Pre-Match Offer

[MrFlyGuy]

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Really struggling if I should accept a pre-match offer or not. I am a DO applicant who has had over 20 interviews. The program I would accept would be mid-low as far as compartively to the other places I've interviewed at. I'm just worried that I won't match into psych at all if I don't take this.

I would say I interview pretty well (I've been told this by a couple of programs). Other programs have told me that they would love to have me at their program and that my application is "very impressive" but I don't know if they are just blowing smoke.

There are at least 10 places I rather go before this one but that's not guaranteed like this program..

 

[calvnandhobbs68]

Why are you worried you won't match into psych at all if you don't take the offer? You've gone on 20 interviews...statistically you have a great chance of matching.

 

[Clozapine]

More information is needed. Is there a lot of scutwork involved? Most (not all) of these programs are work heavy with lower quality of training and they know there is a good chance they won't fill in the match.
If you are not accepting it, make sure that your list involves some mid to low-mid tier programs.

 

[Sushirolls]

I thought pre-match was ended. That all those entered with NRMP couldn't do pre-match. Historically, I believe DO's could, but that they changed the rules ~2010/2011/2012 and it ended. If any program does offer a pre-match that participates in NRMP that they would have some sort of discipline/sanction/consequence of doing do.

I knew of one program back in the day that intentionally allocated 1/3 of their spots for pre-matches, as they felt it was a way to enhance their capture of quality residents, but they stopped after the rules changed.

Some one please correct me if I am wrong in this?

 

[Sushirolls]

20 interviews? Don't pre-match unless you truly want to go there, numbers are in your favor to match thru the usual process.

 

[splik]

Some one please correct me if I am wrong in this?

residency programs have to be "all in" which means if they participate in the match, they cannot offer pre-matches. However a program can withdraw or not participate in the match and offer prematches (only to IMGs and DO students). For fellowships, there is no requirement to be "all in".

For the OP, as long as you don't have any red flags (20 interviews is a bit of flag but a yellow one) in your application and are ranking a range of programs, then you should politely decline the prematch offer. As mentioned above, it is only the very worst programs that are now offering prematches. Unless you are a horrible interviewer, with this many ranks, you are almost guaranteed to match somewhere.

 

[HowAreYaNow]

20 interviews is a bit of flag but a yellow one

I'm sorry come again?

 

[meow1985]

I have a friend who accepted a prematch position and is currently in residency. He faced a similar dilemma. You can PM me if you want to discuss further. If it's the same program as you're considering, I could give insights.

 

[MrFlyGuy]

Honestly it's not a bad place to be depending on what you are looking for and I definitely appreciate the offer.Definitely not a workhorse program and the staff seem happy. I guess some part of me wants to go to an academic center. If it was an IMG workhorse program it would make it an easier decision.

I'm sure there's some vanity there where I at least want people to know my program exists if they ask me where I'm at but there's also those cases you would only see at an academic center.

 

[calvnandhobbs68]

I'm sorry come again?

Yea I don’t know what this means either. There’s plenty of people who go on 20 interviews.