Residency match and marriage

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adokotala

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When going through the residency match process, does the NRMP take into account your spouse/sig other if he/she is NOT also applying? (As in, not through the couples match process.)

Can someone explain how that part factors in (or doesn't)?
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What was said above is true. Programs don't use your personal situation in their decision making, unless perhaps if you are couples matching. Sorry...
 
Why would they do this for you? Do you want them to rerank your list for you? If you don't want to go someplace, don't rank it or better yet, don't apply. The reason they do it for couples is in case one matches at a higher place on their list and the other doesnt, they will choose the highest place on your collective list that they both match at.
 
Oh, I just realized that you're premed. You may want to look up the match process to get a better understanding of how it works and that will probably address your concern.
 
So what's the strategy if you want to match in a certain city with a very limited number of residencies (like one)?
 
sprinkibrio said:
So what's the strategy if you want to match in a certain city with a very limited number of residencies (like one)?
Click to expand...
Have the best application you can, apply to that city, rank it number 1 on your list, and pray that you get the spot. You then have the option of either not ranking any other spots in which case if you don't get the desired spot, you are SOL and without a residency or the much more popular option of ranking many other spots and if you don't get the first one, you keep going down the list until you match to one that you ranked and you go to that city instead.
 
adokotala said:
When going through the residency match process, does the NRMP take into account your spouse/sig other if he/she is NOT also applying? (As in, not through the couples match process.)

Can someone explain how that part factors in (or doesn't)?
Click to expand...

Everyone else pretty well addressed your question. May I ask why you are asking?
 
Blesbok said:
Have the best application you can, apply to that city, rank it number 1 on your list, and pray that you get the spot. You then have the option of either not ranking any other spots in which case if you don't get the desired spot, you are SOL and without a residency or the much more popular option of ranking many other spots and if you don't get the first one, you keep going down the list until you match to one that you ranked and you go to that city instead.
Click to expand...

Would you recommend applying to multiple specialties in the same city or transitional years?
 
lord_jeebus said:
This city is so important that you would let it dictate the career you have for the rest of your life?
Click to expand...

If a husband/wife/fiancee is in that city already doing a residency as a PGY1, there have to be certain options and strategies. That's all I'm asking about. So far I've heard nothing but the obvious.

Sorry to the OP for taking over the thread but I think my question is pretty similar.

Do a lot of people list a preliminary as their last choice and apply for the residency again the next year if they don't get in the first time? Is it a faux pas to apply for multiple residencies in the same hospital (as they might find out about what you are doing from each other)? Is it common for the residency program of your husband/wife/fiancee to pull strings for you in the program you are applying for? Is this really so uncommon? I'm sure lots of people meet their SO in medical school and they happen to be a year (or two) apart.
 
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sprinkibrio said:
If a husband/wife/fiancee is in that city already doing a residency as a PGY1, there have to be certain options and strategies. That's all I'm asking about. So far I've heard nothing but the obvious.

Sorry to the OP for taking over the thread but I think my question is pretty similar.

Do a lot of people list a preliminary as their last choice and apply for the residency again the next year if they don't get in the first time? Is it a faux pas to apply for multiple residencies in the same hospital (as they might find out about what you are doing from each other)? Is it common for the residency program of your husband/wife/fiancee to pull strings for you in the program you are applying for? Is this really so uncommon? I'm sure lots of people meet their SO in medical school and they happen to be a year (or two) apart.
Click to expand...

I sure hope so cos theres going to be some serious string pulling when i apply.
 
sprinkibrio said:
If a husband/wife/fiancee is in that city already doing a residency as a PGY1, there have to be certain options and strategies. That's all I'm asking about. So far I've heard nothing but the obvious.

Sorry to the OP for taking over the thread but I think my question is pretty similar.

Do a lot of people list a preliminary as their last choice and apply for the residency again the next year if they don't get in the first time? Is it a faux pas to apply for multiple residencies in the same hospital (as they might find out about what you are doing from each other)? Is it common for the residency program of your husband/wife/fiancee to pull strings for you in the program you are applying for? Is this really so uncommon? I'm sure lots of people meet their SO in medical school and they happen to be a year (or two) apart.
Click to expand...

I think it would be more common for someone in your situation to have the elder one in the relationship apply to programs in areas with many programs, to facilitate matching together. I'm guessing it's too late for that in your case.

Getting the program to pull strings is not uncommon, but will not overcome a weak application. If you are a strong candidate, you can possibly get bumped up the list though.

Doing a prelim program at the hospital in hopes of getting the desired program can work (I know someone who did this) but it's still a gamble.

One possibility you didn't mention is having your SO transfer to a program in a city you match in, if you are unable to match at your top choice.

What field is your SO in? I think your situation would differ if you're looking at 2 years apart vs. 6. It also depends on how far apart the nearest programs outside this city are. And of course, how indifferent you are to having this situation dictate your line of work for the next forty years or so.
 
sprinkibrio said:
If a husband/wife/fiancee is in that city already doing a residency as a PGY1, there have to be certain options and strategies. That's all I'm asking about. So far I've heard nothing but the obvious.

Sorry to the OP for taking over the thread but I think my question is pretty similar.

Do a lot of people list a preliminary as their last choice and apply for the residency again the next year if they don't get in the first time? Is it a faux pas to apply for multiple residencies in the same hospital (as they might find out about what you are doing from each other)? Is it common for the residency program of your husband/wife/fiancee to pull strings for you in the program you are applying for? Is this really so uncommon? I'm sure lots of people meet their SO in medical school and they happen to be a year (or two) apart.
Click to expand...

So basically you don't care what you go into as long as you're in the same hospital? That's kind of weird. Just my opinion, but I think choosing a specialty based 100% on hospital/location availability is a huge huge mistake. May lead to resentment, discontent with the field, etc. And I have no idea what your relationship is like so I won't comment on what it says about your relationship, but having a long distance relationship (or a few hour drive) for 1-2 years of your life when you're busy as heck anyways shouldn't necessarily be a "deal-breaker" for a marriage. Sure, it's not easy and it's not ideal, but people make it work.

Standard operating procedure is to both apply broadly to cities/locations with many programs (Chicago, LA, NY, Philadelphia, TX) in many fields, and each apply for the specialty you want, and hope to both match in the same city, or at least close enough to live together.
 
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Hey thanks guys. I'm not in this situation yet, but I will be. It's beginning to sound more and more unreasonable. Thank you so much.
 
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