Strange Scramble

[doctorsquared]

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I have not matched any of my programs despite the programs reported openings after the match. My grades are well above average, my step 1 score 500/53% (no step 2 results) and I have PhD with postdoctoral publications. I applied to Internal Medicine tracked program at 4 hospitals and two are still reporting positions open. One of the places even told me I was a strong candidate for the position and still has one opening after the match. Another hospital did not match ANY of its positions and still reports all 4 open.

Do they really think they are going to do better than me on the scramble? Is it possible to be overqualified? I thought I could at least place last on their lists! My interviews seemed to go well but they didn't ask a lot of questions related to medicine. They seem to be more of a socialization session and acted very pleasant. I've got copies of the deans letter and LOR and they are all positive.

Any ideas? I am baffled why programs would rather not fill their positions than to hire qualified people they interview.

😕 😱 🙁

 

[GoofyDoc]

I have not matched any of my programs despite the programs reported openings after the match. My grades are well above average, my step 1 score 500/53% (no step 2 results) and I have PhD with postdoctoral publications. I applied to Internal Medicine tracked program at 4 hospitals and two are still reporting positions open. One of the places even told me I was a strong candidate for the position and still has one opening after the match. Another hospital did not match ANY of its positions and still reports all 4 open.

Do they really think they are going to do better than me on the scramble? Is it possible to be overqualified? I thought I could at least place last on their lists! My interviews seemed to go well but they didn't ask a lot of questions related to medicine. They seem to be more of a socialization session and acted very pleasant. I've got copies of the deans letter and LOR and they are all positive.

Any ideas? I am baffled why programs would rather not fill their positions than to hire qualified people they interview.

😕 😱 🙁

I'm sorry. I completely bewildered by your post. How did you not match when the match hasn't even happened yet? And how on earth do you get a 500 on a step? 😕

 

[GoofyDoc]

Ok, wait a minute, are you talking about the DO match?

 

[Sugar72]

I have not matched any of my programs despite the programs reported openings after the match. My grades are well above average, my step 1 score 500/53% (no step 2 results) and I have PhD with postdoctoral publications. I applied to Internal Medicine tracked program at 4 hospitals and two are still reporting positions open. One of the places even told me I was a strong candidate for the position and still has one opening after the match. Another hospital did not match ANY of its positions and still reports all 4 open.

Do they really think they are going to do better than me on the scramble? Is it possible to be overqualified? I thought I could at least place last on their lists! My interviews seemed to go well but they didn't ask a lot of questions related to medicine. They seem to be more of a socialization session and acted very pleasant. I've got copies of the deans letter and LOR and they are all positive.

Any ideas? I am baffled why programs would rather not fill their positions than to hire qualified people they interview.

😕 😱 🙁

Get you game face on and scramble! I am sure they would love to have you scramble into their program....make the scramble look good!!

 

[doctorsquared]

Get you game face on and scramble! I am sure they would love to have you scramble into their program....make the scramble look good!!

Thanks for your kind word I appreciate it. Right I agree and there are lots of good positions still open. I have reapplied through ERAS and called a dozen programs. It just doesn't make sense. How can 20 students apply for 4 specialty track positions and NO ONE matches. Do they think they will do better off the scramble? Do they prefer to get an extra year of funding by getting more transitional rotating internships?

 

[DRDARIA]

I have not matched any of my programs despite the programs reported openings after the match. My grades are well above average, my step 1 score 500/53% (no step 2 results) and I have PhD with postdoctoral publications. I applied to Internal Medicine tracked program at 4 hospitals and two are still reporting positions open. One of the places even told me I was a strong candidate for the position and still has one opening after the match. Another hospital did not match ANY of its positions and still reports all 4 open.

Do they really think they are going to do better than me on the scramble? Is it possible to be overqualified? I thought I could at least place last on their lists! My interviews seemed to go well but they didn't ask a lot of questions related to medicine. They seem to be more of a socialization session and acted very pleasant. I've got copies of the deans letter and LOR and they are all positive.

Any ideas? I am baffled why programs would rather not fill their positions than to hire qualified people they interview.

😕 😱 🙁

It's hard to say why programs might do anything. I don't know much about the DO process, but I would suggest scrambling if you can. You do mean you are going to try to scramble into an allopathic slot, right? You will undoubtedly be doing a lot of talking to the programs on the phone as you do that. I would suggest you talk to an advisor, someone you trust to be brutally honest, and find out if there is anything you are doing or saying that could be off-putting. You mentioned that the interviews weren't focused on medicine. I don't think most interviews are really evaluating medical knowledge-- they know from your grades, boards, dean's letter, etcetera that you have the medical knowledge. The interview is to see if you will fit in to the program, so during the scramble it will be important to make them see that you will. I'm just venturing a guess, but you may have been relying on your academic credentials a little too much, and downplaying the importance of fitting in. I don't think the programs mind individuality, but they have to be certain that you will play nicely with others.
Good luck to you.

