SOAP 2015

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For those of you who got an offer during round 2: was it for programs you applied for during round 1 (before noon or whatever it was today) or round 2 (between 2:30-3:00 today)?
 
saudades said:
For those of you who got an offer during round 2: was it for programs you applied for during round 1 (before noon or whatever it was today) or round 2 (between 2:30-3:00 today)?
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they're probably out celebrating by now. i would be. 🙁
 
IMPD said:
How good is your letter from your previous PD? People who don't finish years have a big hill to climb up.
Re-entry also has financial impacts on programs. It's not huge, but it's real.
Many factors go into interview offers.
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I have four letters from the former PD, current PD (who was an attending at the time), PC, and my mentor. They are all really good -- from the interviews I have gotten, PDs always seem very impressed at what was said about me.
 
jkdoctor said:
If you completed a year, then why did you only get credit for 9 months?
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It's a looooooooong story. Keep in mind, this was an opposed FM residency, so there were A LOT of communication barriers. Reader's Digest version: one month I was failed because the rotation preceptor mixed me up with another resident. Said she'd fix my grade. Never did. One month I was failed because the senior resident I worked under was a giant asshat and was in the palm of the rotation preceptor. Made crap up, lied about me, my PD said there was nothing that could be done about it. One month I legitimately failed because I was sick as a dog for two of the four weeks.
 
PaulEspana said:
Hey PM&R2015 so there is no issues with medicare not willing to pay for 2 intern years? the prelim year and the internship year of the categorical program?
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Saw a few posts on this and wanted to address it. If you match prelim, it does *not* affect funding for a terminal (ie, categorical) program. So you could (theoretically) do as many prelims as you wanted and then match categorical and you would still be fully federally funded.

However, if you previously matched categorical and did an intern year in that, it does affect your funding somewhat (about 50%). Also, most residency places have more residency spots than they have full CMS funding for - so it's not the end of the world even if someone had time in a previous terminal position.
http://umsc.org.uic.edu/documents/medicaregme2013.pdf, http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/aprogdirector-medicare-gme-funding-rules.575357/

Good luck to everyone!
 
docmama said:
one month I was failed because the rotation preceptor mixed me up with another resident. Said she'd fix my grade. Never did
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This is a very strange story imo.
I have never heard of one resident failing due to being mixed up with another resident.
If you were an interviewer and an applicant told you this would it not raise giant red flags?
With 1000's of applicants program directors are unlikely to pick someone with red flags imo.
 
WinslowPringle said:
Saw a few posts on this and wanted to address it. If you match prelim, it does *not* affect funding for a terminal (ie, categorical) program. So you could (theoretically) do as many prelims as you wanted and then match categorical and you would still be fully federally funded.

However, if you previously matched categorical and did an intern year in that, it does affect your funding somewhat (about 50%). Also, most residency places have more residency spots than they have full CMS funding for - so it's not the end of the world even if someone had time in a previous terminal position.
http://umsc.org.uic.edu/documents/medicaregme2013.pdf, http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/aprogdirector-medicare-gme-funding-rules.575357/

Good luck to everyone!
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Would the TRI for DO's be included in this? For example, say I were to complete a TRI at an AOA program for the upcoming year...would I then still be eligible to apply for categorical positions in next years match?
 
I'm an outsider, but I wanted to come here and offer you all virtual hugs. I'm so sorry for what you're going through. You have all worked so hard, and you all deserve a residency for that hard work. And if it doesn't come through SOAP, there are a million other avenues for landing a residency. Don't give up.

For now, this blog post has some good SOAP advice, including this: if you received interviews from any programs that still have unfilled spots, call them and reiterate your interest--it could make a big difference.

Be kind to yourself. You aren't alone in this.
 
reggaejessie said:
I'm an outsider, but I wanted to come here and offer you all virtual hugs. I'm so sorry for what you're going through. You have all worked so hard, and you all deserve a residency for that hard work. And if it doesn't come through SOAP, there are a million other avenues for landing a residency. Don't give up.

