Questions about matching process key dates?

[watermen]

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I am only an MS3 now, but I need to schedule for my 4th year rotation. I would like to know what is the key date that I need to get all my letter of recommendation??? and to submit it to CAS??? What about step2 score?? When do I need to submit in everything.

Also, what is the date the I need to get my away rotation done in order to get everything done in time??? Is that such a date line at all. I am quite confused with the matching process? Hopeful someone here can brief me. Thanks.

 

[mpp]

There is a good time-line for 2006 application cycle on sfmatch.org (link) . The target date to have is usually late August or early September. Each program has their own specific deadline as to when they want your materials and it takes about 2 weeks for sfmatch to distribute your stuff once they get it. When you register for the sfmatch you will be given a password to get into the list of programs and their individual deadlines. When I applied some deadlines were in mid September and some were not until December. Some programs have no deadline at all. I would guess that most people have all their letters in by middle to the end of September and this will be Ok for the vast majority of programs. The early match is great in terms of knowing where you will be for the next 7 years several months before most other medical students but sucks in that you have to get everything done early. Start working on your personal statement as soon as you can so that you get it done before you are too busy with your neurosurgery rotations that will take up a lot of your free time.

 

[watermen]

There is a good time-line for 2006 application cycle on sfmatch.org (link) . The target date to have is usually late August or early September. Each program has their own specific deadline as to when they want your materials and it takes about 2 weeks for sfmatch to distribute your stuff once they get it. When you register for the sfmatch you will be given a password to get into the list of programs and their individual deadlines. When I applied some deadlines were in mid September and some were not until December. Some programs have no deadline at all. I would guess that most people have all their letters in by middle to the end of September and this will be Ok for the vast majority of programs. The early match is great in terms of knowing where you will be for the next 7 years several months before most other medical students but sucks in that you have to get everything done early. Start working on your personal statement as soon as you can so that you get it done before you are too busy with your neurosurgery rotations that will take up a lot of your free time.

Thanks a lot for your helpful input.

I still have a few more questions:

1. I will be doing an away rotation from mid-Aug to mid-Sept, say if I get a LOR for this away rotation by mid Sept, will that be too late for the CAS target date, since the target date for CAS is likely to be around late Aug?

2. If I do another away rotation in October in another place, will that be helpful, since I have already sent in all my application, I want to know if it is worthwhile to do an away rotation after the deadline?

3. When is the latest I should get my step 2 result submitted to CAS, is it the target date? If it is later than the target date will it be helpful?

 

[mpp]

1. No, that's not too late.
2. Yes, if you want to match there. Showing you're competent, hardworking, and not socially awkward or annoying will help.
3. Don't worry about Step 2. If you can do very well it might be a little bit helpful. If you did poorly on Step 1 it is important to do very well on Step 2. Do not worry about taking it before the target date. You can even take it after match day if you want.

 

[watermen]

3. Don't worry about Step 2. If you can do very well it might be a little bit helpful. If you did poorly on Step 1 it is important to do very well on Step 2. Do not worry about taking it before the target date. You can even take it after match day if you want.

Thanks for your input.

I only have 220 for step1...I know is not something fantastic...and is also below the average for NS match...I feel that I am a weak applicant....that is why I need to know when is the best time for step 2...hopefully it can help a little bit or have some impact if I get some fantastic score...