SOAP 2017 Thread

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Mountaineer12 said:
My boyfriend has talked to a few programs and about half emailed before, the other half just called out of the blue. Each interview he's had has lasted about 20-30 minutes. They've been asking him why he thinks he didn't match and what makes him interested in this particular field. Some have asked about his 4th year rotations, if he has ties to the area, etc. A lot of time is spent for questions and the program to sell themselves a bit. I hope that helps!
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Although certainly a legitimate question, something about that rubs me the wrong way. It seems hypocritical coming from a program that didn't fill its list. but whatevs, it's a buyer's market I guess.
 
I guess I should be thankful for my 1 interview but is that all I'm getting?
 
SOAPyikes said:
This is definitely the hardest thing that can ever happen. Didn't expect this to happen at all.
still 0 call. These have been the longest hours.
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I'm sorry.

I'm in the same shoes with not expecting this at all. I hope we can pull through these next few days.
 
starwarsfan123 said:
Second year in a row for me. At this point i'm laughing. The way things work in today's social system is so broken. When paying thousands of dollars to get a degree is not enough to get a job that you literally sacrifice your time/life/relationships for. Meanwhile, 14 year old kids are streaming videogames on youtube and twitch making a fortune.
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Sorry to hear this.

If you don't mind, are you MD, DO, or IMG? What are your board scores?
 
warmginger said:
Hey guys, how soon should one send follow-up emails after a phone interview? I feel with the tight scheduling, it would be best to send a follow-up soon, before they make a decision about their ranks. But is immediately after too soon?
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How fast can you type?
 
I saw this today and I wanted to kill the AAMC. https://news.aamc.org/press-release...medium=social&utm_campaign=AAMCSocial20170314

Shortage of physicians? we already knew that. What they should do is increase the PGY-1 positions and make mandatory to fill the positions that the programs offer. If programs do not fill their positions in SOAP, they should take those away from the program and give them to other institutions so they won't be lost next year. What some programs are doing is only increasing more this gap of lack of specialist, and it is a precarious move.
 
You guys are lucky, I haven't gotten any contact from places. If I don't interview today and am I SOL ?
 
Erinma2017 said:
You guys are lucky, I haven't gotten any contact from places. If I don't interview today and am I SOL ?
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I have the same question-- Does anyone know if it's possible to be offered any sort of position without being interviewed this week? Still at ZERO over here.
 
IH8ColdWeath3r said:
What do you mean by low? Can you give us an idea and what specialty you wanted to go into? If you have a PhD, then I can only assume that will work in your benefit. Also, I know this process is extremely rough. I am going through it as well. I have 2 really, REALLY qualified classmates who also failed to match. Point being, you guys are not alone and the best thing you can do is try to lift yourself up. I was feeling really down this morning, like it finally hit me that I didn't match. Went through a flurry of emotions but then realized that other people are also in my shoes. One of my classmates even messaged me saying something really nice and that totally changed my entire day. So, try to stay positive guys and hope for the best!
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Sorry, it shouldn't say DO/PhD. I created this account when I was in a state of frenzy yesterday and just clicked DO without seeing the PhD.
My step 1/2 scores were 199 and 230. I applied PM&R with several auditions and felt good about most of my interviews. I think I probably overshot with my qualifications so this is definitely a reality check. I'm still hoping to snag a TRI spot via the AOA scramble if/when the SOAP fails.
 
ieatallthefood said:
Sorry, it shouldn't say DO/PhD. I created this account when I was in a state of frenzy yesterday and just clicked DO without seeing the PhD.
My step 1/2 scores were 199 and 230. I applied PM&R with several auditions and felt good about most of my interviews. I think I probably overshot with my qualifications so this is definitely a reality check. I'm still hoping to snag a TRI spot via the AOA scramble if/when the SOAP fails.
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How can you see these and what is available? I can't help but feel like I need to in some way be realistic and try to take whatever offer I am presented with through the SOAP as opposed to waiting for a spot that I am not sure will be vacant and available through the scramble. Advice on this would be appreciated.
 
IH8ColdWeath3r said:
How can you see these and what is available? I can't help but feel like I need to in some way be realistic and try to take whatever offer I am presented with through the SOAP as opposed to waiting for a spot that I am not sure will be vacant and available through the scramble. Advice on this would be appreciated.
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I hear there are typically lots of TRIs available but I'm not sure if that's true this year. If offered a spot via SOAP, I would certainly take it. Unfortunately I have not received any phone interviews.
 
