Is it possible to defer a match?

[docshepherd]

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Is there any chance a residency program would permit me to "defer" a match to obtain a one-year master's degree?

I'm considering applying to a well-regarded scholarship/fellowship that would provide tuition for a one-year master's degree in education. Much of my research interest, and therefore much of what (I think) makes me compelling as an applicant, is my interest in medical education. I do think I could make a good case that doing this program would make me a more valuable resident. However - here's the catch - I would not find out whether I received the scholarship until after the match. (I would, of course, commit to starting internship/residency as soon as that program was over.)

Now - if the answer is "no, this is absolutely impossible," then let me ask this secondary question: Would it be conceivable that I could just pass up that residency spot (since they weren't going to let me do this program), and then re-enter the match the next year? In other words, can people who don't "matriculate" at their first matched spot successfully re-enter the match a second time in a later year, or is there some prohibition against this?

THANK YOU for any advice.

 

[gutonc]

Is there any chance a residency program would permit me to "defer" a match to obtain a one-year master's degree?

I'm considering applying to a scholarship/fellowship that would provide tuition for a one-year master's degree in education at a hot-shot school. Much of my research interest, and therefore much of what (I think) makes me compelling as an applicant, is my interest in medical education. I do think I could make a good case that doing this program would make me a more valuable resident. However - here's the catch - I would not find out whether I received the scholarship until after the match. (I would, of course, commit to starting internship/residency as soon as that program was over.)

There is a chance, but it is vanishingly small unless you are an amazing candidate and you match into a large program (like 40+ interns/yr...which you're only going to get in IM) that wouldn't miss a warm body for a year.

Now - if the answer is "no, this is absolutely impossible," then let me ask this secondary question: Would it be conceivable that I could just pass up that residency spot (since they weren't going to let me do this program), and then re-enter the match the next year? In other words, can people who don't "matriculate" at their first matched spot successfully re-enter the match a second time in a later year, or is there some prohibition against this?

THANK YOU for any advice.

This is something you absolutely CANNOT do. If you don't "matriculate" (other people would call it "showing up for the first day of a job you signed a contract to do"), you will be in violation of your Match Agreement and you will not be allowed to re-enter the match (the amount of time you will be banned from the Match isn't clear as it appears NRMP has the ability to vary this from 1 year to forever).

Your options as I see it are:
1. Bail on the Match this year, hope you get the fellowship and then re-enter the Match the following year. I'm pretty sure you can see the significant risks inherent in this plan but one that you may not appreciate is that "physician applicants" (i.e. not M4s), pound-for-pound, do measurably worse than M4 applicants. You'd probably still match, just maybe not as well as you would otherwise.

2. Wait and apply for this M.Ed program after you've started residency with the support of your program director. This will only work if you have your program's support and if that fellowship continues to exist in future years.

3. Do residency and then do the M.Ed either after graduating or as part of a fellowship (I can see this being possible in a Gen Med fellowship).

 

[Winged Scapula]

1) I agree with everything gutonc has said above; he knows what he's talking about

2) Your status is listed as Pre-Medical; please change to Medical Student (if you are indeed one), as it otherwise confuses people

3) I take issue with your contention that a "one year Masters degree" from a "hot shot" school makes you more compelling as an applicant. Conventional wisdom has it, that outside of a PhD, advanced degrees do not increase your chances of matching, make you more compelling or change your chances at career advancement.

 

[Somnus Tuto]

Is there any chance a residency program would permit me to "defer" a match to obtain a one-year master's degree?

I'm considering applying to a scholarship/fellowship that would provide tuition for a one-year master's degree in education at a hot-shot school. Much of my research interest, and therefore much of what (I think) makes me compelling as an applicant, is my interest in medical education. I do think I could make a good case that doing this program would make me a more valuable resident. However - here's the catch - I would not find out whether I received the scholarship until after the match. (I would, of course, commit to starting internship/residency as soon as that program was over.)

Now - if the answer is "no, this is absolutely impossible," then let me ask this secondary question: Would it be conceivable that I could just pass up that residency spot (since they weren't going to let me do this program), and then re-enter the match the next year? In other words, can people who don't "matriculate" at their first matched spot successfully re-enter the match a second time in a later year, or is there some prohibition against this?

THANK YOU for any advice.

Friend,
your word/signature on a contract (including the NRMP contract you signed while preparing your ERAS application) is your bond.

If you make a commitment, you should stick to it.

And remember that things you do/fail to do, beginning with the match, from this point on in your training follow you for the rest of your career and the world of medicine is a small one.

You really don't want to dishonor your commitment to a residency director/program at the outset of your life-long career.
.

.

 

[twright]

Is there any chance a residency program would permit me to "defer" a match to obtain a one-year master's degree?

I'm considering applying to a scholarship/fellowship that would provide tuition for a one-year master's degree in education at a hot-shot school. Much of my research interest, and therefore much of what (I think) makes me compelling as an applicant, is my interest in medical education. I do think I could make a good case that doing this program would make me a more valuable resident. However - here's the catch - I would not find out whether I received the scholarship until after the match. (I would, of course, commit to starting internship/residency as soon as that program was over.)

Now - if the answer is "no, this is absolutely impossible," then let me ask this secondary question: Would it be conceivable that I could just pass up that residency spot (since they weren't going to let me do this program), and then re-enter the match the next year? In other words, can people who don't "matriculate" at their first matched spot successfully re-enter the match a second time in a later year, or is there some prohibition against this?

THANK YOU for any advice.

Zero chance you can defer. Your decision to enter the Match is your signature on the job contract. You can certainly try to break the contract. But that's what it is: you would be breaking the contract.

Vanishingly small chance that an MEd, MPH, etc would make you a more compelling applicant. The hospital is hiring you for many things (including non-tangibles like being a star, improving the program's reputation, etc), but the bottom line is that you are being hired for your labor.