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I just wanted to post this for all of those who were not successful matching into a radiation program this year and because I wish I could have seen something like this when I was in the scramble with specifics of someone's real experience. I did not match into either radiation or prelim two years ago. I remember exactly were I was in the ER when I got the email and the three class mates who saw the look on my face when I read it on my iphone. I had ranked six radiation programs and six prelim programs. My step scores were 10 points above the average for those who had matched in previous years. I was told my letters were good. But two things hurt my application. First I had Pass in peds, IM and Surg with HP or Honors in all other rotations. Second my school did not have a home radiation program so I was never able to do any extensive research or work with well know faculty over the course of many months/years. I had one publication from an away rotation. During the scramble two years ago there really wasn't anything worth going after except for two or three programs that did not fill and these places were like send in your application and we may invite you for a formal interview in a month with 10 other people. In terms of other people in my class scrambling I remember a lot of ortho guys who were forced to change to neuro/family medicine/prelim surgery and a decent number of people who got advanced position but no prelim. It became clear that if you were not willing to change specialties and do residency at some community hospital you were not likely to succeed in the scramble so I just walked away from the whole thing. Did not go to match day for sure or really do anything else with my class for the rest of the year. What I did do was find a research spot at a radiation program with a name, research and a great PD. While I could not go back and fix my grades I could get some real research experience and get outstanding rec letters and prepare for next year's match. I was productive with my research year and got 11 radiation interviews the next year. This time I also interviewed a decent number categorical IM programs as well in addition to a lot of prelims. I was offered one very good prelim IM spot in Manhattan outside of the match but had to decline it knowing I was going to rank categorical IM programs as well. Before ranking IM programs I asked the PDs if I was a good resident if they would allow me to apply to radiation programs outside of the match should anything become available just so there would be no surprises. During my research year I believe 7 or 8 rad onc positions became available but of course I could not apply as I had not done prelim year. More specifically I think Maryland, UC Irvine, Cleveland Clinic, Mississippi, Methodist in Houston, Nebraska, Emory, USCD and Henry Ford all took people outside of the match. Of course come match day I find out I match into IM, WTF. I think everyone was shocked given the number of interviews I had including the PD at the program I was at. I finished out my research year trying to do the best job I could knowing that I would needs these folks on board if I was going to apply again. I started my categorical IM program this year at a top 30 intuition in a very desirable location. IM year turned out to be very hard, hours were insane and there was not a lot of time to dwell on things to much. As the year worn along I found myself not likely IM at all but I always showed up on time and did the best job I could knowing if anything opened up I would need my IM PD on board. This year several programs opened up, Cleveland Clinic, NSLIJ, UC Irvine, UKy and U Texas A and M, not as many as last year. But I found out of match interviews while rarer were much easier to get for the committed applicant compared to the regular match. I heard about 50 people were applying for these postion but most had no experience or contacts in the rad onc field. I went on several of the interviews and with the support of PD director was able to get a spot this year a program that I will be very excited about come July, finally, I know, took like forever right. If I had not found a spot this year I think I would have applied through the regular match next year so I would be IM board eligible by the time I started.
Several important lessons I learned over this time. Third year grades are hugely important even more then step scores. After doing an IM year a very hard place and watching those their med students I feel a lot of it was just plan bad luck on my part, ie being stuck with attendings who wanted med students to do an inappropriate amount of work in terms of patients loads and who were just going to pass anyone who was not going into their specialty anyways. I short of felt this at the time I was doing these rotations but did not stick up for myself feeling the system would work out in the end, which was a mistake. If you did not match today and you are still super committed to rad onc you are by no means at the end of the road. Be honest with yourself and try to fix what was wrong with you application. If you don't have research consider a research year if your clerkship grades were not up to par show that you can do well at a tuff but respected program. Of course and always under all circumstances show up and do the best job you can even if you don't like what you are doing and never burn any bridges. You may think you would make the world's best rad onc doctor but it still takes a lot of hard work to be successful. Most importantly remember what Calvin Coleridge said, "Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'Press On' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race."
Sorry for any grammar errors but I have to go study for step 3
As a practical point most but not all rad onc openings are posed at:
http://cs.astro.org/forums/22.aspx
Early information on newly improved programs and program compliments can be found on the ACGME website although its super buried in their terribly designed web site.
Several important lessons I learned over this time. Third year grades are hugely important even more then step scores. After doing an IM year a very hard place and watching those their med students I feel a lot of it was just plan bad luck on my part, ie being stuck with attendings who wanted med students to do an inappropriate amount of work in terms of patients loads and who were just going to pass anyone who was not going into their specialty anyways. I short of felt this at the time I was doing these rotations but did not stick up for myself feeling the system would work out in the end, which was a mistake. If you did not match today and you are still super committed to rad onc you are by no means at the end of the road. Be honest with yourself and try to fix what was wrong with you application. If you don't have research consider a research year if your clerkship grades were not up to par show that you can do well at a tuff but respected program. Of course and always under all circumstances show up and do the best job you can even if you don't like what you are doing and never burn any bridges. You may think you would make the world's best rad onc doctor but it still takes a lot of hard work to be successful. Most importantly remember what Calvin Coleridge said, "Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'Press On' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race."
Sorry for any grammar errors but I have to go study for step 3
As a practical point most but not all rad onc openings are posed at:
http://cs.astro.org/forums/22.aspx
Early information on newly improved programs and program compliments can be found on the ACGME website although its super buried in their terribly designed web site.
