicier because they're programs I could realistically end up, having a hard time putting them in the right order.

I also interviewed at one program that I would be the first class for....it would legit be my dream program structure wise if only I were applying like 3 years from now. So I don't know how to rank them because program design + location = perfect for me, but don't know how I feel about being a first class.
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You’re gonna match your #1, the rest is just gravy

I will jump for joy if I match in my top 10, no cap
 
Have you guys started sending LOIs yet? I wanted to wait till I am done with interviews (January 28th), but many programs in my field are already done with the season and their rank list including my number 1 (which is way out of my league lol). So, I'm wondering if I should send one this week.
 
DrStephenStrange said:
Have you guys started sending LOIs yet? I wanted to wait till I am done with interviews (January 28th), but many programs in my field are already done with the season and their rank list including my number 1 (which is way out of my league lol). So, I'm wondering if I should send one this week.
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I went ahead and sent mine. I figured, the earlier the better this season.
 
DrStephenStrange said:
Have you guys started sending LOIs yet? I wanted to wait till I am done with interviews (January 28th), but many programs in my field are already done with the season and their rank list including my number 1 (which is way out of my league lol). So, I'm wondering if I should send one this week.
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I'm doing mine next week.
 
DrStephenStrange said:
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Good thing the US population is aging. We're gonna need all those surgical subspecialties to hammer in grandma's new hip and address grandpa's dysfunctional trouser junk.

But seriously, I hope those people have backup plans cause while I don't know the numbers, I would doubt those fields opened up enough new residency spots to address the increases in applications. That being said, those numbers are also a little misleading in that a 1 year % change probably isn't globally that meaningful. The most interesting piece of data is the 5 year trend line.
 
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Drafted my LOI. Ready to send next week (the program is still interviewing).

"I love you so much plz just love me back"
 
I know there's a good bit of data talking about most people matching in their top three... but has anyone seen a specialty and/or demographic (MD vs DO vs IMG) breakdown of this? I've looked but I haven't found it.

I'd be stoked with my top three - heck, I would be really happy with my top 10 - but I would like to be able to have more realistic expectations.
 
I really hope I match top 3 but very skeptical if it will happen. Think we feel that way because there are a small number of rock starts in every field that gets majority of love letters/ post interview communication but they can only match at one spot so it works out in the end.
 
calivianya said:
I know there's a good bit of data talking about most people matching in their top three... but has anyone seen a specialty and/or demographic (MD vs DO vs IMG) breakdown of this? I've looked but I haven't found it.

I'd be stoked with my top three - heck, I would be really happy with my top 10 - but I would like to be able to have more realistic expectations.
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Page 40 of Results and Data - 2021 Main Residency Match has some MD/DO info. The percentages really aren't very different between MD seniors and DO seniors.
 
If a program says no post-interview communication because they said they adhere to NRMP guidleines is sending a letter of intent still okay?
 
I am scared of sending my LOI. It's sitting in my drafts. My #1 is set in stone, but my current #2 is at the same facility so I was planning on sending a joint #1/#2 letter and that's how it's currently written.

If I change my priorities at the last minute about ranking my #1 *specialty* instead of ranking my #1 *location* then my current #2's going to be my #8. And the PD of my #2 is the APD of my #1, so, I'm almost concerned it's going to be a red flag for my #2 if I don't tell them they're my #2 since they have the same selection committee members so they will have read my LOI to my #1... ugh. Why can't we just ban post interview communication already
 
calivianya said:
I am scared of sending my LOI. It's sitting in my drafts. My #1 is set in stone, but my current #2 is at the same facility so I was planning on sending a joint #1/#2 letter and that's how it's currently written.

If I change my priorities at the last minute about ranking my #1 *specialty* instead of ranking my #1 *location* then my current #2's going to be my #8. And the PD of my #2 is the APD of my #1, so, I'm almost concerned it's going to be a red flag for my #2 if I don't tell them they're my #2 since they have the same selection committee members so they will have read my LOI to my #1... ugh. Why can't we just ban post interview communication already
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I was told, if u arent saying your my number 1 then dont say anything at all.
 
calivianya said:
I am scared of sending my LOI. It's sitting in my drafts. My #1 is set in stone, but my current #2 is at the same facility so I was planning on sending a joint #1/#2 letter and that's how it's currently written.

If I change my priorities at the last minute about ranking my #1 *specialty* instead of ranking my #1 *location* then my current #2's going to be my #8. And the PD of my #2 is the APD of my #1, so, I'm almost concerned it's going to be a red flag for my #2 if I don't tell them they're my #2 since they have the same selection committee members so they will have read my LOI to my #1... ugh. Why can't we just ban post interview communication already
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Wait what’s the point of sending a #2 letter?

Same location or not, sending such a letter will probably only hurt you. It’s #1 and that’s it from what i gathered
 
Did you all not have myriad programs say "we don't listen to or care about post-interview communication"?? Most of my interviews pointed that out. My #1 said it, so I am not sending LOI as it seems like it would be ignoring their preference.
 
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