contacting institutions interviewing your significant other?

[k*star79]

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hey, everyone! looking to all of you for your wisdom and guidance 🙂

both my fiance and i are matching this year, but since i am early match and he is regular match, we can only unofficially "couples match". i suppose things are still early, but the interviews we are receiving are scattered across the country from coast to coast and so far we have only two cities in common along our interview trails. we would love to spend the first of our married years in the same city!

i remember someone mentioning that they contacted programs at which his/her significant other was offered an interview, but can't seem to find the thread discussing it... any advice on the topic (i.e., what to say - if anything at all - email vs. a phone call, etc.)?

Thank you in advance for any replies 😍

 

[shalom2u]

Here is the link to a recent discussion on this topic:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=199009&highlight=couples+match
I'm in the same boat. Good luck

 

[k*star79]

thanks, shalom! it's nice to see i'm not the only one dealing with this issue...

i will most definitely be mentioning my situation at interviews since it's so important for us to be in the same city.

anyone with advice on contacting programs before you've even heard about your interview status? i swear someone posted something about that somewhere! 🙂

 

[Olddog1]

hey, everyone! looking to all of you for your wisdom and guidance 🙂

both my fiance and i are matching this year, but since i am early match and he is regular match, we can only unofficially "couples match". i suppose things are still early, but the interviews we are receiving are scattered across the country from coast to coast and so far we have only two cities in common along our interview trails. we would love to spend the first of our married years in the same city!

i remember someone mentioning that they contacted programs at which his/her significant other was offered an interview, but can't seem to find the thread discussing it... any advice on the topic (i.e., what to say - if anything at all - email vs. a phone call, etc.)?

Thank you in advance for any replies 😍

Absolutely tell the programs when you go for an interview, at some point. Focus on your ap, why you want to go there, etc... But let them know the situation. Your fiance' is the one who will really need to make it clear that she really loves program X (in the city where you match), and your relationship is really important as well. I have heard stories where it did work out and sometimes it doesn't, but most places would probably want to help if she is a good applicant. Lastly, be realistic, if you both have borderline grades, etc... and he/she is applying for the single derm spot at the med school with 10 4th years looking for the spot it may be more tricky.

 

[mrhdream]

So just got back from an interview a few days ago. Attending was asking about support network, and then he followed it up with whether or not I was married?
I am trying to figure out why that question was asked? Do you think they would have looked down upon me if I was, because than I would be less likely to relocate? Or would it be better to be married so they know that you are stable?
Nevertheless, I was not pleased with that 1 interviewer. This relationship business is tricky

 

[Olddog1]

I am trying to figure out why that question was asked? Do you think they would have looked down upon me if I was, because than I would be less likely to relocate? Or would it be better to be married so they know that you are stable?
Nevertheless, I was not pleased with that 1 interviewer. This relationship business is tricky

Most likely they were just wanting to get you know you better, or filling time. You are likely reading way too much into it. If you are a good applicant they will rank you accordingly, regardless if you are single, married, etc...

 

[k*star79]

just wanted to thank everyone who has posted - i went on my first interview yesterday, and made sure to mention my situation to the interviewers, with a reasonably positive response.

after much thought, i decided to email the programs that i have not heard from at which my fiance has received an interview. to all of the others dealing with the unofficial couples match, i will keep you posted on whether or not that was a good idea!

from what my advisors have told me, though, i think it will all work out. que sera sera, right?

 

[Wolverine98]

You didn't say (or I didn't see) what your fiancee is applying for. That makes a big difference. If it's IM or FP, no problem.

Not to scare you, but take what you hear with a grain of salt. In the class ahead of me in med school, there was an ophtho/ortho couple. During the process, he talked to the ortho people where they were med students, and they told him they have a spot for him. Because of that, she took the ophtho program in that city as her first choice and got it (though it wasn't the program that she truly liked the best). He put that place that had "promised" him a spot first, but he ended up matching about 1000 miles away, ironically at the institution that was her favorite for ophtho.
She ended up pulling out of her spot, reapplying during her TY, and then ended up midway between the two, and then he transferred to a program in her new city, so in total they ended up being apart for about 2 years.

Dave

 

[k*star79]

fiance is applying for EM... so while it's never a walk in the park, it's not something like ortho/ophtho.

i appreciate your words of caution, and agree with you 100%. i know a couple of people who been told "you are our number 1, kiddo" but were left in the dust come match day. this is obviously a big game, with students and applicants trying to woo as many as they possibly can... so my motto is to hope for the best, but prepare for the worst!

we are trying our best to be realistic about the whole situation. i am an average ophtho applicant in terms of stats - avg boards, not AOA... i am guessing that I have been lucky with interviews in part from strong LORs & an interesting resume (but come on - it's really all just one huge crapshoot) my fiance has amazing stats, and has been very successful with his interview list so far.

we now have four mutual cities on our interview trails - i think the best strategy, from what i have been told by colleagues, past matchers, and advisors, is to take a geographic approach to our rank lists as opposed to listening to any alluring promises from various programs. thanks again for the advice - will keep you posted

 

[motorcity]

Definitely make a point of telling your interviewers about your situation. It's a good idea to discuss the situation in advance with the residency advisor at your home institution -- or maybe your dean of students.

After you match (i.e. before your SO matches), you should notify the program director at his first choice in the city. And perhaps ask your Dean of Students to contact them as well.

Good luck.

 

[k*star79]

hey guys... so here's the update - out of the programs i have contacted in advance regarding my interest and the fact that my fiance is interviewing in the city, i've gotten one interview and two rejections so far. definitely not as successful as Haptic has been, from the looks of his post on the Interviews thread!.. we'll see what happens next week.

i'm keeping my hopes up, though, and am just grateful for the interviews i've gotten. so far i haven't received any negative vibes during interviews... good luck to everyone