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Residency
Match:
There are a variety of strange things that can
happen on match day - most of them good. But we will run down
some of the options for you here, so you can be prepared. |
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| What
is the match schedule? |
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February
- rank list entry. You can certify your list more than
once. You get 15 programs for a base price, but each
additional program on your rank list will cost you.
Once you have paid, you can re-arrange and re-certify
your list without being charged.
Match Week
- around St. Patrick's Day. The week schedule is as
follows:
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Monday - find out if you matched or not.
Log onto the website and find out if you matched (it will tell
you: "congratulations, you have matched"). The system
also sends you an e-mail with the same information (though due
to the high volume of hits to the website, it usually comes
a few hours late). The site only tells you IF you matched, not
where.
Tuesday - Scramble Day for those who did not match. See
below for how it works.
Thursday - Match Day. Everyone gathers in the quad to
finally find out WHERE they matched. The week is often filled
with much anxiety, as you don't know whether you matched into
your first choice program or your last. The morning starts with
Dr. K giving a series of statistics on where people matched
geographically, by specialty, etc. Then everyone heads out to
collect their envelope, open it, and be filled with joy or disappointment.
Whatever the case may be for you, know that you will be trained
as a surgeon, and whatever program you matched into will be
a good one for you. To console you or help you celebrate, there
are often massive quantities of alcohol to be consumed throughout
the day. And after that point, your troubles are behind you.
So good luck, and may you all match at your top choice programs! |
| How
the Match Algorythm Works |
| The
match algorythm is rather confusing. A good, step-by-step
explanation can be found here.
Hopefully that will clear up any of your questions. |
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| Scramble
Day - What happens if I don't match? |
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Applicants who did not match will have access to the
system showing them what spots are open so that they
can prepare to call them starting at 9am.
It is basically a free-for-all where all unmatched
students vye for any unfilled spots. The past few years
there have only been a handful of general surgery positions
available, so you want to make sure you match by ranking
enough programs (15-25).
If you do not get a spot on Scramble day, you can either
decide to take a year of research, scramble into another
field, or chose to graduate without matching. It is
not an enviable position to be in, and you don't have
much time to make these decisions. It is often helpful
to bring in a close friend to the scramble session to
help call the programs on your behalf. Also, be sure
to talk things over with your advisor before you start.
They can also be a big help.
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