hottie99
Forum Guru
Topics: 35
Posts: 830
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ok so now i've had time to go thru my complimentary list, and i must say i was afraid of this before hand, but i guess it may not be able to filter attempts, bc i knew that list was too good to be true! all the info provided is great that it's at one location, but unfortunately if there was a way to 'screen' prior to making the list with nhumber of attempts maybe the list would be more realistic.. i'm no 99er, just average test taker with an attempt, so who knows if it holds me back or not.. and as or this observership counting as usce experience, well i have observerships/externships and i put it as my year of usce, so i mean it's something rather than nothing, and am hoping programs dont get to crazy critical over the definition of those words.. essentially they want someone who has exposure to the hospital system here, which makes total sense.. so we shall see.. that is the only thing i have found tough on MAR for I have to de-select those programs who are so obsessed with 'first attempt' so oh well! 
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| cherryho
Forum Guru
Topics: 30
Posts: 583
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Generally, what information about a program can we get from MAR (besides requirements)?
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99/99/Pass; Certified; 2003; US PhD; 2M US clerkships; GC; Chance favors only the prepared mind. - Louis Pasteur
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| hottie99
Forum Guru
Topics: 35
Posts: 830
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mainly that's what that site has done, to gather the requirements per program whether its scores, visa's issued or not, and usce required or not.. that's a lot to gather, but maybe some other insider nots from people who had interviewed at those places.. someone took the time to contac all programs so that we wouldn't have to... anyone else got a better way to describe it?? 
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| milee99
Forum Guru
Topics: 54
Posts: 1,303
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hi cheeryho: they have links to freida link for that hospital and email id of person to be contacted and phone number.
To all,
I got a list for IM, which shows a customised list (about 108) and an IMG friendly list ( about 150). They have all the info that was mentioned as per the previous posts here.
Personally, I preferred to have the broader list that they have given than having a purely customised one. From the 108, I shortlisted 75 programmes I would be interested in (shortlisting is easy, you can flag the programmes). Now, I have to mail only about 25 programmes to find out specific information for me that may be missing in the info. For that I just have to e-mail the contact that they have provided against each programme information.
Furthur plans: If the response from a particular programme makes me feel I don't fit into their criteria, I will simply unflag it. Then, I will have a flagged list of just programmes I want to apply to.
Basically, I am saved the time required for mailing 200 programmes and then organising the information. Basically a time-saver.
I had planned to devote the month of july and august for doing this myself, but did not manage CK in time, so have no time to do this... at such time MAR came to rescue me from the consequences of my poor time management.
Bottomline, It can be done on your own, but if you have a serious time crunch and don't have a financial issue you can go for it.
My colleagues have done a very good research on their own. But in my situation I was just thinking for 2-3 days which one to sign for, when I got the free offer from MAR in this forum. I don't know how other services are, and cannot compare.
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| deoriverajr
Forum Newbie
Topics: 5
Posts: 46
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hi guys i did have the IM list accdg to my credentials and i post updated data on at least 9-10 IM programs. i based the updated data from the requirements programs emailed to me... Most of them have increased their usmle score requirements and shorten their yr of graduation cut off..........to matcharesident do you take these updates in consideration?
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| deoriverajr
Forum Newbie
Topics: 5
Posts: 46
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it seems that residentcafe is much updated from matcharesident coz i also went to their website&got free info of some programs...but im not recommending residentcafe..its just my observation
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| matcharesident
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 63
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Do you have MatchAResident account to compare with this other service Dr. deoriverajr? If you can prove to us that any other site have more updated information than MAR we will give you a full refund. We have a team employed to provide you with 100% updated list every year in a physical location in Hudson Ohio.
Match A Resident
1790 Stoney Hill Dr.
Hudson OH 44236.
No service offers such in office invitation yet, we welcome any of you to visit us and ask us your questions face to face. We are confident that the information we have meets every applicant's expectation.
We also offer other services for the Post-Match scramble and coming soon with a state-of-the-art personal statement editing service.
Thank you!
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Customized residency lists at http://www.matcharesident.com
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| matcharesident
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 63
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Dr. deoriveriajr,
When we update the list every year we re-ask the same questions again to verify if changes happened within that one year period and that includes thew scores and USCE. Our system is also dynamic and that allows it to accept any updates that gets reported to us any time during the year and to allow you to see the update when it happens. Did I answer your question?
