Life after SOAP

[drpepper4u]

I didn't match nor I do I think I have a chance in SOAP. I am a Canadian IMG who applied late. I have applied to research jobs everywhere but no call backs. I don't think US will hire me as a researcher so now I'm going to call research places for volunteer position. I just need to make my application look better for 2014 match.

Anyone with any insight as to what else can I do please help. I want to match next year for sure. I know I can't change my scores but can get more LoRs and improve my CV.

Thank you. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

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[FMDoc13]

I didn't match nor I do I think I have a chance in SOAP. I am a Canadian IMG who applied late. I have applied to research jobs everywhere but no call backs. I don't think US will hire me as a researcher so now I'm going to call research places for volunteer position. I just need to make my application look better for 2014 match.

Anyone with any insight as to what else can I do please help. I want to match next year for sure. I know I can't change my scores but can get more LoRs and improve my CV.

Thank you. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

If I were in your shoes I would apply to as many Surgery Prelims as I could. They usually don't all fill and a year practicing medicine is better than a year of research, and you'll get clinical LORs from a PD at the end.

 

[hola27]

Agree with the statement above....pls dont waste your time with research except its in a prestigious university program and related to the specialty you are applying to

 

[shadowclaws]

I disagree with getting a 1year prelim spot, especially in surgery. It's pretty much a dead end position and they work you pretty hard and you will most likely have to repeat intern year again. I much rather spend time doing some more clinical rotations to get LORs or research with someone who will write a good LOR at the end. Spend that extra time going to 20+ interviews to increase your chances instead of trying to take time off of the prelim to fit all your interviews into a 2week block.

 

[Wizards323]

I disagree with getting a 1year prelim spot, especially in surgery. It's pretty much a dead end position and they work you pretty hard and you will most likely have to repeat intern year again. I much rather spend time doing some more clinical rotations to get LORs or research with someone who will write a good LOR at the end. Spend that extra time going to 20+ interviews to increase your chances instead of trying to take time off of the prelim to fit all your interviews into a 2week block.

Also unmatched and hoping for a shot in the SOAP. Any program directors available to advise on surg prelim vs. a research year for a non-surgical field such as neuro or family medicine? Thanks!

 

[picasso777]

How should one go about finding research attachment for a year. Should I enroll in a program (do they exist?) or should I just ask someone who has a high research output to let me join and help him?

 

[FMDoc13]

I disagree with getting a 1year prelim spot, especially in surgery. It's pretty much a dead end position and they work you pretty hard and you will most likely have to repeat intern year again. I much rather spend time doing some more clinical rotations to get LORs or research with someone who will write a good LOR at the end. Spend that extra time going to 20+ interviews to increase your chances instead of trying to take time off of the prelim to fit all your interviews into a 2week block.

As a medical student I worked with a bunch of surgery prelims and they all matched into non-surgical spots the next time around and the PD helped them with networking and LORs. NOT a dead end.