Can you get Matched in 3.5 Years From Start to Finish?

[thomasfx10]

If you start medical school in Sept., can you complete medical school and get matched in 3.5 years. Is the "Match" at the same time every year? If so, when? Also .... How do people get into residency on their own?

Just trying to figure out this process.

Thanks,

T

[Diegodoc]

Well, in theory you could. But it is really next to impossible. Here is the deal. Say you start in Sept 08.

Basic Science on Island- 16 months- So Sept 08-Dec 09
Miami- Jan 09-Apr/May 09.

Lets say at this point you take step 1 immediately after Miami (which you would definitely have to do in order to finish in the time frame you want. It takes 3-4 weeks to get results back. If you have a 3.0 or greater when you finish Miami You can start Family Practice at Larkin Hospital before getting results back... So you would start a 6 week rotation in May 09.

This would leave you with 72 weeks of rotations left to do. Therefore IF and this is a big If, you have no gaps in your clinical schedule, you would finish rotations October/November 2010.

The problem with all of this, is that you will have to take time off to study for both Step 1 and Step 2. There will be gaps in your clinical schedule for studying and for no good reason other than Ross can't schedule anything for you.

Residency applications usually begin in the begining of September the year you are planning on graduating. For example, I am graduating May 08, I started the application process Sept 07. In order to have a competetive app, you should have Step 2 completed before September the year you are applying... again you will have to take time off to study for this. My best advice to any one starting out, is to take your time and do well vs. rush and fail anything.... Hope this was helpful. Good Luck.

[Diegodoc]

As far as people "getting into residency on their own". Don't count on it. The only way to do this is to scramble (which you don't want to experience), or to find a residency position outside the match which are very difficult to find.

[thomasfx10]

This is great information, thanks for posting it.

So if you finish Med. school in the 10 semesters you basically have a buffer for 6 months to take the Steps and for any possible rotation issues.

I wonder how SGU handles this if they go for 11 semesters. Sounds like they do not have as much time as the other med schools with 10 semesters.

[CanIMG]

If you start medical school in Sept., can you complete medical school and get matched in 3.5 years. Is the "Match" at the same time every year? If so, when? Also .... How do people get into residency on their own?


I started Ross in Sept, passed all my classes, took a full 2 mos off to study for Step 1, took a little (not much) time off here and there between rotations, took 2 weeks off to study for step 2, and finished everything end of Jan...that's 3 yrs and 4 mos after starting, so it is possible.

By getting into residency on their own, I presume you mean pre-match. This is when a program offers you a residency spot outside of the match, either when you rotate their or after an interview for residency. Personally, I wouldn't accept pre-match unless I reall really had to. Good programs don't need to pre-match because they know they will fill their spots in the match. If a program is worried about having unfilled spots, they will pre-match.

[thomasfx10]

That is awesome. So are you waiting until the Sept. Match? What are you going to do for 7-8 months?

[Scylin]

If a student is finished/can graduate in January, he probably applied to residencies through ERAS the fall before. Interviews occur through January or so, and you make your choices in February. Match is announced in March, with residencies usually starting in July. So, the student would have a break from completion of medical school January until orientation week for his residency in late June/early July.

Note: I haven't been through this process myself so it's my understanding. If someone who has been through the process would like to correct me, please feel free.

[thedaylights]

I started Ross in Sept, passed all my classes, took a full 2 mos off to study for Step 1, took a little (not much) time off here and there between rotations, took 2 weeks off to study for step 2, and finished everything end of Jan...that's 3 yrs and 4 mos after starting, so it is possible.

By getting into residency on their own, I presume you mean pre-match. This is when a program offers you a residency spot outside of the match, either when you rotate their or after an interview for residency. Personally, I wouldn't accept pre-match unless I reall really had to. Good programs don't need to pre-match because they know they will fill their spots in the match. If a program is worried about having unfilled spots, they will pre-match.

CanIMG - are you trying to get a J1 visa for your residency? I understood that if Canadians want to stay in the US post-residency they need to finish their step 3 and apply for the H1B visa. Unless you can get a waiver after finishing your J1, but that's not guaranteed. If you don't mind, what is your schedule for matching, taking exams, getting visas?

[rokshana]

That is awesome. So are you waiting until the Sept. Match? What are you going to do for 7-8 months?


fyi, there is no SEPT match...the main match that covers almost every specialty is in March.

there are other matches, the SF match is an earlier match (Jan), but only covers a few specialties these days...Neurosurg, Optho, and a couple more i don't remember at the moment, the Military Match (Dec) is for the military residencies and the AUA match (Jan)for Urology.

