Offers outside the match?
Started by pastelist
I know that at least one of these spots last year went to a US student. I have heard another fairly common situation is when one radonc resident wants to transfer to another program, sometimes they'll obtain a "spot" outside the match..then that program withdraws from the match that year. I'm not sure why programs would necessarily offer spots to FMGs outside the match..seems like the FMGs would get spots the same way we do through the match.
Here's the thing . . . if you are a graduating US senior, you will NOT get a spot "outside the match." There's a small chance you might be able to acquire one during the scramble, but this would be within the confines of the NRMP rules.
However, if you fail to match into RadOnc the first time around and end up doing a prelim, then it IS very possible to get a spot "outside the match." Like napoleondynamite says, slots sometimes open @ the PGY-2 level (e.g. this year it happened w/ Arizona, USC) where you can enter right after you finish your intern year. You have to pay close attention though, cause these spots will be gobbled up quickly.
Historically, maybe 10-15 years ago, when nobody wanted RadOnc going "outside the match" may have been commonplace. Not anymore.
However, if you fail to match into RadOnc the first time around and end up doing a prelim, then it IS very possible to get a spot "outside the match." Like napoleondynamite says, slots sometimes open @ the PGY-2 level (e.g. this year it happened w/ Arizona, USC) where you can enter right after you finish your intern year. You have to pay close attention though, cause these spots will be gobbled up quickly.
Historically, maybe 10-15 years ago, when nobody wanted RadOnc going "outside the match" may have been commonplace. Not anymore.
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To u.s. seniors?
officially? no. unofficially? yes.
there's a bit of 'cloak and dagger' stuff that goes on...I know of one blatant example in particular.
there's also a thread you might want to take a peek at, it's 2 matches removed from us however:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=180826
officially? no. unofficially? yes.
there's a bit of 'cloak and dagger' stuff that goes on...I know of one blatant example in particular.
there's also a thread you might want to take a peek at, it's 2 matches removed from us however:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=180826
I'm under the impression that it's totally legal for programs to withdraw from the match at any time if they want to extend an offer to a US Senior outside the match. I have been told that as long as the program offers ALL of its spots outside the match..then it is legit. Is this incorrect?
Also, is it a violation for me to tell a program that I'll be ranking them #1?
Also, is it a violation for me to tell a program that I'll be ranking them #1?
yeah that sounds about right. if they're going to offer a spot outside the match to a US senior then they must withdraw all positions from the match so long as it is done before the quota deadline of Jan 31, 2007. Given that many programs in rad-onc have only one position in the match I figure its not a big deal for them...
...big deal for applicants though b/c by the time Jan 31st rolls around you're likely to have interviewed at whatever place has decided to go that route. If I knew a program was pulling that, I might think twice about spending time and money interviewing there. Personally, I think programs should have to decide what route to go prior to interviewing candidates.
Voluntarily telling where you're ranking them is perfectly legal. However, if they ASK YOU where you are ranking them, that is a violation. I assume the same is true vice versa but I wonder if there are any applicants with the cojones to pull that one...
They can also pre-offer spots within the match; i.e. they agree to rank a student #1 on the NRMP list and issue a legally binding contract to that effect to the MS4. The ACGME coordiantor at the school must approve the contract beforehand. The student then goes through the match like normal, with a guaranteed spot if they desire it. Several schools do this if they intend to co-admit residents to a graduate program with a pre-March application deadline, and thus a couple of spots that were NRMP listed were effectively pre-offered already the last few years.
i don't know if the rules have changed, but i was in the application cycle in 2002 (for pgy2 spots starting 2004), and was offered a spot outside the match. I got the offer in late january. The program would have been close to last on my rank list, but b/c the applicants were sooo competitive, I considered all my options. Thankfully, I consulted my mentors, as well as a program director at a top university, and was advised to stay in the match. I ended up matching in my top 3 🙂
actually not true at all. Some programs will decide that teydont want to go through the match but will invite people and make an offer.JHH did this about 2 years ago. its rare and it means of course you can'ty rank.
Hmmmmm . . . I guess my pure little heart just wasn't aware of the miasma of duplicity that was floating around the Match. 😉 Seems like this process is a lot "dirtier" than I assumed.
You don't know the half of it!
And the NRMP/Match will never side with an applicant over a program. The match needs the programs to participate. They have all the applicants they need.
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Louis: "I'm shocked, shocked to find illegal gambling here."
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no if you withdraw its ok.
the process i was describing isn't dirty. the program invites people and says up front: no match. we'll make an offer and that's that. its not a common thing in radonc though.
the process i was describing isn't dirty. the program invites people and says up front: no match. we'll make an offer and that's that. its not a common thing in radonc though.
