How Long Does the Scramble Last

[dejerine]

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I cannot tell from the NRMP messages what the time frame is for scramble. Does it last until the last program fills, or is it for a week or what? As you watch the spots go down, you are tempted to apply to something you do not like, but if there is some end point, perhaps you are then in a better place to so approach the programs that did not fill. Any ideas?

 

[daru1]

Scramble lasts until Thursday at 1pm EST... after that time, anyone can get a slot outside of the match.

http://www.nrmp.org/res_match/yearly.html

 

[tv12345]

Scramble lasts until Thursday at 1pm EST... after that time, anyone can get a slot outside of the match.

http://www.nrmp.org/res_match/yearly.html

So is scrambling into a position considered part of the match? or is it separate? What happens if you scramble into a position, but then decide that you don't want it later on?

 

[Winged Scapula]

So is scrambling into a position considered part of the match? or is it separate? What happens if you scramble into a position, but then decide that you don't want it later on?

The scramble is considered part of the match and any match violations still hold AFAIK.

 

[emelec4life]

so my question is
IS THERE STILL HOPE?
My husband didnt get a match and as far as scramble no one called
now what to do? are they still looking at applications?
i hope some can help us out with any suggestions.

 

[Winged Scapula]

so my question is
IS THERE STILL HOPE?
My husband didnt get a match and as far as scramble no one called
now what to do? are they still looking at applications?
i hope some can help us out with any suggestions.

Programs that didn't fill either during the match or scramble will likely still be looking but not much will be left over.

All you can do is contact them and see if they still are looking for a warm body.

 

[chagall]

Programs that didn't fill either during the match or scramble will likely still be looking but not much will be left over.

All you can do is contact them and see if they still are looking for a warm body.

Do some programs prefer to have unfilled spots vs fill them with people they don't consider desirable? I'm a little confused...I ask because someone I know (not me, honestly...I did match) is in the same situation as the other poster's husband.

But it seems like (especially in his not-so-competitive field) there are multiple programs with quotas that did not fill up. Still, he wasn't able to scramble and is now hoping for a spot. Why would a program with an open spot deny someone that spot? (maybe a stupid question, but I find it strange somehow)

 

[emelec4life]

i agree as well as the other poster
i don't understand either
there were programs that my husband said he would never go for
but in the situation he was in
he applied to everything and anywhere he seen an opening
but still not answers
yet there are still spots available that have not been filled

is there also another forum on here that is just for people
that are in the same boat as my husband and the other poster friend.
ya know the ones that have had no reply
if so please let me know where to look
maybe others know a little more on what is the next step or even talk about it all together to vent 🙁

 

[nervous student]

I agree with this above. My fiance was also unable to match or scramble into anything and he has no idea what to do from here. Anyone who knows better than both of us would be great.

 

[orientedtoself]

i have not been in your position, but i think that your s.o.'s need to try to find some other employment for the coming year, such as research technician. they should register for residentswap and keep an eye out throughout the year for any intern spots that may open up. and then re-register in the match for next year.

 

[nervous student]

I agree. My fiance is trying extremelly hard to find something in research or clinical experience. He is also trying to call around the area I mathced to see if anything is opening up. Does anyone really know what is better if you don't match - research, finding a prelim med or a possible year volunteering in a family clinic (he wants to do family medicine after no match in PM&R this year - future goals are sports medicine).

Thank everyone for all your support I know many people that do not post here that also did not match and couldn't even get a prelim surg in the scramble. What happened this year??

 

[Top Gun]

I agree. My fiance is trying extremelly hard to find something in research or clinical experience. He is also trying to call around the area I mathced to see if anything is opening up. Does anyone really know what is better if you don't match - research, finding a prelim med or a possible year volunteering in a family clinic (he wants to do family medicine after no match in PM&R this year - future goals are sports medicine).

Thank everyone for all your support I know many people that do not post here that also did not match and couldn't even get a prelim surg in the scramble. What happened this year??

Finding a prelim med program or a year volunteering in a family health clinic would definitely be better than research. That way, program directors will see that he has taken the opportunity to obtain more clinical experience under his belt, which will be looked at favorably when he tries to apply for residency again. Make sure if he does a prelim medicine program or volunteering in a clinic that he gets excellent letters of recommendation.

 

[Winged Scapula]

Programs may prefer to go unfilled than to take applicants whom they do not find desirable. They may be funded for X number of positions, but there is no requirement that they fill all of them, as long as the hospital fills 75% of its positions through the match. Many Prelim positions go unfilled.

 

[ioh]

I'd agree with Top Gun that a prelim year would be helpful, but not as sure about volunteering at a health clinic vs. research. Between those two, I would think it really depends on the role he'd play there. I'd definitely encourage asking attendings/PD's for advice, it's amazing how much help you can get if you just reach out to someone and ask for it.

Sorry to hear nothing worked out for your husband, nervous. This year seems to have been a tougher year for FMG's:

http://www.nrmp.org/pressrelease2008.pdf

 

[Leverage]

i agree as well as the other poster
i don't understand either
there were programs that my husband said he would never go for
but in the situation he was in
he applied to everything and anywhere he seen an opening
but still not answers
yet there are still spots available that have not been filled

is there also another forum on here that is just for people
that are in the same boat as my husband and the other poster friend.
ya know the ones that have had no reply
if so please let me know where to look
maybe others know a little more on what is the next step or even talk about it all together to vent 🙁

This sucks... I can't imagine how scary this must be for your family.

