SOAP 2017 Thread

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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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I agree with you on finding a job in pharma or devices. But getting a Masters or MBA? I feel that just adds to our massive debt loads without guaranteeing anything next year.
 
Aqua_Vitae said:
Path Soaper as well. Independent App but graduated USMD. 4IVs. Ranked all 4. Like the other 2 path soapers in this thread, I did not match and two of my programs I interviewed at have spots open. A real gut punch after I did the math and figured out I was not ranked. Also, they know that I know but I can't contact them obviously. I have not received any contact yet.

It's been tough especially after so much interview training and mock interview sessions and positive feedback during actual interviews. Whether accurate or not, my family and I feel that I interviewed well. We have kind of a small program theory as to why you may not get ranked in small specialties like ortho, neurosurgery, path, or any specialty which typically offers 1-3 positions per program per year. Basically, a program might interview 10 per position. Big programs would rank all but psycho personality disorder people. But a small program has seen themselves get bottom ranks too often when there is only 1 or 2 spots.

Therefore they might have the strategy to only rank the top half of applicants, then if no match, you can swipe up a derm hopeful who decided on dermpath in soap, or a path applicant who is an amazing candidate, but ranked only 1 due to location like possibly the app above. Or they can go to their own DNR list and see if any of those apps didn't match and decide to make an offer based on an entire day's interaction rather than a 10 min phone call. Or I truly rubbed someone the wrong way twice and they really don't want me in their program.

I am pretty sure ortho etc uses a strategy like above because programs have the advantage in soap and the above technique gives you way more choices and likely better choices with very little increase in risk of not filling. Plus some programs that want say 3 will be okay with 2.

Path had 24 spots last year. There is more than double this year. 50% are less than 50% full. This is certainly not a typical path soap and there could be something actually fishy going on like the guy above suggests with pds incorrectly submitting rol in gs.

Good luck to the other 3 path soapers in this thread! And good luck to everyone in soap!
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I am guessing by your post that you are a nontraditional student.
Unfortunately, I believe there is still age bias against nontraditional students in residency placement.
 
Psych_hopeful said:
Good thing I sent the interest email right after my interview then lolololol.
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Who did you address the email to? I was so nervous that I don't really remember the names of the people I interviewed with, I believe the last one was the PD.
 
I have received love from FM programs but not from anywhere else. I'd bet the pretty competitive (sub specialty etc) applicants are jumping on the GAS, surgery, etc. Just speculation based on the difference in response rate I am experiencing. My stats are neither bad nor great. Interestingly a couple FM programs have made it seem like my stats are competitive :bored:.
 
As the match gets tighter and tighter every year I predict more and more pressure to go this route:

On Saturday, the AOA House of Delegates passed a resolution calling for the profession to advocate for federal legislation to allow U.S. medical school graduates to lay first claims on U.S. residency positions.

Members of the New York State Osteopathic Medical Society (NYSOMS), which submitted the resolution, believe that the nation’s residency positions should first be offered to graduates of U.S. medical schools before international medical graduates (IMGs) can secure them.

“There’s a collision between the numbers of graduates of U.S. medical schools and the limited number of residency positions currently in the U.S.,” says Robert B. Goldberg, DO, the dean of the Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in New York. “Soon, those positions will be saturated before we count one internationally trained physician vying for one of the slots.”

Steven I. Sherman, DO, the president of NYSOMS, says he wrote the resolution because the numbers of medical students are increasing while U.S. residency positions have remained relatively stagnant.
http://thedo.osteopathic.org/2014/0...ng-residency-slots-us-med-school-grads-first/
 
Hey everyone.. AMG here, ENT applicant, had a decent application but sub-220 step 1 score so I only got 1 interview. Chose to go into SOAP rather then doing a backup. Actually ended up getting lucky since there are 11 unfilled spots! So its a small chance, but its still a chance.. Also did some surg prelims just in case.. Getting calls today, everyone's been very nice and supportive. One of them even pointed out that I had mis-wrote my phone number on my application. haha oops!