For now, this blog post has some good SOAP advice, including this: if you received interviews from any programs that still have unfilled spots, call them and reiterate your interest--it could make a big difference.

Be kind to yourself. You aren't alone in this.
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thanks for the kind words. as for contacting programs again, I already did that between waves 1 and 2 today. didn't seem to help sadly.
 
jkdoctor said:
This is a very strange story imo.
I have never heard of one resident failing due to being mixed up with another resident.
If you were an interviewer and an applicant told you this would it not raise giant red flags?
With 1000's of applicants program directors are unlikely to pick someone with red flags imo.
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Yep, I was pretty shocked when it happened. But it is what it is and I can't change it now. At the time, my husband was deployed in Afghanistan and I was in such a depression that I just didn't find it like I should have. I don't bring it up unless interviewers do, and very very few have. Most read "husband" and "deployed" on my PS and don't ask further questions. In applying for a new residency starting fresh, they don't see (don't even request) my intern year records. And my LORs from the program are excellent.
 
dcby said:
thanks for the kind words. as for contacting programs again, I already did that between waves 1 and 2 today. didn't seem to help sadly.
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Still, keep it up. I had a second round offer promised to me if I didn't get in anywhere else for the first round and their offer was rejected. In other words, they made me #2 on their list.

Some programs that still have openings have probably seen their top few candidates snatched out from under them already, you could be the next in line; it would be a shame if they took someone else because they thought you were losing interest.
 
bhall240 said:
Would the TRI for DO's be included in this? For example, say I were to complete a TRI at an AOA program for the upcoming year...would I then still be eligible to apply for categorical positions in next years match?
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I believe the TRIs are also CMS funded (http://www.osteopathic.org/inside-a...itiative/Pages/what-funding-is-available.aspx ), which would mean that if it's not a terminal program you would get full funding upon starting a terminal program. But I'm no expert when it comes to DO matters. The bigger issue is, would you also be able to apply to ACGME PGY-II spots through the year/following match and if you did match ACGME categorical starting PGY-I would you get any credit for the rotations on the TRI.
 
docmama said:
Yep, I was pretty shocked when it happened. But it is what it is and I can't change it now. At the time, my husband was deployed in Afghanistan and I was in such a depression that I just didn't find it like I should have. I don't bring it up unless interviewers do, and very very few have. Most read "husband" and "deployed" on my PS and don't ask further questions. In applying for a new residency starting fresh, they don't see (don't even request) my intern year records. And my LORs from the program are excellent.
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Imo you should blanket contact every PD in the country in your field and work on getting an outside the match position and use your 9 months of credit.
Your approach of not being comfortable about picking up where you left off is a losing strategy imo.
Residency is not about being comfortable.
Show confidence in yourself by aggressively seeking an advanced slot.
 
jkdoctor said:
Imo you should blanket contact every PD in the country in your field and work on getting an outside the match position and use your 9 months of credit.
Your approach of not being comfortable about picking up where you left off is a losing strategy imo.
Residency is not about being comfortable.
Show confidence in yourself by aggressively seeking an advanced slot.
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I tried that last year. I got a few interviews, but was always passed over. Most PDs said it had just been "too long" and worried about me keeping up. But if I don't get anything by tomorrow, I may just have to pass Step 3 and try for PGY-2 spots again. We'll see.
 
SLC said:
Still, keep it up. I had a second round offer promised to me if I didn't get in anywhere else for the first round and their offer was rejected. In other words, they made me #2 on their list.

Some programs that still have openings have probably seen their top few candidates snatched out from under them already, you could be the next in line; it would be a shame if they took someone else because they thought you were losing interest.
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But then at what point would contacting them be overkill? I mean I don't think I can keep calling after every wave if they have a spot open, or should I?
 
dcby said:
But then at what point would contacting them be overkill? I mean I don't think I can keep calling after every wave if they have a spot open, or should I?
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Shoot them an email. Let them know you're still looking for a position and would gratefully accept theirs without hesitation. Or something like that.
 
