Preparing for the match

[ides]

We did The Spreadheet From Hell with every. single. program. in the country in the dude's field. Um, it's a LOT. We weeded it down over a few years.

It seems like overkill, but the SFH really helps organize your thoughts and criteria into a manageable pile of info.

We did this too.

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[alotofyarn]

I'm so close to dumping all the potential rads program in excel to create The Spreadsheet, but I'm holding off. I found one website that seems to include them all, but how can I be sure? What did everyone else do?

For applications, or match? When deciding where to apply, we first started with parts of the country we were willing to live in, and we added a bunch of programs that way. We added in a few long shots that had good job options for me and took out a few that we weren't terribly excited about. All said, he still applied to more than 50 programs, so I'm not sure how helpful that advice is. For match, we tried to think about all the places and whether it was a program my husband liked, whether it was a place we wanted to live, and whether I could get a good job, then we ranked them as best as we could for best of all three.

We didn't really have a spreadsheet, but we did have a few documents with lists that we sent back and forth to teach other. We got our initial list from a urology match website, which isn't super helpful. Once they register for ERAS, they'll get the full list, I think.

[MissCrabette]

You don't need to be registered to see the lists of programs. Here's the main page that lists all specialties and even fellowships: https://services.aamc.org/eras/erasstats/par/

I was going to link the Diagnostic Radiology list, but I can't seem to grab the correct link with my phone.

[Cinderella]

We're using that one for ERAS and then this link for FRIEDA. https://freida.ama-assn.org/Freida/u...ogramSearch.do

I'm also making the dreaded "S-S-F-H" and searching Internal Medicine as first priority, Family Medicine as second and then depending on his Step 2 CK score he said he'll apply to 50 FMG/IMG friendly general surgery programs to give it a shot. He doesn't hold much hope for them though because it's an even smaller percentage of IMGs that match in Surgery.

As for a career path he's thinking he'll likely match in his Internal Medicine preference and then be able to follow up with a fellowship that allows some kind of hands on invasive procedures. We'll see how it goes with the match first, then getting through the residency and so forth from there - one step at a time.

[SoonerTexan]

For applications, or match? When deciding where to apply, we first started with parts of the country we were willing to live in, and we added a bunch of programs that way. We added in a few long shots that had good job options for me and took out a few that we weren't terribly excited about. All said, he still applied to more than 50 programs, so I'm not sure how helpful that advice is. For match, we tried to think about all the places and whether it was a program my husband liked, whether it was a place we wanted to live, and whether I could get a good job, then we ranked them as best as we could for best of all three.

Applications, and then I'll narrow it down to match based on what interview he gets/completes. He needs to figure out his "magic numbers" first, but I foresee him applying very broadly simply out of paranoia.

MissCrabette--thanks for the link. Only CA programs are showing up as "not participating" now, but I think that is because of where they are in the current match cycle.

[Pollyanna]

What a great situation!

I'm so close to dumping all the potential rads program in excel to create The Spreadsheet, but I'm holding off. I found one website that seems to include them all, but how can I be sure? What did everyone else do?

I created a binder that organized programs by state. Each folder within the binder included info about the program and fellowships offered, real estate, schools, churches, dance/sports programs, colleges, and job environment. It was really helpful to see everything on paper.

[MissCrabette]

Thanks for lighting a fire under me. It just occurred to me today (after so very casually providing that link to ST the other day) that we're going through the match before her and her DH! Yikes!

I must be blocking these memories, but how do you even begin to sort through an enormous list of programs? We're looking at a list of 185. For residency, I eliminated California and New York without a second thought because we knew that he'd match somewhere, and that put a sizable dent in the list. This time I'm not quite so confident anymore. I'd rather be in NY for 3 miserable years than have to scramble for a job and try again one year later.

I'm rambling. Wake me up in December when it's all over.

[diggitydot]

We eliminated vast areas where we knew we didn't want to live first. Then we knocked out areas where the COL was insane, unless there was an exceptional program that tipped the balance.

[SoonerTexan]

MissCrabette, is this fellowship?

[MissCrabette]

It is. Time flies, doesn't it?

[SoonerTexan]

Yes it does!

[alotofyarn]

Well, now that we're past match, I'm starting all over with the job hunt - kind of. I do have some connections in the city, since I grew up there and my dad works there. Hopefully I can find something good!

[Mrs. MD, Esq.]

We did a spreadsheet for applications, which we converted into interviews (complete with ranking formulas -- DH loooooves excel...)

[rain_dancer]

Well, now that we're past match, I'm starting all over with the job hunt - kind of. I do have some connections in the city, since I grew up there and my dad works there. Hopefully I can find something good!

Congratulations on getting through Match and your hubby matching into urology! I'm envious as I still have to wait 7 weeks until we find out. Although it sounds from your post that you didn't get your top choice, are you happy with the location? Sounds like you'll at least have family around, which is wonderful.

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

I created a binder that organized programs by state. Each folder within the binder included info about the program and fellowships offered, real estate, schools, churches, dance/sports programs, colleges, and job environment. It was really helpful to see everything on paper.

I did this. But only once we'd identified where we were willing to apply (based on our magic number), I only filled in the info for places we knew he'd apply. He ended up applying to 30 but interviewed at 12, I think? He insisted on applying to like 6 on the West Coast that he politely declined the interviews for after we knew he had enough in our desired areas. Really, though, it's a drop in the bucket in application fees. Better to apply to more and only then to cull based on interview offers than not apply to enough. Might be different for Rads though. For Uro, the whole thing is done in 6 weeks of interviewing because of the early match. Many programs offer interviews the same day as other programs so you have to choose and they expect a fair number of declines, etc.