For those of you who are nervous, stressed, and feeling down about this whole process, I feel you. But remember who you are, where you came from, and what you deserve. We've all worked hard to have gotten this far. If you didn't work that hard to get into residency, you wouldn't be feeling these feelings right now. We seem to all forget over the course of the 4 years that we are competing academically at a level that is considered to be in the top tier of the world population. Yet we look at our scores of "below average" and feel like we are the scraps at the bottom of a cheetos bag. Well, maybe some people like the bottom chips better, because all the cheese condenses down at the bottom?! My point is, don't give up. Keep positive. Remember that there will always be a spot somewhere for a doctor in this world. Weve made a huge sacrifice getting here, now let's go get it!
 
Smiths11 said:
I agree with you on finding a job in pharma or devices. But getting a Masters or MBA? I feel that just adds to our massive debt loads without guaranteeing anything next year.
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Not to become a physician, but to become a business analyst or biomedical engineer or something. Starting pay is $60k with $150k around mid-career. That's more than I make now with the research job I scrounged up with my MD, with more chance for advancement. My brother returned to college after some rough times to get a degree in computer science and was hired immediately and now earns more than me, 6 years less effort and no debt (he worked retail to cover his costs).
 
entezam said:
Hey everyone.. AMG here, ENT applicant, had a decent application but sub-220 step 1 score so I only got 1 interview. Chose to go into SOAP rather then doing a backup. Actually ended up getting lucky since there are 11 unfilled spots! Also did some surg prelims. Getting calls today, everyone's been very nice and supportive. One of them even pointed out that I had mis-wrote my phone number on my application. haha oops!

For those of you who are nervous, stressed, and feeling down about this whole process, I feel you. But remember who you are, where you came from, and what you deserve. We've all worked hard to have gotten this far. If you didn't work that hard to get into residency, you wouldn't be feeling these feelings right now. We seem to all forget over the course of the 4 years that we are competing academically at a level that is considered to be in the top tier of the world population. Yet we look at our scores of "below average" and feel like we are the scraps at the bottom of a cheetos bag. Well, maybe some people like the bottom chips better, because all the cheese condenses down at the bottom?! Don't give up. Keep positive. Remember that there will always be a spot somewhere for a doctor in this world. Weve made a huge sacrifice getting here, now let's go get it!
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thats great congrats to you and excellent pick me up words, i like the bottom chips. lets hope some PDs do.
 
DrGabyZ said:
Who did you address the email to? I was so nervous that I don't really remember the names of the people I interviewed with, I believe the last one was the PD.
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I addressed it to the guy interviewing me. I took down his email and looked it up. 😀
 
entezam said:
Hey everyone.. AMG here, ENT applicant, had a decent application but sub-220 step 1 score so I only got 1 interview. Chose to go into SOAP rather then doing a backup. Actually ended up getting lucky since there are 11 unfilled spots! So its a small chance, but its still a chance.. Also did some surg prelims just in case.. Getting calls today, everyone's been very nice and supportive. One of them even pointed out that I had mis-wrote my phone number on my application. haha oops!

For those of you who are nervous, stressed, and feeling down about this whole process, I feel you. But remember who you are, where you came from, and what you deserve. We've all worked hard to have gotten this far. If you didn't work that hard to get into residency, you wouldn't be feeling these feelings right now. We seem to all forget over the course of the 4 years that we are competing academically at a level that is considered to be in the top tier of the world population. Yet we look at our scores of "below average" and feel like we are the scraps at the bottom of a cheetos bag. Well, maybe some people like the bottom chips better, because all the cheese condenses down at the bottom?! My point is, don't give up. Keep positive. Remember that there will always be a spot somewhere for a doctor in this world. Weve made a huge sacrifice getting here, now let's go get it!
Click to expand...

That is the attitude we need around here! Hope it works out for you!
 
jkdoctor said:
I am guessing by your post that you are a nontraditional student.
Unfortunately, I believe there is still age bias against nontraditional students in residency placement.
Click to expand...

Yes. I am a little older but how did you guess??

And my acct I set up today says DO/PHD. Not sure why,, I tried to click MD. I was considered a US senior once, now an independent applicant from a US allopath.
 
Psych_hopeful said:
Still silence. All day today.
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Me too. Nothing. I should have added FM to the IM, prelim IM/Surg, and anesthesia. I feel like I shot myself in the foot so badly.