I got a phone interview at 12:30 EST and at the the end of cycle 1 that program still had all positions u filled. I expected to receive an offer from them in the second cycle but I didnt, unfortunately. I guess they've already passed me over. Should I still contact them? And say what?
 
Never mind it just filled up 🙁
I guess next year is the year :/
 
well I'm screwed. out of the 3 programs that contacted me, 2 have filled and one has 1 spot remaining. hope for tomorrow just went flying out the window
 
I'm so confused. Why would they open up 10 more applications for 230pm if they are just for tomorrow anyways. 90% of what I applied to with those 10 are now no longer available on the 5pm update.
 
dcby said:
But then at what point would contacting them be overkill? I mean I don't think I can keep calling after every wave if they have a spot open, or should I?
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Perhaps just an email to the people you've talked to. But also, get your letter writers, your preceptors, anyone willing to go to bat for you to be on standby. Then distribute their contact info to the programs so they can talk to someone else about you too.

You gotta pull out all the stops.

My offer came from a program that I had contact with faculty, the PD, and most of the residents either by phone or email on Monday and Tuesday. They all said that my follow-up was timely and professional and they really liked the way I seemed composed under the pressure of the situation. I didn't let anyone's email go unanswered, and even if I didn't have specific questions, I found things to ask (there's always something you can ask). I was in contact with them until a few minutes before the lists went in at 11:55.

TL;DR, don't be annoying or needy, but definitely show your interest and make yourself accessible.
 
SpartanGal15 said:
I'm so confused. Why would they open up 10 more applications for 230pm if they are just for tomorrow anyways. 90% of what I applied to with those 10 are now no longer available on the 5pm update.
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So that if any of your 10 new apps are still open tonight, they can start calling and talking to you.
 
saudades said:
For those of you who got an offer during round 2: was it for programs you applied for during round 1 (before noon or whatever it was today) or round 2 (between 2:30-3:00 today)?
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It was a program that called me before (very brief phone call asking me if I had questions) and the program I applied to during round 1.
 
SLC said:
So that if any of your 10 new apps are still open tonight, they can start calling and talking to you.
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Yeah, but I see the other poster's point. If the offers for the 3 p.m. round came from the first batch of apps, then you just wasted your 10 apps because you have no idea who will still have slots for tomorrow. It makes no sense whatsoever.
 
how many applicants do u guys think the programs contacted for every spot in the soap?? i feel like **** now..5 programs contacted me and not a single offer omg..am i socially awkward or something?
 
alisepeep said:
how many applicants do u guys think the programs contacted for every spot in the soap?? i feel like **** now..5 programs contacted me and not a single offer omg..am i socially awkward or something?
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the more fundamental problem is still probably just too many applicants, not enough spots, more than anything personal against you.
 
alisepeep said:
how many applicants do u guys think the programs contacted for every spot in the soap?? i feel like **** now..5 programs contacted me and not a single offer omg..am i socially awkward or something?
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No clue, but I'm sure it was plenty. I doubt they had much time to interview anyone but the ones they were highly interested in. Some programs called me once and then nothing...
 
SLC said:
No clue, but I'm sure it was plenty. I doubt they had much time to interview anyone but the ones they were highly interested in. Some programs called me once and then nothing...
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All I got was one call (from 3 places), and I was grateful for it. Unfortunately, it did not lead to anything. I guess I am just not a desirable candidate.
 
i'm done. i can't even a get a scut-work prelim surgery position.

congrats to everyone who ended up SOAPing into a position. to the rest of you all, good luck in the future. we got a long and difficult road ahead.
 
