Post Scramble Woes... Research options

[Medicineman20]

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So I have been officially unsuccessful in scrambling and getting TRI positions, is their any hope..... I was thinking of doing research. Any advice.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

In general, research positions aren't listed anywhere. It's very much a "who you know" kind of thing. You need to contact research labs and find a spot yourself. Usually, calling and saying "Hey, do you have any open research spots?" doesn't get you anywhere. You need to impress a lab that you'll be productive in a year, which honestly is a relatively short period of time (unless you have prior research skills)

 

[peppy]

Keep in mind that there will likely still be open PGY-1 spots that pop up between now and July. There are a lot of stories of people who don't match in the initial scramble but end up finding something if they keep looking for an open residency spot.

 

[BostonDowns]

I also sadly went unmatched. How common is it for your home program to open up a spot for an unmatched graduate? Or are you pretty much left to your own devices???

 

[Buzz Me]

I also sadly went unmatched. How common is it for your home program to open up a spot for an unmatched graduate? Or are you pretty much left to your own devices???

In what field? Perhaps in a less competitive one that still has open spots...have you checked to see if they filled all their positions after the Scramble?

 

[BostonDowns]

in internal medicine. Yes, I checked everything. Everything is gone. =(

 

[Medicineman20]

I would seriously doubt they would open up a spot at my school for an unmatch student. I am a D.O student. My other options are to do an MBA or an MPH. Any thoughts on this option?

 

[Doctor4Life1769]

I would seriously doubt they would open up a spot at my school for an unmatch student. I am a D.O student. My other options are to do an MBA or an MPH. Any thoughts on this option?

You really could not get a TRI?
Couldnt even scramble prelim surg?

 

[Medicineman20]

Most of the TRI positions I applied to. Look through my application. when I gave them a call back they said, the position has been filled 🙁 I try to call surgery prelim spots,but their phone keeps ringing and you can't leave a voicemall message because their mailbox has too many messages. I only see my last option to pursue a MPH or MBA degree and reapply. I am at a lost right now.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

I would not recommend spending more tuition money. Neither an MBA nor an MPH will make you a more competitive candidate. You'll just end up with more debt.

Best option is to make sure you're applying for a reasonable specialty given your stats, and apply in the DO match next year for a spot.

 

[Colbert]

There are still DO internship spots open.

Look at the AOA Match Results for the unfilled spots: http://www.osteopathic.org/inside-a...g/match-program/Pages/2011-match-results.aspx

Keep in mind, this was the list as of Feb 14, 2011, so a lot of these spots have since filled up. But, if you call them up you can figure out who has spots and where you can interview. I have friends that are interviewing for it right now.

 

[Buzz Me]

in internal medicine. Yes, I checked everything. Everything is gone. =(

By "open up a spot," you mean create one? Just for you? That's tough on such short notice, even if you're a stellar applicant, since you need to secure federal funding first.

 

[BostonDowns]

I am heard of it happening....at least in a situation were someone matches into an advanced position and didn't get a pgy1...certain places might just open up a spot for that person.

 

[TerpDO]

what area are you from? I had to scramble for a TRI and I think some places near me still have a few spots open. PM me if you want more info.

 

[ladybuggy]

Yeah, I am also one of those "lucky" ones to be unsuccessful with the scramble. I was officially rejected by 2 programs because of my Step 1 USMLE even though Step 2 was better.

I called one program today, first thing they asked me was if i had a VISA (I am a freaking US Citizen), I told her I do not need one, and the secretary just hanged up on me.

Then one program said they reject me because I supposedly flunked all my exams (what!??? Doesn't Pass mean I PASSED??).

I HEARD that there are many students sitting on 2 or 3 residency spots that they obtained during the scramble. The NRMP says that they expect some spots to still be available, just do not know what because of all the "technical difficulties" they had last week.

AOA says it may be a couple weeks until they have an updated un-matched list, but they know there are some spots still available. Just don't know what. Very helpful response!!

Is anyone still calling programs? Should I just fix up a research position and keep cool for this year? Any other options?

 

[Doctor4Life1769]

Yeah, I am also one of those "lucky" ones to be unsuccessful with the scramble. I was officially rejected by 2 programs because of my Step 1 USMLE even though Step 2 was better.

I called one program today, first thing they asked me was if i had a VISA (I am a freaking US Citizen), I told her I do not need one, and the secretary just hanged up on me.

Then one program said they reject me because I supposedly flunked all my exams (what!??? Doesn't Pass mean I PASSED??).

I HEARD that there are many students sitting on 2 or 3 residency spots that they obtained during the scramble. The NRMP says that they expect some spots to still be available, just do not know what because of all the "technical difficulties" they had last week.

AOA says it may be a couple weeks until they have an updated un-matched list, but they know there are some spots still available. Just don't know what. Very helpful response!!

Is anyone still calling programs? Should I just fix up a research position and keep cool for this year? Any other options?

Probably not a smart move to be snappy when you're the one in need of a spot.

 

[peppy]

I called one program today, first thing they asked me was if i had a VISA (I am a freaking US Citizen), I told her I do not need one, and the secretary just hanged up on me.

If they will only take foreign grads who need a Visa, sometimes that is a sign it's a malignant program (since they know foreign grads are desperate to stay in the US and will put up with more than US citizens will). So it may be a blessing in disguise!
When I scrambled a few years back, I had a similar experience when I called a program in NJ to ask if they had any spots. The lady just said "No!" and hung up on me. Way to reinforce the stereotypes about NJ people. 🙂

Don't give up yet. There are still a few months to go before July and most likely more spots will become available.

 

[ladybuggy]

If they will only take foreign grads who need a Visa, sometimes that is a sign it's a malignant program (since they know foreign grads are desperate to stay in the US and will put up with more than US citizens will). So it may be a blessing in disguise!
When I scrambled a few years back, I had a similar experience when I called a program in NJ to ask if they had any spots. The lady just said "No!" and hung up on me. Way to reinforce the stereotypes about NJ people. 🙂

Don't give up yet. There are still a few months to go before July and most likely more spots will become available.

I think you are right about that program. I was really shocked when the secretary just flat out asked me the Visa question, and then while I was in process of answering her "no, because I am a US citizen", hanging up on me saying we are not interested (or something of that nature) without hearing the end of the sentence. Some red flags raised after that call.

One program even told me they had 4000 applications for 1 spot last week. 😱

I was contacted by a few programs recently telling me that some of their matched (or rather scrambled) students had informed them they were sitting on at least 2 residencies at the same time and were waiting for them to drop one in case I wanted the spot. How long can a student sit on 2 residencies? I thought that was not allowed???

 

[peppy]

I remember being very panicked and wanting to jump on any spot I could get, but in hindsight it was for the best that some of those places I tried to get into as a desperate move did not work out.
I would not be surprised if those people who are holding more than one residency spot wind up losing both spots because you're right, that really is not supposed to be happening! If I were you I'd keep in touch with those residencies to make sure they know you're still interested and I bet one of them will work out.

 

[Law2Doc]

...
I HEARD that there are many students sitting on 2 or 3 residency spots that they obtained during the scramble. ...

There's probably one or two people foolish enough to do this but I seriously doubt it's "many" -- signing two "letters of intent" is a breach of contract, can get you barred from future matches/scrambles, can make programs lose interest in you pretty quickly etc. There is something very wrong going on at any program that knows folks are sitting on multiple spots and is so desperate for bodies that it still wants them. Not to mention that most of the people in the scramble are going to simply jump on any spot offered and stop working the phones, not put their future back at risk playing games. And most of the US scramblers who want to participate in match day will have locked in on one place very early on and not even be in play at this point.