SOAP 2017 Thread

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DetectiveAlonzo said:
Hey guys sorry you all have to go through this. Hope you guys end up in amazing positions!

If y'all can, would you mind stating whether or not your are AMG (MD OR DO?) or IMG and what your step / comlex scores were? Also, how many places did you guys apply to for residency?

It'll help maybe give more info!
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AMG, MD, 237, 221, P. Applied to 40, down from 80 last year.
 
randomcollusion said:
Some programs will have all spots open after a few rounds of SOAP. These programs will just close up rather than place anybody and risk going to scramble. They're a waste of spots.
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What do you mean "risk going to scramble"? Why would a program not want to fill its spots?
 
Hansman said:
For a lot of us, the big question is ,"How many phone calls should I have received by now?" The random posts about getting a phone call don't tell us anything substantial, so I created a bunch of Google surveys. You can follow the link for the programs you are applying to, tell it if you have received calls or emails, and then see everyone's results afterward. You can also edit your response later when you get phone calls. This should let everyone see what percentage of SOAPers in their specialty are getting calls:

Preliminary Medicine / Transitional year: https://goo.gl/forms/UDEb7s1UqgZCD6g13
Preliminary Surgical year: https://goo.gl/forms/5fwRwCpbJbgvDISo1

Anesthesiology: https://goo.gl/forms/G8VxiKSNZCin8wXd2
Dermatology: https://goo.gl/forms/aXR2NnjmdIwxF8h43
Emergency Medicine: https://goo.gl/forms/jB8Dt4RWSqqO55uF3
Family Medicine: https://goo.gl/forms/eaWXZ9h0aHwKv6uh1
Internal Medicine: https://goo.gl/forms/bl9RfD3GHBxzKjNW2
Neurology: https://goo.gl/forms/YxMfQN89iy08GNxv2
Pathology: https://goo.gl/forms/ynv1FxWqxEDc8JMI3
Pediatrics: https://goo.gl/forms/9PWzXAHqyHrrqh0g1
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation: https://goo.gl/forms/fEE7dSerILU7LTts1
Psychiatry: https://goo.gl/forms/9rKuNjRQptpqUlhp2
Radiology: https://goo.gl/forms/lhMj8S0uEYgLoAHN2
Surgery: https://goo.gl/forms/yctbJwjhN0epl6Oz2
Urology: https://goo.gl/forms/2zuIhg8l4DkmW2lg2

Good luck!
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This has been very reassuring so far. Only 1 out of 16 have received calls in my SOAP category, so I don't feel bad about not having received calls yet myself.
 
For DOs: Are we allowed to contact unfilled programs in the DO match, even while participating in SOAP? Or must we wait until after Friday? I'm starting to panic, please help
 
Hansman said:
This has been very reassuring so far. Only 1 out of 16 have received calls in my SOAP category, so I don't feel bad about not having received calls yet myself.
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Except it's very likely due to survivorship bias. Only those who have "survived" not getting calls will care to fill out the survey. If you received 5 calls you won't give a **** about the survey.
 
One other thing guys, I'm fairly certain I did this a couple of years ago when I was in your shoes.

The rules state you cannot communicate with programs until they've reached out to you. There are two big pearls I want to put out there.

1. Once a program has initiated contact, you should feel free to offer to have anyone who will vouch for you contact that program to talk you up. Just offer though, don't have faculty or mentors spamming the programs.

2. I got a lot of missed calls when I was on the phone interviewing with a program; I took those missed calls as "initiated contact" and called the program back once I was finished. I'd advise you all to do the same!
 
SLC said:
One other thing guys, I'm fairly certain I did this a couple of years ago when I was in your shoes.

The rules state you cannot communicate with programs until they've reached out to you. There are two big pearls I want to put out there.

1. Once a program has initiated contact, you should feel free to offer to have anyone who will vouch for you contact that program to talk you up. Just offer though, don't have faculty or mentors spamming the programs.

2. I got a lot of missed calls when I was on the phone interviewing with a program; I took those missed calls as "initiated contact" and called the program back once I was finished. I'd advise you all to do the same!
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thats pretty genius, not gonna lie
 
DetectiveAlonzo said:
What specialty were you hoping for man? Sending some good vibes your way!
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Switched from neurology to PM&R.

I'm pretty sure I'm not going to match. I put all my eggs into one basket for one residency program, providing research support, attending group training courses, teaching statistics, presenting at journal clubs and conferences, shadowing, and though it earned me an interview and a recommendation letter from the director of that program, it didn't get me a match.

