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thats an impossible number..been a frustrating day. anyone else?
The prior system, where there were no rules and no organization, wasn't much better. The only part of it that was better was that it was over much faster. Basically, the unfilled list came out at noon and if you didn't have a spot by 2PM, that was it. Needless to say, it was all driven by how lucky you were to get a phone call in to a program in time.This soap is such a fail system...i just talk to anther PD and scary thing.
Most programs dont even know how the soap will work. This particular PD thought we also make ranking of offers. He got terrified when i said i can only accept/reject offers.
Then he told me they got about 2000 applications. Its a mess. They are still reviewing. I wouldnt worry if you dont get a call today. They may still be calls tomorrow am.
Whoever came out with this messy system ?
I just want this to be over. This is beyond frustrating.
I keep everyone here in my prayers. Hopefully you all match.
A PD I talked to today also told me that he got about 2000 applications (I wonder if it is the same program). This was for IM.
then definitely not the same program...wonder if all 2000people trying to match are applying everywhere they can...i stuck to my specialty of choice...i can't imagine doing anything else which is adding to my stress in this process...A PD I talked to today also told me that he got about 2000 applications (I wonder if it is the same program). This was for IM.
I wonder if this new system benefits unmatched AMG's at the expense of IMG/FMG's, Reason being is that many if not most PD's can now screen their applicants versus accepting whatever comes their way and I wonder if the first sorting criteria is AMG versus IMG/FMG. I imagine that PD would prefer to fill their unfilled spots by known unmatched applicants coming from American medical schools simply for the purpose of advertising. I surmise this of course but I'd be curious to see the stats and percentages of applicants going unmatched this year and last year and see how the proportion of that is AMG vs IMG/FMG. I know that for one I've gotten more love in terms of SOAP interviews for categorical positions now that a whole chunk of AMG's have been eliminated from the applicant pool after first match.The prior system, where there were no rules and no organization, wasn't much better. The only part of it that was better was that it was over much faster. Basically, the unfilled list came out at noon and if you didn't have a spot by 2PM, that was it. Needless to say, it was all driven by how lucky you were to get a phone call in to a program in time.
This system drags the process out over a much longer time frame - whether that's "good" or "bad" depends on your viewpoint. There is no question in my view that it gives much more control to the applicants. If you're going to get offers, you'll have a choice between them. If you're not going to get any offers, it probably doesn't matter which system is used.
I wonder if this new system benefits unmatched AMG's at the expense of IMG/FMG's
There is no question that it does. Every aspect of the american residency system favors AMGs at the expense of IMG/FMGs.
There is no question that it does. Every aspect of the american residency system favors AMGs at the expense of IMG/FMGs.
Just in case anyone reading this is unaware...
AMG - American Medical Graduate - LCME accredited schools
IMG - International Medical Graduate - US citizen (many do clinicals in US)
FMG - Foreign Medical Graduate - Foreign trained, foreign citizen
Just in case anyone reading this is unaware...
AMG - American Medical Graduate - LCME accredited schools
IMG - International Medical Graduate - US citizen (many do clinicals in US)
FMG - Foreign Medical Graduate - Foreign trained, foreign citizen
I'm a US citizen IMG from the midwest. I would agree that the residency selection process favors AMG's over IMG's/FMG's. And perhaps it should be this way. If the American medical schools would have appropriately answered the call to increase training numbers over the last 20-30 years as they were asked, we would've never encountered the IMG debacle to begin with. Imagine how different things would be. Many of us that went the IMG route would have found a place in a US medical school, rather than going to an off-shore school and being ridiculed for it.
I think many of my fellow IMG's can relate when I say that I had absolutely NO IDEA what I was getting myself into when I went to the Caribbean for medical school. It was nuts. Thankfully, I matched and it all worked out alright. I cannot say the same for many of my kind. It is a ridiculously more difficult path to getting into residency, in addition to disgustingly expensive. Since yesterday, I've been ecstatic, because my risky Caribbean endeavor paid off in the end. Oh, how things could've turned out so differently, yikes! There we so many things about the IMG process that were aggravating.
What a weird predicament our profession has gotten itself into by not producing enough MD graduates to fill the general demand. I think the playing field is finally being corrected as US schools increase enrollment. I do believe that by about 2020-2030, IMG's will be about phased out. IMG's are already starting to feel the crunch, it's only going to get more and more difficult to get spots. It's only going to get worse. And since pre-matching is no longer allowed for IMG's starting with the 2013 application cycle (next year), it will be interesting to see how things change.
As for FMG's, I hope they have post-graduate training available in their home countries, because that's going to continue to get tougher as well.
In retrospect, I'm not sure I'd go the IMG route again. I'm so thankful that it worked out.
There is no question that it does. Every aspect of the american residency system favors AMGs at the expense of IMG/FMGs.
Like many people here, I applied to many FM & IM spots. Absolutely no contacts. I agree with the person that brought up this point: almost all programs are contacting the same 100-200 applicants. It's easy to add lots of descriptive adjectives at this point, but let's not. So in conclusion.... dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome, urinary frequency, eye twitching, starvation, and insomnia for more days to come, yes? Love how this new "SOAP" strategy fixed ALL of our problems. Fantastic work. I'll serve you guys at McDonald's in July. With a smile. Better order them Happy Meals.
If all the programs are contacting ~200 AMGs for ~1100 unfilled spots, that still leaves you in good shape with plenty of spots after the first round of offers go out. I hope you at least have good USMLE scores to set you apart.
