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marsupial

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What is the most number of times you've heard of someone going thru the match in the same specialty? (specifiy whether they were FMG or US) how many times would you apply, assuming you got an interview each time?
 
What is the most number of times you've heard of someone going thru the match in the same specialty? (specifiy whether they were FMG or US) how many times would you apply, assuming you got an interview each time?

Know someone who applied to derm 7 times!
 
I am shocked...SHOCKED!


Why are you SHOCKED? It's not shocking at all. Derm is hard core, and I don't say this in a good way. I think the excessive emphasis on scores is not a positive thing.
 
Why are you SHOCKED? It's not shocking at all. Derm is hard core, and I don't say this in a good way. I think the excessive emphasis on scores is not a positive thing.
Your sarcasm detector fails you. 😉

What IS shocking is that the person applying for derm after six (or 5, 4, 3 or 2) failed attempts thinks applying again may result in a different result. Realistically, if it hasn't happened by then, it's not going to happen.
 
Your sarcasm detector fails you. 😉

What IS shocking is that the person applying for derm after six (or 5, 4, 3 or 2) failed attempts thinks applying again may result in a different result.


Sorry, it's been a long day. I guess my detector is off. This person did a fellowship, research, etc. after not matching, and that usually does the trick. They also did another residency in between applications, so it turned out ok ultimately.
 
I myself applied in general surgery for 4 consecutiveyears. After doing two yrs of prelim and one yr of research I finally got intocategorical spot in 4th attempt.......
 
I know a Derm applicant who matched on try #5. Networked his ass off, and worked for the department doing research for free for 4 years. Finally paid off.
 
FMG, 3rd attempt + 128 programs applied (yes, $2800 since you're wondering) = 6 interviews
Lead to 4 pre-match offers (last year, not available anymore), accepted offer from an Ivy League program.
 
I know a Derm applicant who matched on try #5. Networked his ass off, and worked for the department doing research for free for 4 years. Finally paid off.

That hardly seems like paying off, but I guess if you really really really love skin and nothing else, then it pays off. Was this person wealthy? It seems impossible to sustain yourself for that long doing free research.
 
i applied to $5000 worth of programs last year and a lot of programs the year before......and just got one prelim ivw.....so i gave up this year and only applied to only 34 img friendly community fp programs...and one prelim that i got last year.

gosh....if anyone could hook me up anywhere i would really appreciate it.....but i doubt anyone would. people are so selfish and self centered. many could care less about others suffering.
👎
 
That hardly seems like paying off, but I guess if you really really really love skin and nothing else, then it pays off. Was this person wealthy? It seems impossible to sustain yourself for that long doing free research.

This.

I hear of people doing stuff like this and I feel more like shaking my head then applauding. Do free research for half a decade on the off chance that maybe some program will deign to take you in? I donno, seems stupid to me. From a purely economic standpoint, this guy gave up a boatload of income to go on this derm fishing expedition whose outcome was far from certain. I heard of someone from my school that was 'so determined' to do radiology that they had to work at Pottery Barn for several years to make ends meet after not matching during their prelim year. Working at Pottery Barn with a medical degree? For years? All for radiology? Riiiiight.
 
It's interesting that someone going into derm would do free research for so long. There are a ton of paid fellowships that are not that hard to get into that are essentially made for applicants who didn't match to bolster their resumes. They're a lot of work and often pay about an intern's salary, but there's some income.

I guess if one had some significant geographical constraints and couldn't move for some reason (e.g. family) then maybe doing research for free could be their only option.
 
This kind of thing is pathetic, but one must have some admiration for their conviction.

Nonetheless, the real problem is that the general license is all but eliminated in medicine.

Rather than doing endless unpaid research fellowships or matching into some random program or field, being able to practice generally would be a better option.

Of course, it isn't one, for multiple reasons:

1. Medical school is a rubber stamp. You don't learn medicine in medical school. You learn asskissing. Just like undergrad, it is a stepping stone, not a useful experience.

2. Family medicine is a specialty. It shouldn't be. If medical school were more useful, and medical students were more concerned about learning medicine than kissing the right asses to get into the specialty they want, then having a general license after a rotating one-year internship would be a feasable idea.

3. I don't know how it works in the USA but in Canada once you have any postgrad training you can never go into the first round of the match again; you can only go into the scramble from there on out. Which means should you match to something else and realize it isn't for you, your only choices for transferring are family med, pathology and psychiatry.

The system is a mess.
 
I don't know how it works in the USA but in Canada once you have any postgrad training you can never go into the first round of the match again; you can only go into the scramble from there on out. Which means should you match to something else and realize it isn't for you, your only choices for transferring are family med, pathology and psychiatry.

Ooo, I like that.
 
I know a Derm applicant who matched on try #5. Networked his ass off, and worked for the department doing research for free for 4 years. Finally paid off.

Paid off as far as getting matched I suppose, but financially not so much. 4 years of no income/likely incurring more debt vs matching into something else and pulling in $150-$200k a year is a huge hit financially. I hope it was just them really loving skin care, and not because of the money.
 
as far as i remember, i've been applying every year since 2002.
 
as far as i remember, i've been applying every year since 2002.

You know, you've been applying for residency every year for about 10 years. If it hasn't happened by now, its not going to happen. Why waste your life applying over and over again? Medicine is a great career, but its not the only one out there. Why not try for something different? How about research, law school, business? Hell, go join the Navy and become a fighter pilot.
 
This kind of thing is pathetic, but one must have some admiration for their conviction.

Nonetheless, the real problem is that the general license is all but eliminated in medicine.

Rather than doing endless unpaid research fellowships or matching into some random program or field, being able to practice generally would be a better option.

Of course, it isn't one, for multiple reasons:

1. Medical school is a rubber stamp. You don't learn medicine in medical school. You learn asskissing. Just like undergrad, it is a stepping stone, not a useful experience.

2. Family medicine is a specialty. It shouldn't be. If medical school were more useful, and medical students were more concerned about learning medicine than kissing the right asses to get into the specialty they want, then having a general license after a rotating one-year internship would be a feasable idea.

3. I don't know how it works in the USA but in Canada once you have any postgrad training you can never go into the first round of the match again; you can only go into the scramble from there on out. Which means should you match to something else and realize it isn't for you, your only choices for transferring are family med, pathology and psychiatry.

The system is a mess.

you reek of cynicism my friend. hope you are ok.
 
i applied to $5000 worth of programs last year and a lot of programs the year before......and just got one prelim ivw.....so i gave up this year and only applied to only 34 img friendly community fp programs...and one prelim that i got last year.

gosh....if anyone could hook me up anywhere i would really appreciate it.....but i doubt anyone would. people are so selfish and self centered. many could care less about others suffering.
👎
🙄

1. Medical school is a rubber stamp. You don't learn medicine in medical school. You learn asskissing. Just like undergrad, it is a stepping stone, not a useful experience.
If you can't tell the difference between a July M3 and a July intern, then there's a real problem.
 
This time i applied to fp which i rarely apply to..

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I did get residency but didnt get to finish..but its a red flag ..this is my last year trying

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