MS 4 Spouses

[sstreet]

Re: MS 4 Spouses

Back from Miami. It was a very busy, very quick visit! It went well. The BBQ was great. It wasn't just the residents, but the attendings and their families as well so it was a nice mix. I enjoyed the opportunity to get an more full picture of the program. Which is something I haven't really been able to see at his other away rotations, even though they were in Philly.

On another note. There has been a suggestion to start an MS 4 group on the front page to have a permanent, specific place for us to share, rant, celebrate, commiserate etc. I am not sure if I can set it up since I have yet to reach the 50 post mark but I will post back.

Miss Martini - the limbo factor is crazy. You are exactly right, a mix between excitement and stress. I made the decision this year to go back to school and change careers so I am in flux as well. It has been stressful but I think it has helped having a ton of new things for me focus on. We applied to 40 + programs as well. 15 interviews would be awesome. None yet but the LOR's aren't all in, but that is a different story! Did any of your letter writers have your SO write their own letter to gain insight to their personality? That is the last thing he needs right now.

Anyways back to studying....

Re: MS 4 Spouses

Sounds like the trip turned out to be worth it. That probably really did help give insight for both of you into the people that you would be surrounded by. I am hoping that wives get invited to some of the interviews, I would be interested in what some programs have to say about work hours etc.

I have heard about people having to write their own recs, that really is an added stressor.

My new hobby is looking at real estate in all the cities DH applied. There are 40...that should keep me busy for a while. :banghead:

[moonlight]

Re: MS 4 Spouses

[quote="sstreet"]

On another note. There has been a suggestion to start an MS 4 group on the front page to have a permanent, specific place for us to share, rant, celebrate, commiserate etc. I am not sure if I can set it up since I have yet to reach the 50 post mark but I will post back.
quote]
once you reach 50+ posts you will be able to access the "peds" section. it's totally dedicated to med school spouses... and tends to have mostly 3rd and 4th years posters. keep posting!!

[madeintaiwan]

Re: MS 4 Spouses

Back from Miami. It was a very busy, very quick visit! It went well. The BBQ was great. It wasn't just the residents, but the attendings and their families as well so it was a nice mix. I enjoyed the opportunity to get an more full picture of the program. Which is something I haven't really been able to see at his other away rotations, even though they were in Philly.

On another note. There has been a suggestion to start an MS 4 group on the front page to have a permanent, specific place for us to share, rant, celebrate, commiserate etc. I am not sure if I can set it up since I have yet to reach the 50 post mark but I will post back.

Miss Martini - the limbo factor is crazy. You are exactly right, a mix between excitement and stress. I made the decision this year to go back to school and change careers so I am in flux as well. It has been stressful but I think it has helped having a ton of new things for me focus on. We applied to 40 + programs as well. 15 interviews would be awesome. None yet but the LOR's aren't all in, but that is a different story! Did any of your letter writers have your SO write their own letter to gain insight to their personality? That is the last thing he needs right now.

Anyways back to studying....

Nope to the writing their own letter thing. To me that defeats the true purpose of a letter of rec. That person should know you well enough to write their own letter about you.

FYI: ortho typically doesn't get much movement until Nov. And if you applied out west most of those programs don't send out invites until Dec and interview in Jan/Feb. Be prepared for A LOT of programs having interviews on the same date. Ortho is notorious for this. DH had at least 3 interview dates where at least 6 programs offered interviews on the same day. He had to give up 2 interviews and waitlist another because of it. Good luck to all.

[scarlett09]

Re: MS 4 Spouses

Although I am really exhausted from a day of meetings at work and writing for one of my grad school classes, I had to come on and share good news.

He got two more interviews!!

The first is at a local program that isn't too bad, it is affiliated with the state university and is a regional trauma center.

The second is at the top of his list!!! It is a good program not too far from home that has all of the things he wants in a peds residency. Yipee!!

Is it normal to start to cry when you find out that they got an interview at some place they really, really want to go?

I have heard about people having to write their own recs, that really is an added stressor.

I have not heard of anyone writing their own LORs. This would not beneficial to you, him or either one of your sanities. I have heard of people that, once it is written for them, are still seeing it anyway. And helping their professor or dean proofread it, tweak it, etc. Sometimes the MS4 may write a general paragraph or two about themselves that the letter writer can edit in any way they want.

