US and Canadian Match question.

[warpath]

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I was just wondering. What if you apply to both the Canadian Residency match and the US residency match and you get into a residency program in both? Can you turn down the US residency program and go to Canada? I know you're obligated to go into a program if you have a match in Canada, I was just wondering whether it's the same in the States or if you're allowed to pull out. Thanks.

 

[EMDrMoe]

Can you apply to the Canadian match as a US citizen? (not to detract from your question, but I'm very curious).

 

[brownman]

Not sure what they do to you in canada (beat and flog or etc.), but in the States you can turn down a match position if you want. You just can't try and sign with another program if you match into a separate one (I match at Kansas...but I wanted to go to Southwestern....well I'm screwed...but if I don't want to go to Kansas because somehow in the month before the match results were given I realized my lifelong dream is to be a circus clown...I can just not sign the contract and tell them to screw themselves). Granted if you do number two...YOU WILL NEVER MATCH IN ANY FIELD EVER AGAIN...but well if you don't want to do it...then you don't have to.

That's all I know..you can just tell the american program that you match at that you've changed you mind and don't want to do residency...and they will hate you...but they will just tear up your contract and scramble for a spot.

Hope that helps...

 

[LaCirujana]

This is all hearsay, but my understanding is that one can enter both the American and Canadian matches, regardless of which citizenship one holds. As far as I know, the Canadian match takes place slightly earlier (a week?) than the U.S. match and if one is participating in both and matches in a Canadian program, he or she is withdrawn from the U.S. match. Thus, there is no conflict re. choosing between contracts. I could be completely out in left field here, but I seem to recall one of my classmates considering the Canadian match (she is a British citizen with permanent residency in the States) and this was the process she described to me. Anyone have better info?

 

[Denise0207]

Hi everyone,

I'm going through this whole Canadian vs. American process right now, and let me tell you it is not fun at all! One could technically enter both matches. However, the CaRMS match (Canadian equivalent of NRMP) occurs one week earlier than the NRMP match and if you match to a Canadian program, you are automatically withdrawn from NRMP. So, if you would prefer to be in the States and you have a good chance of matching to a Canadian program, you have to essentially withdraw from the Canadian match (nervewracking because the chances of matching to a Canadian program are so much higher).

According to the CaRMS website, one must be a graduate of a Canadian medical school to enter into the first round of the match. Therefore, it technically doesn't depend on citizenship although in reality getting into a Canadian med school without being a Canadian citizen/permanent resident is virtually impossible. However, what has me puzzled is that I know of a few residents at my medical school who went to school in the States (Canadian citizens, though) but still managed to participate in the first round. So, I don't know if the policies have changed and the website just hasn't updated the information yet.

Some of the residency programs at McGill (Montreal) offer positions through the NRMP, but these are reserved for American citizens.

 

[Surfer75]

I'm a US resident graduating in '03 from a Canadian school and am planning on applying through both CaRMS and NRMP. For CaRMS yes, you have to be a CMG, but technically you still cannot apply if you are not at least a "landed immigrant" ... 2nd iteration is more for Canadian residents who went to school outside of the US/Canada (i.e. SGU, etc). If you contact CaRMS about this, they'll simply tell you to contact individual programs... but overall it fits what I mentioned above. And true, as in the prior posts, don't apply through CaRMS if you're not willing to go where accepted over US spots since your spot in the NRMP will be retracted upon successful match in Canada.

Other points of interest:

Canadians attending US schools can apply through CaRMS iteration no problem. Also, in terms of applying to McGill - US residents in US schools can via NRMP, Canadians at Canadians can through CaRMS and Canadians at US schools can through CaRMS as well, BUT US students in CANADIAN schools CANNOT apply to McGill period.
- Jeff

 

[warpath]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by Surfer75:
•

Other points of interest:

Canadians attending US schools can apply through CaRMS iteration no problem. Also, in terms of applying to McGill - US residents in US schools can via NRMP, Canadians at Canadians can through CaRMS and Canadians at US schools can through CaRMS as well, BUT US students in CANADIAN schools CANNOT apply to McGill period.
- Jeff•••••As a Canadian Graduating from a US school, will I be able to register for the first round (CaRMS)or do I have to wait for the second round (I understand the second round match takes place after the NRMP)?

 

[Surfer75]

Yep, Canadians in US schools are fine for 1st iteration CaRMS. In general, Canadian grads from LCME schools qualify for 1st iteration hands down.

Jeff

 

[Thewonderer]

bump....

thread of interest to lots of canadians out on this board.

.....although Jeff seems to be awefully optimistic about the chance of coming back to Canada for Canadians who go to American med schools.

I would personally probably join BrainDrain