IMG = FMG
That's great and all and I'm teary eyed for you while clapping my hands and clicking my heels, spectacular. Great topic and we can leave that to a debate, but uhmm...
This is a SOAP forum, buddy. You're in a totally wrong zone with people who don't want to hear your "lookit me, I matched!" horse dung. Unless you have details specific about the SOAP and are stressing out with the rest of us, post here. If not, this isn't the place for you. Okay, done. Breathe...
I wonder if this new system benefits unmatched AMG's at the expense of IMG/FMG's, Reason being is that many if not most PD's can now screen their applicants versus accepting whatever comes their way and I wonder if the first sorting criteria is AMG versus IMG/FMG. I imagine that PD would prefer to fill their unfilled spots by known unmatched applicants coming from American medical schools simply for the purpose of advertising. I surmise this of course but I'd be curious to see the stats and percentages of applicants going unmatched this year and last year and see how the proportion of that is AMG vs IMG/FMG. I know that for one I've gotten more love in terms of SOAP interviews for categorical positions now that a whole chunk of AMG's have been eliminated from the applicant pool after first match.
If all the programs are contacting ~200 AMGs for ~1100 unfilled spots, that still leaves you in good shape with plenty of spots after the first round of offers go out. I hope you at least have good USMLE scores to set you apart.
Wow, where have you been?
We're not talking about all 1100 unfilled spots here, we're simply talking about Family Medicine or Internal Medicine categoricals since that's what majority of the applicants are going for. So when we say the same 100-200 applicants are being contacted by all the programs - we're referring to simply what the majority is applying for, which is Family Medicine and Internal Medicine.
And you really think USMLE scores are an issue at this point? Again, where HAVE you been!? I don't want to get into this again because this isn't the forum for it - this process is prioritized to maximize job placements for AMGs. That's the simple truth.
IMG = FMG
That's great and all and I'm teary eyed for you while clapping my hands and clicking my heels, spectacular. Great topic and we can leave that to a debate, but uhmm...
This is a SOAP forum, buddy. You're in a totally wrong zone with people who don't want to hear your "lookit me, I matched!" horse dung. Unless you have details specific about the SOAP and are stressing out with the rest of us, post here. If not, this isn't the place for you. Okay, done. Breathe...
Like many people here, I applied to many FM & IM spots. Absolutely no contacts. I agree with the person that brought up this point: almost all programs are contacting the same 100-200 applicants. It's easy to add lots of descriptive adjectives at this point, but let's not. So in conclusion.... dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome, urinary frequency, eye twitching, starvation, and insomnia for more days to come, yes? Love how this new "SOAP" strategy fixed ALL of our problems. Fantastic work. I'll serve you guys at McDonald's in July. With a smile. Better order them Happy Meals.
I'm sorry to say but I agree with CPmustangs.
Perhaps because as I am right now, as an unmatched graduate of an American Medical College, I'd like to think priority for jobs is given to US educated medical students. We are the ones with medical school loans from the US government (and private for some) to pay back. I'm seeing a lot of IMG complaining about how unfair the new SOAP is in giving preference to AMG but I'm sorry I can't sympathize. There are other ways SOAP is unfair but I think preference to AMG over IMG (regardless of matched credentials or even far more superior credentials by IMG) is appropriate.
"far more superior credentials"
Time for some tough love guys.
If you haven't been interviewed yet, you're almost certainly not going to match.
Try to identify what your major weaknesses were and see if you can change any of them if you reapply. Also keep your eye out for out-of-cycle spots and additional spots available after SOAP.
Not saying you should give up on SOAP now, but you should expect disappointment.
was about to ask the same thinghow do we keep our eye out for out of cycle spots? will these be published anywhere?
how do we keep our eye out for out of cycle spots? will these be published anywhere?
anyone know the policy on contacting programs that arent participating in the SOAP? do we have to wait til friday at 5pm or can we start now? this line from NRMP is giving me some hesitation: "You may apply to unfilled programs only through ERAS" (http://www.nrmp.org/res_match/faq/us_seniors_faq.html#22D)
P.S. I'm annoyed at Anesthesia people or RADS that take up Prelim-Med. I feel like it should be reserved for neuro because we actually need it and can't do anything else.
P.S. I'm annoyed at Anesthesia people or RADS that take up Prelim-Med. I feel like it should be reserved for neuro because we actually need it and can't do anything else.
Which one of those 2 websites is "better / more reliable"? The 1st one requires your SSN, Address, School name, degree date, etc for registration. The 2nd site simply requires your First and Last name for registration.https://services.aamc.org/findaresident/
AAMC maintains the above site and they have some unfilled programs listed for folks in exactly your position. It's crap that you have to pay for a subscription, but it is probably worth it considering the circumstances. It updates all the time and will likely do so over the next couple weeks.
http://www.residentswap.org/how_it_works.php
This one isn't too bad either. They have a lot of non-PGY1 positions listed, but there will be some PGY1 spots on there.
There are some other sources that I've seen, but can't remember where to find them at the moment.
Even if SOAP doesn't pan out for you, don't give up looking. The chances of waiting a year are high, but there are still hailmary passes to be thrown.
I had the same question and contacted NRMP. They told me that we aren't allowed to contact ANY programs during match week. Simply put, NOBODY should be contacting any programs this week. We can contact anyone we want after Friday. Here their message:
"Non-SOAP participating programs that are indicated with red * in the Unfilled Programs List, may not contact applicants, nor be contacted by applicants about the filling of their positions until after the SOAP process conclude at 5:00 pm eastern time, Friday, March 16th."