those taking a year or two off how do you cope with failure?

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
P

pre med 2014

Full Member
Verified Member
10+ Year Member
Joined
Jan 2, 2012
Messages
2,057
Reaction score
209
Members do not see this ad.
I have no job in my field, I worked super hard in all my science classes and yet no job. How can I be motivated to endure 4 years of med school and 200K of debt if I could end up with no residency? After all, like 2-3% don't get residency. Considering I am the only the only person without a job in my major I could very well end up in that bottom 3%

I have a hard science major and I looked at the stats for employment and it was like 100% (not sure if that included employment unrelated to the major, or only employment within your major).
 
pre med 2014 said:
I have no job in my field, I worked super hard in all my science classes and yet no job. How can I be motivated to endure 4 years of med school and 200K of debt if I could end up with no residency? After all, like 2-3% don't get residency. Considering I am the only the only person without a job in my major I could very well end up in that bottom 3%

I have a hard science major and I looked at the stats for employment and it was like 100% (not sure if that included employment unrelated to the major, or only employment within your major).
Click to expand...

Since you are not in medical school right now...dont worry about residency. Also stop looking at yourself as a failure. Sometimes "difficult" situations come are way, and by only facing them, we get stronger and gain more wisdom. Just keep applying to places when you see any job openings. You have to apply to a good amount of places to land something. Getting a job is just temporary...get whatever, make money and go to med school.
 
pre med 2014 said:
I have no job in my field, I worked super hard in all my science classes and yet no job. How can I be motivated to endure 4 years of med school and 200K of debt if I could end up with no residency? After all, like 2-3% don't get residency. Considering I am the only the only person without a job in my major I could very well end up in that bottom 3%

I have a hard science major and I looked at the stats for employment and it was like 100% (not sure if that included employment unrelated to the major, or only employment within your major).
Click to expand...

I hiiiiighhhhllllyyyy doubt that someone so obsessed about "not failing" (like you) is going to be the 2-3% who do. Besides it's all stats! There could be people who realize "medicine isn't for me" and switch to something else, and therefore don't get matched.
 
Who the hell cares if you don't make it in the first time? My last tour guide went through 92 applications over 3 cycles before going to one medical school. And he's still going to be an MD.
 
Last edited:
pre med 2014 said:
I have no job in my field, I worked super hard in all my science classes and yet no job. How can I be motivated to endure 4 years of med school and 200K of debt if I could end up with no residency? After all, like 2-3% don't get residency. Considering I am the only the only person without a job in my major I could very well end up in that bottom 3%

I have a hard science major and I looked at the stats for employment and it was like 100% (not sure if that included employment unrelated to the major, or only employment within your major).
Click to expand...

Some of those 2-3% may have not wanted a residency in the first place. Some people may go into research or the corporate world perhaps?
 
Take comfort from the fact that you aren't alone. Remember this economy is not the best, and your ability to land a job is in no way indicative of your success in medical school.

I know some people from my undergrad who majored in biomedical engineering, did well, yet only managed to find jobs as retail clerks. The job market is scary out there. :scared:

Some of those 2-3% may have not wanted a residency in the first place. Some people may go into research or the corporate world perhaps?
Click to expand...

Exactly. My PI went to a top 20 med school, decided he didn't care to be a doctor, went back to get his PhD, and pursued a career in research.
 
2-3%? I'm not a med student, but I'm pretty sure that most of those 3% either made career changes (their own decision rather than failing), decided to wait a year (pregnancy, family matters, etc), and then the last few probably applied but didn't get the residency they wanted because they aimed to high. I wouldn't call any of those situations a "failure."

But hey, the job market is tough, and it's not easy getting the job you want coming out of undergrad. Keep applying; if worse comes to worse, take up a non-paying gig at a research lab (if money isn't the biggest factor).
 
The title of this thread is rather offensive. Get a job in anything that you can and move forward.
 
lobo12 said:
The title of this thread is rather offensive. Get a job in anything that you can and move forward.
Click to expand...

