Unmatched residency programs

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draper75

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Hi, due to my family situation I am unable to rank/interview at any programs in the match. So my plan is to register for the match service and arrange a position after the match is over. How many programs usually have openings once the match is over? I know it changes every year but any sort of guess? btw I am a fairly competitive applicant. Thanks!
 
I am a PGY1 and just recently returned from mid-year, thus I feel I can speak to what the numbers will be like. Last year I did not match and scrambled. If I remember correctly there were about 6000-7000 residency applicants for 2500-3000 spots. About 800 spots did not match. Thus 3000 potential residents were scambling for 800 spots or a ratio of about 3.75 applicants to spots.
Based on what I saw this year at the residency showcases the gaps are only going to get bigger. I would expect somewhere between 7000-12000 residency applicants to 2800-3200 residency spots. Lets say that 600 residency positions don't match, thus the best ratios for scambling will be 3800 to 600 or 6.3 applicants per scramble position to a worst ratio of 8800 to 600 or 14 applicants to each scramble position.
What I am telling people is be ready to scramble. Have your three letters of recommendation in electronic format. Have a copy of your transcripts in electronic form, an updated letter of intent, and an updated CV ready to go. Basically have everything required of an applicant ready to go.
When the list becomes available already know which places you are interested in applying to and send them your app packet as soon as you find out they have availability. Some places filled their unmatched spots within 4 hours of the match results others required onsite interviews, while others did phone interviews.
I would also recommend interviewing at all locations you are interested in because many of the residencies picked scrambling residents who had interviewed with them. On a side note I find this interesting because either the resident didn't try to match the program or the program didn't try to match the candidate. So why are you willing to hire this person now Either they didn't like you or you did not like them.
If you can't move I would suggest putting in apps to the residencies close to where you live and interviewing with them. If you don't match then scamble with them. If you still don't match either expand the area your willing to work or firgure out another way to achieve your career goals.
Lastly, be ready to accept your fourth or fifth choice because by the time your 1st-3rd choices finally make a decision about who they are going to interview the 4th and 5th choices will have been filled and you may not get on with choices 1-3.
DR
 
If I remember correctly there were about 6000-7000 residency applicants for 2500-3000 spots. About 800 spots did not match. Thus 3000 potential residents were scambling for 800 spots or a ratio of about 3.75 applicants to spots.
Based on what I saw this year at the residency showcases the gaps are only going to get bigger. I would expect somewhere between 7000-12000 residency applicants to 2800-3200 residency spots.

Due to the actual number of graduates each year (even taking into account people who may be in the match but are already pharmacists), I kinda question the numbers you are stating.

To put in context, 2 years ago there were only 2,300 applicants:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/102558.php

While I agree there has been growth in the number of applicants (and graduates) I would be shocked if it has exploded at the pace you are stating
 
Got Drugs,
Thanks for the article, I went to ASHP for numbers but couldn't find them quickly. I think if you look at the numbers in the article you posted that you will find the ratios are still close though.
Most important thing to know from what I said - residencies are becoming more competitive and you should plan on not matching and having to scramble being ready to do so will only improve your odds of getting a residency.
DR
 
Got Drugs,
Thanks for the article, I went to ASHP for numbers but couldn't find them quickly. I think if you look at the numbers in the article you posted that you will find the ratios are still close though.
Most important thing to know from what I said - residencies are becoming more competitive and you should plan on not matching and having to scramble being ready to do so will only improve your odds of getting a residency.
DR

I agree residencies are more competitive now then they were a few years ago. And your last sentence is not bad advice.

Your ratios are still probably quite a bit off though. In your previous post you posted 3.75 to 1 for UNmatched spots for 2009 and are "guessing" close to 14 to one for UNmatched spots in 2010. In 2008 it was more 2:1 again it's probably gone up some but not the huge increases you are speaking of.

2:1 is a huge difference over 4:1 (and I'm not even going to mention the 14:1)
 
yeah, I never ever never thought I would have to scramble. My profs were just as surprised as I was.

I guess my advice is to be prepared, no matter how sure you are.
 
Hi, due to my family situation I am unable to rank/interview at any programs in the match. So my plan is to register for the match service and arrange a position after the match is over. How many programs usually have openings once the match is over? I know it changes every year but any sort of guess? btw I am a fairly competitive applicant. Thanks!

This doesn't make any sense to me. How are you unable to interview for any programs? I can understand that there may be travel resitrictions due to personal reasons, but why just not apply to local programs? This is a risky venture because you are leaving way too much up to chance. Scrambling is not an easy thing and is probably more stressful than going through the regular match process.
 
This doesn't make any sense to me. How are you unable to interview for any programs? I can understand that there may be travel resitrictions due to personal reasons, but why just not apply to local programs? This is a risky venture because you are leaving way too much up to chance. Scrambling is not an easy thing and is probably more stressful than going through the regular match process.

I scratch my head at that too, but I am sure they have their reasons.

Scrambling is not easy, hence the name.
 
By personal reasons, what I meant was that I will be applying exclusively to IHS residency programs (which are not part of the main match), essentially using all my resources (money) and time on applying/interviewing with those, and if I do not match with one of these, somewhat limited and competitive programs, I will try my way in the scramble (having registered for the match already). I just put personal reasons to avoid the explanation, I didnt expect so much suspicion, Ha, thanks for the info!
 
I will say that I scrambled last year, had 3 phone interviews by 5pm mountain time, and had an offer the next morning at 8am eastern time.

Some places require onsite interviews. But they also miss out on candidates that way.

It is very, very fast paced.
 
I am a PGY1 and just recently returned from mid-year, thus I feel I can speak to what the numbers will be like. Last year I did not match and scrambled. If I remember correctly there were about 6000-7000 residency applicants for 2500-3000 spots. About 800 spots did not match. Thus 3000 potential residents were scambling for 800 spots or a ratio of about 3.75 applicants to spots.
Based on what I saw this year at the residency showcases the gaps are only going to get bigger. I would expect somewhere between 7000-12000 residency applicants to 2800-3200 residency spots. Lets say that 600 residency positions don't match, thus the best ratios for scambling will be 3800 to 600 or 6.3 applicants per scramble position to a worst ratio of 8800 to 600 or 14 applicants to each scramble position.
What I am telling people is be ready to scramble. Have your three letters of recommendation in electronic format. Have a copy of your transcripts in electronic form, an updated letter of intent, and an updated CV ready to go. Basically have everything required of an applicant ready to go.
When the list becomes available already know which places you are interested in applying to and send them your app packet as soon as you find out they have availability. Some places filled their unmatched spots within 4 hours of the match results others required onsite interviews, while others did phone interviews.
I would also recommend interviewing at all locations you are interested in because many of the residencies picked scrambling residents who had interviewed with them. On a side note I find this interesting because either the resident didn't try to match the program or the program didn't try to match the candidate. So why are you willing to hire this person now Either they didn't like you or you did not like them.
If you can't move I would suggest putting in apps to the residencies close to where you live and interviewing with them. If you don't match then scamble with them. If you still don't match either expand the area your willing to work or firgure out another way to achieve your career goals.
Lastly, be ready to accept your fourth or fifth choice because by the time your 1st-3rd choices finally make a decision about who they are going to interview the 4th and 5th choices will have been filled and you may not get on with choices 1-3.
DR

Data straight from ASHP: http://www.ashp.org/DocLibrary/Accreditation/RTPMatch2009.ppt
 
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