It's okay--we know you are upset. That being said, I would be worried, but it sounds like you are. It also sounds like you are doing the right things and wouldn't have come here if you weren't worried.
I would disagree with this. It's better for him to match somewhere than nowhere. I say this as someone who VERY much wants to stay where we are too (I live 20 min from my mommy and don't want to leave my family or job!) and has talked A LOT about my location preferences. But in the end, we applied to a lot of places I really don't want to live, and only cancelled some after he met his "number." He would argue, "but it would be better to match here than not match at all" and I would have to agree. I don't think you really want to go through another year of uncertainty and an ENT match that might be even more competitive next year. Plan B is always worse. It really is. The faster you get through residency, the faster you can settle down for good! (ha, well maybe!)
I think Moonlight's main point is SOAP starts immediately after you do or don't match and you will have to act fast, so it might be a good idea to think about your options as much as possible now and start to consider living further South, though the advisor is probably right that it may not help. I think this board has given us real examples of good applicants getting burned and we tend to be very cautious.
What did the advisor suggest exactly? Do they have a good handle on the ENT match? Starting a month ago, DH was getting emails (along with the rest of his class) detailing where they should be interview wise and telling them to get in ASAP if they weren't on target. This is directly from one email:
I would have to say with a baby on the way, I'm not sure I'd rather end up in the middle of nowhere just to make the match than figure out plan B. I'm a loving wife, but I do have my own sanity to consider...
I think Moonlight's main point is SOAP starts immediately after you do or don't match and you will have to act fast, so it might be a good idea to think about your options as much as possible now and start to consider living further South, though the advisor is probably right that it may not help. I think this board has given us real examples of good applicants getting burned and we tend to be very cautious.
What did the advisor suggest exactly? Do they have a good handle on the ENT match? Starting a month ago, DH was getting emails (along with the rest of his class) detailing where they should be interview wise and telling them to get in ASAP if they weren't on target. This is directly from one email:
As we have mentioned previously, the new Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP) which allows for a process for unmatched applicants to apply to unfilled residency spots around the country during Match Week- is not student-friendly- at all.
We will provide details in the Spring for your class to review the process and make sure all of you are well informed and prepared.
The most important thing to know is that you should do EVERYTHING in your power to not be in the position to use SOAP.
For that reason, we strongly recommend that you contact your specialty advisor/Departmental specialty advisor to review the number of interviews you have received thus far and whether the range of interviews allows for you to have enough depth (reaches, programs you are solidly competitive for, AND safeties). You do not have to go to every interview offered, but you need to go to enough and the range that allows you to be ensured of a spot next year. The number will be decided based on discussions with your advisor. (If you do cancel, please do it far in advance and be gracious.)
If after speaking to the Departmental advisor, you are concerned, it is not too late to apply to more programs or into a backup specialty, but this needs to happen ASAP. This is a far more preferred path then relying on the SOAP.
We will provide details in the Spring for your class to review the process and make sure all of you are well informed and prepared.
The most important thing to know is that you should do EVERYTHING in your power to not be in the position to use SOAP.
For that reason, we strongly recommend that you contact your specialty advisor/Departmental specialty advisor to review the number of interviews you have received thus far and whether the range of interviews allows for you to have enough depth (reaches, programs you are solidly competitive for, AND safeties). You do not have to go to every interview offered, but you need to go to enough and the range that allows you to be ensured of a spot next year. The number will be decided based on discussions with your advisor. (If you do cancel, please do it far in advance and be gracious.)
If after speaking to the Departmental advisor, you are concerned, it is not too late to apply to more programs or into a backup specialty, but this needs to happen ASAP. This is a far more preferred path then relying on the SOAP.
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