For those using the Scramble (Tips 4 U)

[raidenxp2005]

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this is an abstract from a website I found. It is someone experience with the scramble


This is my experience regarding scramble and what I learned from my mistakes; as soon as you get the list of unfilled programs in your ERAS account, you have to start sending your applications by ERAS, you can apply for programs by ERAS, email or fax and sometimes by calling the programs first.The Scramble starts on Tuesday, March 18, 2008 at 12:00 noon and ends on Thursday, March 20, 2008 at 12:00 noon, Eastern Time in the United States.
You may apply to a maximum of 30 programs during the two-day Scramble. There is no charge for applying to programs during the Scramble if you have registered with ERAS.
Most of the unfilled program use ERAS for scramble. A few of them use both ERAS, fax or email and very few use only fax or email. It means that you can apply to maximum 30 programs by eras and then apply to the rest by email and/or fax for programs which accept applications in both eras and fax/email or only by fax/email.
practical tips for IMGs for scramble:

1.having a connection (knowing someone) in a program increases your chance for scramble, as most of the scramble positions for IMGs are filled by this way.

2. having GC/citizenship and good usmle scores are important in scramble, as most programs in scramble looking for applicants who don't need visa or applicants with good scores who could not make it in the match for any reason.

3.ecfmg certificate is almost a must for IMGs.

4.during scramble time, most of the fax numbers are busy all the time, and when you can get the number, most of the time it gets disconnected during transferring your documents. In a few cases, you may call the program first and if they interested in you, they will provide you a way to send your documents to them, like another fax number etc.

5.most of the unfilled programs in scramble belong to preliminary surgery: be careful about choosing preliminary surgery programs in scramble because of following reasons:

a.most of the vacancies in preliminary surgery, espescially in universities are reserved for AMGs from that university or other universities who are not getting matched or matched in advance positions and looking for a preliminary one. remember that AMGs unlike IMGs, apply only for few programs and if the program is among the competetive specialities like radiology,ortho, urology, neurosurgery etc, they may not find a position, so they will get into a preliminary year and apply next year.

b.preliminary surgery in most cases is a dead-end road for IMGs, the chance in getting into the categorical position after preliminary surgery is low for IMGs in general, forget about a few cases as they are exceptions and as a general rule you can not risk on exceptions.

5. as a conclusion; the best selection for an IMG in scramble are among community based and IMG friendly programs in specialities like FP,IM,psych or pediatrics.

6.Using scramble services is wasting your money, time and chances for scramble, as they do the same thing that you can do yourself (if they really do what they claim)and in most of the time, they make a frustration for the programs by sending mass applications and keep their lines/emails busy and all of those applications end up in the trash.

7.If you don't have an advance position like neurology, anesthesiology etc, avoid applying for preliminary MEDICINE, as in most cases, programs will give these positions to applicants who matched in advance positions and couldn't find a preliminary position. (this is also true for preliminary surgery as well.)
Conclusion: if you don't have a connection in a program:

1.Avoid scramble services

2.Apply as soon as possible, choose your programs among community and IMG friendly programs in specialities like FP,IM,psych or pediatrics.

3.Choose your programs that accepting applications by ERAS first and choose them wisely, after sending your 30 applications by eras, start to send your applications to other programs by email, keep the fax option as your last option.

4.If you get a chance, call the program first and make sure that they are still accepting applications (as in many programs in scramble, they show vacancies in eras but actually they already filled all of their positions and it takes time for them to update their profile in eras) and then send your application to them, however don't waste your time on calling them for a long time , you may try once or twice, if no success to talk to them, then send your application anyway.

5.use these informations (my comments) by your judgement, this is what I learned from my mistakes during my last year scramble experience.

6. remember that unfilled position in a program DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE PROGRAM COULD NOT FILL THEIR POSITIONS DURING THE MATCH ALL THE TIME,some programs leave some of their positions for scramble to choose desperate candidtates with good credentials who don't get matched by any reason, and some programs are looking for they desired candidate, so they don't rank everybody who they interviewed and they fill their position by scramble or later or keep it unfilled until they found the candidate that they want.

7.pray and hope for the best.

Good luck

 

[raidenxp2005]

Hope u find it useful

 

[turquoiseblue]

does anyone have any updated scramble tips to add to this post from 2008 or is it the same for 2011?

do scramble services help at all? anyone have any experience with them? i do and none of them helped so far.

thanks!

