What does getting offered outside the match mean >

[SleepyTime]

I have heard that some very well-qualified applicants may get residency offers outside the match, but I do not really understand how that works. Can anyone explain ? And what sort of applicant might get offered?

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[UTSouthwestern]

I have heard that some very well-qualified applicants may get residency offers outside the match, but I do not really understand how that works. Can anyone explain ? And what sort of applicant might get offered?

A spot outside the match is an offer that a program makes to you without you having to go through the match process to get selected/matched into a residency program. If you are a medical student, it is a violation of match rules for an institution to offer you a spot outside the match if you have applied to get a residency spot through the match. Doesn't mean it hasn't happened before. The match people get suspicious when someone asks to be pulled from the matching process before the match deadline altogether.

If you are currently in a residency or graduated from med school/are out of med school without having matched into a residency program (or just took a year off), you can try to solicit for a residency spot without going through the match process. I did that after I left internal medicine for anesthesiology. It is definitely a more tedious and time consuming process as you have to fill out individual application forms to each program and send out letters, transcripts, etc. individually to each program instead of sending it to the match center and having them send out the documents to your designated programs of interest.

 

[MD Dreams]

I have heard that some very well-qualified applicants may get residency offers outside the match, but I do not really understand how that works. Can anyone explain ? And what sort of applicant might get offered?

Out of the match spots may be legally offered to FMG's as well.

 

[SleepyTime]

I was wondering about how that all worked. It is too bad that offers can't occur to MS4s, but I suppose the Match is a cool way to go about it too. This discussion could (and has) go on and on.

 

[UTSouthwestern]

I wonder whatever became of the threatened lawsuit against the constraints of the match?

 

[InductionAgent]

Is there any more flexibility with CA-1 spots offerred outside the match in terms of when they can start? or does it still have to be around July 1?

 

[UTSouthwestern]

Is there any more flexibility with CA-1 spots offerred outside the match in terms of when they can start? or does it still have to be around July 1?

Off cycle spots are offered, but less so now because of the vagueness of how the ACGME interprets which class that resident belongs to. In the past, programs have used that vagueness to load up on good extra residents in the program. That will change as the ACGME tightens up that interpretation.

You should ask a program you are interested in if they would consider taking you off cycle and perhaps be able to include you in the previous class as opposed to the upcoming class. The program will then consider their ACGME class size limits before making a decision.

 

[residentx2]

Another option (what I did) is to apply to the match and have your info sent to the programs you are interested in. At the interview, ask them if they have any positions outside of the match. If they offer you one, you can simply withdraw from the match. The program will then send you a contract to sign. It would look fishy for a med student/intern to do this, I had already completed a FP residency when I applied to Anesthesia. This saves you from having to send out multiple applications. As stated above, outside the match positions are usually offered to people with unusual circumstances, ie: previous training, fmg's, transfers from other programs, etc. not the norm. Good luck!!