Match question - AF

[glamqueen]

---

Members do not see this ad.

If you are AF HPSP, do you still go to match day with your classmates to find out your residency? How does that go since you go through military match? I know that is a really cool experience in medical school, and I'd hate to miss out on it. Can anyone explain how this works?

Thanks!

 

[Droopy Snoopy]

If you are AF HPSP, do you still go to match day with your classmates to find out your residency? How does that go since you go through military match? I know that is a really cool experience in medical school, and I'd hate to miss out on it. Can anyone explain how this works?

Thanks!

Military match is 3 months before the civilian one. You should still be able to attend match ceremony however, don't see why any school would bar you from it.

 

[grayce79]

All the military people at my school still participated for match day. It was just much more fun for us because we already knew what was in the envelope!

 

[glamqueen]

How do you find out about military match? Do you get an email or a snail mail letter? Thanks for the info!

 

[The White Coat Investor]

You check a website. And yes, you miss out on a cool experience because you're in military medicine (unless you get a deferral like I did.)

Worse is interviewing at civilian programs in December and finding out you wasted your money when the military list comes out.

 

[glamqueen]

Does AF defer for OB/GYN a lot? Also, say you want OB/GYN, but you'd be cool with surgery also (second choice). How does that work? Do you OB/GYN every first, and then list surgery next? I know it is dependent on the needs of the Air Force, but I'd sure want OB/GYN and surgery over family practice ex. (I like the detailed work of surgery etc.). How does submitting choices for military match work?

 

[grayce79]

Does AF defer for OB/GYN a lot? Also, say you want OB/GYN, but you'd be cool with surgery also (second choice). How does that work? Do you OB/GYN every first, and then list surgery next? I know it is dependent on the needs of the Air Force, but I'd sure want OB/GYN and surgery over family practice ex. (I like the detailed work of surgery etc.). How does submitting choices for military match work?

Every summer, the Air Force will post the IFB which is a list of the number of both military/deferred slots they will be offering for each specialty based on the needs of the AF. You will be required to submit an application even if you are not wanting to do a military residency. You will then find out in Dec if you matched into the military, got a deferment, or will be doing GMO.

The year I applied, there were 6 military slots, 8 deferred slots and about 30 applicants total. This can vary slightly from year to year but has been relatively stable. I think they have upped the number of deferred slots over the last 2 years. The military will usually keep the best applicants for itself. Good to average applicants get deferments. Average to poor applicants don't match into the specialty. Ob/gyn in the civilian world and ARMY is easy to match into so I am not sure why it is so different in the Air Force.

You are able to put a 2nd choice specialty on your application. You cannot be forced into a family practice residency regardless of whether you put down a second choice or not. You can end up doing GMO year though.

 

[glamqueen]

grayce79 - this was very helpful, and exactly what I was hoping to hear. Thank you so much for posting. 🙂

 

[deuist]

Worse is interviewing at civilian programs in December and finding out you wasted your money when the military list comes out.

Don't remind me. That's $2,000 that I can never get reimbursed.