 

[doctorsquared]

It's hard to say why programs might do anything. I don't know much about the DO process, but I would suggest scrambling if you can. You do mean you are going to try to scramble into an allopathic slot, right? You will undoubtedly be doing a lot of talking to the programs on the phone as you do that. I would suggest you talk to an advisor, someone you trust to be brutally honest, and find out if there is anything you are doing or saying that could be off-putting. You mentioned that the interviews weren't focused on medicine. I don't think most interviews are really evaluating medical knowledge-- they know from your grades, boards, dean's letter, etcetera that you have the medical knowledge. The interview is to see if you will fit in to the program, so during the scramble it will be important to make them see that you will. I'm just venturing a guess, but you may have been relying on your academic credentials a little too much, and downplaying the importance of fitting in. I don't think the programs mind individuality, but they have to be certain that you will play nicely with others.
Good luck to you.

The interviews were quite pleasant. I don't think I said anything offensive or demonstrated that I would not be a team player. I have talked to my program director at my base hospital and asked him if there was something wrong with my personality. He said that there is no reason based on personality for rejection. I also called my Dean of Student Affairs and he confirmed that there is nothing negative in my file. The dean also spoke to the two programs that still have openings and he asked them if I had done something wrong. The program directors responded that I did nothing wrong on my interviews. I contacted the program director at a third hospital that filled all of their internal medicine positions in the match. I talked to her about a remaining rotating internship. I asked her if I had done anything wrong on the interview. She said that my interview and credentials were fine. The only criticism she had was a report from a resident at the dinner (which she did not attend). The resident said that I had said something negative regarding my previous PhD postdoctoral position. I feel this is unfair because I was asked what I didn't like about being a PhD scientist. Therefore this rejection was based on the fact that I make bad dinner conversation.

I have never made a point to rely on my academic credentials. I am currently scrambling with Osteopathic programs and I am looking to invoke resolution 42 and switch to the Allopathic scramble.

 

[DRDARIA]

Well, it sounds like you've done everything you can in the process, and I'm sure you're prepared for the allopathic scramble. Good luck with the process.

 

[penguins]

Hey, Sorry about what happened. It sounds like you are more than qualified. Just a comment though. I have heard a lot on the trail that some programs wonder if the "PhD guys" are too bookish for real clinical work. A few PDs said that was a problem sometimes with getting the medicine department to agree to give you a prelim year and some gave the advice in their general talk that if you were a PhD with lots and lots of research to be sure and be energetic about clinical medicine and be ready to prove you like it. Have heard that residents might be more likely to leave the program and go back to the lab.
Just a thought, I have no idea if this would affect you because I don't know you.
Good Luck!

 

[dodo2]

If I were you, I would scramble into the programs ( that have open spots) you have already interviewed at.

As a PD ( which I am not) I would rather get somebody who I have talked to rather than some stranger who faxes me stuff at the last minute.

You may not have matched there for completely obsure reasons such as typo in their ROL.

 

[floweree]

umm, did u certify your rank list?

 

[BKN]

Hey, Sorry about what happened. It sounds like you are more than qualified. Just a comment though. I have heard a lot on the trail that some programs wonder if the "PhD guys" are too bookish for real clinical work. A few PDs said that was a problem sometimes with getting the medicine department to agree to give you a prelim year and some gave the advice in their general talk that if you were a PhD with lots and lots of research to be sure and be energetic about clinical medicine and be ready to prove you like it. Have heard that residents might be more likely to leave the program and go back to the lab.
Just a thought, I have no idea if this would affect you because I don't know you.
Good Luck!

I don't think so. I can hardly imagine an IM PD not wanting a PhD (particularly bioscience) because they'd be too bookish. Most of the IM guys I know would be plotting to get him to help the programs research efforts while training and thereafter.

Actually, so would I.

 

[doctorsquared]

Hey, Sorry about what happened. It sounds like you are more than qualified. Just a comment though. I have heard a lot on the trail that some programs wonder if the "PhD guys" are too bookish for real clinical work. A few PDs said that was a problem sometimes with getting the medicine department to agree to give you a prelim year and some gave the advice in their general talk that if you were a PhD with lots and lots of research to be sure and be energetic about clinical medicine and be ready to prove you like it. Have heard that residents might be more likely to leave the program and go back to the lab.
Just a thought, I have no idea if this would affect you because I don't know you.
Good Luck!

I worked in a lab through a PhD and 2 postdoctoral fellowships. I don't think there is any chance that anyone who worked in basic research would ever go back to the lab. They treat you poorly and give you a shared office (have you seen the movie Brazil?) overlooking the MD/DO parking lot. They have now created different tiers of postdoctoral fellowships and import international postdocs at a increasing rate to ensure that they never have offer someone an actual job. When I quit my last postdoc, I got a bill from NIH requesting payback of the last seven months of my "grant." No, I will never work in research again!

You have a good point that the PDs may be biased into thinking that PhDs are too intellectual and not people persons. I actually wanted to go to medical school when I graduated from college but I chose research as a second choice because I could not afford medical school. Better late than never.

 

[doctorsquared]

If I were you, I would scramble into the programs ( that have open spots) you have already interviewed at.

As a PD ( which I am not) I would rather get somebody who I have talked to rather than some stranger who faxes me stuff at the last minute.

You may not have matched there for completely obsure reasons such as typo in their ROL.

Yes that is what I am attempting now. The programs are not returning my calls.

 

[doctorsquared]

umm, did u certify your rank list?

Yes, twice. I made out the list and certified it about 2 weeks before deadline. I received an email from one program telling I will not be on their ROL and I changed my list and recertified. The same programs were on both lists, just the order was changed. I am sure I certified it both times and printed it out afterwards.