Couples Match

[Faizankhan]

I was going through another forum where I came across these statistics, can anyone tell how true are these statistics??

Some applicants go to the match as couples (which is a known option in the ERAS/NRMP system). Here is the outcome of those applied in 2009 as couple:
1-Number of couples: 788 (1576 individuals)
2-Number of couples who matched (both individuals): 706
3-Number of couples who matched only one of the individuals: 55
4-Number of couples who didn't match any individual (both out): 27
5-This means that the Couple Match rate is 93.1% which is significantly high.

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[NotAProgDirector]

Match Results, page 31 (which is page 39 of the PDF). Couples results from the last 25 years are listed.

The couples match, if played correctly, does NOT decrease your chances of matching, so it's no surprise that the match rate for couples is the same as the match rate for singles.

 

[Faizankhan]

Match Results, page 31 (which is page 39 of the PDF). Couples results from the last 25 years are listed.

The couples match, if played correctly, does NOT decrease your chances of matching, so it's no surprise that the match rate for couples is the same as the match rate for singles.

Thanks, that was a very useful link. But it does not have the couples match success rate of FMGs. I doubt they would come up with the same stats.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

Thanks, that was a very useful link. But it does not have the couples match success rate of FMGs. I doubt they would come up with the same stats.

Hard to say. Again, if you use the couple's match to it's fullest potential, then your match rate will be exactly the same as if you do not use the couples match. The couples match rate will be lower if the couple decides to purposefully fail to rank some combinations to avoid being separated. The NRMP has not published specific FMG couples match statistics.

 

[Dr Ymous]

The couples match, if played correctly, does NOT decrease your chances of matching, so it's no surprise that the match rate for couples is the same as the match rate for singles.

Well, that may not entirely be true. As of last year, 788 couples entered, and 706 couples matched successfully. (706/788 = .8959)

The reported 93.1% success rate for "couples" is misleading because that calculation is made using individual applicants. It completely disregards the fact that they entered as a couple. The truth is that there were 55 additional individuals (as part of a couple) that did not match... but their partner did. I'd hardly believe those unmatched individuals are chanting "success"!

It would seem that the most desirable outcome would be for both individuals to match successfully. Therefore, it should be viewed as "match success of the couple" where both would successfully match.

Lastly, it would be helpful to look at the couples and their chances of getting their 1st, 2nd, 3rd choices, etc. Unfortunately, that data is available only considering all applicants, regardless of specialty or participation as a couple.

Again, if you use the couple's match to it's fullest potential, then your match rate will be exactly the same as if you do not use the couples match. The couples match rate will be lower if the couple decides to purposefully fail to rank some combinations to avoid being separated. The NRMP has not published specific FMG couples match statistics.

It was kind of addressed here. However, the phrase "to its fullest potential" in this case means including ranks that defeat the very purpose being considered as a couple. Why? Well because the purpose of entering as a couple is, no surprise, to end up together.

 

[Dr Ymous]

"Couples rate" is where both matched successfully. "Individual rate" is the calculation made by NRMP where they look at individuals who participated in the couples match.

 

[DoctwoB]

I wonder Couples match success rate may also be increased by people thinking that it would be very difficult to couples match in competitive specialties where you have less control of your location and thus choosing less competitive specialties to match in.

 

[Green Grass]

Anyone been through the process of couple's matching? Does it require application to more programs and attendance at more interviews? Should I not consider more competitive specialties (integrated PRS, ENT...)? How much should a person "settle" to ensure a successful match?

 

[smq123]

Moving to ERAS/NRMP.

 

[twilightdoc]

Anyone been through the process of couple's matching? Does it require application to more programs and attendance at more interviews? Should I not consider more competitive specialties (integrated PRS, ENT...)? How much should a person "settle" to ensure a successful match?

I have not personally been through the couple's match, but have advised many students who have. "How many" and "how competitive" depend on the specialty and the academics, etc. of each member of the couple. In general, I would advise initially contacting more programs- how many depends on the specialty. And I would also advise "clustering" some of your inquiries- looking at larger metropolitan areas that might have several programs in the respective specialties of interest. You might decide that you don't necessarily need to match in the same hospital as long as you are in the same city or region. And the issue of "settling" is a hot topic. Personal relationships and commitments usually involve some compromise, and you may need to decide what is more important to you- your ideal program or being in proximity to your partner. The good news is that most programs in most specialties will give good training, so "settling" may not be so onerous. One reason for looking at a large number of programs and cities is that you will hopefully have several locations that are desirable for both of you.

