Do my husband and I have to split???

[DMD-2-B]

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Hi everyone. I have a problem and was wondering if any of you have encountered this issue. I'd appreciate any advice...

My husband is applying for residency (2007 cycle) and I am applying for dental school (2007 entry). As I understand, the match program does not let residents choose from several options. Basically, once you're choosen by the hospital nearest to the top on your list, your in and that's it.

So we are trying to make sure we apply to schools/hospitals in the same cities. But the concern is what if he gets into a hospital and I dont get in to a nearby dental school? Do we have anyway of switching his residency placement to another hospital with a nearby dental school that has accepted me?

 

[inositide]

It's often difficult to switch residencies, but it is much easier to switch medical or dental schools. So here a few options:

1) Try to get the best possible residency and dental admission in the same area, that would be great but obviously there is a chance that it might not play out like that.

2) Apply to less competitive residency programs in the area, which would virtually guarantee a residency in that area, and also apply to dental school.

The last possibility is what might end up happening:

3)There are dental schools in nearly every area. Once a dental school has accepted you and you have matriculated there, do a semester there and then try to arrange a transfer to a dental program closest to where your husband is doing residency. Considering the family circumstances, I think most dental or medical schools would seriously considering accepting such a transfer student.


So it might happen that you would be in different areas for a short amount of time, but it wouldn't have to be 3 years.

 

[Flopotomist]

You could also defer applying to dental school for a year until you knew exactly where he was going to be. It might even help you in interviews so schools knew that you were very motivated to go there because of your situation.

 

[DrNick2006]

It really depends on your goals and how competitive you both are. One of you may have to sacrifice going to a place that is less than ideal to get the right location. If your husband is doing internal medicine and is a good student he should have no problem getting a residency position in any part of the country as long as he is willing to go to a less competitive program to ensure that location. I actually think it would be better to see where you have a good chance of doing Dental School at and have him try for residencies there. If a residency program knows you have a strong tie to a region than they will be more willing to take you if they feel you are a good applicant. If he wants to do ortho or something else competitive than he will not have that option.

 

[YEAH]

Or you and your husband can apply to 20 programs all in LA, Chicago, NYC, or some other such mega-poop-alous.

Then--barring disaster that you get into none of the programs and same for him--you would all be in close distance of each other. Tell him not to screw around with something really hardcore like derm, radiology, or HEENT if you want to optimize your chances. Family medicine was about the least competitive thing last year--tell him to consider that with the double entendre on FAMILY, dammit.
I'm not knocking Family Medicine, either--those were just the stats/facts.

Then again, absence makes the heart grow lonely as hell--and fonder too.

Good luck. Seriously.

 

[doctorsquared]

You may want to look at a dental school that is easy to get into and has many residencies in the area. I vote for NYU dental or Columbia University. Do you like NYC? Where are you living now? Yes, you locked into a residency once you match. Your spouse would have his choice of many residencies in NYC. Check the dental forums for other dentals schools that you may have a easy time getting in. No I don't think you have to break up but it requires compromise on both sides. Love is more important than having a fantastic career but it is important to have a good career. Remember ANY dental school will get you the opportunity to be a general dentist. You have a responsibility to choose a dental school that is close to many residencies that are easy to get into and have the specialty your spouse wants to work in. He has the resposibility to interview at all reasonable residencies and rank all that he interviews. What specialty is he considering? It is better for you to go to dental school in the same licensing region (NERB, CRDT etc) as you are planning to settle in. It is difficult to take a clinical exam and bring patients to another state. Again see the dental forums.

Hi everyone. I have a problem and was wondering if any of you have encountered this issue. I'd appreciate any advice...

My husband is applying for residency (2007 cycle) and I am applying for dental school (2007 entry). As I understand, the match program does not let residents choose from several options. Basically, once you're choosen by the hospital nearest to the top on your list, your in and that's it.

So we are trying to make sure we apply to schools/hospitals in the same cities. But the concern is what if he gets into a hospital and I dont get in to a nearby dental school? Do we have anyway of switching his residency placement to another hospital with a nearby dental school that has accepted me?