Does your school have a student affairs office? That is where i would be for info.

There are prelim surg spots out there and if someone from your school can speak on your behalf/vouch for your s.o. you would be better off.

My big question is what the heck is the your school doing for you???

 

[emelec4life]

thanks to all who r supportive and giving suggestions
well my husbands school told him if there were no replys by the end if next week then
come down and talk to the dean,
and my husband had 1 response sent yesterday and they told him they are not making any choices until early May!
My husband is going insane, and i think is losing his mind and this point.
everyone i seen on the forums are saying to take a year off and reply again. and yeah that might have to be the choice "but we are not giving up hope" because to be honest with you.
my husband has been off of school since Dec. "finished early" and he was looking for a job. because we have 5 little ones and i am only working. and NO ONE WILL EVEN INTERVIEW HIM FOR A JOB IN ANY FIELD 🙁
i feel so hopeless at times and i know he is feeling even worse.
if some good new come i wil let ya know.

 

[DarthNeurology]

thanks to all who r supportive and giving suggestions
well my husbands school told him if there were no replys by the end if next week then
come down and talk to the dean,
and my husband had 1 response sent yesterday and they told him they are not making any choices until early May!
My husband is going insane, and i think is losing his mind and this point.
everyone i seen on the forums are saying to take a year off and reply again. and yeah that might have to be the choice "but we are not giving up hope" because to be honest with you.
my husband has been off of school since Dec. "finished early" and he was looking for a job. because we have 5 little ones and i am only working. and NO ONE WILL EVEN INTERVIEW HIM FOR A JOB IN ANY FIELD 🙁
i feel so hopeless at times and i know he is feeling even worse.
if some good new come i wil let ya know.

I am 100% sure that your husband could get a job, if not a residency, such as working as a health clinic assistant . . . the problem with the Scramble is that this year there were more unmatched applicants vying for a pretty constant number of residency positions, i.e. the open spots go pretty quick in the Scramble, but with thousands, maybe 7,000? medical school graduates (including IMGs mostly) who did not match the odds are pretty low of finding a spot as time goes by this year. He will probably have to apply again next year. There are thousands of others in the same position, this part of the message board seems the right place to post. What programs would your husband, "never go for", as this match was competitive even for family practice and internal medicine as these spots fill pretty quickly . . . next's years match in 2009 will probably be more competitive unfornately looking at the trends of the large number of people who have to wait out a year . . . hopefull your husband can scramble this year, . ..

 

[emelec4life]

thanks DarthNeurology

for giving me some hope 🙂
i would like to know, if he does go and apply next year. would he have a better chance?
i mean does he have first grabs, i understand it goes in search for everyone but i guess my question would be. would they take that in consideration that he had graduated already and especially if he had step 3 already done, would that be a better chance that he would match.

 

[orientedtoself]

honestly, i think that someone who didn't match the first time around looks like less strong of an applicant than somebody who is applying the first time around straight out of med school. however, if he were to work as a research technician, he could get a year of lab experience, and that would be valuable, because programs want to recruit people with research experience who are interested in academic medicine.

next time around, he should apply to more programs and apply more broadly.

in addition, he may want to apply to something less competitive such as internal medicine as a backup for anesthesiology.

i would like to know, if he does go and apply next year. would he have a better chance?
i mean does he have first grabs, i understand it goes in search for everyone but i guess my question would be. would they take that in consideration that he had graduated already and especially if he had step 3 already done, would that be a better chance that he would match.

 

[DarthNeurology]

thanks DarthNeurology

for giving me some hope 🙂
i would like to know, if he does go and apply next year. would he have a better chance?
i mean does he have first grabs, i understand it goes in search for everyone but i guess my question would be. would they take that in consideration that he had graduated already and especially if he had step 3 already done, would that be a better chance that he would match.

I have met about half a dozen IMGs who have applied for 2-3 years without finding a residency, i.e. many choose to return to their country to practice, others move into other lines of work. I think your chances are the same each year, maybe step 3 would help a little I don't know how much. I would be wary about applying to family practice or internal medicine if he doesn't like those, i.e. without interest as program directors might be less likely to accept him then, and there are many applicants who just want to do internal medicine who can't match each year as well. Does he go to a US school or a foreign medical school?

 

[Leverage]

I also agree he will be less atractive in the match next year. That is regardless of experince next year. My school preached not taking a year off after graduating. A Senior US allopathic grad has the highest probablility of matching if you look at charting outcomes.

I wouldn't model what to do after IMGs. I think there are programs that have "spots" for chariatable causes. Your husband might meet the bill. You have 5 kids. I would call every program at your home school and ask if any spots can be made avialable. I would not be picky about the specialty either.

 

[emelec4life]

🙂 yeah I know 5 kids it's crazy!
But I will defiantly have him get on the ball to do whatever it takes
and it might be a good idea that he does research and get some more experience under his belt "as others suggested" I know he does want to go into anesthesiology, but we all know that is very competitive! just as OB/GYN was a really big shock to him "since he was considering that as a 3rd option. his second was family.
but to the very end of it. he just wanted anything and he doesn't want to sit for a year in waiting. but maybe this is just mean to be. he just needs more hands on learning. Thank you sooo much to everyone with all your help.
everyone on these forums are GREAT!
I wish all our future Doctors all the best
your friend
wife of a med