Applying for Residency

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

Applied to 30, went on 15, ranked 15. Very competitive specialty (1/3 dont match) and he was a great applicant. We didn't take any chances though, he ranked every program where he interviewed. Our opinion was better to match somewhere than not at all (that's not a universal opinion btw).

[diggitydot]

I don't even remember how many programs DH applied to for residency, but he interviewed at 12 and ranked maybe 8 or 9. Not a competitive specialty, but definitely competitive programs.

[SuzySunshine]

I also don't remember how many DH applied to but he interviewed at 13 and ranked 12.

[v-girl]

Wow. I think DH's only went on 3-4 interviews. He got his top choice. His university likes to keep their grads close.

[Pollyanna]

Wow. I think DH's only went on 3-4 interviews. He got his top choice. His university likes to keep their grads close.

This was us too. We considered a suicide match but thought better of it in the end so dh applied to 4 and interviewed at 4.

[Cinderella]

Just as I suspected. ERAS has updated their IM list with more participating programs now as we get closer to applying for the match.

Now my big question is by what date did most of you guys stop receiving interview requests and knew your interview schedule for the most part? Most places I've looked at on the NRMP interview anywhere between the start of November until the end of Jan. Just a few interview in as early as October and as late as February before the ROL deadline. So did everyone pretty much know all the dates for their interviews by the end of October?

We're trying to figure out when we can buy our plane tickets to travel out of the country. It's been over three years since he's been back to Egypt and he wants to go back for a long visit before residency starts. We don't need to be here after the interview period ends because everything else is done electronically. He thinks we may get to spend around 6 months in Egypt before residency begins.

I would just like to get an idea of when we'll have all the interview offers by. Is there a certain time frame? Is it ongoing? What is the latest an interview offer comes? What is the majority of the latest interviews? When do you think we could travel abroad and put interviews behind us? KWIM?

[Deebs]

I don't know how you'd fit six months away before orientation starts, while still being here through interview season. DH did an interview as early as the beginning of November, and as late as late January. He interviewed at twelve programs, I think. That spacing was with him turning down many interviews and trying to cluster those that were close geographically.

[diggitydot]

Candidate season at DH's residency was October to February, with 2nd look weekend happening in late January. Orientation begins in mid-June.

[Mrs. MD, Esq.]

DH had all interviews set by mid-November...most by October and most interview done in November/December...a couple in January and one in February...

[SuzySunshine]

Its been many many years since DH did this but hearing what I've heard about the match these days I would think he could safely plan to be out of the country mid-February to late May.

[Deebs]

I agree with SS - Feb through May seems realistic.

[diggitydot]

Also, consider how much time you guys will need to find a place to live in and how long you'll need to move to your new place. I don't know how difficult it will be for you two to find new digs from Egypt.

[poky]

Yeah, mid-Feb through May (most residency orientations start before July 1) is realistic, longer than that is not. Some programs could send interview requests out pretty late, when they get a cancellation.

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

Also keep in mind that between match and the start of residency will involve many annoying forms (state licensing, etc), finding a place to live, and establishing residency in your new location. DH needed an updated drivers license for example on the first day.

The forms and the sending back and forth of ID, social security card (in his case green card), etc. And I would strongly advise checking travel requirements while applying for foreign work visas. He may need to be in the US to do that.

[Cinderella]

Thank you everyone for your help! I was thinking Feb - May but he kept thinking we could go earlier and longer. When you're hungry your eyes are bigger than your stomach right? Also his younger brother is getting married and since dh is the oldest brother and coming from America he gets a say when the wedding happens. This helps us give them a time range to plan the wedding so we can be there. It will be my first time to attend a traditional Egyptian wedding.

We'll probably look for and apply for rentals site unseen for the most part like we did when moving to Oregon. I did this during college too and my SIL and BIL did it from Egypt to Maryland during their PhD schooling. Though we'll probably be back in the States by then but it won't hurt to look from Egypt.

T&S thanks for your help too with the immigration suggestions though dh has his ten year green card. I'm sure it would help someone else down the road in a different position, but in our case all that stuff is long behind us thankfully.

Hopefully if all goes well with applying for US citizenship next month then according to the current immigration processing timelines for the Portland office he'll be a naturalized US citizen by October this year just in time for interview season. Though we're told it doesn't make much of a difference to interviewers between the 10 year green card and the naturalized US citizenship. It will sure make a difference for us finally putting immigration behind us.