Is anybody else dissatisfied with SF Match?

[KBerg21]

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I'm really frustrated by the SF Match program. I submitted my application before their deadline (9/1), yet it still has not been distributed. Whenever I call, I get the same message: all of your materials have been received and will be distributed in the 'next batch.' And whenever I call about the fact that my application is now past the deadline for some programs, I am told not to worry to which I would like to say, "who are you to tell me not to worry?"

Honestly, it seems as if there are only 3 or 4 people who work there, each of whom has the responsibility of updating their databases, checking the mail, scanning the documents, answering the phones/emails, sending the apps out, etc. To say the least, they seem under-staffed. Forgive me if I'm wrong, but it seems as if they are a bunch of work-study college students just trying to make a few bucks on the side, rather than a professional office that basically holds peoples' futures in their hands! Moreover, it always seems as if there is either chaos in the background or the person answering the phone was in the middle of telling a joke whenever I call.

I learned in elementary school that an argument wouldn't be complete unless you addressed both sides, so the one positive I can say about SF Match (as compared to ERAS) is their Central Program Directory. This is a great way to have all of the important sites, dates, phone numbers, etc. in one spot. However, this 1 positive is grossly out-numbered by the dozen or so negatives about the system.

I vote for Ophthalmology switching to ERAS for next year OR making sure that SF Match gets its act together!

 

[DiveMD]

They told me my application was submitted last Friday, but my credit card has not been charged yet. I don't know what is up with them… Last week they told me they would charge my card right before distributing my application. I guess they are lying.

 

[GuP]

I'm really frustrated by the SF Match program. I submitted my application before their deadline (9/1), yet it still has not been distributed. Whenever I call, I get the same message: all of your materials have been received and will be distributed in the 'next batch.' And whenever I call about the fact that my application is now past the deadline for some programs, I am told not to worry to which I would like to say, "who are you to tell me not to worry?"

Honestly, it seems as if there are only 3 or 4 people who work there, each of whom has the responsibility of updating their databases, checking the mail, scanning the documents, answering the phones/emails, sending the apps out, etc. To say the least, they seem under-staffed. Forgive me if I'm wrong, but it seems as if they are a bunch of work-study college students just trying to make a few bucks on the side, rather than a professional office that basically holds peoples' futures in their hands! Moreover, it always seems as if there is either chaos in the background or the person answering the phone was in the middle of telling a joke whenever I call.

I learned in elementary school that an argument wouldn't be complete unless you addressed both sides, so the one positive I can say about SF Match (as compared to ERAS) is their Central Program Directory. This is a great way to have all of the important sites, dates, phone numbers, etc. in one spot. However, this 1 positive is grossly out-numbered by the dozen or so negatives about the system.

I vote for Ophthalmology switching to ERAS for next year OR making sure that SF Match gets its act together!

I am sure all will go well. Hang in there!

I wonder who has the authority and what are the basis for switching from SF to ERAS match. Interesting point you bring up - I wonder if a switch would help or make it harder for the applicants...

 

[4424]

i think it would help applicants only because i don't entirely know the purpose of early match (anyone can feel free to enlighten me on that one). my ERAS applications for prelim/transitionals went out before my ophtho ones did and interviews for ophtho are fairly late for the most part (nov, dec). so i think the only thing that makes ophtho early is that rank lists are done earlier and decisions are made. i think it would help students who don't get elective time in their 3rd yr to have some time to acquire the needed documents. but anyway, either way, we'll all get through this and it'll work out

 

[vwhan]

I have been disappointed with their services, as well. There were a few glitches with the software that was pointed out here (such as 'tagging' the programs when making a distribution list), and the CAS instructions need to be updated. All of my materials were in by 9/1. It took them more than the usual 5 business days to process it. I received an email last week that it was finally processed, and my application will be sent with the "next batch." In the meantime, I submitted my ERAS application 2 Sundays ago, everything was processed and uploaded the next day, and I received an invite to a mixer at my school 3 days later - go ERAS! Needless to say, I was very impressed with ERAS.

 

[sparticus]

SF MATCH sucks! I sent my application the second week of AUGUST!!! The only thing I have heard back from them is that they have recieved my documents. I have called three times and get transferred to some answering service, which seems to be in India, and left three messages. I am not sure what is going on over there but I am getting kind of worried about my application. I sent my application early and even had to asked for favors from my LOR writers to get all the materials in early. It will be really dissappointing if my application is still not distributed.

 

[dergler]

well, i just got off the phone with the "help" line at SF Match. basically, i just received my distribution list through email (i'm late i know) and i asked if she had any idea when my app would be sent. she told my "uh...i think that it should be sent out friday or monday...i guess." very informative. she did tell me that batch 2 had been sent and that i should be batch 3. so i guess we can assume that batch 3 should be out by friday or monday. i'm not holding my breath though.

 

[xaelia]

I received an e-mail from Washington University saying they'd received my application today.

It helpfully lists 24 other applicants and their e-mail addresses. So much for Bcc:

 

[MR1]

Were you in 1st or 2nd batch?

 

[xaelia]

Pretty sure I was in the first....

 

[DiveMD]

It helpfully lists 24 other applicants and their e-mail addresses. So much for Bcc:[/QUOTE]


So much for protection of privacy...HA,HA...

 

[eyefly]

a week and a half after I submitted the last of my documents (by registered mail), and after multiple queries, I received an email indicating they did not have one of my letters of rec (which had been given to me in a sealed envelope by the letter writer and I was responsible for). It took a couple calls and emails to the SFMatch before they "found" it...sorry.

 

[eyeballs]

Thought I would share my recent disappointment with SF match. After they distributed my application waaaay after I submitted it, a couple of programs contacted me about a missing medical school transcript. Instead of having one college transcript and one medical school txscript, SF affixed a "medical school txscript" label to a duplicate copy of the undergraduate transcript! I had to call SF several times before they believed me. After my insistence, they called up the program that contacted me and rescanned my application. SF was very apologetic and, refreshingly, actually acknowledged their mistake, but it scares me to think that super competitive programs could just pass over an application that is missing vital information since they have to deal with 13048713148970 applications anyway. For now, everything seems to be working out, however slowly. I have my fingers crossed until Match Day for everyone applying through SF.

 

[MR1]

Has anyone that was a part of the second batch heard from any programs that their application got to them? I was told by SFMatch that second batch went out last Friday but when I talked to my PD he hadn't received my application yet. Thanks

 

[KBerg21]

They told me that I was in the second batch as well (scheduled to go out last Friday the 15th), but I haven't heard anything either. 🙁

 

[DiveMD]

I am part of the second batch. I spoke to them yesterday and they said that half of my applications were already submitted, but not all of them. Apparently they have to upload a copy of the application for every single program on the list (vs. snail-mailing a copy). The process seems very slow and inefficient. Especially since the number of applications per applicant keep increasing each year.