Does anyone else feel that their life is in limbo?

Hell yes. We will be moving and I will be transferring grad programs. All I know is that it will be somewhere in the lower 48. Actually, I think it is kind of exciting. (Please refer me back to this post during the third week of March 2009 when I am having a nervous breakdown. Thanks.)

Re: MS 4 Spouses

That is awesome about the interviews, especially his number one choice!

I have a count down to match day on my desktop, 183 days left...

[sstreet]

Re: MS 4 Spouses

madeintaiwan - Thanks for the info. I have heard about the same interview dates, what a pain! It is good to know that you have been through all of this, I am sure I will have lots of questions.

The LOR thing is especially annoying because DH worked with him essentially one-on-one for a month and has been helping him with research for a few months now, so he knows him well. Plus he has the info packet given to all of the potential LOR writers. Anyways, I guess we will squeeze this in somewhere.

Yay for the interviews already secured!

[madeintaiwan]

Re: MS 4 Spouses

madeintaiwan - Thanks for the info. I have heard about the same interview dates, what a pain! It is good to know that you have been through all of this, I am sure I will have lots of questions.

No problem. I just wanted to let you know because I KNOW how hard it is to sit there, for months, with nothing while everyone else has their 10 invites with hotel accommodations, monetary stipends, and red carpet treatment. Ortho is just not like that because they don't have to be. DH applied to 34 programs, received 15 invites, went on 12, and ranked 14(two places had 6 year tracks). PM me if you have any questions.

[SuzySunshine]

Re: MS 4 Spouses

madeintaiwan - Thanks for the info. I have heard about the same interview dates, what a pain! It is good to know that you have been through all of this, I am sure I will have lots of questions.

No problem. I just wanted to let you know because I KNOW how hard it is to sit there, for months, with nothing while everyone else has their 10 invites with hotel accommodations, monetary stipends, and red carpet treatment. Ortho is just not like that because they don't have to be. DH applied to 34 programs, received 15 invites, went on 12, and ranked 14(two places had 6 year tracks). PM me if you have any questions.

I have a feeling nsg is going to be more like this now that they are no longer an early match. I know here they are cutting back the number of dates as well as the number of people invited to each.

Re: MS 4 Spouses

I know there was some talk about this becomming a permanent topic...did that ever happen?

Any updates?

[moonlight]

Re: MS 4 Spouses

I know there was some talk about this becomming a permanent topic...did that ever happen?

Any updates?

you should be approved to come into the Peds board now that your at 57 posts! Have you found that section of the site yet? It's more private and we let our hair down on that section about med school and the residency match process. Come on over and play! :grouphug:

[madeintaiwan]

Re: MS 4 Spouses

When you hit 50 posts you have to pm an admin [their names are dark blue] and ask for access.

[moonlight]

Re: MS 4 Spouses

When you hit 50 posts you have to pm an admin [their names are dark blue] and ask for access.

Gotcha, thanks - I asked permission a while back in the preferences, but I just PM'ed Fiona yesterday.

Yea!! Our posters were dwindling down a bit in our area. Glad to have YOU on the other side.

Re: MS 4 Spouses

I just discovered this site, and this thread - THANK YOU, THANK YOU. It helps so much to read and realize matching is a crazy process for many people and I'm not, well...crazy

My fiance is pursuing ER, and is currently working in St. Paul for a month, then will be on the road for 2 more months for another away rotation and interviews. He sent out 40 applications and we're hoping for 10-12 interviews. He has awesome experience (medic in the military for a decade), great clinical skills, lots of good letters - but his Step I score is low, so he's worried. Which makes me worry. Some people say they don't matter, some people say they do. He's gotten 3 interview requests already, and his final letter of recommendation hasn't even been filed yet - so that's hopefully a good sign? But I hear some programs have test score cutoffs, so if that's true he might be booted out of some of his top choices automatically. Which just sucks. Who knows?

I want him to have a program that makes him happy, in a city where I won't go crazy. I have to believe that's possible! I'm on the computer researching housing costs, etc., every time an interview request rolls in, and right now, Match Day (a day before my 29th birthday- whoo!) seems really, really far away.

Re: MS 4 Spouses

Welcome

Sounds like he is in good shape if he is already getting interviews!

Match day is a day AFTER my 26th Birthday!!! .....I guess my birthday dinner may be a little stressful