 

[gutonc]

do scramble services help at all? anyone have any experience with them? i do and none of them helped so far.

Kind of answered your own question there, didn't you?

 

[Law2Doc]

this is an abstract from a website I found. It is someone experience with the scramble


This is my experience regarding scramble and what I learned from my mistakes; as soon as you get the list of unfilled programs in your ERAS account, you have to start sending your applications by ERAS, you can apply for programs by ERAS, email or fax and sometimes by calling the programs first.The Scramble starts on Tuesday, March 18, 2008 at 12:00 noon and ends on Thursday, March 20, 2008 at 12:00 noon, Eastern Time in the United States.
You may apply to a maximum of 30 programs during the two-day Scramble. There is no charge for applying to programs during the Scramble if you have registered with ERAS.
Most of the unfilled program use ERAS for scramble. A few of them use both ERAS, fax or email and very few use only fax or email. It means that you can apply to maximum 30 programs by eras and then apply to the rest by email and/or fax for programs which accept applications in both eras and fax/email or only by fax/email.
practical tips for IMGs for scramble:

1.having a connection (knowing someone) in a program increases your chance for scramble, as most of the scramble positions for IMGs are filled by this way.

2. having GC/citizenship and good usmle scores are important in scramble, as most programs in scramble looking for applicants who don't need visa or applicants with good scores who could not make it in the match for any reason.

3.ecfmg certificate is almost a must for IMGs.

4.during scramble time, most of the fax numbers are busy all the time, and when you can get the number, most of the time it gets disconnected during transferring your documents. In a few cases, you may call the program first and if they interested in you, they will provide you a way to send your documents to them, like another fax number etc.

5.most of the unfilled programs in scramble belong to preliminary surgery: be careful about choosing preliminary surgery programs in scramble because of following reasons:

a.most of the vacancies in preliminary surgery, espescially in universities are reserved for AMGs from that university or other universities who are not getting matched or matched in advance positions and looking for a preliminary one. remember that AMGs unlike IMGs, apply only for few programs and if the program is among the competetive specialities like radiology,ortho, urology, neurosurgery etc, they may not find a position, so they will get into a preliminary year and apply next year.

b.preliminary surgery in most cases is a dead-end road for IMGs, the chance in getting into the categorical position after preliminary surgery is low for IMGs in general, forget about a few cases as they are exceptions and as a general rule you can not risk on exceptions.

5. as a conclusion; the best selection for an IMG in scramble are among community based and IMG friendly programs in specialities like FP,IM,psych or pediatrics.

6.Using scramble services is wasting your money, time and chances for scramble, as they do the same thing that you can do yourself (if they really do what they claim)and in most of the time, they make a frustration for the programs by sending mass applications and keep their lines/emails busy and all of those applications end up in the trash.

7.If you don't have an advance position like neurology, anesthesiology etc, avoid applying for preliminary MEDICINE, as in most cases, programs will give these positions to applicants who matched in advance positions and couldn't find a preliminary position. (this is also true for preliminary surgery as well.)
Conclusion: if you don't have a connection in a program:

1.Avoid scramble services

2.Apply as soon as possible, choose your programs among community and IMG friendly programs in specialities like FP,IM,psych or pediatrics.

3.Choose your programs that accepting applications by ERAS first and choose them wisely, after sending your 30 applications by eras, start to send your applications to other programs by email, keep the fax option as your last option.

4.If you get a chance, call the program first and make sure that they are still accepting applications (as in many programs in scramble, they show vacancies in eras but actually they already filled all of their positions and it takes time for them to update their profile in eras) and then send your application to them, however don't waste your time on calling them for a long time , you may try once or twice, if no success to talk to them, then send your application anyway.

5.use these informations (my comments) by your judgement, this is what I learned from my mistakes during my last year scramble experience.

6. remember that unfilled position in a program DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE PROGRAM COULD NOT FILL THEIR POSITIONS DURING THE MATCH ALL THE TIME,some programs leave some of their positions for scramble to choose desperate candidtates with good credentials who don't get matched by any reason, and some programs are looking for they desired candidate, so they don't rank everybody who they interviewed and they fill their position by scramble or later or keep it unfilled until they found the candidate that they want.

7.pray and hope for the best.

