I have disappointment on where I matched. Totally shocked on match day, I ended up where I never thought I would, near the bottom of my list. Offered over 30 interviews, took 18 and ranked 18. Maybe my expectations were too high, so now I am trying to understand what went wrong. In the top 10 of my large class, (over 200), Step 1 > 250, Step 2 270, AOA, 10 publications, etc… Anyone else feeling this? Advice?
Not excited about my Match results
- Thread starter DocDoc18
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What did you apply for?
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Specialty?
Very competitive Surgical Sub Specialty
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Life sucks and then you die. I know it's hard to hear, but be glad you matched. Grieve for a day or two and then come up with a plan and move on with your life.
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You matched. SOAP is filled with statistical superstars who didn't match into NSG, Derm, Plastics, etc. so be glad you're not one of them. You went on 18 interviews and ranked each of them for this very reason.
Recognize that you've matched at a program that likely ranked you far more highly than the other programs you didn't match at. They think you're a better fit for them than these other programs, and it's not unreasonable to think that you'll be more successful where you've matched as a result.
Congratulations on matching into a competitive surgical subspecialty.
Recognize that you've matched at a program that likely ranked you far more highly than the other programs you didn't match at. They think you're a better fit for them than these other programs, and it's not unreasonable to think that you'll be more successful where you've matched as a result.
Congratulations on matching into a competitive surgical subspecialty.
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Honestly I feel like the people with tippy-top stats are at a disadvantage when compared to people with good, but not excellent stats (240, 7 pubs, some H on clinicals) just because the "mid" and "lower" ranked programs in your specialty will be unlikely to interview/rank you because they assume you'd rather be somewhere else, at the competition at the top is fierce.
OTOH, look up and down at the posts about not matching/SOAP and consider that option. You'll probably find yourself relieved to an extent.
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You applied to a very competitive surgical subspecialty and you thought you were too good for some of the places on your list. That might have come across in interviews. Never underestimate the power of personality on interview day, no matter your scores.
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Get over it. There are plenty of others that would kill for your position. I've heard of a girl crying all week because she didn't match and was struggling to find a spot. Many others who didn't match are feeling devastated as well. At the end of the day, you come out with a 6 figure salary and you get to choose where you want to work. So get over it.
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Love the one you are with. And dance with the one who brung you.
I've been giving that advice for years. This year was finally my turn to match, and I didn't. I did scramble very well, into a program where I can be a hard-working, much valued, superstar.
You got a seat. You get to train in a competitive surgical sub specialty. Lucky you. Imagine how much worse it would have been if you'd failed to catch that bottom branch and had to SOAP. Make the best of it and you might just find that it really was the best place for you.
I've been giving that advice for years. This year was finally my turn to match, and I didn't. I did scramble very well, into a program where I can be a hard-working, much valued, superstar.
You got a seat. You get to train in a competitive surgical sub specialty. Lucky you. Imagine how much worse it would have been if you'd failed to catch that bottom branch and had to SOAP. Make the best of it and you might just find that it really was the best place for you.
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Matched my #3. Said a couple of swear words. Realized a couple of years ago I would have given anything to be where I am right now.
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I have no sympathy for you! My friend who was also AOA plus PhD did not match Urology. Dean urged him to take a community IM SOAP offer or that would be his end of medical career. I recently found out his wife had to talk him out of suicide.
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Whoever got you is going to be thrilled to have you and the doors will be open for any opportunity they can offer you. Take comfort in this and that you will get to practice the kind of specialty you want to. You will take some time to grieve your expectations and that is normal but then go in positive and make yourself the best resident you can be, and contribute to your residency to help make it the best it can be.
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These stories break my heart. What a horrible Dean. At least let him try a prelim year and reapply to something he could tolerate.
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These will be the first words I say to my future children.
I also went further down my list than I thought, and was shocked and upset, just couldn’t process it. After hearing about people who didn’t match and had to SOAP into completely different specialties and people who are going to try to take a research year and reapply (who up until last week thought they were going to be graduating in a few months...) well, I’m relieved I get to practice the field I want to. I’m now excited to start. It will work out.
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The more 'conventionally-desirable' your interview spots were, the more other people will also like them and rank them high. And since these programs are generally pretty small, your top picks only had to like 2-3 other people better out of the 50+ they interviewed for you not to match there and move down your rank list... But you got a spot, and it's one many others would have killed for.
This x 100. You're going to be a frickin' ENT/neuro/ortho/plastic/vascular surgeon! That's great news and your new program is going to do whatever it can to help you succeed. Give it everything you've got and look for things to love about your new home -- they certainly exist.
