match week and rotations

[rkaz]

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Hi guys,

I have just started MS4, and I'm wondering what the SOAP process is like. If a person fails to match, then what is the process like? Do you have to take time off from rotations, rush back to campus, send off many emails, etc? I know the process used to be crazy busy before the SOAP process, though I don't know how this compares.

I have a time intensive rotation (critical care) during the month of March at a busy location about 20 miles away from my campus. It's an awesome rotation (highly rated) which I am very happy to have. However, I admit that I'm not the most competitive applicant (by a long shot), and I tend to get pretty nervous during interviews (though people tell me that I hide my nervousness pretty well and appear quite composed). So I am concerned that there is a good chance I might have to scramble for a position. The idea of being in a busy ICU, trying to look up my match status online on a tiny phone screen, finding out I didn't match and not being able to rush back to campus due to being stuck at work while other residency positions are being snatched up in the interim, then coming home at the end of the day to find all positions are no longer available.... well, that image is rather unsettling to me.

Am I worrying for no reason? Or is there really some legitimacy to planning one's March rotation to be low-key and close to campus in the event of a career emergency (i.e. not matching)? I'm finalizing my 4th year schedule now, so I wanted to schedule appropriately.

(Sorry I normally don't worry like this, as I'm pretty easygoing for the most part... but the idea of not matching with $200k in debt is pretty anxiety-provoking to me.)

Thanks!

 

[foley12]

Just don't come in that day. I realize that you are new to fourth year; you will soon learn that in fourth year you can come and go as you please (especially once the dean's letter goes out). There were rotations which I showed up to once or twice a month and nobody said anything. Enjoy this year, there is nothing else like it.

 

[cheruka]

I emailed my attending and his office manager and let them know about the match and possibility of having to scramble. I also phoned the office manager. I did not have to scramble and got my #1. So, went to work the day after the match day. They will understand, don't worry.

I did not skip too many work days in fourth yr as I felt it was my chance to learn. I even did two surgical rotations. I was honest when I needed time off for the interviews and moving to the new city.

 

[Firewood]

You'll find out that Monday if you matched. Monday evening you can send out applications again, with phone interviews starting Tuesday. At that point, any school should give you that week off to SOAP. Afterall, they want you to Match/SOAP if for no other reason than to keep their Match numbers high.

My timeline may be a little off here, but it should give you the gist of the process.

Enjoy your rotation and good luck come March.

 

[rkaz]

Thanks so much everyone! 👍 So it seems like my best bet is to go forwards with this rotation that I'm happy to have, and for me to just let my attending know the prior week that I may need a few days off during match week. Hopefully they will be totally fine with it. I suppose worst-case scenario they will let my school know that I missed a few days, and my school will require me to make those days up. But hopefully that won't happen. Thanks!

 

[Law2Doc]

Thanks so much everyone! 👍 So it seems like my best bet is to go forwards with this rotation that I'm happy to have, and for me to just let my attending know the prior week that I may need a few days off during match week. Hopefully they will be totally fine with it. I suppose worst-case scenario they will let my school know that I missed a few days, and my school will require me to make those days up. But hopefully that won't happen. Thanks!

If you don't end up with a residency, the rotation becomes irrelevant, and your attendings will appreciate that. You probably will match, but if you don't, you just let the attendings on that rotation know that you won't be in that week in order to SOAP. Worst they can do is give you a weak evaluation nobody will ever see.

 

[survivordo]

I'm glad you're being proactive but this is a LONG way off. Worry about your Step II, Applications and interviews right now. If you do well on those than this whole conversation can become irrelevant. Have some confidence in yourself!

Survivor DO