Oficial M4 anesthesiology applicant commiseration thread

[lvspro]

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Hey all
After submitting my info, I was relieved, and happy to be done with this crap. Now, reality is starting to set in... $$$ for flights/hotels, the crap we will be dealing with, the parrotlike repetition of answers for common interview questions etc... Also, the fact that after we go thru all this, we'll still be hanging by a thread until mar 1 is not very encouraging either.

Anyone else wanna gripe, then this is the place. From the looks of it, I will be posting complaints here q12 prn x 6 mo. I look forward to reading other peoples gripes.

Nervous M4

 

[chicamedica]

Welp, I've just joined the club! Just submitted a whole bunch of apps. . .now it's just studying for step 2 and waiting for my LORs to come in and med school transcript to be entered (however it's done).

I'm gonna try not to stress about the travel/expenses yet, though. Depending on how many interview I get, it may not be THAT much. 😎 I'm sure it'll work out, even if i have to go into a negative balance by the end of the year. (credit card with 0% APR is my plan if that happens, which it will. . . 😉 )

Good luck to all!

 

[toughlife]

if you are applying to prelim medicine programs do you still assign them your anesthesia letters besides the medicine letter they require? I amsnot sure on this part.

 

[chicamedica]

if you are applying to prelim medicine programs do you still assign them your anesthesia letters besides the medicine letter they require? I amsnot sure on this part.

I did, but none of my letters are in yet. Some prelims require a medicine chair letter, but I just didn't apply to those.

 

[toughlife]

Thanks chica medica.

Buena Suerte!

 

[lvspro]

"Originally Posted by toughlife
if you are applying to prelim medicine programs do you still assign them your anesthesia letters besides the medicine letter they require? I amsnot sure on this part."

I amnotsnot.

No need to write a seperate letter for prelim/trans programs as it is understood you are "just passing thru" on your way to your advanced track program. I think venty recently posted something similar, and I also read this on a few applicant "how to" sites for advanced programs.

 

[toughlife]

"Originally Posted by toughlife
if you are applying to prelim medicine programs do you still assign them your anesthesia letters besides the medicine letter they require? I amsnot sure on this part."

I amnotsnot.

No need to write a seperate letter for prelim/trans programs as it is understood you are "just passing thru" on your way to your advanced track program. I think venty recently posted something similar, and I also read this on a few applicant "how to" sites for advanced programs.

Thanks man! My app is off. Good luck to all of you in the process.

 

[veetz]

Thanks man! My app is off. Good luck to all of you in the process.

Well....my appl. is in, now the process begins. I'm sure you all will do great getting interviews and then matching. For me...I'll be happy matching at ANY program south of NY! 😎

 

[driverabu]

Well....my appl. is in, now the process begins. I'm sure you all will do great getting interviews and then matching. For me...I'll be happy matching at ANY program south of NY! 😎

I'll definetely second that!! Any program south of NY would be very nice. Texas or Florida would be heaven!! Good luck to all of you.

 

[ThinkFast007]

I'll definetely second that!! Any program south of NY would be very nice. Texas or Florida would be heaven!! Good luck to all of you.

out of curiosity, is there something wrong with NY programs? I dont plan on applying there...but whts the deal?

 

[Idiopathic]

"Originally Posted by toughlife
if you are applying to prelim medicine programs do you still assign them your anesthesia letters besides the medicine letter they require? I amsnot sure on this part."

I amnotsnot.

No need to write a seperate letter for prelim/trans programs as it is understood you are "just passing thru" on your way to your advanced track program. I think venty recently posted something similar, and I also read this on a few applicant "how to" sites for advanced programs.

Um...I may have forgotten to apply to any prelim/TY programs. Should I do that? How do I choose...just find ones at other programs that I am applying to?

 

[veetz]

out of curiosity, is there something wrong with NY programs? I dont plan on applying there...but whts the deal?

No...just geographical preference. 😎

 

[lvspro]

Gripe #2, 9/2/05
It's cool to see the flurry of activity, but I'm getting this wrenching feeling in my gut about who will offer interviews. The $hitty part of all this is the waiting. Much like the post-S1 period where I would check oasis q30min, and constantly be worried about my scores, I am constantly on ERAS/ECFMG sites doing the same. I think I need to make a pact w/myself that I will just leave things alone, and only check qweek to make sure things are chugging along. Wow, becoming a doctor really is a trial-by-fire.

 

[Idiopathic]

Back to the prelim stuff. Do I need to apply to separate prelim programs at this time (and pay for such) or can I assume that I will be able to hook up with one involved with my residency?

 

[Trisomy13]

Anyone else wanna gripe, then this is the place. From the looks of it, I will be posting complaints here q12 prn x 6 mo. I look forward to reading other peoples gripes.