When you start to get your equilibrium back, then go to your new city's Chamber of Commerce or Tourism & Visitor's Bureau web site and see what's great about your new location. See who your new co-workers will be. Check out the real estate listings, the arts scene, the restaurant scene, parks and recreational opportunities -- whatever floats your boat.
Above all, remember that to a very large degree, happiness is a choice. Make the right choices and go be happy.
This x 100. You're going to be a frickin' ENT/neuro/ortho/plastic/vascular surgeon! That's great news and your new program is going to do whatever it can to help you succeed. Give it everything you've got and look for things to love about your new home -- they certainly exist.
When you start to get your equilibrium back, then go to your new city's Chamber of Commerce or Tourism & Visitor's Bureau web site and see what's great about your new location. See who your new co-workers will be. Check out the real estate listings, the arts scene, the restaurant scene, parks and recreational opportunities -- whatever floats your boat.
Above all, remember that to a very large degree, happiness is a choice. Make the right choices and go be happy.
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If you go back every year around match day, this forum usually has several people who match but are unhappy with where they ended up. The vast majority come back a year later and say that they are now very happy with their program and regret how they felt when they first heard the news they were going to be going there.
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Agreeing with the others, be happy you matched.
It's ok to have a bit of a grieving process though. I was fortunate and matched on the other end of my list, but I too kept thinking about the what ifs and other programs I also liked. No matter how good you are, you can only match at one program.
You're clearly a very solid student and will probably be a fine resident. When you are doing interviews next year, you'll see how much it's really all about fit at that point and ranking highly the people you think best fit in with your program. You'll see everyone's applications and first wonder how you ever matched at all and secondly have no idea how you're going to distinguish these people. Everyone has numbers like yours, and they all have other amazing things that are vastly different yet all equally amazing. I mean how do you decide what's more impressive between 30 people with numbers like yours and CVs full of things like combat fighter pilot, Olympic athlete, professional athlete, founders of successful start ups, professional musicians and artists, stellar work histories at big name I-Banks and consulting firms, and the list goes on!
18 programs is a lot though and while it may be that you were just outside match range at most of those above you, you may want to consider the possibility that you are coming across poorly in interviews. It could also have been some other red flag on your application, maybe a meh LOR - hard to say. The only 2 reasons I've seen for applicants with stellar stats to match poorly or not at all are interview skills and/or a red flag on the application.
But in the end you matched, you're going to have a chance to become the kind of surgeon you want to become, and that's a pretty awesome thing. Matching a surgical sub is no joke and is a particularly grueling process that few people can truly understand.
It's ok to have a bit of a grieving process though. I was fortunate and matched on the other end of my list, but I too kept thinking about the what ifs and other programs I also liked. No matter how good you are, you can only match at one program.
You're clearly a very solid student and will probably be a fine resident. When you are doing interviews next year, you'll see how much it's really all about fit at that point and ranking highly the people you think best fit in with your program. You'll see everyone's applications and first wonder how you ever matched at all and secondly have no idea how you're going to distinguish these people. Everyone has numbers like yours, and they all have other amazing things that are vastly different yet all equally amazing. I mean how do you decide what's more impressive between 30 people with numbers like yours and CVs full of things like combat fighter pilot, Olympic athlete, professional athlete, founders of successful start ups, professional musicians and artists, stellar work histories at big name I-Banks and consulting firms, and the list goes on!
18 programs is a lot though and while it may be that you were just outside match range at most of those above you, you may want to consider the possibility that you are coming across poorly in interviews. It could also have been some other red flag on your application, maybe a meh LOR - hard to say. The only 2 reasons I've seen for applicants with stellar stats to match poorly or not at all are interview skills and/or a red flag on the application.
But in the end you matched, you're going to have a chance to become the kind of surgeon you want to become, and that's a pretty awesome thing. Matching a surgical sub is no joke and is a particularly grueling process that few people can truly understand.
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Being able to match AT ALL in fields like Ortho and Urology and Plastics demands MAD respect.
Matching #10 in Neurology on the other hand...
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Eh. I failed to match in FM despite killer board scores and an overall application that was pretty awesome if I do say so myself. (Admittedly, I limited myself too much geographically to an area that a lot of other people wanted and I only did the AOA match.)
Match isn't a determination of merit. It is the fairest thing we've come up with, but it is still a very gamey system that doesn't yield perfect, predictable results. Lower quality candidates can match at their #1 if it happens to be the 2nd or 3rd choice of everyone ahead of them who got lucky enough to get their #1. If you'd ordered your rank list so that #10 were higher up, you'd have matched into it all the same and never known how many of the lower ranked programs you wouldn't have matched with. That is something that I found kind of pleasing about not matching at all... at least I didn't have to worry about how it would have worked out if I'd ordered my rank list differently. That responsibility was taken out of my hands.