Oh geez it wasn't supposed to be offensive. Its just frustrating having a degree from a top university in a major with which you're 'supposed' to get a job with. And people think you're stupid or something because you spent so much time and money on college and now working a job a high school equivalency is qualified for.

You get like 1 interview a month and they interview 10 people so you basically have no chance. it's so demotivating. Everybody they interview is already gonna be a good applicant and do decent on the interview so it's like complete luck on who they pick.
 
ShenanigansMD said:
I listen to too much pop radio, which I blame on rush hour traffic.
Click to expand...

LwAv6.gif


Why don't you get an iPod or burn a few CDs
 
Last edited:
you dont need to find a formal job during gap years if you can find other meaningful activities to remain productive.
 
pre med 2014 said:
I have no job in my field, I worked super hard in all my science classes and yet no job. How can I be motivated to endure 4 years of med school and 200K of debt if I could end up with no residency? After all, like 2-3% don't get residency. Considering I am the only the only person without a job in my major I could very well end up in that bottom 3%

I have a hard science major and I looked at the stats for employment and it was like 100% (not sure if that included employment unrelated to the major, or only employment within your major).
Click to expand...

Are you trying to correlate not finding a job after college to not matching?

The two are entirely unrelated.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using SDN Mobile
 
pre med 2014 said:
I have a hard science major and I looked at the stats for employment and it was like 100% (not sure if that included employment unrelated to the major, or only employment within your major).
Click to expand...

These are some dubious statistics. The employment rate for recent college grads sucks, so don't feel bad about struggling to get a job. It took me like 6 months to find the lab I currently work in, and I only get paid because I volunteered there for three months to prove I was worth hiring. Do what you have to do and just know that it's only a temporary phase on your journey to bigger and better things. :shrug:

Also, FWIW, a lot of us taking years between UG and med school are doing it on purpose, not because we failed. Party time. 😎
 
pre med 2014 said:
How can I be motivated to endure 4 years of med school and 200K of debt if I could end up with no residency? After all, like 2-3% don't get residency.[/B]
Click to expand...

sometimes those students were really stubborn, and applied to narrowly. Like some only wanted to do a certain specialty, or stay in a certain part of the country.

time off is good, live a little, keep the loan sharks at bay, and stay focused on med school.
 
Failure is not an option, success is just a process..? 😀
 
Those 2-3% not getting those spots can be cause of a lot of reasons.

-Family (girl gets pregnant, ect)
-Medicine isn't for them
-Needs a LONG break.
-Very picky about their residency
 
Josh7 said:
LwAv6.gif


Why don't you get an iPod or burn a few CDs
Click to expand...

Older stereo with no auxiliary plug in, and cd burning is way too much work. I prefer to scan stations until I land on something decent, and sometimes those poppy stations make hilarious prank calls.
 
pre med 2014 said:
Oh geez it wasn't supposed to be offensive. Its just frustrating having a degree from a top university in a major with which you're 'supposed' to get a job with. And people think you're stupid or something because you spent so much time and money on college and now working a job a high school equivalency is qualified for.

You get like 1 interview a month and they interview 10 people so you basically have no chance. it's so demotivating. Everybody they interview is already gonna be a good applicant and do decent on the interview so it's like complete luck on who they pick.
Click to expand...

You want to know how people get jobs out of college? They apply everywhere. You're probably limiting yourself to one geographical area. It's understandable why you're doing this if you're applying to medical school, because there's no point in moving cross-country for a job for a year or two, but, if you are geographically limited, it explains why you're having trouble finding a job.
 
pre med 2014 said:
I have a hard science major and I looked at the stats for employment and it was like 100% (not sure if that included employment unrelated to the major, or only employment within your major).
Click to expand...

It probably includes graduate school, $25k/year lab technician jobs, and other slave-wage jobs like retail or retail management. That, or the statistics are just bull**** because bachelors degrees in science are absolutely worthless.
 