I assume with no interviews now, we wont match through SOAP. So we do the phone call interviews Thursday?
 
sgmdocisl said:
anyone heard of people getting offers without interviews?
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I'm not sure if it's possible but I'm crossing my fingers that it is. Especially if you're applying to less competitive types of spots like the prelims for IM & Surg... I'm also hoping the blizzard in the Northeast is contributing to the lack of phone calls today =/
 
NoLollipops4U said:
Me too. Nothing. I should have added FM to the IM, prelim IM/Surg, and anesthesia. I feel like I shot myself in the foot so badly.

I assume with no interviews now, we wont match through SOAP. So we do the phone call interviews Thursday?
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can you explain the phone call interviews thursday?
 
can anyone explain regarding paying back the loan if all of mine is from fed govt and not getting a spot through soap this year? if that happens, does that mean I will need to pay back the loan without earning anything, which will make my life so miserable? Thanks!
 
NoLollipops4U said:
Me too. Nothing. I should have added FM to the IM, prelim IM/Surg, and anesthesia. I feel like I shot myself in the foot so badly.

I assume with no interviews now, we wont match through SOAP. So we do the phone call interviews Thursday?
Click to expand...


Stay positive. Wednesday and Wednesday night are still important. The strongest applicants will be removed after rounds 1 and 2 and you can not give up hope yet.
 
Aqua_Vitae said:
Stay positive. Wednesday and Wednesday night are still important. The strongest applicants will be removed after rounds 1 and 2 and you can not give up hope yet.
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I was wondering if Wednesday and Wednesday night are not going to be available to applicants who have used all 45 spots in the beginning...?
 
The 45 apply to all 3 rounds which is why the structure is better (i think?) than the 30+10+5 last year which did not stick each round.
 
Aqua_Vitae said:
The 45 apply to all 3 rounds which is why the structure is better (i think?) than the 30+10+5 last year which did not stick each round.
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Thanks! I was curious because I wasn't sure if the applications roll over to the next round. My understanding is that when it was 30 10 5, they didn't roll over.
 
I remember reading in one of the SOAP tutorials/guides that the best part about SOAP is that you can drink before phone interviews and skypes.

Nice play! I hope you actually get that specific position!
 
Aqua_Vitae said:
I remember reading in one of the SOAP tutorials/guides that the best part about SOAP is that you can drink before phone interviews and skypes.

Nice play! I hope you actually get that specific position!
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imm be drunk till thursday then
 
sgmdocisl said:
can you explain the phone call interviews thursday?
Click to expand...

I go to a US school, so the school has students come in on Thursday where they get access to the remaining spots. They also claim they will vouche for us to programs (im not sure how?) but essentially they are just there for moral support. post-SOAP on Thursday, we are allowed to call remaining programs directly or email them
 
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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The correct answer to this question is: If you offer me the spot, I promise you I will enthusiastically accept it.

They don't want to get snubbed again.

(but don't lie if thats not true)
 
Best of luck to all you folks. My heart goes out to you. I can't say I know the feeling that you are experiencing, but I can honestly say that I matched 2 years ago and it was bittersweet as I did not want to be in the field I had chosen. I was seriously wishing at the time that I was in the soap, but I can only count my blessings that I was not. I wish you all the most luck in the world ! You are all stars


Sent from my iPad using SDN mobile
 
NoLollipops4U said:
I go to a US school, so the school has students come in on Thursday where they get access to the remaining spots. They also claim they will vouche for us to programs (im not sure how?) but essentially they are just there for moral support. post-SOAP on Thursday, we are allowed to call remaining programs directly or email them
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alright thanks, i go to a caribbean school, we don't have such amenities
 
IM2GI said:
The correct answer to this question is: If you offer me the spot, I promise you I will enthusiastically accept it.

They don't want to get snubbed again.

