If get nothing in scramble?

[nervous student]

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Is it better to take a year off and just reapply (maybe take step 3), or should my fiance just take an FP position anywhere in the country to make sure he is not out of the hospital setting.

Please help. He feels like his life is so up in the air right now and since I matched in the Northeast he would love to be here but there are only 29 positions in the whole Northeast for FP. So is it better for him to work and take step 3 or just scramble for any possible FP position in the country and then try and switch out after a year to something on the east coast.

Scrambling is the worst and it hasn't even started yet.

 

[RockfordWF]

Is it better to take a year off and just reapply (maybe take step 3), or should my fiance just take an FP position anywhere in the country to make sure he is not out of the hospital setting.

Please help. He feels like his life is so up in the air right now and since I matched in the Northeast he would love to be here but there are only 29 positions in the whole Northeast for FP. So is it better for him to work and take step 3 or just scramble for any possible FP position in the country and then try and switch out after a year to something on the east coast.

Scrambling is the worst and it hasn't even started yet.

Do an FP or Transitional year. He can then enter a program that starts at the PGY-2 year and not be behind at all or he might even like FP.

 

[Blade28]

What field did he originally apply for?

 

[Top Gun]

Is it better to take a year off and just reapply (maybe take step 3), or should my fiance just take an FP position anywhere in the country to make sure he is not out of the hospital setting.

Please help. He feels like his life is so up in the air right now and since I matched in the Northeast he would love to be here but there are only 29 positions in the whole Northeast for FP. So is it better for him to work and take step 3 or just scramble for any possible FP position in the country and then try and switch out after a year to something on the east coast.

Scrambling is the worst and it hasn't even started yet.

He could maybe try for a prelim position in medicine or surgery. I'm sure there's quite a few of them in the Northeast.

 

[nervous student]

He originally applied for PM&R with the hopes of doing sports medicine in the future which you can also do from FP. The problem was that he changed his mind late in the process and ended up missing a ton of deadlines for FP and some PM&R programs.

He is really devastated. Any help would be gratefully appreciated.

 

[Blade28]

I'm a little confused...why not just see if he can scramble into an FP/Prelim IM spot near your location?

If that fails, then you two can consider your backup plan - but at least try to find a spot first!

 

[Shalom77]

There are also 4 PM&R PGY2 spots in the Northeast. He could also try to scramble into one of those in which case prelim surgery (171) would also fulfill the intern year requirements at most programs which might give him more options than just looking for transitional (4)/fp (29)/prelim IM (62). Or does he no longer want to do PM&R?

Good luck!

 

[PeepshowJohnny]

This is unfairly cruel, but it's the first thing that popped in my mind when I read the title: http://wonka.ytmnd.com/

In all seriousness, best of luck to your fiance.

 

[hondo55]

he should figure out first if he wants to try the FP route to sports med or stick with pmr. this would be best served by talking with someone in an academic sports med program fellowship rather than going based on what you read here. i think advice from them would go a long ways. it was always my assumption that FPs went to sports med and then you could continue doing FP on the side. if he goes pmr he can get a prelim internal med spot and then hope to get a second year spot in pmr next year as they need an prelim year anyways.

you should also go to your residency program where you are and see if they have any openings at your institution in FP or prelims. that would be ideal!

have him talk to his advisors at school and specifically the sports med programs at his program if he has one. you guys really need to find a way to end up in the same city so go to your institution and see what spots they have available... if he is trying to scramble into your institution, i would have yourself and your program director advocate for your fiance. Your ties would go along ways but you have to use him. Everything will work out, you guys just need to find a way to be in the same city next year and go from there..

Ignore previous post and link. kind of rude.

 

[theCamel]

what are the unfilled FP spots?

 

[nervous student]

Ok no luck today and my spirits are not hopeful for tomorrow as I see the numbers dwindling down and down. So can anyone answer my original question. Better to do research if possible or take a year off take Step 3 and reapply with 100% effort??

Please help. My fiance has never been so upset in his entire life. You work for something so hard for so many years and now you have no job. And you owe your own government a quarter million dollars. That is ridiculous.