Good luck

Looks like advice that still stands up even in 2011. Other old scramble threads suggest getting faculty to help you make calls if you are still in med school (sometimes they know faculty where you are applying, sometimes somebody is more willing to take the phone call of someone with a faculty title), getting a cheap fax machine and disposable extra cell phone so you can make more calls while faxing stuff from your land line, and having an interview suit ready to go in case a local place wants you to run in for an in person interview. Also probably pays to be realistic -- if your application isn't that competitive, don't waste too much time trying to snare that one open rad onc spot while the twenty categorical IM spots disappear while you are waiting on hold.

 

[gynogrl]

At my school we're actually instructed to be around for match week and to help with the scramble. Obviously, we're all hoping it won't be us, but if any of our classmates need help, we'll be there will cell phones and computers in hand to help call/email programs. The school will also let us use their fax machines. So if you're still in school, talk to your classmates and administration. And if you're not, grab some friends. That's the biggest tip I've heard - get help. It would be even more daunting to do alone.

 

[turquoiseblue]

is it better to send via email as opposed to fax? i have heard this is true, but I am not absolutely sure. also is it worth it to do ERAS first and then fax? i guess simultaneously is best but how can you have both at once? it seems so hopeless and overwhelming just thinking about it!

i agree you must need the help of others to get through this.

 

[mcl]

is it better to send via email as opposed to fax? i have heard this is true, but I am not absolutely sure. also is it worth it to do ERAS first and then fax? i guess simultaneously is best but how can you have both at once? it seems so hopeless and overwhelming just thinking about it!

i agree you must need the help of others to get through this.

I'd recommend ERAS first, then email, then fax. As a program, if I have to participate in the Scramble, my instinct is going to be to download ERAS first and start processing/printing those applications for the PD to review. Whoever is in my post office que at that point will get attention first. For email, prepare your brief introductory remarks and document attachments in advance so that all you have to do is put in the contact addresses of the programs on the unfilled list and hit send. My phone and fax lines are going to jam within minutes so getting your application through that way will be hit or miss and very time consuming. Recruit some friends who will be willing to hit redial on your behalf, and make sure your cell phone line is open so any PDs who want to talk with you by phone can reach you right away.

It's a crazy process requiring a lot of luck for both program and applicant. I've prayed every year since I went through it that I never have to go through it again, and I'm delighted that this year marks the end of the Scramble as we've known it.

 

[AnnTaylor]

I'd recommend ERAS first, then email, then fax. As a program, if I have to participate in the Scramble, my instinct is going to be to download ERAS first and start processing/printing those applications for the PD to review. Whoever is in my post office que at that point will get attention first. For email, prepare your brief introductory remarks and document attachments in advance

what are ppl attaching to the email? most of us obviously waived the right to read letters? how does that work

 

[turquoiseblue]

what are ppl attaching to the email? most of us obviously waived the right to read letters? how does that work

you need to get some LOR's for the scramble for the ones that want applications by email or fax. if it is an ERAS application, then you are fine.

 

[AnnTaylor]

you need to get some LOR's for the scramble for the ones that want applications by email or fax. if it is an ERAS application, then you are fine.

can you clarify what you mean by this "get some LOR's"?? like ones specifically for the scramble? Obviously you mean the same ones we used for ERAS...So then it IS OK to see the LORs for scrambling even if they say in the body of the text "so and so did not read this?"

 

[Law2Doc]

can you clarify what you mean by this "get some LOR's"?? like ones specifically for the scramble? Obviously you mean the same ones we used for ERAS...So then it IS OK to see the LORs for scrambling even if they say in the body of the text "so and so did not read this?"

First, you will be able to forward ERAS to a certain number of programs in the scramble, so you already have LORs in that. Second, if you are a US grad, typically you could have your school fax over LORs without you ever having access to them. If you are an IMG/FMG and have already used up your allotted number of places on ERAS, then I suppose you might need new letters you can fax. The US grads are going to have faculty helping them make the calls so they often get live equivalents of LORs.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I kind of doubt once you get to this point anyone is going to read more letters. The scramble is a system which operates on partial information. Thousands of people call a small handful of programs in hopes of snaring a spot while they last. On the other side of the phone, programs field calls from thousands of hopefulls, trying to find that diamond in the rough but usually content with a warm body who is willing to work hard. There is no time to really read essays/letters of everyone. So basically on scramble day they want to know Step scores, grades, evals a glance of your accomplishments, and get you on the phone to try and feel out whether you come across decently, so they can send you an offer letter or can move on to the next person. It's not like the match where they have weeks to read through your application, letters, essays. They are trying to get their spots filled and close out their recruiting in hours, not days.