SpartanGal15 said:
I'm so confused. Why would they open up 10 more applications for 230pm if they are just for tomorrow anyways. 90% of what I applied to with those 10 are now no longer available on the 5pm update.
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I would assume so that they could call people this afternoon/evening and then make a decision by the morning. 2:30 EST is still early on the West Coast and plenty of time to make calls and decisions before tomorrow.
 
dcby said:
All I got was one call (from 3 places), and I was grateful for it. Unfortunately, it did not lead to anything. I guess I am just not a desirable candidate.
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Don't say that it's not true. This was a tough year, it gets worse every year in the match, schools are expanding faster than GME and have been for years. The odds get a little slimmer each year and we got caught in the middle of that. Nothing more.
 
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Felt so down. I'm an AMG from a mid-tier school, Step 1 242, Step 2 239, passed CS, done research & published, had many extra curricular activities, no red flag, but went un-matched and now still no SOAP offer for prelim surgery. What's going on ?
 
SLC said:
Don't say that it's not true. This was a tough year, it gets worse every year in the match, schools are expanding faster than GME and have been for years. The odds get a little slimmer each year and we got caught in the middle of that. Nothing more.
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That's all well and good, but you're now going to have an entire generation of MDs with a bunch of them working at McDonald's in perpetual poverty because GME was too slow in expanding and it PISSES ME OFF!!!!
 
Im so sorry Polo, WOW 🙁 u should try to scramble for another specialty..this match process is insane
 
Polo1988 said:
Felt so down. I'm an AMG from a mid-tier school, Step 1 242, Step 2 239, passed CS, done research & published, had many extra curricular activities, no red flag, but went un-matched and now still no SOAP offer for prelim surgery. What's going on ?
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that sounds pretty ridiculous to me. unless you're like satan himself, although i guess that would be a red flag.
 
Very tough year. Very frustrating match and soap. Next year the same process awaits. Will wait until friday to officially give up on this match (maybe look into residency through residency finder with the knowledge of slim pickens) As US-IMG will try to improve my application as much as I can.
step 1: 256 first time step 2CK: 254 first time step 2CS: pass first time step 3: 244 first time
3 research protocols under my belt
continued clinical experience now at a pulmonary group, private hospital nursing home and LTAC facility.
4 LOR's from US doctors
Any suggestions are where to get started on improving?
 
Madmex10 said:
Very tough year. Very frustrating match and soap. Next year the same process awaits. Will wait until friday to officially give up on this match (maybe look into residency through residency finder with the knowledge of slim pickens) As US-IMG will try to improve my application as much as I can.
step 1: 256 first time step 2CK: 254 first time step 2CS: pass first time step 3: 244 first time
3 research protocols under my belt
continued clinical experience now at a pulmonary group, private hospital nursing home and LTAC facility.
4 LOR's from US doctors
Any suggestions are where to get started on improving?
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ouch, that hurts, i'm sorry. from what you've told us, you seem more than qualified. i don't know what to say other than i empathize with your suffering.
 
i'm scratching my head to understand what went wrong. I applied for Ortho, which is highly competitive, so I can understand the un-matched part. But SOAPing for a prelim surg position and no offer, why ??
 
Chicago2012 said:
That's all well and good, but you're now going to have an entire generation of MDs with a bunch of them working at McDonald's in perpetual poverty because GME was too slow in expanding and it PISSES ME OFF!!!!
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Write your legislators, congress needs to approve more funds for GME. We don't want Medicine to become the next Law Degree.
 
Polo1988 said:
Felt so down. I'm an AMG from a mid-tier school, Step 1 242, Step 2 239, passed CS, done research & published, had many extra curricular activities, no red flag, but went un-matched and now still no SOAP offer for prelim surgery. What's going on ?
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You're better off taking a research year and reapplying than a prelim only spot with your credentials. What did you try to match into and how many did you rank?
 
Polo1988 said:
Felt so down. I'm an AMG from a mid-tier school, Step 1 242, Step 2 239, passed CS, done research & published, had many extra curricular activities, no red flag, but went un-matched and now still no SOAP offer for prelim surgery. What's going on ?
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WOW! I don't have an answer for you. But if you're the competition, I don't have a prayer 😉!
 
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