 

[ocean11]

Ok no luck today and my spirits are not hopeful for tomorrow as I see the numbers dwindling down and down. So can anyone answer my original question. Better to do research if possible or take a year off take Step 3 and reapply with 100% effort??

Please help. My fiance has never been so upset in his entire life. You work for something so hard for so many years and now you have no job. And you owe your own government a quarter million dollars. That is ridiculous.

Hey I sympathize, I know how bad you all must feel and I'm truly sorry. I remember re-applying for med school time and time again and FINALLY getting in! but all those rejection letters were VERY dissapointing. ANYHOW, my advice for you is to keep trying to scramble DO NOT GIVE UP! I am sure there will be a FP position open somewhere in the country even on Thursday! You might also want to look at Transitional programs or prelim programs if they are still available.

As for your question, my advice is to do BOTH research and destroy Step III, study hard for it and reapply EARLY for an incredibly wide range of programs all over the country. I know he owes alot of money and that sucks, but perhaps he can deffer his loan somehow, or work part time. Perhaps work in research.

On the bright side, its just another year, and he can take the time to re-evaluate what he wants to do and strengthen his application. Believe me, if you want it, you'll eventually get it!

good luck to both of you and keep us updated on your status tomorrow!

 

[nervous student]

Thank you ocean11 for your kind words I really appreciate them. The only problem in the whole idea of going anywhere there is a spot for FP is that I am matched in NY and in a 4 year contract. We would like to get married before I finish and that is not possible if we live apart for the next three years.

Medicine is a great field but when you are both trying to match together (and I may note both USIMGs) there are MANY obstacles in your way....I know that we will make it through this in the end but he will still be a USIMG with a Step 1 203/83 (2nd attempt) and a Step 2 198/78 (1st attempt) and that can not be changed. Be realisitic (and hopeful) what are his chances to match for FP in NY in a program that can lead to his dream of sports medicine. He is sick of hoping he just wants to know the real truth.

 

[orientedtoself]

you may have to settle for a program outside of new york. you can still make your relationship work even if you are not living in the same place. obviously, the closer the better. my husband and i did a distance relationship for my first year of med school, seattle <--> michigan. it wasn't fun. i saw him six times the whole year. we talked on the phone every day. eventually he moved out to michigan to be with me. but distance relationships can be done.

Thank you ocean11 for your kind words I really appreciate them. The only problem in the whole idea of going anywhere there is a spot for FP is that I am matched in NY and in a 4 year contract. We would like to get married before I finish and that is not possible if we live apart for the next three years.

Medicine is a great field but when you are both trying to match together (and I may note both USIMGs) there are MANY obstacles in your way....I know that we will make it through this in the end but he will still be a USIMG with a Step 1 203/83 (2nd attempt) and a Step 2 198/78 (1st attempt) and that can not be changed. Be realisitic (and hopeful) what are his chances to match for FP in NY in a program that can lead to his dream of sports medicine. He is sick of hoping he just wants to know the real truth.

 

[Pir8DeacDoc]

at least you matched. He can mooch off of you if need be while he pulls himself together and applies to every FP program in NYC next year.

 

[nervous student]

I hope he will stay and mooch off me but those men have a lot of pride sometimes!!

 

[ocean11]

I hope he will stay and mooch off me but those men have a lot of pride sometimes!!

I know.... and I understand why you guys want to stay in the same place. I did long distance with my bf for 7 years.... he lives in the middle east... its VERY tough... and he moved for the money (and he makes plenty). But ultimately, I've come to my breaking point and am NOT doing ANY long distance next year! but I will say that for 3 years it can easily be done, especially if you are both in the Continental United States. I would apply to transitional programs in NY as well as maybe prelim medicine or maybe even Internal Medicine.

Worst comes to worse he'll stay with you and maybe do research for one year... hey I had to sit out 2 years post-undergrad to get into med school AND my 'bf' was in the middle east.... yeah it sucked.... I look back and wonder how I did it all.....

Faith makes you stronger and believe in GOD, GOD always strengthens.

Ocean11

 

[RockfordWF]

I know.... and I understand why you guys want to stay in the same place. I did long distance with my bf for 7 years.... he lives in the middle east... its VERY tough... and he moved for the money (and he makes plenty). But ultimately, I've come to my breaking point and am NOT doing ANY long distance next year! but I will say that for 3 years it can easily be done, especially if you are both in the Continental United States. I would apply to transitional programs in NY as well as maybe prelim medicine or maybe even Internal Medicine.

