1. When you say, 'The Scramble is a short period of time following the
regular match in which participating individuals are supplied a list of
programs with open positions in an attempt to obtain one of those spots.'
is it some kind of period after you match the Residency?
Did you read the link I provided above? From the NRMP:
http://www.nrmp.org//res_match/special_part/ind_app/match_results.html
"Beginning at noon eastern time on Tuesday of Match Week, a brief period of time is set aside for those applicants who did not match to give them an opportunity to contact unfilled programs and possibly secure a position before Match Day. This time period is commonly known as the "Scramble."
Thus, the scramble is not for those who have matched, but rather for those who did not get a position. The scramble lasts two days, from Tuesday to Thursday of Match Week.
2. What do you do during that Scramble Period?
You contact programs with open positions in hopes of obtaining one of them for your training.
3. Is going through that Scramble period mandatory?
or is it optional?
Optional. But for those who do not match, it is probably the best way to get a position.
4. Then let's say, if IMGs trying to apply for Residency and couldn't find any spots available for them and still looking for Residency Matching Spots, what do you call that period of time?
(It's before they're matched to Residency.)
Depends. If it is in the two days after the match is over, then that period is called the scramble. After that, there is no official name for it. Bear in mind "matching" implies that you used the NRMP or other match service to obtain a position. Simply getting a position, whether in the scramble or outside of the match, does not mean you have "matched".
5. Can anyone tell me if you know any of Residency Matching Spots available at any hospitals in U.S. specifically near N.Y. area, can you list them for me?
That is a tall order because most of us would only know about open positions at our own hospitals. There are no more "matching" spots because the match is over. There may be some open positions to start July 1, 2008 available "outside of the match". You should contact programs, in the specialty and area you are interested in and see if they have any open positions.
If you are still confused, I would recommend reading some of the threads here and on nrmp.org because these are very common questions.
