prep4usmle
Administrator
Topics: 288
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Hi,
You can share experiences about prematches in this thread!
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| Petal
Forum Senior
Topics: 9
Posts: 74
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OK, here's my 2 pennies:
I got 3 pre-match offers. One from the hospital in which I did my observership. The PD told me to call her if I decide to accept the pre-match.
At the other hospital I interviewd with, in the end of interview, when they thanked the candidates for comming and saying goodbye, the PC told me to stay because the PD wants to talk to me. I did not even know that they offer pre-matches, but apparently other candidates knew, because they immediately told me : congradulations, you got a pre-match!!! Anyways, the PD asked me one more time if I had any other questions, and then told me that they fill almost half of their positions through pre-match. He was a very nice guy, and told me that he's not going to set a deadline for my answer, and whenever I decide to take the pre-match and call him, he'll give the position to me as long as all the pre-match positions are not filled. Also, he said that if I decide not to take the pre-match, it does not mean that I'm not considered for the match, so I'll be ranked anyway, along with other candidates. I really liked the program and the location, and yet it was a very hard decision to make. After about 2 weeks, I called them and accepted the offer and dropped out of the match. After the match, I realised that was the best decision I could make, because apparently, they filled 2/3 of their categorical positions through pre-match, and also friends of mine with much higher credentials than mine did not match to this program, because everyone was competeing over 4-5 spots left for the match. If I waited for the match, I wouldn't have matched at this program.
THe day after the aforementioned interview, I had another interview in a hospital in the same city. Since I was offered the pre-match from the previous program(which was in a much better location anyway) already, I was not really interested in this interview, but i attended it anyway, trying to do my best. I was more relaxed though and not nervous at all. This interview was weired, since first every candidate was interviewd by a 2nd year resident, then an attending then luch, and then the PD. THe resident interviewing me was taking his role too seriously. He was leaning back on his chair(as if he's a king or something), and he was not smiling, asking me questions like "tell me about yourself"! I was trying to keep a straight face and not laugh at him, because the whole situation looked funny to me! Then it came to interview with an attending. I was being interviewd by this old asian attending, whose specialty was nephrology. My interview went longer than all other candidates(who were at the same time interviewed by other attendings), and I was the only candidate who was asked a medical question: "How do you manage acute renal failure?"! I have always been not so good in nephrology, but somehow I managed to answer his questions. I even could make him smile and talk about different subspecialties! After this interview, I accepted the other hospital's offer, and forgot about this place(did not even send thank you letters). About 3 weeks after the last interview, I received an email from the PD of the last hospital, mentioning that she and that attending were impressed by my interview and would like to offer me a pre-match. It also said that they believe tha the match works well for the candidates(!) and that if I don't want to take the offer, I'll still be ranked for the match. By this time, I had already accepted the 2nd hospital's offer, so I replied by email, telling them so.
My personal conclusion:
1-If you're offered a pre-match by your 1st or 2nd choice program, take it, since they might fill most of their positions with pre-match, and you'll have to compete with many candidates over very few spots left.
2-Not every PD puts you in unjustly hard situations such as putting the contract in front of you to sign on the interview day, or setting a deadline of 2-3 days for accepting the offer. If that happens to you, the PD is very unfair and opportunistic, and I would not want to work with him/her. Don't let them make you think that all pre-match offers are like that.
3-Be realistic about your credentials and your chances. Take all possibilities into consideration if you decide to just go for top-notch programs. I mean, ask yourself: "Will it be a disaster if I don't match this year or not?" The answer to this question will help you make a lot of decisions. For answering this question, take into consideration your financial situation, your family matters, your visa situation, your age, your graduation year(each year passed since your graduation date is a minus towards your application, especially if it'll be more than 5 years), etc, etc.
4-Remember you are the decision-maker. You can ask people for advice, but always trust your instincts. No one knows everything regarding your situation better that you do, and therefore, no one can decide for you. Listen to different opinions, then think with your self.
5-There's nothing else I can think of to add right now. Best of luck to every nice person on this exciting journey!
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| drB+
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 17
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Hi!It's wonderful to know your nice exp. and congrats for your success!can you pls advise me what should be the deadline to update my scores to be eeligible for a 2007 pre-match.I am done with st.1,still have to do st.2 ck and cs and hopfully wi;; be done by october.Can I still have my hopes for a pre-match if I update all my things by Nov.?