Worst comes to worse he'll stay with you and maybe do research for one year... hey I had to sit out 2 years post-undergrad to get into med school AND my 'bf' was in the middle east.... yeah it sucked.... I look back and wonder how I did it all.....

Faith makes you stronger and believe in GOD, GOD always strengthens.

Ocean11

Why are you with someone who chose money over you?

I would think that if someone loved money more than me, I'd be looking for someone else....

 

[ocean11]

Why are you with someone who chose money over you?

I would think that if someone loved money more than me, I'd be looking for someone else....

Oh its MUCH more complicated than that! you see, he supports his entire family, his father had passed away and he had a HUGE responsibility. It broke his heart to leave and he tried, tried real hard to 'make it' in North America, but couldn't come up with enough money and didn't want his mom to end up homeless.... its tough to explain it all. But I will say that he did his best to visit me once every 3 months and call EVERY day and try really try to keep the relationship alive. Its a real REAL sad situation, I'm not even going to go into all the details.

 

[Linus2007]

Although it may seem like it it is not the end of the world if he doesn't match. unfortunately as time rolls on the chances become slimmer and slimmer but don't lose faith qutie yet there is still time. If not then research totally won't at all. Talk to the PD at your school, our PD set it up that one of the people who didnt match worked as an extern providing coverage for interns. Which means she did research and if they needed extra coverage etc she got in full rotations during the year so as not to be too rusty. She was absolutely devestated last year but has matched this year, plus the added bonus of research means that whilst I'm bumbling away trying to figure out how I did it the first time she will be a bit of a pro in setting up a research project during residency.

 

[nervous student]

Thank you Linus2007

The only problem is that we are USIMGs and our home school is in the Caribbean so there is no PD that we can talk to. We both work at a community hospital with no research so now we feel stuck.

Do you think I can ask the program I matched into (which is a university program) if there are any research opportunities there?

 

[orientedtoself]

it's worth a try. maybe he could work as a research tech.

Do you think I can ask the program I matched into (which is a university program) if there are any research opportunities there?

 

[Lgb325]

I just wanted to say I think trying for a prelim spot is a VERY good idea if he is still interested in PM&R.

I know some one who was trying for anesthesia last year, didn't get it and ended up doing an intern year. This year, she applied to both catagorical programs (meaning she would have to redo her intern year!!) and advanced programs. She was able to get an advanced program and will be starting in July! She was also offered a prematch spot (she is a DO), which she did not take.

Good luck with everything! 🙂

 

[Lgb325]

I just wanted to say I think trying for a prelim spot is a VERY good idea if he is still interested in PM&R.

I know some one who was trying for anesthesia last year, didn't get it and ended up doing an intern year. This year, she applied to both catagorical programs (meaning she would have to redo her intern year!!) and advanced programs. She was able to get an advanced program and will be starting in July! She was also offered a prematch spot (she is a DO), which she did not take.

Good luck with everything! 🙂

 

[Top Gun]

Thank you Linus2007

The only problem is that we are USIMGs and our home school is in the Caribbean so there is no PD that we can talk to. We both work at a community hospital with no research so now we feel stuck.

Do you think I can ask the program I matched into (which is a university program) if there are any research opportunities there?

I'm a USIMG from a Caribbean school too. I was in the same situation as your husband last year. One of the things that helped this year was doing an externship and obtaining a good letter of recommendation. Your husband should definitely try that. Maybe he can even find a hospital near yours where externships are offered.

 

[Linus2007]

I'm a USIMG from a Caribbean school too. I was in the same situation as your husband last year. One of the things that helped this year was doing an externship and obtaining a good letter of recommendation. Your husband should definitely try that. Maybe he can even find a hospital near yours where externships are offered.

Top notch idea!! See your fiance has plenty of options (even though it may not seem like it at the moment). Plus you'll be in NY (if I remember right?) where there will be a lot of hospitals and opportunities. Step back and look at the grand scheme of things not matching one year isn't the end of the world, it sucks right now but later on it'll barely register at all once you're set