Options if I don't match

[tealzeal]

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What is the appropriate course of action if one doesn't match and is not able to get into their desired specialty through SOAP? Obviously the first choice would be to go through SOAP into a field you want to be in but if that doesn't work is it best to...

1) Go into a field you'd rather not just to keep the lights on
2) delay graduation and go through another round of away rotations in your 1st, 2nd, 3rd choice specialties (the worst financially but if it gets you the best chance for matching next year it is worth it)
3) Take a prelim year in the hopes that you somehow have better luck reapplying.

I ask because I have no interview invites despite reasonably good grades/scores. I think I must have gotten bad letters combined with a late application. I had hoped for EM but it is looking like I might be going down this path.

Appreciate any thoughts on the matter.

(There are a few threads on this but they are a few years old so I thought it would be OK to ask again).

 

[failedatlife]

Bookmarking for later use.

 

[mistafab]

Dude if I was EM all in but had no shot - I would probably go into FM or IM. From what I understand (someone please correct me), you can work an ER as either of those.

My friends wanting EM say that it is really tough to get residency spots. Because although the scores are not "competitive" they said there is a huge push for showing "dedication to the specialty" and having strong aways or something like that. I am not at all intersted in EM stuff so I have no clue but maybe someone here or a mentor at your school could talk to you about your options.

 

[theonlytycrane]

Dude if I was EM all in but had no shot - I would probably go into FM or IM. From what I understand (someone please correct me), you can work an ER as either of those.

My friends wanting EM say that it is really tough to get residency spots. Because although the scores are not "competitive" they said there is a huge push for showing "dedication to the specialty" and having strong aways or something like that. I am not at all intersted in EM stuff so I have no clue but maybe someone here or a mentor at your school could talk to you about your options.

only M1 but also heard this from older students. Maybe because it can be a grueling field- diehard dedication needs to be shown?

 

[Donald Juan]

You need to talk with your home PD about your application and why you haven't gotten any interviews. I would say if EM is something you are really passionate about and want to do, that it may be worth delaying graduation and reapplying next year (and possibly with a backup at that time), but there is no point in reapplying if you have some glaring problem that makes it almost certain you wouldn't match. How late was your application? How "reasonably good" are your grades/scores?

 

[Mad Jack]

only M1 but also heard this from older students. Maybe because it can be a grueling field- diehard dedication needs to be shown?

EM isn't a particularly grueling specialty

 

[Soccer171983]

TRI scramble. Get 6 months credit into your em residency next year if your app looks better after TRI year.

 

[Mad Jack]

The other thing about EM is the video interview this year- you could've bombed your interview before you got an interview. How late did you apply?

 

[WingedOx]

The other thing about EM is the video interview this year- you could've bombed your interview before you got an interview. How late did you apply?

wait, what is this? I've never heard of such a thing.

 

[Redpancreas]

wait, what is this? I've never heard of such a thing.

The Standardized Video Interview (SVI) is exactly what it sounds like. It was proposed by the AAMC and EM is basically their pilot-study. Scores range from low-teens to high 20s according to the Reddit EM Applicant sheet with no real correlation with Step scores. I imagine other places will adopt it if it works well. Similarly, AAMC has a new written essay test for medical school admissions to test ethical skills, or something like that. While only a minority of schools require it, most applying broadly have to take it.

 

[Rekt]

The Standardized Video Interview (SVI) is exactly what it sounds like. It was proposed by the AAMC and EM is basically their pilot-study. Scores range from low-teens to high 20s according to the Reddit EM Applicant sheet with no real correlation with Step scores. I imagine other places will adopt it if it works well. Similarly, AAMC has a new written essay test for medical school admissions to test ethical skills, or something like that. While only a minority of schools require it, most applying broadly have to take it.

It's also "graded" by some random ass third party of people that have zero medical training or affiliation that ask generic useless interview questions and AAMC has said themselves there is bias against Blacks and Asians (They get lower scores). Don't expect this to go away, instead people should expect this to expand to all the other specialties and you'll be paying for it.