IH8ColdWeath3r said:
How can you see these and what is available? I can't help but feel like I need to in some way be realistic and try to take whatever offer I am presented with through the SOAP as opposed to waiting for a spot that I am not sure will be vacant and available through the scramble. Advice on this would be appreciated.
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I had friends that didn't match last year...it's okay, it happens. Thankfully they have matched this year.
We will all match it's just when the time is right.


ieatallthefood said:
I hear there are typically lots of TRIs available but I'm not sure if that's true this year. If offered a spot via SOAP, I would certainly take it. Unfortunately I have not received any phone interviews.
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230 Step 1, 220 Step 2, passed PE first try. DO student applied IM. 7 interviews and ranks. Didn't match

Used most of my 45 applications between IM, preliminary IM, prelim surgery, and anesthesia. ZERO phone or email interviews. This is so ridiculous. I'm pretty certain I will have to rely on the phone call stage Thursday after not matching in SOAP
 
IMG-GCholder said:
I saw this today and I wanted to kill the AAMC. https://news.aamc.org/press-release...medium=social&utm_campaign=AAMCSocial20170314

Shortage of physicians? we already knew that. What they should do is increase the PGY-1 positions and make mandatory to fill the positions that the programs offer. If programs do not fill their positions in SOAP, they should take those away from the program and give them to other institutions so they won't be lost next year. What some programs are doing is only increasing more this gap of lack of specialist, and it is a precarious move.
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Problem is that residency is funded by Medicare funds, so they can't just increase the number of positions at will.

The real scam in all of this is the number of Med schools. Many people (including me) do not appreciate the bottleneck that is residency when first getting into medical school. In my case it's my family who always painted a rosy picture of Medicine without even saying a word about the negatives. I'm Asian and my father is a physician and that's just the way it is for many of us.
 
Smiths11 said:
Problem is that residency is funded by Medicare funds, so they can't just increase the number of positions at will.

The real scam in all of this is the number of Med schools. Many people (including me) do not appreciate the bottleneck that is residency when first getting into medical school. In my case it's my family who always painted a rosy picture of Medicine without even saying a word about the negatives. I'm Asian and my father is a physician and that's just the way it is for many of us.
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scary thing is, they are set to open something like 6 new DO schools in the next couple of years. JKDoctor has written several threads about this and brought it to the attention of the DO community on her on SDN.
 
Smiths11 said:
The real scam in all of this is the number of Med schools. Many people (including me) do not appreciate the bottleneck that is residency when first getting into medical school. In my case it's my family who always painted a rosy picture of Medicine without even saying a word about the negatives. I'm Asian and my father is a physician and that's just the way it is for many of us.
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Coming from a (n extended) family where I was the first one (unless you include in-laws and 2nd cousins) to even graduate from college, let alone get a graduate or professional degree, I still don't quite understand this philosophy (although I see it in friends and colleagues all the time).

The worst part is that the rosy picture is usually painted by the almost/retired docs who haven't even had to retake their specialty boards since they were grandfathered into whatever specialty they're a part of. Never mind the fact that they made fat bank selling their private practice to a local hospital/MSG and basically only continue to work because, eventually, playing 144 holes of golf a week gets boring.
 
DrGabyZ said:
Had my third and final interview with the only program that called me, got asked at the end how interested are you to train with us? Don't know if it's a good or a bad sign?
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I would say that's a good sign.

One of my interviews ended with "good luck."

FML
 
DrGabyZ said:
Had my third and final interview with the only program that called me, got asked at the end how interested are you to train with us? Don't know if it's a good or a bad sign?
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Did you answer, "I'd give my left nut/ovary to train with you"?
 
DrGabyZ said:
Had my third and final interview with the only program that called me, got asked at the end how interested are you to train with us? Don't know if it's a good or a bad sign?
Click to expand...

Since programs can only make the number of offers equal to the number of unfilled spots (1 unfilled spot = 1 offer), it behooves them to make that offer to someone they feel confident will accept that program even if they get multiple offers. Hence that line of questioning.
 
I am a pediatrician in my country. From day 1 after finishing medical school I worked as a general practitioner (in my country is allowed).
Moved here because I married an American citizen and he has a good career here. I completed all the steps, including Step 3 this last December. I am willing to work hard and do the residency again but the American system is just unbelievable.
I am sure I will succeed a residency training if given a chance. If the FSMB could give a path to foreign doctors with previous specializations to get Board Certified, while being on probation (supervised by another physician), with mandatory work in a rural or underserved area I will be glad to do it. The fact that I am an old IMG (YOG 2008) should not be a burden, should be an asset because I have the experience and I can share my experiences and skills with other colleagues.

