Withdrawing from fellowship match

[hopeles]

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Applied for fellowship but at this point having some reservations and doubts such as difficult schedule, nights, having to relocate etc. and thinking if I'm better off just doing primary care in terms of a better lifestyle than fellowship. I know it's worse to withdraw after the match, waiver isn't guaranteed and can get you banned.

If I withdraw prior to match, what's the process like and will there be repercussions in the near future for example if I decide to reapply again or I will burn my bridges since there aren't that many programs in the area and they likely won't re-interview someone that withdrew.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

It's fine. You simply withdraw your application in ERAS which will notify programs. Programs would likely interview you again, and never remember that you withdrew.

 

[GoSpursGo]

Agree that withdrawing is straightforward. Personally, I feel like programs that previously interviewed you might remember that you withdrew and steer clear in the future... but obviously that's still preferable from their end than for you to withdraw after match.

 

[hopeles]

It's fine. You simply withdraw your application in ERAS which will notify programs. Programs would likely interview you again, and never remember that you withdrew.

Even for a example a year later they won't remember- since I'm sure the pool is much smaller for fellowship.

And Deferral if not sure is not an option assuming

 

[gutonc]

Even for a example a year later they won't remember- since I'm sure the pool is much smaller for fellowship.

Could they remember you? Maybe. But it's unlikely, and not worth worrying about.

ETA: When I was part of the interviewer pool for my fellowship program that took 3-4 candidates a year, we would interview 50 or 60 a year. Most people were so remarkably forgettable that I barely remembered them at the end of the day wrap-up session from the beginning of the day introduction session. The memorable ones were generally not memorable for good reasons.

And Deferral if not sure is not an option assuming

Even more unlikely than them remembering you next year at interview time. Is it technically possible? Yes. Will it happen? No.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

If by deferral you mean "match there, and then defer for a year", that's not a thing. Although a program might consider it, they might also be really upset that you took a spot and hence they didn't get anyone else. You'd be stuck starting training or resigning with a match violation. Do not plan for this outcome.

 

[hopeles]

Thanks, on the other hand if unsure do I just suck it up and go for it since I already applied and would benefit from a fellowship and giving up the opportunity?

For example if i decide next year to apply would be more difficult since would have to go through the process all over again, get LORs again (not sure they can be reused since they would be dated as not current) and programs may not want to re-interview since they may feel I already interviewed- remember me/ waisting their time or didn't match.

 

[wysdoc]

It sounds like you are just finishing your residency - what field was it in, and what fellowship did you consider?
Are there jobs in the area you want to live in this field, instead of going on with a fellowship training?

 

[comp1]

So it matters a tiny bit what fellowship this was, but honestly, not much. No one will remember you one way or another if the match hasn't already happened. Fellowship, in the vast majority of cases, is not residency. Many spots go completely unfilled. It's very smart to focus on the relocation part. You don't want to move somewhere if you don't plan to live there the rest of your life since statistically, that's what will happen. That said, if you don't go straight into fellowship, you probably aren't going to ever and that's TOTALLY fine. You've had more education already than 99.9999% of the human race.

 

[hopeles]

So it matters a tiny bit what fellowship this was, but honestly, not much. No one will remember you one way or another if the match hasn't already happened. Fellowship, in the vast majority of cases, is not residency. Many spots go completely unfilled. It's very smart to focus on the relocation part. You don't want to move somewhere if you don't plan to live there the rest of your life since statistically, that's what will happen. That said, if you don't go straight into fellowship, you probably aren't going to ever and that's TOTALLY fine. You've had more education already than 99.9999% of the human race.

Even In a year they won't remember me? I feel I'm unique and memorable but I'm sure everyone feels that way..i just don't want to regret it one day for not going through.

 

[hopeles]

It sounds like you are just finishing your residency - what field was it in, and what fellowship did you consider?
Are there jobs in the area you want to live in this field, instead of going on with a fellowship training?

Yes there are and would be giving them up likely if doing a fellowship.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

I feel I'm unique and memorable but I'm sure everyone feels that way..i just don't want to regret it one day for not going through.

No, you are not likely that memorable.

Even if you are, they might ask why you changed your mind. Just plan to have an answer. I needed to work for a few years to help improve my financial position is a perfectly fine answer.

 

[gutonc]

Even In a year they won't remember me? I feel I'm unique and memorable but I'm sure everyone feels that way..i just don't want to regret it one day for not going through.

As I mentioned above, but to expand on it, there are 2 kinds of memorable people in this situation (and they are far less common than the forgettable ones).

The first group is memorable because their CV is so stellar that PDs are crawling over each other to recruit. This is probably <1% of the applicants.

The second group is memorable because they're so awkward/weird/rude/inappropriate that they generally go on the DNR list at the end of the interview day.

If you're in the first group, you wouldn't be asking the question. If you're in the second group, it's kind of a moot point. You're most likely in neither group, which is what you want.

 

[hopeles]

And I'm just wondering after the match what are the repercussions dropping out? Are you banned from future matches or can affect licensure etc?

Also I don't 100% know what the job outlook would be of primary care so no guarantees will be happy

 

[NotAProgDirector]

You should absolutely, positively withdraw from the match now if you're thinking of "dropping out". Yes, you're likely to create a match violation and end up banned for 3 years. Plus, you then screw someone else out of a spot. Decide now what you want. There are plenty of primary care jobs out there. I can't tell you if you'll be happy in primary care, but neither can I be sure you'll be happy in a fellowship.

If you drop out of a fellowship, you should assume you'll never be accepted back. If you're not sure, the best choice is to withdraw now, try primary care, reapply to fellowship later if that's what you decide is best.

 

[HemeOncHopeful19]

If you’re on the fence you should absolutely not do fellowship.

More 60-80 hour weeks and 1 day off per week averaged over 4 weeks for crap pay?

That’s not a life for someone on the fence. You will absolutely be wondering why you didn’t just work PCP hours.