@OP, did you have SLOES? What were your Step scores? When did you apply? How many programs?

 

[DokterMom]

At first glance it sounds like either some bad SLOEs or a bad video interview -- Any reason to believe that your SLOE writers may feel EM is the wrong specialty for you? If so, I'd recommend switching specialties -- probably the best recommendation anyway because for EM, it's not like a research year will fix what your letter-writers / video interview said was wrong.

Of course without STEP scores and knowing how late, that's just a guess...

 

[kb1900]

It's situations like this where I wish there were more program directors on the forums just how there are so many adcoms for the premed forums. (+ An identifying tag)

How frequently are there bad SLOEs??

 

[tealzeal]

60 applications
Step 1 was 240
Step 2 isn't back yet
App submitted late September
First sloe in mid October second late October.
Svi was around the mean

I did just find out my second sloe, while probably not negative was definitely not positive either but it was quiet well before that.

I would like to do EM and can do a 5th med school year. I just don't know if that will improve things or if a prelim year could help. Maybe I will have to switch but that would be a huge let down for me

 

[jw3600]

60 applications
Step 1 was 240
Step 2 isn't back yet
App submitted late September
First sloe in mid October second late October.
Svi was around the mean

I did just find out my second sloe, while probably not negative was definitely not positive either but it was quiet well before that.

I would like to do EM and can do a 5th med school year. I just don't know if that will improve things or if a prelim year could help. Maybe I will have to switch but that would be a huge let down for me

Where did you apply....

 

[tealzeal]

Where did you apply....

Nationally, stayed away from coasts, focused on getting in only.

 

[Donald Juan]

60 applications
Step 1 was 240
Step 2 isn't back yet
App submitted late September
First sloe in mid October second late October.
Svi was around the mean

I did just find out my second sloe, while probably not negative was definitely not positive either but it was quiet well before that.

I would like to do EM and can do a 5th med school year. I just don't know if that will improve things or if a prelim year could help. Maybe I will have to switch but that would be a huge let down for me

You definitely need to talk to your PD about what's wrong. I don't think this is adding up.

 

[jw3600]

Nationally, stayed away from coasts, focused on getting in only.

You need to meet with your Home PD immediately. There are many candidates with much less competitive applications with many more interviews. You need to identify what the issue might be.

 

[Rekt]

Although I do agree with the above, for EM, you need your Step 2 CK in by application time. You CANNOT apply late. "Mid-October" SLOE is past the time most of the interviews are given. This year there was a large interview bolus right after ACEP, before you had your SLOE in.

You made some mistakes.

 

[tealzeal]

Although I do agree with the above, for EM, you need your Step 2 CK in by application time. You CANNOT apply late. "Mid-October" SLOE is past the time most of the interviews are given. This year there was a large interview bolus right after ACEP, before you had your SLOE in.

You made some mistakes.

Thank you, I understand that unfortunately my schedule didn't work out. My question was more about the best route to take now. Does anybody have any thoughts on that?

I will be reaching out for official guidance from my school and my away clerkship directors.

 

[Rekt]

Thank you, I understand that unfortunately my schedule didn't work out. My question was more about the best route to take now. Does anybody have any thoughts on that?

I will be reaching out for official guidance from my school and my away clerkship directors.

Are you a USMD, DO or Carib/IMG?

 

[tealzeal]

USMD

 

[Donald Juan]

Thank you, I understand that unfortunately my schedule didn't work out. My question was more about the best route to take now. Does anybody have any thoughts on that?

I will be reaching out for official guidance from my school and my away clerkship directors.

If your lateness was the only issue, you could try reaching out to places for a possible interview, and soaping if possible. But if your PD agrees that that was the issue then I think it would be worth delaying graduation to reapply next year. No sense in choosing a specialty you don't want for the rest of your life just to save 1 year.