I mean, I recommend this for anyone trying to get in an academic program, but I didn't follow the one rule of the match: be a good fit for the program. The program was more practice oriented and was trying to bring in more of a research focus; looks like there was pushback.

I gave it a good, logical shot, but it was too late and not enough. I still have promises I've made to them and I intend to fulfill them, but it's time to focus on putting food on the table.
 
SLC said:
It's a wild free for all, no holds barred. Call as many places as you can and beg
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Last year's scramble was a fruitless nightmare. Completely filled answering machines, call blocking, forwarded emails, 2 hour wait times, and not a single chance of talking to a human being. My advice is to not participate in that at all and save your coronaries
 
randomcollusion said:
Last year's scramble was a fruitless nightmare. Completely filled answering machines, call blocking, forwarded emails, 2 hour wait times, and not a single chance of talking to a human being. My advice is to not participate in that at all and save your coronaries
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Just a few years ago there was only the Scramble. SOAP is fairly new, makes this somewhat tolerable, and definitely puts more power in the hands of the applicant rather than 100% in the hands of the program's.
 
SLC said:
Just a few years ago there was only the Scramble. SOAP is fairly new, makes this somewhat tolerable, and definitely puts more power in the hands of the applicant rather than 100% in the hands of the program's.
Click to expand...

What are some good scramble strategies? It wouldn't be through ERAS anymore right, and obv not the AOA programs. So can I just mass email my Step scores and personal statements? Also, how do they see letters of rec if they aren't on ERAS?
 
SLC said:
Just a few years ago there was only the Scramble. SOAP is fairly new, makes this somewhat tolerable, and definitely puts more power in the hands of the applicant rather than 100% in the hands of the program's.
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I just want a residency. I want one. I want one. I wannnnnt onnnneeee.

Lel best interview answer ever
 
Smiths11 said:
What are some good scramble strategies? It wouldn't be through ERAS anymore right, and obv not the AOA programs. So can I just mass email my Step scores and personal statements? Also, how do they see letters of rec if they aren't on ERAS?
Click to expand...

Have a small army available to help you mass contact program's simultaneously.
 
Linecom said:
this is why i asked. the current rule seems to be discordant with the way it worked in the past. i wonder why they made this change?
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Psych_hopeful said:
So the 45 I applied to are it? What if one fills during the first round?
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Sorry, late to the thread. The app numbers are a shift from last year. Last year, applicants got 30 applications in Round 1, and then another 15 applications between rounds 2 and 3 (I think). This led to lots of problems. First, some people sent new apps out before the available slot list was updated -- then were angry that their apps were wasted. Second, most spots filled in rounds 1 and 2, so apps after that weren't very helpful. So, this year they gave everyone 45 and you can use them any time you want. I agree it's probably best to just use them all up front. Round 1 starts at noon tomoorow and ends at 2. Round 2 starts at 3. There's no way you're going to apply to new programs, get your docs all uploaded, have programs review applications in an hour. Not going to happen. And almost all spots will be taken by the end of round 2.

hlacomplex said:
In case you folks don't know, most states will allow you to do a residency abroad then complete a fellowship abroad and return to the US for fellowship.
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I think this has been commented upon, but this pathway is closed. ACGME now requires that your core training be ACGME to be considered for a fellowship.

SLC said:
One other thing guys, I'm fairly certain I did this a couple of years ago when I was in your shoes.

The rules state you cannot communicate with programs until they've reached out to you. There are two big pearls I want to put out there.

1. Once a program has initiated contact, you should feel free to offer to have anyone who will vouch for you contact that program to talk you up. Just offer though, don't have faculty or mentors spamming the programs.

2. I got a lot of missed calls when I was on the phone interviewing with a program; I took those missed calls as "initiated contact" and called the program back once I was finished. I'd advise you all to do the same!
Click to expand...

Agree with both. #2 for certain -- if someone calls you, you can call them back. #1 is OK also, although I'd add that you should not have "anyone" do this, but one specific person. A bunch of calls may hurt rather than help. Choose someone who knows you well. Any connection to that program is a plus.
 
There's also confusion about "the scramble", because it means two things. It used to refer to the process post match, where it was a free for all of people contacting programs. No matter how bad you think this system is, that one was worse. To get a spot you needed a bank of phones and people, all calling on your behalf, trying to get through.

Now, the scramble is what happens after SOAP. It's totally different, as any program that wants to fill its spots does so in SOAP. Any program with spots open after SOAP isn't likely to fill them, for any number of reasons. So anyone with no spot post SOAP is free to contact programs on the "open slots" list, but your chance of finding anything is very slim at that point.
 