Nervous M4

I'll be submitting this weekend, after I start and finish my personal statement. It's been a major thorn in my side.

 

[lvspro]

Yo Id
I am applying trans yr. The TY has a seperate field on the program choice section of ERAS. I'm not too sure about med/surg prelims.
A quick Q. I thought DO's had to apply for a DO rotating intern yr. If so, would this fill the requirement of Intern yr for anes?
Either way, I would imagine that venty would be a good resource.
lotsaluck man.

 

[Idiopathic]

I wont be doing a DO internship, it isnt required. What I need to know is if I should start to add 10 or so prelim years in case I dont get a linked spot.

 

[Idiopathic]

Also, it would be cool if people could post when programs have started contacting them.

 

[lvspro]

I'll be submitting this weekend, after I start and finish my personal statement. It's been a major thorn in my side.

Welcome to the thread tri-13. I agree that the PS is the only really difficult part of this whole process. It sux b/c you wanna stand out, yet not turn off the admission committee with an overly eccentric PS.
Anyhow, GL gettin' all yer shizzle in man.
Now, I need to go ruminate a little more.

 

[ThinkFast007]

Also, it would be cool if people could post when programs have started contacting them.

I second that motion. That way we know what we should be expecting.


Second thought, do schools tell you if you have been rejected? OR do they just not tell you anything period. By rejection I mean not even an interview.

 

[lvspro]

I wont be doing a DO internship, it isnt required. What I need to know is if I should start to add 10 or so prelim years in case I dont get a linked spot.

Hey id
I'm applying far and wide for my TY, as well as cat/adv anesthesia positions. My reasoning runs thusly: by applying to both cat/adv I have double candidacy at a lot of institutions... I don't want to limit myself. Also, w/the adv spots, I don't wanna be left swingin on match/scramble day so I am hedging my bets on the side that I will need a TY. If I match cat, as well as TY, then I can easily decline the TY. I think this option is a better place to be than vice-versa.
Hope my feeble-minded reasoning helps.

 

[lvspro]

I second that motion. That way we know what we should be expecting.


Second thought, do schools tell you if you have been rejected? OR do they just not tell you anything period. By rejection I mean not even an interview.

Hey think, I've heard that schools let you know if you've been rejected outright in the form of a letter reading like: thank you for applying but, blah, blah, blah.

I third the motion on the floor.

 

[lvspro]

Hey all.
Apparently, my idea was not a novel one. I have a link that brings up the same thing we have going on right here for the last two yrs.

http://beta.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=148759

Lot's of the same Q's, and plenty of interesting info.

That thread got 568 replies, making it the #1 in posts on the anesthes forum. Apparently MS4's are quite neurotic individuals right around this time of year... wonder why.

btw, the reason I've been posting so much is that I got th-mon off. I am so used to the indentured servitude that I don't really know what to do with my free-time. Most would say "tie up loose ends"... done; wash your car... done; clean out your house... done; hang out w/friends.... now that's a good idea, I just have to wait for them to get off work.

 

[VentdependenT]

I wont be doing a DO internship, it isnt required. What I need to know is if I should start to add 10 or so prelim years in case I dont get a linked spot.

Good lord no man. If you do that you'll be going on over 20 interviews. You'll go insane. Apply to a couple/a few of prelims and leave it at that. Just have it in the back of your mind that you may have to move between PGY-1 and CA-1 years.

 

[Idiopathic]

Good lord no man. If you do that you'll be going on over 20 interviews. You'll go insane. Apply to a couple/a few of prelims and leave it at that. Just have it in the back of your mind that you may have to move between PGY-1 and CA-1 years.

No moving...cant do it. And I already applied to 20 programs.

🙁

 

[Beck928]

No moving...cant do it. And I already applied to 20 programs.

🙁

I too have to be in the same area I start off at, due to being 1/2 of a couple in the match. I am not sure what I'm doing with the osteopathic intern year, if I need to scramble into one of their spots I will (if it's in the 5 dreaded states). But I will be applying to intern year in the same places as my advanced programs...we'll see how that goes!

 

[driverabu]

Man, just when I thought all was taken care of. I received a copy of my transcript today and it just so happens that everything is fine and dandy, up to date...well, except the 2 away rotations I did in anesthesia in feb and april are not in there!!!! I mean, if there were only 2 grades that I would want in my transcript, those would be the ones! Does anybody know if programs look at that when considering whether to give you an interview or not? I mean, the LORs I got from those rotations were superb and it would be hard to believe that I got anything less than an "A," but now I am worried that programs won't even consider offering me an interview until those grades are in my transcript. This bites. 😱

 

[chicamedica]

well if it makes you feel any better, my anesthesia grades aren't going to be available until around rank-list time, if not later.