I hope everyone will get the opportunity at least to show the programs how valuable you all are. Being a doctor is hard, but it is worth it. Wishing the best luck to you all.
 
mcl said:
Since programs can only make the number of offers equal to the number of unfilled spots (1 unfilled spot = 1 offer), it behooves them to make that offer to someone they feel confident will accept that program even if they get multiple offers. Hence that line of questioning.
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Good thing I sent the interest email right after my interview then lolololol.
 
IMG-GCholder said:
I am a pediatrician in my country. From day 1 after finishing medical school I worked as a general practitioner (in my country is allowed).
Moved here because I married an American citizen and he has a good career here. I completed all the steps, including Step 3 this last December. I am willing to work hard and do the residency again but the American system is just unbelievable.
I am sure I will succeed a residency training if given a chance. If the FSMB could give a path to foreign doctors with previous specializations to get Board Certified, while being on probation (supervised by another physician), with mandatory work in a rural or underserved area I will be glad to do it. The fact that I am an old IMG (YOG 2008) should not be a burden, should be an asset because I have the experience and I can share my experiences and skills with other colleagues.

I hope everyone will get the opportunity at least to show the programs how valuable you all are. Being a doctor is hard, but it is worth it. Wishing the best luck to you all.
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Honestly yea. It is kinda ridiculous. Not gonna lie.
 
Got my first interview. I bombed it! this is what this SOAP does. I never get nervous until this interview. Nerves were rushing. FML
 
SOAPyikes said:
Got my first interview. I bombed it! this is what this SOAP does. I never get nervous until this interview. Nerves were rushing. FML
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Don't worry, they must know a lot of people are nervous. You fit the criteria they are looking for so you got a call. I'm sure they will look past your nervousness.

If you don't mind me asking AMG/DO/IMG?
 
I am wishing all the best for you guys. I notice a lot of your board scores are within reach of the specialty but somehow it didn't work out yet.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
 
M.shaw said:
Don't worry, they must know a lot of people are nervous. You fit the criteria they are looking for so you got a call. I'm sure they will look past your nervousness.

If you don't mind me asking AMG/DO/IMG?
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AMG
 
DrGabyZ said:
Had my third and final interview with the only program that called me, got asked at the end how interested are you to train with us? Don't know if it's a good or a bad sign?
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I would take it as a good sign!!
 
Update to everyone - had my second follow up interview and will getting one more for the same program. It seems that *most* programs interview in a series. Also, after the initial email, and the initial phone interview, I had the subsequent interviews pop up on my iphone calendar and exchange calendar on my computer. So, be sure to check those if they are available to you as you will see a request with a date and specific time for interview!

Good luck everyone! Keep your hopes up. Programs search as late as 11 PM Eastern time I have heard.
 
Is the AMA website the only place that lets you know what positions are available after SOAP?
 
What I wished I had done this year is applied to Masters programs, like an MBA, and done more research into industry, pharmaceutical, and device company jobs and applied concurrently. I can barely afford student apartment housing right now, but if I had gotten a job I wouldn't be facing a potential gap year of unemployment and bankruptcy.

For everyone that doesn't SOAP this year, I strongly recommend if next year is your second try that you find out deadlines NOW for continuing education or business paths. Don't put all your eggs into a research basket; research is fickle and all it takes is one failed grant + one failed grant resubmission to put you out on the street, where you won't be in any condition to apply for your third match. I have four research publications to my name and two more manuscripts in submission. Don't think research will save you.
 
randomcollusion said:
What I wished I had done this year is applied to Masters programs, like an MBA, and done more research into industry, pharmaceutical, and device company jobs and applied concurrently. I can barely afford student apartment housing right now, but if I had gotten a job I wouldn't be facing a potential gap year of unemployment and bankruptcy.

For everyone that doesn't SOAP this year, I strongly recommend if next year is your second try that you find out deadlines NOW for continuing education or business paths. Don't put all your eggs into a research basket; research is fickle and all it takes is one failed grant + one failed grant resubmission to put you out on the street, where you won't be in any condition to apply for your third match. I have four research publications to my name and two more manuscripts in submission. Don't think research will save you.
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Thank you for your advice
 
Any DOs have / had luck in the SOAP? Please share !!! I'm so nervous y'all.
 
NR1125 said:
Me!! We got this! I am just telling myself we still have one more day.
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I'm nervous because tomorrow is all just offers right ? Since I haven't gotten any interviews I can't expect an offer ??
 
SOAPyikes said:
Got my first interview. I bombed it! this is what this SOAP does. I never get nervous until this interview. Nerves were rushing. FML
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I just had an interview. I was so nervous that the guy introduced himself and I said. "Nice to see you, I mean meet, talk to you.." he was like. yeah. haha goodness i was so nervous.
 
has anyone heard of people not getting interviews but still getting offers??
 
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