Similarly, a fantastic candidate can be left without a seat. One of the program directors that I didn't match with is someone that I will be in touch with through my whole career because of our shared interests. She chatted with me after and explained that I had been ranked and close to matching there, but eh. It didn't happen. She also disclosed that *she* had not matched her first time out of the gate and instead went off to do a year of writing and research that put her on track to the position she has now.
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My two cents.
It is a pet peeve when people belittle somebody's problems because another person has it worse. Ie. "I am not allowed to complain about my broken arm because the guy in the room next to me was shot." That is bull****. Yes it is great that OP matched in a competitive specialty, but he is still allowed by be very disappointed for not getting his number one. When I matched last year, I couldn't have imagined not getting my top program, it felt like none of the other programs I interviewed at could compare.
Anyways, it sucks OP but I am sure you will make the best of it.
It is a pet peeve when people belittle somebody's problems because another person has it worse. Ie. "I am not allowed to complain about my broken arm because the guy in the room next to me was shot." That is bull****. Yes it is great that OP matched in a competitive specialty, but he is still allowed by be very disappointed for not getting his number one. When I matched last year, I couldn't have imagined not getting my top program, it felt like none of the other programs I interviewed at could compare.
Anyways, it sucks OP but I am sure you will make the best of it.
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Agree that I think OP probably over-estimated how impressive his app was. If this were FM or a field with moderate competitiveness, then I would be really surprised to hear someone with those stats dropping 15+ places down their rank list. In a hyper-competitive specialty it's still a bit surprising, but those stats aren't going to be blowing people away in the top fields. It sucks OP dropped so low down their rank list, but they still matched into the field they wanted which is something to be very grateful for.
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I was very sad about my match. Now I wouldn’t have gone anywhere else if offered a second chance.
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lol
Yeah, I'm sure your competition included nobody with almost the same credentials.
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I agree, except for cases exactly like this one. "Oh no, I only get to do exactly what I have dreamed of doing and get to make 6 figures, but boo hoo it's not exactly the perfect place I wanted". I'm sorry but my sympathy ran out at "I matched into the very competitive specialty I wanted". The rest is basically an entitled sob story for me, but to each their own.
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Aaaaaaand OP asked if anyone else felt like this and welcomed advice. So SDNers gave their advice.
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We hear it over and over and over -- The residency match is about 'fit'. And the simple fact is that if you're a bit of a 'square peg' or heaven forbid, a triangular or star-shaped peg, a whole committee of people who've met you for only a few minutes each is much likelier to feel more comfortable with a conventional round peg...
But if the genuine you is anything like your SDN persona, they're going to be so glad they got a star-shaped peg 😉
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First off, congrats on your result. Second, not gonna lie, I imagine I'd feel similarly if I was in your position. With all the work you put in to establish a likely amazing application you want to feel like you're wanted at your top places, so that disappointment is more than understandable. But as others have said, keep a good perspective of what you've accomplished and realize you've still set yourself up for a successful career. Perhaps try to assess whether you gave off some kind of 'vibe' that made programs possibly consider you less than the other applicants, correct that (if applicable), and kick ass at your new program. Good luck with the next phase. I imagine you'll be happy where you matched.
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I didn't like where I matched, but it turned out for the best in the long run.
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My wife had her heart set on a certain west coast program for ENT. Ended up getting her 8th choice. Was floored and not very excited. Once she started, she realized how awesome her co-residents were. They have remained some of her closest friends to this day and she wouldn’t trade those years for anywhere else. Sometimes the match doesn’t give you what you want, but it may give you what you need. Cheers.
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They certainly do have a right to be unhappy. There's a huge difference between having your #1/2/3 being MGH/Yale/Stanford and falling to your #11 at University of Rural Deep South.
Or the difference between matching into one of the SoCal programs for 4 years of derm right next to your family vs being forced to move to somewhere like Iowa can be upsetting.
Op has every right to be upset. At the end of the day, as perfectionists and Type A medical students, that self-disappointment can be very hard. We should support our colleagues, not **** on them when they're down.
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Does anyone ever
know how other programs rank them? After the match, it is all 'swept by and not talked about'? I am just asking because one of my greatest fears is being someplace that I am 'barely wanted'.
With all do respect to OP, maybe the program was just as shocked? and where do you go from there? Is 'talking about it'? Or do people just go back to sleep and wake up and get to work?
