Should I call programs I did NOT Apply to?

[Sarcoidosis]

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Hi All,

The easy answer to this question is what do I have to loose?

I have one IV in Surgery program and after the MSPE was expecting more, have not written my CK yet (writing end of NOV). However day by day I am getting Rejections and now am planning on applying to more surgery programs, however fear that many don't have spots for IV anyway now.

So would it be a good Idea to call such programs and tell them my interest and ask if they had IV spots available?

 

[Quink]

Well actually, no. That is not an appropriate question, nor is it one for which you are going to get an answer. You can ask if they are still taking applications, but if you are not an applicant to their program and they have not had the chance to screen your application, it is unlikely that you would be told whether they did or did not have interview spots available.

 

[dragonfly99]

I wouldn't call them. You're not going to get the answers you seek.

A better strategy might be to have a faculty member call some of the places where you haven't been invited (or rejected) but have applied to. He/she might be able to swing their opinion in favor of interviewing you. This only works if you have a faculty member(s) who you are on close enough terms with to be able to ask them to do this.

Having not taken and passed the Step 2 might be why they are holding back, particularly if you are an IMG and/or your step 1 score was not high.

You might still get more invites. You won't know if you are going to or not until it's too late to still apply.

You can still apply more places, and/or apply to surgical prelim years, if you haven't missed the application deadlines. You might want to do that now.

 

[Sarcoidosis]

I see what you both mean...

I have only applied to preliminary positions.

I will wait till the end of NOV to ask one of my referees to see if they can do something. However, I feel awkward asking them... I can imagine them rolling their eyes and thinking what a .... or something... they may feel like I am using them.

 

[Law2Doc]

I have one IV in Surgery program and after the MSPE was expecting more, ...

Most MSPEs were downloaded by programs yesterday at the earliest. So places that were going to act after they saw everyone's MSPE likely haven't even had a chance to complete their review yet. It's been one day -- come on. The world doesn't move that instantaneously.

 

[Winged Scapula]

Most surgical programs have a deadline of November 1 for applications. There are a few with October 15 as the deadline.

So, it may be too late to apply for programs, although there are a few with later deadlines. Otherwise I agree with the others, calling programs you haven't applied to to ask about interviews available doesn't make sense. Even if the answer was "yes", since you haven't applied, the availability of interview time in no ways means that they would invite you.

 

[Sarcoidosis]

Yes, I understand. I do not have a lot of chances to apply to new programs as deadlines have passed and only few places consider applicants without ECFMG certification.

I started this thread because Rejections are trickling in and the ratio of my Rej to my 1 IV is rising and was hoping the Rejections would slow after MSPE... Will keep my fingers crossed...

 

[John Deere Gree]

Patience is a virtue