no place to go next year :(

[gibits]

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I tried to match into psych and that did not work out. I tried to scramble but still came up empty. I'm pretty sure I have no internship to go to next year. I'm starting to think a big part of the problem is that I almost nothing as to what I am suppose to do. My question is: What should I do for next year?

I know about findaresidency.com and to keep my ears open for a sudden dropped spot but realistically speaking i think I'm SOL.

I was wondering if I could get some help, since I will be taking the year off I wanted to know what I should do.

1) I was thinking of going into pharma and doing clinical trails for Johnson & Johnson or Merck. My concern is whether that would help my chances next year. I am also loath to think that I will not be working with patients for a whole year.

2) where do I look for sudden openings? clearinghouse? How often do they update?

3) Since I will be a DO in a few months what should do to get with ERAS in 6 months? I was given all the codes to register from my school and the dean's letter is is also from my school as well. Do I still use the LOR that I had from before? Does it even matter since I'm on the lam now?

4) If I do need all new documents (dean's letter, LOR etc) where do I send them if not the school?

Some background info on me:
US DO grad, not so great grades, passed COMLEX 1 and 2 (failed step 2 once), waiting on grades for USMLE 2 and COMLEX PE. I am married with an international wife, and father to a 2 year old son. I personally feel that getting my degree in 4 years with a wife that doesn't speak english and a surprise pregnacy as a huge accomplishment on my part, but I know others that have done a better job in my position, and I am sure they got the psych positions that I coveted.

I'm sure I will have more questions but I'm too depressed to think of them now. I will be working my CV and looking for a job while I await everyone's wisdom. Thank you all in advance.

 

[jonb12997]

Have you looked at DO rotating internships or family practice programs?

 

[gibits]

Well I am waiting to hear from FP but since my personal statement and LOR are all geared toward psych I'm not holding onto too much hope.

 

[futuredo32]

If you aren't geographically limited, there were tons of FP spots open after the DO match and a few DO psych spots too. Are you just looking for allo spots? Mt.Clemens had one FP spot after the DO match, don't know if it's still there, but I know they like psych people and that's an awesome hospital. After the DO match, a lot of programs called me and tried to convince me that there were a lot of social issues in FP and I should really consider just matching into their FP program and giving up on psych all together. Based on those experiences, I don't think your psych lors will be a huge problem for a lot of fp residencies.

I feel your pain, I'm a DO who didn't match in psych this year either🙁.

 

[beerog2003]

What do you think is the biggest reason why neither of you matched? Did you not apply broadly enough, or was it low board scores? Was is grades or a combination of all three?

Did you get many interviews and then just got rejected, or did you just not get interviews?

 

[futuredo32]

What do you think is the biggest reason why neither of you matched? Did you not apply broadly enough, or was it low board scores? Was is grades or a combination of all three?

Did you get many interviews and then just got rejected, or did you just not get interviews?

My school is pass/fail, so my grades weren't an issue. Low board scores and not applying even close to broadly enough didn't help me for sure. I applied to 3 places and got interviews at 2. DO schools are expanding the number of graduates without increasing the number of residency spots, so that didn't help either. Psych was really competitive in Michigan for DOs this year compared to past years as well.

 

[ranmyaku]

My school is pass/fail, so my grades weren't an issue. Low board scores and not applying even close to broadly enough didn't help me for sure. I applied to 3 places and got interviews at 2. DO schools are expanding the number of graduates without increasing the number of residency spots, so that didn't help either. Psych was really competitive in Michigan for DOs this year compared to past years as well.

Didn't that seem like a bad idea at the time? 2 places to rank? with low board scores....sounds like you should have talked to the dean or an advisor or something to get a better handle on how to apply.

 

[futuredo32]

Didn't that seem like a bad idea at the time? 2 places to rank? with low board scores....sounds like you should have talked to the dean or an advisor or something to get a better handle on how to apply.

I agree, it wasn't ideal. But , I was limited by geography due to family reasons. I made the best decision for my particular situation. Applying more broadly wasn't an option for me. I don't regret the choices I made, just wish things had turned out differently.

 

[gibits]

What do you think is the biggest reason why neither of you matched? Did you not apply broadly enough, or was it low board scores? Was is grades or a combination of all three?

Did you get many interviews and then just got rejected, or did you just not get interviews?

I applied to a bunch of places and got interviews at 4. Alas my board scores are what they are and I don't think I can really change them. I'm going to give FP one more try today, but could anyone please tell what I should consider doing if and when I don't have residency?

 

[peppy]

My genuine sympathies on not matching. I went through almost exactly the same thing. I tried for Psych and didn't get it even though I ranked 7 programs of varying levels of competitiveness and had good board scores...so don't beat yourself up thinking "if only I had done this or that differently" - because I thought I had done enough to guarantee matching *somewhere* and still didn't get anything at all!

It was just an unexpectedly, shockingly difficult year for psych applicants. Even the program director of the psych program I consulted for advice in the scramble was confused by why I didn't match anywhere and thought that surely I'd get something in the scramble...but the scramble was a total failure for me too.

I was really sweating even getting an internship. Most programs are trying to get away from offering traditional rotating internships, but here's the good news: I did finally find a spot today at a program that I love!
Just be extremely persistent about contacting every program you could possibly imagine yourself being happy at to ask if they have any openings. The osteopathic programs, of course, are your best bet.
If you have any interest in Internal Medicine, I highly recommend applying to some of the DO IM programs. They were the most receptive of any of the programs I contacted. Due to the sheer number of them there are still some good quality programs that have openings. I was honest about the fact that I had tried to get psych originally. They know at this stage of the game that your original plan didn't work out. You have nothing to lose by contacting EVERYONE at this point!
Good luck!

