How did your SO's fare in past Matches?

Jay is matching in exactly two weeks and we're getting anxious. I was wondering how you & your partners fared in your Matches. Did you get your first, second, third, choices?

I'm not sure whether to believe this or not, but people have been telling Jay that usually Neuro applicants get their first or second choice - rarely below. Does this sound right? Should one be that overly optimistic?

Also, were your partners just inundated with e-mails, letters, phone calls from the program directors & residents - weeks before Rank List was due? Everyday, it seems as if someone or other is calling Jay to remind him about their wonderful, family-friendly residencies. Is this just "propaganda?" or should we take it to mean that they really like him?

Thanks!

Dures

[JaneDoe]

Well, I don't know anything about Neuro, but my husband matched at his 4th choice. However, he chose to go into the field of ophthalmology, which is very competitive. It also didn't help that two of his top three choices are prestigious programs. But, his number one choice, the program in our home state, we were really hoping for. We naively thought that matching there would be a sure thing. When it didn't happen, we were very disappointed. We set ourselves up for that disapointment, though. We shouldn't have been so dead set on that program.

That said, I think it all worked out for the best. He matched at the program where he went to medical school. So, he knows the faculty and the program really well. It's a smaller program which I think is good for my husband. We're also very happy where we live. But, I still have my fingers crossed that we'll make it home once he finishes residency.

Yikes, I remember the feeling of anxiety just before getting those results. So, my post probably didn't make you feel any better. Sorry. But, most of the people in my husband's medical school class did match at one of their top two choices. And, I'm sure whatever happens will work out for the best for you and your SO. Good luck!

[migirl]

I don't know much about neuro either, but my husband matched in urology at his (and my! ) top choice in the 2002 Match. It was our first choice because it was a prestigious program in our home state and - like so many others here - we were eager to return "home".

It was a crazy time right before the match, and making the rank list was agonizing. What a big decision!! 8O I at least got to have lots of input, which made it a little easier for me to handle. I think the main thing I did to keep my sanity was forcing myself to be open to all of the programs and moving anywhere - literally! (He interviewed all over the country.)

As for the last-minute "recruiting blitz," he did receive a few letters from program directors saying how much they liked him and wanted him at their programs, blah blah blah. We had pretty much made up our minds and the list at that point though, so we didn't take any of it too seriously. If anything, it was nice to know that if our first choice didn't work out, that other programs were willing to give him an opportunity!

Best of luck to you, I hope everything works out for you and your fiance. I know how emotional it can be!

~Jane

[DCJenn]

Well, as many of you already know, because we're military and he went to the military medical school, he had to get a military residency. So, of the four programs and a transitional intern year option that he listed, he got his third choice. But now that he's met some of the pediatricians from the other programs, he's very glad he is here.

Jenn

Mike got his third choice in FP, with the first two being Mayo and Mercy Mayo in Des Moines. They both really seemed to like him, and we were surprised at how it turned out. I don't remember him being inundated by calls during the ranking period though. I think he really wishes he had done a military residency.

[Amiens]

Matt got his 3rd choice for anesthesia. In retrospect, he would have listed UW 2nd, with Univ UT first (just so he could still try and be closer to family). He loves the UW program, and it has been a great fit for him.

Crystal
(My baby is one!)

My wife did an intern year with school that she got her degree from, she is a DO so that match is at a different time of the year than the ERAS match. It is pretty messed up if you want to test the waters with ERAS- and you want to try and match in a DO program. But anyway, she skipped all that for her intern year and then entered the match. She was "recruited" by several peds programs pretty hard, calling, emails and letters. She ended up with her second pick, she was dissappointed at first but it has been a blessing since the day we moved here.

Hi Dures-

How's it going on your end? You and Jay still hanging in there? I have no idea what it's like to go through the interviewing and waiting, etc., but wanted to send out good luck vibes.

Keep us posted...not too much longer now!
Sharon

I think the letters and phone calls, etc. are a great sign. My boyfriend went to an offshore medical school, so he hasn't gotten nearly as many interviews as he had hoped. It sounds like Jay is high demand, so I would stay optimistic. Actually I'm a bit jealous , we are just hoping that my SO matches at all! A friend of mine thinks that someone upstairs is just laughing watching everyone go through this ridiculous process!!!!!!

Match Day

Wow ... it seems like yesterday that we were waiting for Match Day and it was last year! I really can empathize with what you are all going through. Waiting is the worst!!

My husband got his second choice in anesthesia. We weren't disappointed at all. His first choice was based more on prestige and benefits where the second choice was based on where my husband felt most comfortable. It was perfect for us. He likes the program at the University Hospital in San Antonio and the cost of living has been good for our family. Of course, we could have used better benefits and more money ... but there is give and take everywhere.

Good luck to everyone that is waiting. Oh the memories .....

Robin

First Choice

Wow you're going through what we were last year at about this time. It was stressful for us as well. We are married and have two kids. My husband is a neuro resident this year and he did get his first choice. As far as the calls, we got many of those and would consider it to be propaganda to a point. Unfortunatly there is just no way to really get a feel for the future until the long awaited Match Day.

Good Luck to you,

[fluffhead]

My wife got 1st choice for neuro, and for med.
I think if the program directors are calling, he can be sure they're wanting him. If he's ranking those programs highly, he'll get them.
Let me know where you're going to end up! What are you ranking highly? (p.m. if you like)