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Are you reticent about saying it here? is there an element of 'stay anonymous on SDN too'? dont want to offend program? Just trying to understand SDN etiquette.
IF a program offers you an interview, are they obligated to rank you? and if you go on an interview are you obligated to rank them?
IF a program offers you an interview, are they obligated to rank you? and if you go on an interview are you obligated to rank them?
I would think almost all programs avoid disclosing to students post-match how they were ranked because it's a pretty surefire way to create a toxic environment.
No, programs have no obligation to rank students nor do you have an obligation to rank them.
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Yes this seems like a great way to make them hate each other.
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What does 'conventionally desirable' mean? like 'you fit in wherever you go'? socially acceptable?
mean'?
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Wait wait OP just matched after interviewing this year. And she will be doing more interviews next year? I am confused. How often do interviews come up? As an ECFMG, I didnt stay in one city or place for rotations. I moved around way more than I would like. I am trying to avoid moving around. IS that even possible?
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AOA has a seperate match? seriously? Do you mean the 'honor fraternity' or the american osteopathic association? If you mean former, I am stunned. Something must have changed since the 1990's...
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People throw out this "well you shouldn't have ranked them then" a lot. A lot of people ranked programs they hoped they wouldn't end up at, but were better than not matching. I'm sure OP isn't so delusional as to think he would rather have no offer and have to try to SOAP (Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program, which is the system in place post-match used to pair unmatched applicants with unfilled spots, usually very undesirable spots in less desirable specialties). For those going into a surgical subspecialty, not ranking a program is equivalent to saying that you accept the possibility that you may never be a (plastic/neuro/ENT/uro surgeon) if you don't match and would rather take that risk than go to that program.
Honestly, I would be as upset as OP if I had matched at my #15 or #16. Being upset is reasonable. My heart dropped when I found out I had to move to a whole new town away from all friends and family, instead of home like I had hoped. Cried for a couple of days, now I'm getting excited and making plans. Most of the advice in this thread has been good for that.
Harvard, Hopkins. Big brand names.
That poster meant that the OP will be on the other side interviewing new candidates next year. The only way OP would have to interview next year is if they only matched into a prelim intern year without an advanced position (not the case here), or if they decided to transfer.
The latter.
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Huh. I guess we should just anticipate and mentally prepare for ALL negative outcomes beforehand so we aren't surprised or disappointed at ALL if they do happen?
I got my 4th choice, which is not terrible nor the end of the world. But I really thought I would get #1 or 2, and was prepared for 3. So when I got #4, I was surprised and upset for a while, which I think is appropriate. Obviously if I didn't like the program I wouldn't have ranked it #4.
Your comment doesn't make sense to me.
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Oh man you are going someplace marginally desireable for a competitive surgical sub-specialty? The horror.
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Matched in the lower third of my list. Was not thrilled at the time, and was surprised. Ended up loving my program, and recently accepted faculty spot at the place I had originally ranked #1.
You’ll never know how things will turn out... keep your chin up.
You’ll never know how things will turn out... keep your chin up.
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osteopathic.
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I’m playing the world’s smallest violin for the guy who matched his non-preferred location for a surgical subspecialty.
Maybe because being "top 10" in your class, or getting a high score on a test without any clinical relevance, doesn't differentiate you from literally everyone else applying to your specialty.
Advice?
How about you grow up and be thankful you matched anywhere.
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Do most people rank their home institution's program #1 for safety reasons? I have yet to begin med school but would love some tips on how to match successfully.
Sorry for the thread hijacking, OP. Congrats on matching into your field of choice!
Sorry for the thread hijacking, OP. Congrats on matching into your field of choice!
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- start medical school
- get good grades -> do well on steps
- do well on rotations & get good LOR's
- +/- research in specialties
- be smart when applying to programs
- be nice when interviewing at programs
- rank according to your own preference
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Tips for how to match successfully? Apply to enough programs to net you enough interviews to be able to rank enough programs so that you will have a good number of good programs to choose from. How many programs to apply for? Depends on how competitive you are and how competitive your desired specialty is. You want to get enough interview invitations at programs where you will have a good shot at matching, so if you are a very strong candidate for your specialty, apply to some top and some mid-tier programs. If you are an average candidate for your specialty, concentrate on mid-level programs with some aspirational and some safety programs. If you want a highly desirable geographic area, factor that in.
Then rank every program you would prefer to SOAPing and/or possible unemployment in the order in which you genuinely prefer them. Spend LESS time over-thinking the ranking process and MORE time selecting where best to apply to maximize your chances for a great training spot.
