SOAPED into categorical IM and now having 2nd thoughts

[Shmoclo]

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Hi all. Unfortunately I didn’t manage to match EM this last cycle with 8 interviews and ended up soaping into IM. I was happy to get a position at first but now looking at my schools match list I can’t help but be upset since there are several poorer students than me who matched into much better IM programs. The one I matched into doesn’t have any fellowships and they keep sending paperwork with the wrong first name on it which just seems sloppy. I know it’s a binding commitment but has anyone ever switched residencies before PGY1 starts in July? And if so how does one go about doing this? Like do positions ever open up? I’m only interested in doing heme/onc at this point in time and idk if this residency will set me up for that. 243 step 1 and 228 step 2. Thank you very much for all your help.

 

[Hospitalist12345]

Hi all. Unfortunately I didn’t manage to match EM this last cycle with 8 interviews and ended up soaping into IM. I was happy to get a position at first but now looking at my schools match list I can’t help but be upset since there are several poorer students than me who matched into much better IM programs. The one I matched into doesn’t have any fellowships and they keep sending paperwork with the wrong first name on it which just seems sloppy. I know it’s a binding commitment but has anyone ever switched residencies before PGY1 starts in July? And if so how does one go about doing this? Like do positions ever open up? I’m only interested in doing heme/onc at this point in time and idk if this residency will set me up for that. 243 step 1 and 228 step 2. Thank you very much for all your help.

That is a pretty jacked up attitude and you are in no position to judge who is poorer or not. If this is the sort of attitude that was reflected in your interview, I would argue that you are in fact the poorer student.

To answer your question, no it is unlikely that a better position will open up. The better programs that will set you up for fellowship rarely have openings.

 

[Shmoclo]

Can you still get heme onc fellowships from low tier programs?

 

[rokshana]

Hi all. Unfortunately I didn’t manage to match EM this last cycle with 8 interviews and ended up soaping into IM. I was happy to get a position at first but now looking at my schools match list I can’t help but be upset since there are several poorer students than me who matched into much better IM programs. The one I matched into doesn’t have any fellowships and they keep sending paperwork with the wrong first name on it which just seems sloppy. I know it’s a binding commitment but has anyone ever switched residencies before PGY1 starts in July? And if so how does one go about doing this? Like do positions ever open up? I’m only interested in doing heme/onc at this point in time and idk if this residency will set me up for that. 243 step 1 and 228 step 2. Thank you very much for all your help.

Well maybe you should have thought about that before thinking you were qualified for EM ...they got better programs because they didn’t have to SOAP into them.

Just be grateful you got something...I’m sure you could give up the spot...but realize the consequence is that it’s a match violation and you will not likely be able to participate in the NRMP for a few years.

 

[Hospitalist12345]

Can you still get heme onc fellowships from low tier programs?

Yes if you are an AMG you can match somewhere just fine. Be a strong resident, get involved in research.

 

[Shmoclo]

ok sounds good. ill be happy with what i got. thank you all.

 

[xoggyux]

ok sounds good. ill be happy with what i got. thank you all.

That's a good first step. Don't just say it, do it. It is harder to do it than to say it.
You have to go into this with the full expectation that the fellowship you want might not necessarily be on your future, and you must come into terms with that. That being said, if you work hard and are an otherwise good resident and do the rest (you know, research, networking, etc) you might actually get the fellowship.

It is worth noting that clearly you were not as solid of an applicant as you thought. The numbers you posted sound reasonably good so something that you must of omitted part of your application that makes you look weaker, or more likely your interview skills are poor.
I say more likely because you got multiple interviews and in theory, you should have matched in one of those places. Another possibility is that you simply applied poorly (only to programs that were a long shot for yourself to begin with).

Consider identifying what went wrong and spending the next couple of years working diligently to improve those areas as they will be important for you if you wish to pursue any fellowship, or even for your career in general.

Finally, this program that SOAPed you has given you a great opportunity whether you appreciate it or not, don't fu.k it up.

 

[Instatewaiter]

Your best bet would be to plan to finish internship and try to get a pgy2 spot during internship. Leaving the program as a match violation will cause more problems than help.

As others have said @ 243 you should be able to match to EM. There must be a red flag on your app.

Also note that the average step 1 score is higher for IM than EM and there are a lot of crappy IM programs out there. Apply exceptionally broadly and hope some intern at a good program decides to quit or go to another program.

 

[Splenda88]

I wrote this to someone that is in the same situation in the EM forum.



Self disclosure: I am an IM resident...

I think you should give IM a chance... There are couple residents who SOAPed into my program after failing to match into EM. They did not reapply to EM after rotating in the ED as PGY1. One of them told me SOAPing into IM was 'a blessing in disguise'.

 

[bobow98]

Can you still get heme onc fellowships from low tier programs?

Hematology Oncology and EM are about as far removed from one another as you can get.
What makes you ask this and not consider other specialties like cardiology or crit care?

 

[Gastrapathy]

Most US grads who apply for Heme/Onc get it. You can google charting outcomes in the fellowship match and you'll be reassured.