(but don't lie if thats not true)
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Trust me I didn't lie, I just said that I was 100% interested in training with them, and the more I talked to the faculty and research the program the more I thought it was the perfect fit for me (really it is, from all the programs I researched in the SOAP, I liked this one better) and that I hoped that they also thought that I was a good fit for them. I'm an IMG so honestly, I'm grateful that they at least took the time to call me and seemed interested (pretty sure that all the programs do this with everyone they call)
 
Mountaineer12 said:
My boyfriend is SOAPing right now and has been thankful to be contacted by a few programs so far. Should he follow-up with these programs after the interview at all (like through an email or quick call saying he's very interested) or just let it to rest after the interview?
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I emailed my program that they were my top choice the night before the SOAP rounds and got in. The PD said my email made a difference in deciding to give me a spot
 
Did anyone just got an email from ECFMG that initiating contact with programs is prohibited and if confirmed, then ECFMG will levy sanction etcetc?? Because I did not initiate any contact with any program -.- I am wondering if this was just a reminder. If not, wth is going on
 
DrMeowMeow said:
I emailed my program that they were my top choice the night before the SOAP rounds and got in. The PD said my email made a difference in deciding to give me a spot
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did you also do a series of follow-up interviews? or just one
 
NoLollipops4U said:
I go to a US school, so the school has students come in on Thursday where they get access to the remaining spots. They also claim they will vouche for us to programs (im not sure how?) but essentially they are just there for moral support. post-SOAP on Thursday, we are allowed to call remaining programs directly or email them
Click to expand...

Are you US MD or US DO? What were you initially trying to match into and what are you trying to go into the Match. TBH, I was looking at my list myself and thinking about if I could have strategically planned the SOAP a little better, in terms of where I applied to. It seems one should always be cognizant and apply to some "reach" programs (if you consider such a thing through the SOAP), some middle of the road, and some of the lower tier programs to ensure highest possibility of matching. Just my 2 cents and just a guess .
 
Yeah, the ECFMG is sending it to everyone. They even post the same warning in Facebook
 
yeah bc theres always some idiot who thinks they can do it get away with it too...
 
fthishsit said:
Did anyone just got an email from ECFMG that initiating contact with programs is prohibited and if confirmed, then ECFMG will levy sanction etcetc?? Because I did not initiate any contact with any program -.- I am wondering if this was just a reminder. If not, wth is going on
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At this stage of SOAP you have to wait for schools to call you, until noon on Thursday of match week when the list of all remaining unfilled spots will be shared with applicants still needing a match. You could still get some calls today, tomorrow, or Thursday morning. Keep the phone available and check your emails often.
 
fthishsit said:
did you also do a series of follow-up interviews? or just one
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For the program I SOAPed into, it was local so I went there and was interviewed by 3 people in person.
Most of the other programs that contacted me had 2-3 separate people call and interview me, so I ended up getting like 16 calls from 7-8 programs
 
IH8ColdWeath3r said:
Are you US MD or US DO? What were you initially trying to match into and what are you trying to go into the Match. TBH, I was looking at my list myself and thinking about if I could have strategically planned the SOAP a little better, in terms of where I applied to. It seems one should always be cognizant and apply to some "reach" programs (if you consider such a thing through the SOAP), some middle of the road, and some of the lower tier programs to ensure highest possibility of matching. Just my 2 cents and just a guess .
Click to expand...

US DO. Initially IM. Trying to SOAP into IM, prelim IM, Anesthesia, and prelim surgery (I regret applying to three though).

I think I applied to far too many reach SOAP programs foolishly assuming I would get a call and not enough really undesirable programs. Fortunately, I did not use all 45 applications and have about 10 left to use tomorrow for round two
 
Did everyone receive an email from ERAS support services regarding initiating contact with programs etc. ?
 
DrMeowMeow said:
For the program I SOAPed into, it was local so I went there and was interviewed by 3 people in person.
Most of the other programs that contacted me had 2-3 separate people call and interview me, so I ended up getting like 16 calls from 7-8 programs
Click to expand...

I see.. just one call with PD and no follow means I probably have low chance getting the spot then. Thanks!
 
Erinma2017 said:
Any DOs have / had luck in the SOAP? Please share !!! I'm so nervous y'all.
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I'm a DO who had good COMLEX scores and didn't take USMLE. I was freaking out cause I didn't know which programs even took DOs or COMLEX. I just applied to mostly FM programs and it seems most of them were open since I had 7-8 programs call. I ended up with 2 offers in the first round
 
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