BKN,
I fully agree with your commentary on the "obsessive-complusive" forum posts, but on the other hand; there is no question that the match process, as currently constructed, can create pathology where none existed previously. I mean take the average fourth-year medical student. He/she managed to excel academically (and in life) to the level where they were admitted to medical school. They have just gone through two years of unbelievable (in scope and bredth) classroom training followed by two years of clinical training where feedback was somewhat quick and generally correlated directly to effort. Basically these are people who are constantly told that they have the drive, acumen, and raw talent to "do anything they want". Most are facile at the interactions needed to suceed, and are above average communicators (especially those drawn to EM).
Then, we throw them into a process where none of the "normal rules" seem to apply, and to add fuel to this fire, the stakes are as high as they have ever been (a mix of "what are you going to do with your life" and "the four years of hard work you've just completed are now on the line"). So, instead of the usual manner of seeking employment - interview, interact, give and recieve fairly open communication, then decide if you want to enter negotiations, we have this secretive method that is an unknown black box surrounded by rumor and inuendo. Suddenly people used to having a great deal of control over their lives are faced with a complete abscence of control. And the normal routes of communication are closed off by a set of rules, often misapplied and usually misunderstood. I know that if I had been extended a binding offer by almost any program in the days preceeding the ROL due date, I'd have signed in a heartbeat, just to "know". I know that if I could have had open and less contrived conversations with program leadership and residents, I would have been a great deal more comfortable. Heck, if I just were to have been given a choice amongst three or four programs that would agree to accept me if I wanted to attend, I'd have been more relaxed. And while this may have been the case (I'd like to think I was "ranked to match" at all of my top choices) I'll never know.
Now don't take this to mean that I am unhappy with the way things turned out, I'm not. But, when I cruise over to the pre-allo forum and look at how they view medical school admissions as "random and chaotic", I have to laugh. At least when applying to medical school, if accepted by multiple locations, you have open choice.
I know about the problems with the "old" system, and I do acknowledge the match is fair and functional. And I have no better system to propose. That said, I have never in my life been as stressed out as I was during the match. And most coping mechanisms I had built up until that point were obliterated by the rules of the match (i.e., I couldn't reasonably call PDs and openly negotiate) or by the mystery of the process (e.g., explaining medical school admissions to my family and friends four years prior had been enough, I knew there was no possible way to explain the Match). So in the end, I discovered SDN and obsessed needlessly in a futile attempt to gain some semblence of control.
In short, relax everyone, and have a beer. The second hand will continue its steady clockwise march around the watch face no matter what you do. You can't control what will happen next anymore than you can stop time...
- H
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