 

[Green Grass]

Thank you

 

[IMer22]

Hi all, long time reader, first time poster here.

I had a question about couples matching that I was hoping someone could answer. My partner and I recently decided to couples match (I'm IM, he is anesthesia). I understand that we can update our profiles and connect our rank lists at any time before the due date. My question is, when we do this, will all of the programs we interviewed at automatically download our new profiles and be able to tell we are couples matching? We have several programs in the same areas and are not overly concerned about our ability to match as a couple, we are just wondering if programs are going to see that we suddenly decided to couples match and find it odd that we never mentioned anything at our interviews? We might contact a couple programs, but do not plan to contact all of them.

Thanks for the help.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

Theoretically, yes. Your new profile will be visible, and anyone could look at it.

Realistically, I don't know whether many programs will bother to print out your application again. In addition, we get a notice that there has been an update to your profile, but not exactly what was updated. We'd need to review the new and old apps to see where the difference is.

So, if you really want programs to know you are couples matching, you should tell them.

 

[FoggyGlasses]

Quick question.... actually more needed is confirmation.

If I am couples matching and at the bottom of our rank list we have an option that leaves one of us unmatched.... If that option is the one that we end up getting... I'm assuming there is no way to find out where the other half matched and so the unmatched partner wouldn't be able to participate in the scramble?? Or at least they wouldn't find out until Thursday after most scramble spots have filled?

Scary.

 

[gutonc]

Quick question.... actually more needed is confirmation.

If I am couples matching and at the bottom of our rank list we have an option that leaves one of us unmatched.... If that option is the one that we end up getting... I'm assuming there is no way to find out where the other half matched and so the unmatched partner wouldn't be able to participate in the scramble?? Or at least they wouldn't find out until Thursday after most scramble spots have filled?

Scary.

Look here.

 

[FoggyGlasses]

Look here.

Thanks!

 

[SuziQ]

Look here.

Really helpful information; thank you for posting it.

 

[ntsystematic]

Hi all. My fiancé and I will be couples matching in 2012. I have been looking for a resource that contains information on programs in the same area that are reasonable for two residents to live in between. For example, if we were to match at USC and Harbor-UCLA, we could live in Huntington Beach and the commute for both of us would be fine. Is there any such resource that exists? How can I figure this out without Google Mapping all the programs? I have lived in California my whole life and not familiar with other metropolitan areas but we are willing to go pretty much anywhere!

Thanks so much!

 

[gutonc]

Hi all. My fiancé and I will be couples matching in 2012. I have been looking for a resource that contains information on programs in the same area that are reasonable for two residents to live in between. For example, if we were to match at USC and Harbor-UCLA, we could live in Huntington Beach and the commute for both of us would be fine. Is there any such resource that exists? How can I figure this out without Google Mapping all the programs? I have lived in California my whole life and not familiar with other metropolitan areas but we are willing to go pretty much anywhere!

Thanks so much!

Google maps is pretty much the only option, no such resource exists that I'm aware of. Also, one thing to keep in mind with some programs is that there may be rotations at different hospitals during residency. For example, IM residents at UC-Denver rotate through 5 different hospitals spread all over the metro area. And, commuting in the rest of the country is not like it is in LA so what looks like a potentially horrendous commute to your SoCal eyes may be routine in City X. Finally, if you have to be there @ 5-6am anyway, the commute is likely to be much easier no matter how far it is on paper.

 

[ilyada]

Hi Everybody,
Well I have a question about the couples match. I am in a ophtho fellowship right now and would like to do residency in ophtho, something most say impossible but I will try. My husband who did a cardiology residency in our home country is going to apply for internal medicine. My question is if I intend to apply for either transitional or preliminary year is it a better idea to apply individually rather than couples match?
Thanks in advence

 

[NotAProgDirector]

Look at these threads:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=865876

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=604622

 

[ctusfinest]

xxx