 

[Idiopathic]

Man, just when I thought all was taken care of. I received a copy of my transcript today and it just so happens that everything is fine and dandy, up to date...well, except the 2 away rotations I did in anesthesia in feb and april are not in there!!!! I mean, if there were only 2 grades that I would want in my transcript, those would be the ones! Does anybody know if programs look at that when considering whether to give you an interview or not? I mean, the LORs I got from those rotations were superb and it would be hard to believe that I got anything less than an "A," but now I am worried that programs won't even consider offering me an interview until those grades are in my transcript. This bites. 😱

Do I need to get a copy of my transcript for interviews, or is this uploaded onto ERAS? I guess it is on my Dean's Letter, but what about before that.

 

[ThinkFast007]

Do I need to get a copy of my transcript for interviews, or is this uploaded onto ERAS? I guess it is on my Dean's Letter, but what about before that.

yo, i think ur school uploads ur transcript as they did your LORS, picture, etc.

the reason i say that when you check to see the status of ur apps (track)...it has a slot where it says "USMLE transcript, transcript, LOR1, LOR2, LOR3, etc"

 

[driverabu]

Well, the school sends the transcript to ERAS I believe and then ERAS uploads it. I was just saying that I got a copy of my transcript to make sure there were no mistakes on it. Thanks chicamedica, that actually does make me feel a little better! 🙂

 

[ThinkFast007]

well if it makes you feel any better, my anesthesia grades aren't going to be available until around rank-list time, if not later.

well i 'm not doing my anes rotaiton until oct/nov and the month of Dec. So.......

friggin sucks, but my schools schedule is as such. good thing i worked alot with the gas docs when i was on surg and when i SHOULDA been on my medicine clerkship site 😉

 

[driverabu]

Does anybody know if we can see our LORs from the ERAS site? Thanks

 

[supahfresh]

Does anybody know if we can see our LORs from the ERAS site? Thanks

no. but you could ask your letter writer.

 

[kid korea]

how "easy" is it to get into a prelim medicine program? i'd love a transitional year, but honestly, i wouldn't really mind a prelim med year either, and i've heard *rumors* that it can be easier to get into.

that being said, what's going overboard for prelim medicine? 20+ applications? 10+? god it would suck to have to scramble for an intern year.

 

[Idiopathic]

how "easy" is it to get into a prelim medicine program? i'd love a transitional year, but honestly, i wouldn't really mind a prelim med year either, and i've heard *rumors* that it can be easier to get into.

that being said, what's going overboard for prelim medicine? 20+ applications? 10+? god it would suck to have to scramble for an intern year.

*ahem* 28 anesthesia apps, 18 prelim apps.


That is definitely overboard. I just want all my options open in case I fall in love with a place on the trail.

 

[kid korea]

*ahem* 28 anesthesia apps, 18 prelim apps.


That is definitely overboard. I just want all my options open in case I fall in love with a place on the trail.

gotcha. looks like we're in the same boat. i've got about 14 transitional programs lined up, and 20-some prelim medicine apps (haven't fully dropped the hammer on where my money's going yet).

hooray for going overboard, see you in the water

 

[IlianaSedai]

OMG, my letters were requested months ago and I still have one that's not in, and despite two emails and three calls to her secretary the writer has still not gotten back to me. I am stressed outta my mind and wondering whether I might have to scramble around to find another writer. 😱 😱 😱 😱 😱

If anyone else has been in this situation and has some wisdom to share, I need it!

I've selected 20 anesthesia residencies, 10 medicine prelims. I hope that's enough, but was thinking I might need to add some more later if I don't get too many interviews. Step I 233, 2 of 3 requested LoRs in (2 anesthesiologists, 1 other), 2 aways (one of which I don't think I'll apply to), definitely-not-spectacular transcript, no AOA at my school.

Where have you guys looked to find out whether a medicine chair letter is required by the prelim program?

 

[chicamedica]

OMG, my letters were requested months ago and I still have one that's not in, and despite two emails and three calls to her secretary the writer has still not gotten back to me. I am stressed outta my mind and wondering whether I might have to scramble around to find another writer. 😱 😱 😱 😱 😱

If anyone else has been in this situation and has some wisdom to share, I need it!

I've selected 20 anesthesia residencies, 10 medicine prelims. I hope that's enough, but was thinking I might need to add some more later if I don't get too many interviews. Step I 233, 2 of 3 requested LoRs in (2 anesthesiologists, 1 other), 2 aways (one of which I don't think I'll apply to), definitely-not-spectacular transcript, no AOA at my school.