Just a quick re-post: if you are wondering how many calls you should have received by now, I recommend following the link below for your program, telling the survey how many calls you have received, then following the link to see the results. For a lot of the programs, it looks like the bulk of calls may occur tomorrow.

Preliminary Medicine / Transitional year: https://goo.gl/forms/UDEb7s1UqgZCD6g13
Preliminary Surgical year: https://goo.gl/forms/5fwRwCpbJbgvDISo1

Anesthesiology: https://goo.gl/forms/G8VxiKSNZCin8wXd2
Dermatology: https://goo.gl/forms/aXR2NnjmdIwxF8h43
Emergency Medicine: https://goo.gl/forms/jB8Dt4RWSqqO55uF3
Family Medicine: https://goo.gl/forms/eaWXZ9h0aHwKv6uh1
Internal Medicine: https://goo.gl/forms/bl9RfD3GHBxzKjNW2
Neurology: https://goo.gl/forms/YxMfQN89iy08GNxv2
Pathology: https://goo.gl/forms/ynv1FxWqxEDc8JMI3
Pediatrics: https://goo.gl/forms/9PWzXAHqyHrrqh0g1
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation: https://goo.gl/forms/fEE7dSerILU7LTts1
Psychiatry: https://goo.gl/forms/9rKuNjRQptpqUlhp2
Radiology: https://goo.gl/forms/lhMj8S0uEYgLoAHN2
Surgery: https://goo.gl/forms/yctbJwjhN0epl6Oz2
Urology: https://goo.gl/forms/2zuIhg8l4DkmW2lg2
 
NotAProgDirector said:
Sorry, late to the thread. The app numbers are a shift from last year. Last year, applicants got 30 applications in Round 1, and then another 15 applications between rounds 2 and 3 (I think). This led to lots of problems. First, some people sent new apps out before the available slot list was updated -- then were angry that their apps were wasted. Second, most spots filled in rounds 1 and 2, so apps after that weren't very helpful. So, this year they gave everyone 45 and you can use them any time you want. I agree it's probably best to just use them all up front. Round 1 starts at noon tomoorow and ends at 2. Round 2 starts at 3. There's no way you're going to apply to new programs, get your docs all uploaded, have programs review applications in an hour. Not going to happen. And almost all spots will be taken by the end of round 2.



I think this has been commented upon, but this pathway is closed. ACGME now requires that your core training be ACGME to be considered for a fellowship.



Agree with both. #2 for certain -- if someone calls you, you can call them back. #1 is OK also, although I'd add that you should not have "anyone" do this, but one specific person. A bunch of calls may hurt rather than help. Choose someone who knows you well. Any connection to that program is a plus.
Click to expand...

One correction. Round 1 isn't tomorrow. It's Wednesday.
 
NEU305 said:
Is it against the NRMP rules to post the list of unfilled programs? If not, would someone mind posting it on here or Reddit?
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Yes it is against NRMP rules. Match violation.

Smiths11 said:
For DOs: Are we allowed to contact unfilled programs in the DO match, even while participating in SOAP? Or must we wait until after Friday? I'm starting to panic, please help
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Its a bit unclear based on the wording I read, but I don't think its allowed. That said, if you get offered a DO spot that you'd prefer, accept it, and then don't accept any offers in the SOAP, I don't really see how that would cause a huge problem (but it still might be a match violation). A lot of DO programs with open spots at this point are probably waiting until Friday for the ACGME DO applicants that fail to SOAP, so it might not be useful anyway.
 
So if I understand this correctly, at the end of the first round you will have a list of offers (ideally) from which you pick one and decline the others?
 
hallowmann said:
Yes it is against NRMP rules. Match violation.



Its a bit unclear based on the wording I read, but I don't think its allowed. That said, if you get offered a DO spot that you'd prefer, accept it, and then don't accept any offers in the SOAP, I don't really see how that would cause a huge problem (but it still might be a match violation). A lot of DO programs with open spots at this point are probably waiting until Friday for the ACGME DO applicants that fail to SOAP, so it might not be useful anyway.
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thats a dangerous game to play, some of those programs done have pre accreditation status
 
Dr.Jekyll75 said:
thats a dangerous game to play, some of those programs done have pre accreditation status
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I think I figured out the answer, and it seems like it's no, from the NRMP faq:

I am SOAP-eligible. Can I apply to programs not participating in SOAP? No. If you are SOAP-eligible, you are prohibited from contacting or applying to programs not participating in SOAP until SOAP concludes at 11:00 AM ET on Thursday of Match Week.
 
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