Thanks for your reply in adv.
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| Petal
Forum Senior
Topics: 9
Posts: 74
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Hi drB+,
Well you should check ECFMG website for deadlines, since I'm not up to date about this year's deadlines. Also subscribe to the ECFMG newsletter and get the latest news and changes regarding the match process. Last year, you had to take the CS exam no later than december to be eligible for the match. Apply for programs no later than the 1st week of october. You can apply with even only one score, so apply as soon as possible. You can always have hope for pre-match, yet schedule your interviews no later than january, because many of the pre-match positions fill up until the end of january.
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| Isther
Forum Guru
Topics: 39
Posts: 745
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Hi Petal, that's a wonderful experience and thanks for sharing it. Would you mind to tell me your credentials and the program you prematched? Is to have an idea of the correlation, and be realistic with my probabilities.
Thanks in advance, and congratulations for your new residency!!!
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Useful information for USMLE and the residency matching process at http://www.usmlematch.com
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| meroon
Forum Senior
Topics: 0
Posts: 52
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Petal,that was a really inspiring post.Could you say more about the interview skills and any thing imp that they will look for.
you have aced all the inreviews gracefully.Have you had any usce and LORs.Are you a recent graduate.
I am sorry.I think i am bombarding you with questions.
Thank you for the post.
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| meroon
Forum Senior
Topics: 0
Posts: 52
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I found your post at another site here.sorry i asked all those questions,but please say something about interview skills.
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| Petal
Forum Senior
Topics: 9
Posts: 74
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My creds: step1=83, step2=90, 1st attempts, 2002 grad, GC holder, 1 months observership, 2 USLORs
I accepted a prematch in a community program with good reputation in IL.
About interview skills, I used theses books: "First Aid for the match", and "Iserson's getting into residency". I recommend that you read at least one of these books if not both. Read common questions and think about your answers. Here are a few things I think might be important:
Be nice to everyone on the interview day. Be professional and at the same time be modest. People can tell immediately if you are too much full of yourself. Also, on the interview day, pay attention to the cases on the morning report. In one interview, the attending asked me to briefly present that morning's case to her.
Try to have a normal conversation with the attending interviewing you, like 2 colleagues. I was interviewed by this geriatric attending, and we talked about her old mother and my grand mother and my great grandmother and our memories from them for about 10 minutes! With the attending who was asking me medical questions, when he gave me time to ask questions, I asked him about different subspecialties and asked for his opinion and guidance regarding subspecialties and their future. We even talked about the weather and real state prices in the city! It's good to show your human side and show yourself capable of having a normal friendly conversation with a colleague.
Try to improve your resume with observerships and/or externships. The PDs paid a lot of attention to my USLORs, which I think played an important role in getting me the interviews and the pre-match offers.
One of the main questions you're asked on the interview, is what you are looking for in that program? Why would you choose to work there? If you really want to get into that program, you should answer this question wisely. You should have done your research, and know what are the characteristics of that program, that makes that program stand out. Then you should tell them that you are looking for those characteristics. For example, if a program has more emphasis on ambulatory med, say that you like a program with such emphasis. This does not mean that you're lying, because if you don't like what the program has to offer, you should not want to go there in the first place.
I'll post more if I can think of more interview hints. Yet, the books are usually very informative.
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| meroon
Forum Senior
Topics: 0
Posts: 52
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Thank you,Petal.
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| Isther
Forum Guru
Topics: 39
Posts: 745
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Thank you very very much!!! Again... all the best for you!
___________________
Useful information for USMLE and the residency matching process at http://www.usmlematch.com
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| prader-willi
Forum Elite
Topics: 28
Posts: 364
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thank u so much dear petal.....really informative and helpful post...god bless
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hang on in there......u will survive....
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| bribri
Forum Newbie
Topics: 3
Posts: 4
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Hi!
First of all,congratulations!
But can you tell something about the recomandation letters?
Are they important?
F.ex-We have the booklet of the rotations whith valutation from each tutor at the and.Is it accetable? Thank you.
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| zip
Forum Senior
Topics: 16
Posts: 47
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thanks petal. I saved ur post.
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| z_rihy
Forum Newbie
Topics: 0
Posts: 1
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hi, nice talk especially your 4th point. anyhow this may sound silly but how i can apply for prematch postion, when they r usually offered and how we can hear about them
thank you
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