Couples match...Help!

[Kiki2004]

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I need advice on how to do the couples match. My fiancee and I are both going for Pediatric programs and we are looking at staying in Southern California. We have applied to various programs out of state, but would ideally lke to stay in Califoronia. There are quite a few programs in the LA area so we are hoping it will work out. However, I am having an extremely hard time finding information on how to do the rank list. People have tried to explain it, but I am just brain dead from sub-I's and studying for boards that I just can't seem to grasp the concept.

Is there any book, website (I believe NRMP has a section on how to do the couples match but I can't seem to find it) that I can look at that will explain it in "Couples Match for Dummies" style? Or if anyone has been through it, I would appreciate sharing any stories, experiences, etc.

Thanks!

 

[rirriri]

ALL COUPLES MUST WEAR PALE BLUE SHIRTS.

here is the NRMP link. This seems to explain it very well.

http://www.nrmp.org//res_match/special_part/us_seniors/couples.html

all the best and CHEERS!
-r

 

[Kiki2004]

Good plan, I'll have to remember that! Dressing alike will definately make us stand out!

Thanks for the link, rirriri (did I spell that right?!)

And good luck with your interview, I'm sure you'll look fabulous! You've got great taste! You better watch out for those single ladies on the interview trail!

 

[madcadaver]

Kiki,

Hopefully you have had the chance to review the link that rirrrirririri posted. It is the best source of information available. I am in a similar situation- my fiancee is applying in Peds and I am applying in medicine. We too would like to stay in Cal. You are fortunate that there are many good peds programs in southern cal. If you both have decent applications it should be no problem at all.

Think of the couples match like this- instead of making a rank list for just yourself with single programs, you are making a rank list for both of you with PAIRS of programs. You only rank PAIRS of programs that would be acceptable to you. It is impossible to get matched at a pair of programs that are too far apart, etc. It is a little bit more complicated than matching on your own because your rank list will be much longer (there will probably be may combinations that would be acceptable to both of you).

The NRMP website has many examples and I think you will be able to figure it out. If you have any more specific questions, ask.

Best of luck!
MadC

 

[madcadaver]

One more thing I forgot to mention--

Many programs are willing to help out applicants who are couples matching. For example, one PD I know very well keeps a list of applicants who are couples matching and their significant others' specialty and top program choices. If the applicant is someone he likes, he calls the PD of the program that the significant other is applying to (any specialty).

And of course, most programs will make interview arrangements to make travelling together easier for you.

Good luck,
MadC

 

[Kiki2004]

Thanks for the links/info guys...

that was actually a question I had, whether or not PD's will try and help you out, i.e., call other programs and speak to their PD's. Even though we are both applying to the same specialty, we are looking at different types of programs (he likes the smaller community-based hospital programs, I like the larger university- based programs). Hopefully it will work out.

MadC-Good luck to you and your fiancee, what programs/geographic locations are you both looking at?

 

[Kiki2004]

for kdoc2005-bumpity-bump...

hopefully some more people will respond and share some stories, I'm getting a bit worried

 

[Burton]

Originally posted by Kiki2004
Thanks for the links/info guys...

that was actually a question I had, whether or not PD's will try and help you out, i.e., call other programs and speak to their PD's.

Hi Kiki. I'm applying to Medicine and my wife is applying to Peds. At one of our recent interviews at Baylor (Houston), the Chairman in Peds (also Baylor's President) really liked my wife, and was asking her if it was okay if he called the Medicine Dept to make sure I got in.

I've had a couple of Medicine PDs say they would talk to the Peds Dept, but nothing as good as my wife had.

So it happens.

Good luck,
Michael

 

[samsoccer7]

^ bump for more anecdotes and stories. I can't decide if we should try for couples match or not (I'm rads, she's either anes, IM, or FP).

Good and bad stories both appreciated...