NEURO MATCH

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.

NeuroLady

Gero Neuro Nerd
7+ Year Member
Joined
Feb 15, 2016
Messages
238
Reaction score
216
re: neuro postdoc match
How have others managed offers from sites who do/ don't participate in the match given the difference between the ranking deadline (2/20) and universal offer date (2/26)? What about for those who also apply to non-neuro postdocs? I have just 2 match sites of interest and many more non match sites. Does anyone in this situation just forgo the match?
 
Be thankful for the option to call your top site bc it didn’t exist back when some of us went through the neuro match. 😉 Applicants had to either take the offer or roll the dice with the match and hope they got their top choice.
 
You should apply to both types as long as they interest you: do not forgo the match. As @WisNeuro mentioned, you can ask about your competitiveness and I think there is some recommended language for this (e.g., "will you rank me in a way that will guarantee a match?"). You want to make sure you will match, not just that you are high on the list, if you're going to pass up on another offer. I applied to both match/non-match and got unsolicited feedback that I was highly ranked (this is common and allowed), but ultimately ended up leveraging one non-match offer to get another, and subsequently withdrew from the match. Keep in mind neuro non-match postdocs do not follow the universal notification day; they are "exempt." You could get offers as early as December, but January is more typical. Good luck!
 
Also, be aware that some of the non-match sites will only give you a day, and many will ask for you to make a decision well before you've even interviewed at INS for match positions. This is not hyperbole, it has happened every year with my students.
 
Also, be aware that some of the non-match sites will only give you a day, and many will ask for you to make a decision well before you've even interviewed at INS for match positions. This is not hyperbole, it has happened every year with my students.

Had the same experience personally back when I applied, although my number of non-match sites was very limited. Have a working rank-order list in your head at all times during the process, just in case.
 
Had the same experience personally back when I applied, although my number of non-match sites was very limited. Have a working rank-order list in your head at all times during the process, just in case.

A few years back one of my students had an experience of a site making them make a decision before they got off the phone.
 
To follow-up on that, I also wouldn't sweat it too much if you don't get an offer before INS. Many non-match sites also interview at INS (although the timeline is getting pushed up and up). It was crickets for me before INS, and then a flurry of decisions+affective storms during the conference. Plan fun evening events!
 
Top