Questions about the Match...

[BeeGee]

I've been told that if you apply as soon as you possibly can for the Match, it will increase your chances of getting interviews. However, I've also been told to do a Sub-I at the start of 4th year. The 1st date possible that I can do a sub-I is August 1st. Should I wait until after I finish the sub-I to apply? Waiting for LOR after completing a Sub-I seems like it will make you even later in applying for residency. I'm very confused about the dates and what to do first. HELP! <img src="confused.gif" border="0">

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[Winged Scapula]

Depends on how long your Sub-I is of course, but most programs don't have deadlines before mid October (and most later, usually November 1 and beyond). I don't know how fast NRMP was this year, but last year we couldn't even submit our applications until September, and programs didn't really October/November (we don't start interviewing here until December). Perhaps most programs wait until their deadlines to start reviewing the majority of applications. If this is indeed true, and I do know most programs don't interview before November (those with Nov 1 deadlines) I find it hard to believe that applying in September/October would hurt your application. Just make sure that you get that LOR in a timely fashion.

Best of luck.

 

[Whisker Barrel Cortex]

Just a couple of tips:

When you are applying to residency programs you are not applying for the match. That is a completely separate thing which you fill out in February. What you are filling out is ERAS, which is an electronic application to many different programs. I didn't quite understand that when I was about to apply, so I thought I'd give you a heads up.

Although I can't vouch for its accuracy, I have heard that applying earlier does increase your chances for interviews. This mostly applies for very competitive specialties. I sent my application in mid Sept, which was way earlier than most of my friends who were applying to less competitive specialties. I don't think all of my letters were in until the end of sept and I still got &gt;20 interview offers.

So, if you can get good letters in third year and don't need one from your Sub-I, you can apply early. But waiting and getting a strong letter in by the end of September is not going to hurt you at all in my opinion.

 

[dr.evil]

I watched many of my orthopedic friends with very similar grades/board scores receive a different amount of interviews and to different places simply because one turned his application in around September while the other waited until late November. The one who waited until late November received his first interview while the guy who applied in September had already received seven. They both agreed that it was likely do to their promptness or lack thereof with their applications.

Granted, this is simply anecdotal and not a double blind controlled study. This is just an example of a competitive specialty which seems to show benefit with an early application.

Who really knows?!