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| Korotkoff
Forum Senior
Topics: 15
Posts: 179
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Why is it too expensive to get the list? I think every body can get the information you got on the list. All they need to do is send 20 emails per day and it doesn't take one month to get all the information you have.
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| matcharesident
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 63
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dr. korotkoff
only 30% of programs respond to email and many of them do not answer your questions. you need to call the programs to get most of the programs and their info.
thanks
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| hitesh
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Topics: 64
Posts: 1,084
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Here's my impression of MAR :
If you want to buy MAR's list (or any of the other lists for that matter), what you want them to do is to help you with your own search of programs, not replace it..! Like i did mention on one of the other threads, I'd rather prefer such a list to cover all the potentially good programs for me, even if that means having to worry about an extra 50 programs that might turn out to be not-so-good-matches for me.. Yes, I am okay with that list giving me "false hope" , but i do not want to be missing out on some good programs.. In this respect, MAR is doing fine.. It did show me a large no. of programs that matched my credentials, but it was still far less than what freida would have shown (i.e. All IM programs)
Please do not expect MAR to work magic for you. It's just simple plain facts gathered at one place.. All these facts are freely available otherwise. All this list would do for you is make your work a lot easier..
ADVANTAGES : 1. It gives you a broad and a decent list to work on..
2. Does have important information like Contact info, Application Deadline, FMG Percentage in program, Visas Sponsored, US Clinical Exp. Required, Time Since Graduation, USMLE Step 1/2 Minimum Score etc..
3. Each program also has a few "additional comments" about ECFMG requirement, length of USCE required etc ..
4. it allows you to send e-mails to programs from right there! while you're at the list..
5. It gives you an "IMG friendly" list
6. I did cross-check a few programs and the info does seem fairly accurate..
DISADVANTAGES : 1. The number of programs that show up might seem overwhelming for a few.. e.g. It showed me 281 programs matching me.. ( Fortunately, It's a lot easier (than freida) to rule some of the programs out from the snapshot this list gives you..)
2. There is no way to sort out some of the programs that might be better fits than others.. All you can do is flag them, but you cant form separate lists or define your criteria to separate them out..
3. For some reason, they give you the link to the program on freida, and you need to follow the link on freida to get to the programs website. It's not really a problem but i wonder why cant they have both links (freida as well as the program website) on there..
4. Their lists do not include the combined specialty programs.. Although it is believed that such programs are highly competitive and NOT IMG friendly, but so are several other programs that do show up on their lists.. Yet, I do not think that this would greatly affect anyone as such programs are few in number and one can easily search for them on freida..
All in all, if you are not too tight budgeted or if you're short of time, do buy it..
Well, that's my initial impression.. Will keep adding as i find out more.. Good Luck!
PS : MAR is the only customised program list that i used. I dont know how it compares with others.
Edited by hitesh on 08/08/08 - 05:04 PM. Reason: typo
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13/30
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| matcharesident
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 63
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Dr. Hitesh,
Thank you for your honest feedback. I will respond to the disadvantages since these most likely the members ask for.
1. We did not understand this one  . I hope you explain
2. We can have you sort it out but we want you to take any program in the list into consideration specially those with a smaller list (applicants with weaker credentials). Remember this is a customized list and the majority of the program in that list should be good to go unless other information in the additional comments section is requesting more than the 5 major requirements. We have seen in the past program that seemed to be tougher to get into to actually be more reasonable in their selection. This year we have added the Flag option and also a notes box where it helps you add your notes and share them as well with other applicants if you choose to.
3. We used to have the links to programs but it was troublesome to the us. Many program websites are OUT DATED and we seldom use them and a last resort and only if they display a time stamp of last updated. Our lists are far more updated than the program websites and thats because the people in charge of these programs (coordinators) are not technical to do the information on their websites themselves. Many have information that are years old. To provide you with the most accurate list we gather the list in 3 stages:
a. direct program input into our system
b. phone call input and verification
c. email input and verification
Do not use program websites to gather the requirements. They are the least accurate.
