Match v non-match consequences

[hampaita9]

I apologize of this has been posted on but could someone (or many of you) please share your opinion(s) about applying to non-match programs even if one applies to "match only" residencies... i.e. What would happen if someone was accepted into a non-match committed there, then months later matched?

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[setdoc7]

Some program director may be unhappy.

 

[Svart Aske]

If you committed to a non-match program, you are supposed to withdraw from the match. Don't be the A-hole that tries to hold two spots and screw somebody else out of a position.

 

[FanOfCostco]

Unhappy program directors who will need to scramble to find someone to take the spot.

Bad karma happens to you. Probably will get hit by a bus the day after match.

 

[Streax1]

Oooooookay. Will it probably make for an unhappy program director? Absolutely. Has it been done before? I'm sure it happens every year, sans any bus roadkill. OP, I would recommend trying to work out interviewing at whatever programs you would be okay accepting a position at, but I would also recommend doing what is best for you in the end. I know you came here seeking some answers, but no one here knows you and your personal situation. Don't let the internet scare you out of making your own hard personal decisions.

 

[Svart Aske]

Oooooookay. Will it probably make for an unhappy program director? Absolutely. Has it been done before? I'm sure it happens every year, sans any bus roadkill. OP, I would recommend trying to work out interviewing at whatever programs you would be okay accepting a position at, but I would also recommend doing what is best for you in the end. I know you came here seeking some answers, but no one here knows you and your personal situation. Don't let the internet scare you out of making your own hard personal decisions.

Except "doing what is best for you" in this case is selfish and inconsiderate.

@OP: Dentistry is a small world and program directors talk to each other.

 

[Streax1]

Except "doing what is best for you" in this case is selfish and inconsiderate.

@OP: Dentistry is a small world and program directors talk to each other.

I don't quite follow that logic. Let's take dental school admissions for an example. Hundreds of students hold spots at schools and then withdraw when they are admitted into their higher priority choices. This often happens only weeks and sometimes days prior to the beginning of the initial program. If OP was to accept a non-match position, then accept a match position at January's end because it is a better program or fits better into his/her life, the PD would then have 5 MONTHS to find a replacement. Far more reasonable than weeks or days. Seems like they would just be able to start calling up the next competitive applicants like dental schools do, wouldn't they? The exception to this I would find is if the non-match program only allows you to accept contingent upon you dropping out of the match. I can agree that the scenario is different in that case. At least that's my take on it. If any PDs on here have any additional thoughts, feel free to chime in.

Edit: I did just re-read OPs post asking about applying to both non-match and match-only schools. If the program requires you to only apply to match schools, they you have no business applying to non-match schools at the same time.

 

[Svart Aske]

I don't quite follow that logic. Let's take dental school admissions for an example. Hundreds of students hold spots at schools and then withdraw when they are admitted into their higher priority choices. This often happens only weeks and sometimes days prior to the beginning of the initial program. If OP was to accept a non-match position, then accept a match position at January's end because it is a better program or fits better into his/her life, the PD would then have 5 MONTHS to find a replacement. Far more reasonable than weeks or days. Seems like they would just be able to start calling up the next competitive applicants like dental schools do, wouldn't they? The exception to this I would find is if the non-match program only allows you to accept contingent upon you dropping out of the match. I can agree that the scenario is different in that case. At least that's my take on it. If any PDs on here have any additional thoughts, feel free to chime in.

Edit: I did just re-read OPs post asking about applying to both non-match and match-only schools. If the program requires you to only apply to match schools, they you have no business applying to non-match schools at the same time.

Holding a spot at a dental school is NOT the same as telling the program director of the non-match program that you are accepting their offer. Dental schools have a waiting list of applicants that have already interviewed that they can extend invitations to when people withdraw. Withdrawing from a residency program that you already committed to forces the director to scramble to find people to interview and fill the position (mostly less competitive applicants that didn't match). It also screws over your peers that wanted to be in the program more than you did but didn't get in because you were holding the spot. The smaller residencies that don't fill their spots may struggle with handling the patient load and have their budgets affected.

 

[Streax1]

Holding a spot at a dental school is NOT the same as telling the program director of the non-match program that you are accepting their offer. Dental schools have a waiting list of applicants that have already interviewed that they can extend invitations to when people withdraw. Withdrawing from a residency program that you already committed to forces the director to scramble to find people to interview and fill the position (mostly less competitive applicants that didn't match). It also screws over your peers that wanted to be in the program more than you did but didn't get in because you were holding the spot. The smaller residencies that don't fill their spots may struggle with handling the patient load and have their budgets affected.

I haven't been through a residency interview process, so I'm speaking purely from logic rather than experience. Please correct me if I'm wrong on any of this. Don't the programs interview a lot of prospective residents prior to narrowing down their acceptances, just like dental school? So theoretically, wouldn't they also have backup interviewees to contact if someone were to drop out, again, just like dental school? Also, according to the logic that switching programs is selfish and inconsiderate in that it takes a spot from a peer, I feel like that same argument would then have to apply to dental students for switching programs after an initial acceptance. I don't know about you, but I had no shame in rescinding my initial dental acceptance to attend another school that better fit my goals and situation. Last, I would hardly use the word scrambling to describe the 5 months a program would have to fill that spot.

 

[Svart Aske]

I haven't been through a residency interview process, so I'm speaking purely from logic rather than experience. Please correct me if I'm wrong on any of this. Don't the programs interview a lot of prospective residents prior to narrowing down their acceptances, just like dental school? So theoretically, wouldn't they also have backup interviewees to contact if someone were to drop out, again, just like dental school? Also, according to the logic that switching programs is selfish and inconsiderate in that it takes a spot from a peer, I feel like that same argument would then have to apply to dental students for switching programs after an initial acceptance. I don't know about you, but I had no shame in rescinding my initial dental acceptance to attend another school that better fit my goals and situation. Last, I would hardly use the word scrambling to describe the 5 months a program would have to fill that spot.

Some programs don't interview that many applicants, and most of them have probably matched or accepted another position by the time you decide to drop out. As a result they have to start recruiting applicants from a less competitive pool. There is an agreement (written or unwritten) that you will withdraw from the match once you commit. This is very different from the dental school admissions process where it's expected that people will hold spots until they get into a higher choice. Many programs don't fill their positions and struggle to find a suitable candidate. Why don't you ask some program directors if they like to find post-match candidates.

Bottom line: it's a d*ck move and screws over your peers and residency faculty. I'm sure you don't want word to get out there about how you tried to game the system.

 

[hampaita9]

Thanks for your comments everyone. As I started filling more and more secondary applications I was seeing lots of check boxes stating “are you applying only to match schools” so I dropped the non-match from my list. I appreciate the insight