- Joined
- Jan 6, 2003
- Messages
- 1,641
- Reaction score
- 14
I know many of you are suffering along with me as you try to get a CS date earlier than 2008. A few things I'd like to share with those who are just starting in this process:
- you can sign up for the e-mail notification, if you want to have the constantly frustrating experience of knowing that you missed an available appointment. I cancelled my scheduled appt an hour ago; it was snapped up in less than 15 seconds. I still have not seen any notification e-mail for that appt ever being open. ONCE, I actually saw an e-mail and then saw the appt open on the website. By the time I clicked on the date, it was gone.
- the ONLY way to get an appt within the next few months is to sit at the scheduling site, hitting reload for hour after hour. This breeds resentment toward NBME and the ineffective system which you are supporting with your $1000. I recommend repeating a mantra such as "I am willing to jump through all hoops in order to become a doctor." Drink tequila or other strong substances to make this process more tolerable.
- an available appointment will be snapped up within about 5-15 seconds of becoming available. If you're hanging out relaxing, you won't even see it go by. Be alert.
- you must already be logged into the site to have any chance at appts that show up by e-mail. If you have to go through the login and the multiple perverse refusals to accept your typed-in Special Security Numbers, the appt will be long-gone.
- if you haven't yet started the process, get online in January and schedule your CS for the summer or fall. Reschedule as necessary when you actually have some idea of your fourth-year schedule. Make your whole family aware so they don't schedule weddings or other important events on The Day; it will be harder for you to reschedule than for them to rebook the church, minister, event hall, and band.
- for some reason, when people release appointments, they seem to like to do it on Mondays, Fridays, and during the night or early in the morning.
- when one person releases an appointment, it often starts a cascade of other appointments opening up. Stay very alert.
- the appointments that last the longest online are those for tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. If you're thinking about doing this, know which airport you would need to fly into, where you might stay, etc. since you will need to arrange everything quickly.
good luck!
- you can sign up for the e-mail notification, if you want to have the constantly frustrating experience of knowing that you missed an available appointment. I cancelled my scheduled appt an hour ago; it was snapped up in less than 15 seconds. I still have not seen any notification e-mail for that appt ever being open. ONCE, I actually saw an e-mail and then saw the appt open on the website. By the time I clicked on the date, it was gone.
- the ONLY way to get an appt within the next few months is to sit at the scheduling site, hitting reload for hour after hour. This breeds resentment toward NBME and the ineffective system which you are supporting with your $1000. I recommend repeating a mantra such as "I am willing to jump through all hoops in order to become a doctor." Drink tequila or other strong substances to make this process more tolerable.
- an available appointment will be snapped up within about 5-15 seconds of becoming available. If you're hanging out relaxing, you won't even see it go by. Be alert.
- you must already be logged into the site to have any chance at appts that show up by e-mail. If you have to go through the login and the multiple perverse refusals to accept your typed-in Special Security Numbers, the appt will be long-gone.
- if you haven't yet started the process, get online in January and schedule your CS for the summer or fall. Reschedule as necessary when you actually have some idea of your fourth-year schedule. Make your whole family aware so they don't schedule weddings or other important events on The Day; it will be harder for you to reschedule than for them to rebook the church, minister, event hall, and band.
- for some reason, when people release appointments, they seem to like to do it on Mondays, Fridays, and during the night or early in the morning.
- when one person releases an appointment, it often starts a cascade of other appointments opening up. Stay very alert.
- the appointments that last the longest online are those for tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. If you're thinking about doing this, know which airport you would need to fly into, where you might stay, etc. since you will need to arrange everything quickly.
good luck!
