Contingency plans

[Optimistic]

I feel weird posting this after reading the thread about everyone’s top choices.   What happens if it doesn’t happen in March.  Is there any way still into Neurosurgery?  Would you have to prelim and apply all over again?

[Guest]

Curious about this too. Although from what I've read, with chances of matching as a reapplicant even more dismal, I'm planning on applying to a backup specialty.

[Guest]

Research yea r+ fresh SubIs + reapply. Would be harder in my mind to be on the interview trial and whatnot with being a gen surg or neurology intern.

[Don]

Preresidency fellowships at institutions that historically took their preresidency fellows in the following match (or helped them match somewhere else).

Benefits: You will be working in the field, will get to experience it first-hand and will know for sure whether you like it or not, before you commit to a 7-year residency (since you missed the chance in matching anyways). You are getting paid almost the same salary as a resident. Your LORs for the next match season will be more relevant to the practice and in more details (if the chair and PD like you). You might even have the chance to do 1 or 2 clinical research papers and present them.

I really hope you match, but if you don't, I believe this would be the best use of the year to increase your chances. Try to avoid programs that historically kept their fellows for 3-4 years before matching, or who didn't help them match at all and ended up choosing another specialty.

[Guest]

(02-18-2018, 12:08 PM)Don Wrote: Preresidency fellowships at institutions that historically took their preresidency fellows in the following match (or helped them match somewhere else).

Benefits: You will be working in the field, will get to experience it first-hand and will know for sure whether you like it or not, before you commit to a 7-year residency (since you missed the chance in matching anyways). You are getting paid almost the same salary as a resident. Your LORs for the next match season will be more relevant to the practice and in more details (if the chair and PD like you). You might even have the chance to do 1 or 2 clinical research papers and present them.

I really hope you match, but if you don't, I believe this would be the best use of the year to increase your chances. Try to avoid programs that historically kept their fellows for 3-4 years before matching, or who didn't help them match at all and ended up choosing another specialty.

Hopkins, Pitt and Brigham are notorious for using IMGs as cheap labor

[Guest]

Bumping this thread. Assuming good board scores and grades , if an applicant "falls through the cracks", what is the best course of action? Would it be to pursue a research year, get some new letters, do new aways and apply again for both NSG and another back-up?

[Guest]

That is what I plan on doing with gen surg back-up. Will probably do 3 neurosurgery aways and 1-2 gen surg aways. Its hard though because gsn surg doesn't like to know that they are back up.

[Guest]

(02-27-2018, 06:21 PM)Guest Wrote: Bumping this thread. Assuming good board scores and grades , if an applicant "falls through the cracks", what is the best course of action? Would it be to pursue a research year, get some new letters, do new aways and apply again for both NSG and another back-up?

 trust me, no one "falls through the cracks" 

if you don't match there's a reason - and if you truly have good board scores and grades, then you likely have a personality deficit / sociopathy that you have poor insight about.

[Guest]

(02-27-2018, 08:38 PM)Guest Wrote:

(02-27-2018, 06:21 PM)Guest Wrote: Bumping this thread. Assuming good board scores and grades , if an applicant "falls through the cracks", what is the best course of action? Would it be to pursue a research year, get some new letters, do new aways and apply again for both NSG and another back-up?

 trust me, no one "falls through the cracks" 

if you don't match there's a reason - and if you truly have good board scores and grades, then you likely have a personality deficit / sociopathy that you have poor insight about.

Nice try med student.  It happens every year that good, normal candidates don't match.  The only deficit is with the system

[Guest]

(02-27-2018, 09:20 PM)Guest Wrote:

(02-27-2018, 08:38 PM)Guest Wrote:

(02-27-2018, 06:21 PM)Guest Wrote: Bumping this thread. Assuming good board scores and grades , if an applicant "falls through the cracks", what is the best course of action? Would it be to pursue a research year, get some new letters, do new aways and apply again for both NSG and another back-up?

 trust me, no one "falls through the cracks" 

if you don't match there's a reason - and if you truly have good board scores and grades, then you likely have a personality deficit / sociopathy that you have poor insight about.

Nice try med student.  It happens every year that good, normal candidates don't match.  The only deficit is with the system

Nice try sour grapes med student