[Almost Home]

It can be done but it is difficult. I started January 10th 2005 and both matched and then graduated in 2008 (march 31st graduation). I was the only one in my class to do it.

I was extremely lucky.

Start to finish with diploma in hand. 3 years 2 months and 21 day. :cool:

[AUCMD2006]

all depends on when you start school, how quickly you take your usmle, how quickly the school sets up rotations, and your flexibilityto move around. it can be quite difficult. i finished in 41months taking step 1 2 days after basic science starting rotations 4 weeks later and taking steop 2 ck and cs while on rotations.

if everything lines up i would say with usmle 1, 2 and cs done by jan/feb to make sure you get interviews and you are done with med school by early june to get your ecfmg cert then yea it can be done

better question is why?

[thomasfx10]

On the question of why, I am the kind of person who needs to always doing something. I am also 43 years old and I am not getting any younger. I am looking right now to be in FP or IM but that could change.

So what kind of advice can you give incoming students that want to at least try and do it in 3.5 years?

I have heard of ERAS. They are some kind of headhunter for docs that are graduating. I think you pay some kind of fee, tell them your interest (FP,IM etc..) and location and they help with the Match. If anyone knows more please share.

[pkcoffee]

so ... on average...how long does it realistically take from start to finsih?

[Scylin]

On the question of why, I am the kind of person who needs to always doing something. I am also 43 years old and I am not getting any younger. I am looking right now to be in FP or IM but that could change.

So what kind of advice can you give incoming students that want to at least try and do it in 3.5 years?

I have heard of ERAS. They are some kind of headhunter for docs that are graduating. I think you pay some kind of fee, tell them your interest (FP,IM etc..) and location and they help with the Match. If anyone knows more please share.

The website for ERAS is here: ERAS® Residency & Osteopathic Internship Applicants Site (http://www.aamc.org/students/eras/)

They're not headhunters. It's a service where you can upload all of your application materials to one electronic location that works with the residency programs during the match. You and your med school send in all of the documentation needed in your residency program applications, and ERAS provides it to the programs you designate (and I think you track the status of your application on the website too). It's somewhat similar to AMCAS, only for application to residency programs instead of medical schools.

[rokshana]

I have heard of ERAS. They are some kind of headhunter for docs that are graduating. I think you pay some kind of fee, tell them your interest (FP,IM etc..) and location and they help with the Match. If anyone knows more please share.


LOL, i like that, some kind of headhunter....no the
Electronic
Residency
Application
Service
is THE way you apply to residency program (like AMCAS for med school), not a head hunter service. You apply, get invitations to interview, interview at all the places you can and then you register with the
National
Residency
Match
Program
and submit a rank order list, basically a list of all the place you would be willing to go to in order of preference. The various residency programs do the same with the students they interviewed and voila! a "Match" is made! (or maybe not...).

and FYI...the only one that "helps" you is...you.

ERAS® Residency & Osteopathic Internship Applicants Site (http://www.aamc.org/students/eras/)

National Resident Match Program (http://www.nrmp.org/)

[thomasfx10]

My bad, I got that confused with this website that helps IMG get matched. IMG Residency International Medical Graduates (http://www.imgresidency.com/). Why would people use this service? Maybe to help them get into a specialized residency (surgery, etc..) ? This site has some interesting stats on the match.

[Diegodoc]

Generally people only use these services when they fail to match on their own (sometimes multiple times). They are very expensive, and most often you could have done what they would do for you for free if you know the process well. I assume you are just starting out. I would worry about getting through basic sciences and step exams and not worry so much about how long it will take you. I would just plan on it taking the full four years, and if you get lucky enough to finish and match early, than great! Alot can happen to derail this plan, better to not be dissapointed. ;)

[rokshana]

I would worry about getting through basic sciences and step exams and not worry so much about how long it will take you. I would just plan on it taking the full four years, and if you get lucky enough to finish and match early, than great! Alot can happen to derail this plan, better to not be dissapointed. ;)

sound advice....

[shutterbugmd]

?match on their own??? those are "outside the match" and yes some people take those positions, but the rest and the majority of students go through the MATCH.

[thomasfx10]

Thanks guys for the replies ... I should not put the cart before the horse ... I do now have a better understanding of the match process.

[got milk?]

It can be done but it is difficult. I started January 10th 2005 and both matched and then graduated in 2008 (march 31st graduation). I was the only one in my class to do it.

I was extremely lucky.

Start to finish with diploma in hand. 3 years 2 months and 21 day. :cool:


i know another rossie who started in jan 05, and matched this year too.
you're not the only one.
sorry. had to rain on your parade....