4. As you said, combined programs are competitive and also not IMG friendly with much less positions. Combined programs are specialties in their own categories and we do not mix things up in our lists.
We like to keep it simple and not to confuse you with many details. We are always improving our service and we will take any request into consideration in the future.
Thanks again, have a blessed weekend.
Sam
MAR Support
(216) 201-9696
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| hitesh
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Topics: 64
Posts: 1,084
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matcharesident wrote:Dr. Hitesh, 1. We did not understand this one . I hope you explain
What I meant was that if you're a recent graduate, have some USCE and are okay with both H1b and J1 visas, the list that shows up is quite large.. It shows me 281 programs!
Now, I'm not saying that I dont want to consider all of those 280 odd programs. But it'd be a lot nicer if your software allowed me to make some smaller "sublists" of my own.. e.g. I'd like to exclude any program that needs 3 or more months of USCE.. I'd like to make a separate list of programs that need ECFMG certificate for an IV call (and I'll apply to them only when I'm certified) The flag option doesnt allow you to separate programs in more than two categories.. How about adding more flags of different colors!
Anyways, thank you!... I'd say that overall, the content of your lists is pretty good,
Have a nice weekend!
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13/30
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| matcharesident
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 63
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Dr. Hitesh,
I am with you on the ability to create sub lists but again the purpose of creating such sub lists will add a risk in overlooking some programs that can be potential. Remember that our lists are dynamic and there is a possibility that one program changes their requirements at last minute and having put that program on the "no" list will put away such programs. We have tried out best to make it simple all in one list and if you made a decision and choose to apply to one program hen flag it as a good to go.
thanks
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Customized residency lists at http://www.matcharesident.com
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| matcharesident
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 63
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Thanks for the evaluation Hitesh!
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Customized residency lists at http://www.matcharesident.com
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| Iceburg
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 37
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hi MAR,
I bought your list and i think its great. It is helping me a lot. I have a few questions.
My list has some programs that DO NOT sponsor any visa but they are in my list. I was wondering why are they in the list ?
My next question is that some the img friendly programs are not in the IMG friendly list. Is it due to the fact that they didn't disclose FMG % in their program or some other reason ?
The minimum score cut off applies to step 3 as well or not ?
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99/99/79/cs 2004/ 3 US LORs /3mo US Obsv /need visa
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| matcharesident
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 63
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Dr. Iceburg,
The question about visa sponsorship can be misunderstood by the programs at times and also make sure that the source that you are verifying with is not an online one. Many program websites maybe outdated and we do not use them unless a visible time and date stamp is posted in the same page. Some residency program may not provide specific answers whether they ACCEPT or SPONSOR visas. Even though we stress the question about SPONSORSHIP some programs may misunderstood the question. for that reason we go through 3 stage verification. Direct input the program, email verification and last phone verification.
Now in regards to the IMG friendly percentage. Some programs when we contact them (or when they provide the information) they do mentioned that they have IMGs but they do not provide the exact number. Many of them say "we have a lot of IMGs" without providing the percentage or the number and those we label as IND (information not disclosed) and since the program is IND then we do not put it in the IMG friendly list but we do allow it to show in the customized list. The majority of the INDs are IMG friendly with no percentage provided.
Step 3 is not one of the common requirements but it is a very good thing to have it. If you are looking for H1b visa then you should have step 3 in hand otherwise those who require it in general should display it in the additional comments section.
Please let us know if you have any other questions and we will be happy to help.
Thanks,
MAR Support
MatchAResident.com
(216) 201-9696
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| Iceburg
Forum Newbie
Topics: 1
Posts: 37
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Thank you very much for your reply. I got answers to all of my questions.
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99/99/79/cs 2004/ 3 US LORs /3mo US Obsv /need visa
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| milee99
Forum Guru
Topics: 54
Posts: 1,303
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To,
matcharesident,
Although your list was fairly accurate, these are a few disparities I found when I called the programs. I am not complaining, but just wanted to bring it to your notice and other's too if they were planning to apply there.
Easton hospital program said No visas at all
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Medical Education (Mercy) Program, Western Pennsylvania Hospital/Temple University Program, Scranton-Temple Residency Program said they do not sponsor H1B.
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If you really want something, you will find a way. If you don't, you will find an excuse.
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