OP, what was your major? And what state are you in? If your major was Bio Eng, then sad to say, it's a difficult field to find jobs in. I had an internship (paid) where there were 2 Bio Eng's with MASTER'S and were making barely above min wage and didn't get a job in their field until a year later. I think part of it is due to having the MS and another part in companies wanting experience, but you have to start someone to get the experience, right??? Anyway, I was in your shoes once for 6 mos, and was lucky to eventually find something in my field. Cheer up and never give up!
 
AestheticGod said:
Those 2-3% not getting those spots can be cause of a lot of reasons.

-Family (girl gets pregnant, ect)
-Medicine isn't for them
-Needs a LONG break.
-Very picky about their residency
Click to expand...

I would rank unrealistic applying/ranking or ranked too few above those. I also don't think that number includes those who scrambled.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using SDN Mobile
 
I'll be applying to medical school with the expectation that I'll be matriculating. Seriously, get some self-confidence. How do you think you'll come off in an interview? The path to becoming a physician is a long, arduous process, but at the end of the day you still have to be willing to put every thing you've got into it with a smile on your face.
 
pre med 2014 said:
It does or it doesn't? You're saying the 2-3% is after the scramble?
Click to expand...

Technically, it's not called the scramble anymore. It's the SOAP. Or something like that.

And I'm fairly certain it's after Match Day. Last year, our med alumni contact said that everyone matched, but I know there were a fair few that had to go through the scramble.

Also, the stats you see about people with your major with jobs includes everyone. I had a BS in Biology, and spent my gap year doing something that someone just graduated from high school was also doing. But, it paid the bills.
 
Last edited:
In medicine do connections ever play a role in gaining employment like they do in law? The physicians I shadowed were through a family connection and they seemed to be fairly confident in my competence. If I did the research and got the average step1 for that field would it increase my chances of being admitted into that department for residency? Does this ever happen, like does anyone ever end up with a residency where they shadowed?

I could see myself doing a residency right where I was shadowing. It was very enjoyable.
 
pre med 2014 said:
In medicine do connections ever play a role in gaining employment like they do in law? The physicians I shadowed were through a family connection and they seemed to be fairly confident in my competence. If I did the research and got the average step1 for that field would it increase my chances of being admitted into that department for residency? Does this ever happen, like does anyone ever end up with a residency where they shadowed?

I could see myself doing a residency right where I was shadowing. It was very enjoyable.
Click to expand...

With almost 900 posts (ie a lot of time on sdn), how do you know so little?

Too much time spent on/supporting anti-psych threads...

Check out the med student/resident forums and build up the knowledge, man.
 
Blais said:
With almost 900 posts (ie a lot of time on sdn), how do you know so little?

Too much time spent on/supporting anti-psych threads...

Check out the med student/resident forums and build up the knowledge, man.
Click to expand...

I don't know - I just never asked that question before.

Can you answer the question please? And for the love of god, let's please not derail this thread to my controversial opinions of psychiatry.
 
However, I think I already know the answer. My gut is telling me no, it seems getting a job through a connection is not common in science and medicine like it is in business and law.
 
pre med 2014 said:
However, I think I already know the answer. My gut is telling me no, it seems getting a job through a connection is not common in science and medicine like it is in business and law.
Click to expand...

As common as what occurs in those other professions? ...perhaps not.

Common?...yes.

Hint: when you read the attendings/residents say "most jobs aren't advertised"... they are touching upon that idea of, as you say, connections.
 
Blais said:
As common as what occurs in those other professions? ...perhaps not.

Common?...yes.

Hint: when you read the attendings/residents say "most jobs aren't advertised"... they are touching upon that idea of, as you say, connections.
Click to expand...

hmm I wish I knew that earlier. I just assumed connections are not common way of getting residency. This is actually motivating for me.
 
Last edited:
there are so many news articles about this. our economy is s****. getting a bachelor's degree in ANY field at ANY school is not a guarantee for a job in society today. more and more people need to go to graduate school and further their education to become more competitive in the workforce. yes you can get a job just with a bachelor's, but it can take months to a year for most people.

someone asked president obama about jobs for college grads in the debate. you are not the only one. not being able to find a job is NOT equivalent to being a failure.
 
