For those spots that go unfilled after the scramble, if people have not matched, do they still go unfilled? or can unmatched people (after scramble) fill those spots?
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Question about unfilled spots
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Yes, in fact some programs are not participating in the scramble so that they can take time to consider applicants. Contact programs you are interested in and find out if the spot is still open and how they would like to receive your application.
Thanks for your response. I'm not applying until next year but I was discussing this with some people today. I was under the impression that if a program went unfilled, they can still look at applications individually after match and/or scramble right? And people who have not matched even after scramble can potentially get a spot right? Because some people I was talking with said that after scramble, unfilled programs simply go unfilled and won't take applications. I would have found that odd.
Also, for programs filled not filled after scramble, do they give preference to people they've interviewed but have not ranked?
Programs may be funded for a certain number of positions but the hospital that participates in the NRMP only has to fill 75% of those positions through the match. They may choose to fill the remainder through the Scramble or aftewards. Or they may choose not to fill them at all.
There is no hard and fast rule about this...some programs not filled by the end of the Scramble have no intention of filling the open positions and others are still interested in applications for those spots. But yes, I would imagine that programs prefer people they've interviewed and liked but for some reason they did not rank high enough to match. Obviously if they interviewed you and didn't like you, another applicant may be preferred.
There is no hard and fast rule about this...some programs not filled by the end of the Scramble have no intention of filling the open positions and others are still interested in applications for those spots. But yes, I would imagine that programs prefer people they've interviewed and liked but for some reason they did not rank high enough to match. Obviously if they interviewed you and didn't like you, another applicant may be preferred.
Wait - this does not seem possible. If an applicant is going through the scramble, then that means that s/he exhausted their rank list without matching. If they interviewed somewhere and were ANYWHERE on a programs rank list, they would have matched at that program before the program was stuck with an open spot AND the applicant went unmatched.
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Blade28
Not necessarily.
Programs may only rank their top 20 appliants (e.g. for 6 spots). So if they can't fill their 6 spots with those top 20 people, then one or more spots will go unfilled and they'll have to resort to using the Scramble.
Correct. It's mathematically impossible for a candidate to rank a program, that program to rank the candidate, and for both to end up unmatched / unfilled. The only exception is the couple's match -- in that case, it's possible (if the couple doesn't rank the "one person matches, the other doesn't" choice).
As Blade mentions above, programs might consider people they interviewed but didn't rank in the scramble.
What is the incentive for a program to NOT rank all applicants that they would find acceptable? I keep hearing about some "pressure" to earn prestige(?) by programs not having to have a long rank list - but it seems like it would make more sense to rank every single person that you would be willing to have in your program instead of going through the scramble. No?
Obviously you are correct. I was speaking of the situation in which positions not offered in the match, ie, Prelim ones, are open in the scramble and would be available to someone you didn't match for categorical (several of our Prelims we interviewed for Categorical but didn't rank them high enough to match).
Ok, so say when I apply for next year's match that (God forbid!!), I don't match and have to scramble. And say I can't get a position through scramble, but there are open positions still. Would I contact the program and ask if they are still taking applications-is that how it would work? And if so, would you need to interview with them before they even considered you? Would you need to forward them the ERAS application?
Also, something that confused me very much looking at my school's match list is that some people who were average students matched into very competitive specialties and/or institutions, while people who were AOA or had advanced degrees matched at not so highly competitive programs/specialties. Some AOA and nonAOA people ended up matching at the same program or same institution. How can this be?
Yes. That's how it works.
Most of the time its all done over the phone but I have heard of people being asked to come out and interview in person.
Most likely. ERAS allows you to participate in the scramble and will forward your app to programs you select to try and scramble into.
Because there are a lot of factors that go into residency evaluation. What sort of grades you get is not very important in the grand scheme of things, nor is being AOA. These things are nice, but they do not trump USMLE scores, LORs, audition rotations, Step 2 scores, etc.
Don't even try and figure out why and where people match. Its impossible and you'll give yourself a headache.
What exactly are audition rotations-rotations you do at schools you are interested in attending for residency? Also would you recommend those? I am currently doing a rotation at a hospital i loved for another rotation and i am finding that i am very disappointed with the department in which i'm doing the rotation at. i have heard some people say it's not a good idea to do an away rotation if the people dont love you there because you'll hurt your chances of matching there. is that the case? thanks!!!! 🙂
Yes.
In some cases it is a good idea.
This is why they can be a good idea...you would not have known that if you didn't do the rotation.
Can be true. You must kick arse on your audition because they will be expecting that this is your best performance. If you do poorly or are one of those peoepl who look better on paper than IRL, then it may hurt you.