 

[sade]

If you have any interest in Internal Medicine, I highly recommend applying to some of the DO IM programs. They were the most receptive of any of the programs I contacted. Due to the sheer number of them there are still some good quality programs that have openings. I was honest about the fact that I had tried to get psych originally. They know at this stage of the game that your original plan didn't work out. You have nothing to lose by contacting EVERYONE at this point!
Good luck!

Peppy,
Congratulations for securing a position. I was wondering where or how do Allopathic grads apply to DO IM programs? Is there a specific website? Im an IMG are we eligible to apply to?

Thanks.
Sade.

 

[frank51]

Peppy,
Congratulations for securing a position. I was wondering where or how do Allopathic grads apply to DO IM programs? Is there a specific website? Im an IMG are we eligible to apply to?

Thanks.
Sade.

Only Osteopathic grads are eligible

 

[sade]

Thank you, Frank. I was actually googling and reached the same conclusion. Found an informative article on DO residency - AOA vs ACGME-AOA residency approval. Sure is a different world.
Best of luck gibits.

 

[gibits]

sorry but I didn't do the DO match, where can I find unfilled DO IM spots?

 

[sade]

If found them when I was googling earlier ... best of luck.
https://www.do-online.org/index.cfm?PageID=sir_match08res

 

[peppy]

Peppy,
Congratulations for securing a position. I was wondering where or how do Allopathic grads apply to DO IM programs? Is there a specific website? Im an IMG are we eligible to apply to?

Thanks.
Sade.

Unfortunately as was mentioned those spots are only for people at osteopathic schools, but I wanted to encourage you to keep looking for spots. I am sure that some spots will open up at allopathic/MD programs over the next few weeks. If I were you, I'd at least try calling places and asking if you can leave your information for them to contact you if they end up having an unexpected vacancy (like if one of their residents gets sick, pregnant, doesn't pass Step 2, etc. and can't keep the position).
Hope it works out for you!!! I was just about ready to give up when I found my spot, so I want to encourage all the rest of you to keep on trying!!

 

[lapooh]

I am an IMG who didnt match this year, though I was very confident I would. Applied to only a few programs for family reasons, so statistically speaking I had low chances of matching, but I really thought I would get in. I feel so stupid thinking I put 95% or something on the NRMP survey where it asked you to estimate your chances.
Have to get to work to buff up CV for the next season, but feeling so down that I just can't bring myself to do anything. Keep thinking I must have exhibited some weird personality traits in my interviews.🙁

 

[futuredo32]

My genuine sympathies on not matching. I went through almost exactly the same thing. I tried for Psych and didn't get it even though I ranked 7 programs of varying levels of competitiveness and had good board scores...so don't beat yourself up thinking "if only I had done this or that differently" - because I thought I had done enough to guarantee matching *somewhere* and still didn't get anything at all!

It was just an unexpectedly, shockingly difficult year for psych applicants. Even the program director of the psych program I consulted for advice in the scramble was confused by why I didn't match anywhere and thought that surely I'd get something in the scramble...but the scramble was a total failure for me too.

I was really sweating even getting an internship. Most programs are trying to get away from offering traditional rotating internships, but here's the good news: I did finally find a spot today at a program that I love!
Just be extremely persistent about contacting every program you could possibly imagine yourself being happy at to ask if they have any openings. The osteopathic programs, of course, are your best bet.
If you have any interest in Internal Medicine, I highly recommend applying to some of the DO IM programs. They were the most receptive of any of the programs I contacted. Due to the sheer number of them there are still some good quality programs that have openings. I was honest about the fact that I had tried to get psych originally. They know at this stage of the game that your original plan didn't work out. You have nothing to lose by contacting EVERYONE at this point!
Good luck!

Congratulations, Peppy!🙂

 

[peppy]

Thanks for the well wishes. I have come to the conclusion that I am happier about my internship position than I probably would have been if I had matched with #6 or #7 on my original rank list, actually. It's a better fit in many ways. I think things have a way of working out for the best. I definitely hope that things work out well for you too! 🙂

 

[peppy]

I feel so stupid thinking I put 95% or something on the NRMP survey where it asked you to estimate your chances.

If it makes you feel better, I estimated my chances at 98%. I think that asking applicants that question is just plain cruel!

I doubt that you were "weird" in the interviews. Programs interview a lot of people for a few spaces so they can't offer a position to everybody they like. Some of this process just comes down to sheer luck. This is just a temporary setback and you can still find a good spot later on down the road!

 

[lapooh]

If it makes you feel better, I estimated my chances at 98%. I think that asking applicants that question is just plain cruel!

I doubt that you were "weird" in the interviews. Programs interview a lot of people for a few spaces so they can't offer a position to everybody they like. Some of this process just comes down to sheer luck. This is just a temporary setback and you can still find a good spot later on down the road!

Small pleasures.........but that does make me feel a bit better. 🙂I wish I knew what went wrong, though. I still think I don't have those polished interview skills, nor the ability/inclination to really butter up where needed. I am trying to convince myself that everything happens for a reason, and maybe this was for the best.

Congratulations on your prelim spot! I hope things work out for all of us next time.

 

[gibits]

I have two interviews for rotating internships coming up and I was wondering if anyone had an idea of what kind of questions to expect. The psych interviews I had were just too relaxed and I'm afraid it has spoiled me and made me soft.

Any help would be appreciated as I am desperate to get a position.