Where have you guys looked to find out whether a medicine chair letter is required by the prelim program?

hmm. . .you guys are making me feel like i should be more worried. . .seriously. . .I have 1 LOR that's IN total!! I haven't even requested 2 other LORs yet. My numbers are worse than yours.

Either I should start freaking out, or you should majorly chill. 😎

 

[chicamedica]

OMG, my letters were requested months ago and I still have one that's not in, and despite two emails and three calls to her secretary the writer has still not gotten back to me. I am stressed outta my mind and wondering whether I might have to scramble around to find another writer. 😱 😱 😱 😱 😱

If anyone else has been in this situation and has some wisdom to share, I need it!

I've selected 20 anesthesia residencies, 10 medicine prelims. I hope that's enough, but was thinking I might need to add some more later if I don't get too many interviews. Step I 233, 2 of 3 requested LoRs in (2 anesthesiologists, 1 other), 2 aways (one of which I don't think I'll apply to), definitely-not-spectacular transcript, no AOA at my school.

Where have you guys looked to find out whether a medicine chair letter is required by the prelim program?

hmm. . .you guys are making me feel like i should be more worried. . .seriously. . .I have 1 LOR that's IN total!! I haven't even requested 2 other LORs yet. And my numbers are worse than yours.

Either I should start freaking out, or you should majorly chill. 😎

 

[IlianaSedai]

Either I should start freaking out, or you should majorly chill. 😎

Prolly the latter. 🙄

 

[driverabu]

Internal Medicine Training Program at Baylor
University
Medical Center (Dallas):

They pretty much told me I'm a loser. They probably saw "IMG" and got scared! This was for a prelim med spot. This is the only program that has contacted me. Anybody else with programs contacting them....good or bad? Also, what's the deal with LOR order on ERAS. I was under the impression that if programs only want 3 letters max, they would choose the first three listed on ERAS. One program downloaded LOR 2,3,4 and left 1 alone....what's the deal? I hope this isn't a guessing game!

 

[Idiopathic]

Yikes. That kind of sucks to hear so quickly. At least they let you know so you can mark it off, though.

I haven't heard from anyone yet, although nearly all have my stuff downloaded.

Chin up, everybody. We all have our place.

 

[driverabu]

Yikes. That kind of sucks to hear so quickly. At least they let you know so you can mark it off, though.

I haven't heard from anyone yet, although nearly all have my stuff downloaded.

Chin up, everybody. We all have our place.

Yeah, with 106 programs applied to, I'll probably be seeing a lot of rejections, but also hope to be seeing a lot of invitations!! Good luck to everybody!

 

[ThinkFast007]

Internal Medicine Training Program at Baylor
University
Medical Center (Dallas):

They pretty much told me I'm a loser. They probably saw "IMG" and got scared! This was for a prelim med spot. This is the only program that has contacted me. Anybody else with programs contacting them....good or bad? Also, what's the deal with LOR order on ERAS. I was under the impression that if programs only want 3 letters max, they would choose the first three listed on ERAS. One program downloaded LOR 2,3,4 and left 1 alone....what's the deal? I hope this isn't a guessing game!

hmmm

thts interesting...i hope hte one they dont DL isnt the one from an anesthesiologist...

wow..thats really screwy!! we should get to pick which 3 they should DL if there was a choice. either that or just provide them with t3.... 😎 such a guessing game this is

 

[Idiopathic]

we should get to pick which 3 they should DL

Um...you do. Its called 'assign documents to programs'


My question is, can you unassign a letter? Or once they d/l it, does it stay with them?

 

[driverabu]

Um...you do. Its called 'assign documents to programs'


My question is, can you unassign a letter? Or once they d/l it, does it stay with them?

I know it's called 'assign documents to programs,' and since ERAS lets us assign up to 4 letters, I figure why not? But if these programs are going to pick and choose which 4, then I need to start only assigning my best 3.
Oh, and yes, the one they didn't download was #1....my 2 page LOR! from anesthesia....the other 3 were 2 gas and 1 IM

 

[Idiopathic]

Im just saying, if you know the program only wants three...well, you should only assign the three that you want? If you dont know in advance, thats certainly understandable.

 

[Beck928]

I know that this is still premature, but we will need to keep each other posted on who is offering interviews, etc. It sucks to have to wait to see where we will get a shot! Does anyone know about when interviews will start being offered?

 

[toughlife]

I know that this is still premature, but we will need to keep each other posted on who is offering interviews, etc. It sucks to have to wait to see where we will get a shot! Does anyone know about when interviews will start being offered?

That sounds good. It will also help to know who has been rejected as well. I will post when I get my first of either and continue to do so until the end.