March 19th, 2009

Re: March 19th, 2009

We are anxiously waiting for March 19th too. I swear someone has been asking me every day for the past two months if we know about next year yet. Nobody else understands this whole match process even if you think you've explained it to them a million times! We went through the match last year and moved here for a rotating internship this past year. It will be nice to finally be settled for at least a few years.

[MrsK]

Re: March 19th, 2009

We are anxiously waiting for March 19th too. I swear someone has been asking me every day for the past two months if we know about next year yet. Nobody else understands this whole match process even if you think you've explained it to them a million times! We went through the match last year and moved here for a rotating internship this past year. It will be nice to finally be settled for at least a few years.

Same here. We married 2 weeks before last year's match and spent a good part of our wedding reception repeating the "we don't know where we are going" story. . . which was slightly more interesting than answering the typical repeated inquiries regarding "where are you going for your honeymoon?" Seriously, if I have to explain it to my MIL one more time, I'll die!

[scarlett09]

Re: March 19th, 2009

Ooh, Scarlett, congrats on the engagement!

Thanks oceanchild!

We are anxiously waiting for March 19th too. I swear someone has been asking me every day for the past two months if we know about next year yet. Nobody else understands this whole match process even if you think you've explained it to them a million times! We went through the match last year and moved here for a rotating internship this past year. It will be nice to finally be settled for at least a few years.

Same here. We married 2 weeks before last year's match and spent a good part of our wedding reception repeating the "we don't know where we are going" story. . . which was slightly more interesting than answering the typical repeated inquiries regarding "where are you going for your honeymoon?" Seriously, if I have to explain it to my MIL one more time, I'll die!

Ditto everything Jeran and MrsK said. What frustrates me most is not explaining it, but reminding people of the month and day on which the Match will be taking place. I cannot tell you how many times I have told someone when it is, only to have that same person ask two weeks later if we have found out where we are going. I wish that even if they don't retain the information about how the Match process works, that they would at least remember the month and the date. I've got some people, including family, who ask every couple of weeks. I think my new response to this question will be "We're going to the place where no one asks us this question anymore."

Has anyone else heard from their SO's med school about what Match Day will be like? I finally found out the exact times and where it will be, but I know nothing beyond that. Just that there will be champagne. I keep telling DF they can't serve alcohol without food, but he has no idea what's going on (and won't ask, grrrr). I wonder how this whole thing will go down. Do they do this in alpha order? Because DF is at the end of his class alphabetically, and I will die if I have to wait until then. (Side note: I know his last name will soon be my last name and that this will be my new reality. But with all of the anxiety about the Match, it would be difficult to wait an hour while everyone else finds out their fate and celebrates and/or comiserates.) Or is it a free-for-all? I would also love to hear from others about what exactly happened on their SO's Match Day.

[Tenacious_D]

Re: March 19th, 2009

I think they set out all the envelopes and the candidates open them at noon...at least that is what the plan is here. Not sure about the food part but there will be champagne as well!

[moonlight]

Re: March 19th, 2009

My husband is a FMG student. We are a couple thousand miles from campus! From what I understand we log into the NRMP website and find out what residency he matches.

[madeintaiwan]

Re: March 19th, 2009

Black Monday is just logging in and seeing, "You matched!"

Actual Match Day, was at a bar like place. There was appetizer type food and a bar of course. Envelopes were handed out randomly. Names called out. The long walk to the stage. The long walk back. You could open the envelope on the stage or whenever you chose. People staring at you, waiting to see where you matched. It was suffocating. I wanted to curl up into a ball somewhere and cry after I opened that envelope. But you can't. Not in a room full of people that includes your two kids and your husband who you know is just as disappointed in the match and the fact that after 4 years of making it through he failed to get his wife and himself back home.... It's been two years and it's still so raw... Good luck all. Hope the match goes your way, but if it doesn't just know that you're entitled to feel how you feel and that it does get better...

[HouseofWool]

Re: March 19th, 2009

Black Monday is just logging in and seeing, "You matched!"

Actual Match Day, was at a bar like place. There was appetizer type food and a bar of course. Envelopes were handed out randomly. Names called out. The long walk to the stage. The long walk back. You could open the envelope on the stage or whenever you chose. People staring at you, waiting to see where you matched. It was suffocating. I wanted to curl up into a ball somewhere and cry after I opened that envelope. But you can't. Not in a room full of people that includes your two kids and your husband who you know is just as disappointed in the match and the fact that after 4 years of making it through he failed to get his wife and himself back home.... It's been two years and it's still so raw... Good luck all. Hope the match goes your way, but if it doesn't just know that you're entitled to feel how you feel and that it does get better...

This is why we are not participating in any match day activities.

[Bittersweet]

Re: March 19th, 2009

This is why we are not participating in any match day activities.

Yep, we will join the festivities later if we're in the mood for celebrating or public commiseration.

Re: March 19th, 2009

I had no idea schools have match day activities like that! We also were not close to his school at the time of the match so I guess we wouldn't have known if they did have anything planned for students in the area. Last year we just checked DH's email and they had emailed him the results. I actually knew where we'd be going before he did b/c I was checking his email every few minutes while he was at the hospital. I'm assuming we'll be doing the same thing this year. As the day gets closer we're getting more and more anxious.

[Thirteen]

Re: March 19th, 2009

Here we are, guys. Down the stretch - tomorrow, 10 days until.
Less than that, if you count the schools letting people know if they matched at all before Match Day arrives.

Le sigh.

[HouseofWool]

Re: March 19th, 2009

One week until "Black Monday".

[Bittersweet]

Re: March 19th, 2009

One week until "Black Monday".

I can't believe it. I'm nearly certain DH matched ... but it will still be a relief to know for sure.

[alison]

Re: March 19th, 2009

YAY!!! Down the home stretch!

[DCJenn]

Re: March 19th, 2009

and for all of you who are living through the match, please remember that no matter how it turns out, someone here will have already been through it and can talk you up or down.

and if you end up someplace you've never even registered as a possibility- someone here already lives there, lived there, or is also headed there.

So, when you're ready, let us know what happened. Remember, we're celebrating our 10th year here, we can help!

Jenn

[SuzySunshine]

Re: March 19th, 2009

Well said Jenn - good luck to all that are counting down the last week. Big big hugs!