SpecterGT260 said:
I'm saying I think it is before scramble. It is "unmatched". Meaning medical graduates without jobs is actually less than 2-3%
Click to expand...

During Match Week, you find out whether you match or not on Monday, and those who don't match enter the SOAP. If they subsequently 'mini-match' into a program by Friday, they get a letter along with everyone else who had already matched. I'd think that most programs would consider them matched, even though they didn't match the first time.

pre med 2014 said:
In medicine do connections ever play a role in gaining employment like they do in law? The physicians I shadowed were through a family connection and they seemed to be fairly confident in my competence. If I did the research and got the average step1 for that field would it increase my chances of being admitted into that department for residency? Does this ever happen, like does anyone ever end up with a residency where they shadowed?

I could see myself doing a residency right where I was shadowing. It was very enjoyable.
Click to expand...

1) Shadowing attendings is worlds different from being a resident. What seems attractive now may not be anywhere near as attractive when you're looking at residency programs.

2) You being competent as a pre-med student is completely different from being competent as a medical student or resident. Different skill sets and all. Generally, as a pre-med, they're just seeing if you can make some sort of connection with the patient. Which is important, but actually treating them is rather different.

3) Yes, connections matter, but I don't think in the way you're thinking. It's not uncommon for residency advisers to call up people they trained with or worked with in other programs to recommend their student (or resident) for a position. It may just get the person an interview, but it prevented the program from overlooking the student entirely. Does that mean it's impossible for you to get a position without those connections? No.

This is why alumni networks from your medical school can also be useful. We have a hosting program for 4th year med students with alumni, and often they are important people in the department of the student's interest.
 
mvenus929 said:
During Match Week, you find out whether you match or not on Monday, and those who don't match enter the SOAP. If they subsequently 'mini-match' into a program by Friday, they get a letter along with everyone else who had already matched. I'd think that most programs would consider them matched, even though they didn't match the first time.



1) Shadowing attendings is worlds different from being a resident. What seems attractive now may not be anywhere near as attractive when you're looking at residency programs.

2) You being competent as a pre-med student is completely different from being competent as a medical student or resident. Different skill sets and all. Generally, as a pre-med, they're just seeing if you can make some sort of connection with the patient. Which is important, but actually treating them is rather different.

3) Yes, connections matter, but I don't think in the way you're thinking. It's not uncommon for residency advisers to call up people they trained with or worked with in other programs to recommend their student (or resident) for a position. It may just get the person an interview, but it prevented the program from overlooking the student entirely. Does that mean it's impossible for you to get a position without those connections? No.

This is why alumni networks from your medical school can also be useful. We have a hosting program for 4th year med students with alumni, and often they are important people in the department of the student's interest.
Click to expand...

Yes I am aware. But that isn't ACGME, and those were ACGME numbers.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using SDN Mobile
 
SpecterGT260 said:
Yes I am aware. But that isn't ACGME, and those were ACGME numbers.
Click to expand...

Actually, I think ACGME numbers are higher:

In 2012, the match rate for U.S. allopathic seniors was 95.1 percent, the highest in thirty years.
Click to expand...

Source

That would put the unmatched rate up near 5%, not the 2-3% the OP is quoting. In previous years, it has neared 7%.
 
mvenus929 said:
Actually, I think ACGME numbers are higher:



Source

That would put the unmatched rate up near 5%, not the 2-3% the OP is quoting. In previous years, it has neared 7%.
Click to expand...

Then I was mistaken on the exact numbers. 👍

Sent from my DROID RAZR using SDN Mobile
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

N
"Describe a failure and what you learned from this failure and how you will apply this to your life" Secondary prompt isea
Replies
1
Views
7K
Mr.Smile12
Mr.Smile12
G
Failure Essay Help
Replies
1
Views
356
Mr.Smile12
Mr.Smile12
vex10
Failure Essay Question
Replies
13
Views
1K
vex10
vex10
H
  • Locked
Challenge/failure essay
Replies
1
Views
803
Mr.Smile12
Mr.Smile12
V
Maximizing ECs over the next two years
Replies
4
Views
509
vexation
V
Top