Wayne Match 2011

I got curious about the stats and decided to play around for a bit. These are by no means 100% accurate, but I thought I would share. 

Caveats:

• Location is based on advanced match, i.e. PGY-2 location
• Transitional was listed only if it was the only thing given for an individual
• 0% means 1 person went into that speciality or to that location
• I didn't do prelim medicine because there weren't many and also I only really was interested in the surgery prelims.

Fig 1. WSUSOM 2011 by choice of specialty.

Fig 2. WSUSOM 2011 by location of residency by region.

Fig 3. WSUSOM 2011 by location of residency by state.

Fig 4. WSUSOM 2011 by location of residency when residency is in the state of Michigan.

And in case you're interested:

Table 1. WSUSOM raw match data.

How I did it

Now that the interview season is done, I thought I would share how I went about the whole process (not including ERAS/ personal statements/ etc).

One of the first things you have to do is determine which programs to apply to, which can be very overwhelming. So, how did I go about choosing programs? I'm a little OCPD (as you'll be able to tell as you read this post), but here goes:

1. Determine regions/ places you want to live. Remember that while you'll be working crazy hours, you also want to find a place where you'll enjoy yourself in your off hours.
2. Go to FREIDA. Narrow your search to the type of program you're applying to and the regions/ states.
3. Start narrowing the list. This process will be different for everyone, but I knew I wasn't really interested in community programs and that I wanted to be in large cities. That being said, if a program had a good reputation, I usually kept it in my list. I knew I wanted to apply to between 40-60 programs.
4. Balance the list. Let's be honest, unless you're AOA and awesome, you're not going to get interviews everywhere. So I tiered out my programs (with the help of the surgery "red book"). I made sure that my 40-60 programs were divided into 25% top tier, 50% 2nd tier and 25% 3rd tier.

From this point on I started making and updating my spreadsheet (see the first table in the document).

Click here to open the Interview Spreadsheet.

As soon as the interviews started coming in I did two things, I moved the website column from the first table into the Program Information table (where you'll find it in the document) and I started gathering more data to add to the Program Information table (i.e. Program Director's name, Program Size, Board Passage Rates, % to fellowship, etc).

Then the interviews started. The biggest advice I have is to debrief yourself within the day or two after the interview. I did this by filling out a Program Evaluation (see below), but also during all the travel time I had while driving between interviews -- there's nothing like driving 10 hours in a car by yourself to give you time to reflect and digest an interview.

Click here for the Program Evaluation Template.

As soon as I tallied up the ratings, I added them to the spreadsheet and started sorting them by score. However, at the same time I had a dynamic Rank Order List going. After each interview you can sit there and say, "That program was definitely a better fit than program X but not as good as program Y." 

By doing this I found that I would commonly be able to reflect on why a program was better or worse than the one I interviewed at the day before. It also made me go back and reread the program evaluations. It also meant that by the end of the interview season I had a pretty solid idea of how my rank order list would go (and it was not in the order of the rankings, but pretty close).

When it came down to it, my gut reaction to programs at the end of the interview season and how my dynamic rank order list stood was fairly close. I changed a few things here and there... like moving Wayne State to a position that would make it possible to match there and be close to my family, but also in a place that gave me a chance to go to other awesome programs, and moving one program a little lower because the location just wasn't my idea of a good place to live for 5-7 years.

I was methodical. Not everyone is... some of my friends didn't even think about what they liked or didn't like in comparisons to this and that program until it was time to sit down and finalize a rank order list. I knew, however, that by being methodical I would be less stressed out.

Other quick tips:

• Send Thank You cards within the week after you interview. They will still remember you and your application will be fresh on their minds, rather than sending them later when they have to go back and remember your application. Also, send them to everyone who interviewed you and the program coordinator. I personally sent handwritten notes on Crane cards.
• Remember that while they are interviewing you, you are interviewing them. Talk to the staff and residents... make sure you fit. There was one place an attending tried to debate creation vs. evolution with me, when he didn't even know where I stood on the debate. At another place the residents were way too different from me.
• Grooming. Yes, I know... it seems silly... But girls, pull your hair out of your face, it makes you look more professional. Think about getting a manicure or maintaining a self-French manicure, it's a small details that set you apart. We're a suit that fits... wear a shirt that's nice but not overly distracting. Minimize the jewelry, but wear at least some that look nice. Take out that noise-ring on the actual interview day (I wore mine to the informal get-together with the residents though). 
• Minimize. Yes, you might have luggage, but make sure it's small and not ratty. Don't carry a large purse. The less is more phenomenon is true here.
• Be nice to EVERYONE. Fellow candidates, residents, staff, the program coordinator.

Anyways, hope that helps. If you have any questions, leave a comment or send an email to drkatiegoestomedschool AT gmail DOT com.

Match Day!

The front of the Match Day program.

I matched! Yes, I know we all knew we matched on Monday, but yesterday I found out where!

Yesterday morning started off with my roommates and I throwing a pre-Match breakfast & mimosas party. So many people came and it was so great to see everyone! My friend Mike came with his huge dog and my friend Paige came with her baby. There was food galore and I'm pretty sure we still have bottles of champagne left in our cabinet.

Around 10:30 my parents showed up and we headed to the Roostertail (a serious upgrade from the past Match Days, that happened in the school cafeteria). On the way there, I told them I was pretty sure I matched at the DMC (my #4 choice); I love Wayne and would be happy to be there, but I also wanted to get the chance to go somewhere new. I told them I thought this because surgery was so competitive this year, with many of my friends having to scramble into prelim surgery spots. I told them, should it happen, I would be happy.

We got to the Roostertail and my parent's found their seats and I told them I would come find them as soon as I got my envelope, then went to find mine in the sea of white chairs in the center of the room.

From about 11-11:50, we all sat and heard brief speeches and watched as dozens of awards were handed out to the more outstanding students in the class. At 11:50 the envelopes were passed down the rows of chairs. I found my plain white envelope, the only thing designating it as mine was the small sticker with my name in the upper right hand corner.

As soon as everyone got their envelopes we were told we could open them. Instead, I got up and pushed my way through the crowd to find my parents. I felt like Charlie trying to find the golden ticket when he unwrapped his chocolate bar as I slowly ripped the envelope and opened the letter:

I'm going to Tennessee!!!!

And then I cried, cried tears of joy and utter relief. University of Tennessee was my #1 choice! I had done it! I had gotten my golden ticket! And so did a lot of my friends.

Jacki is doing Peds at Baylor. Eileen is going home to Loma Linda for PM&R. Rich is going to Emory for IM. Liza is going to Boston for OB/GYN. Tracey is going to MassGen for Psych. Brandon got RadOnc at Yale. The list goes on and on.. Hopkins, Michigan, UCLA, Stanford.... It was amazing!

After much celebration and jubilation, my family headed out for real food at Andiamo's. My mom, being the amazing person she is, got me a new dress and the game Operation (and for graduation... an iPad, although details of which still need to be finalized).

I feel like the luckiest girl in the world right now.

For more info on the Match at Wayne, here's the release.

The one in which I'm awesome... Just kidding

The past week has been crazy, crazy busy and crazy fun, so I thought I'd give you a little recap.

1. THIRSTY THURSDAYS

 

In an effort to actually see everyone before the end of medical school, I started planning weekly happy hours for the fourth year class (mostly just for my friends to have a reason to all go to the same bar at the same time). We're now in our 6th week, however, it's quickly becoming one of my favorite times of the week; You never know who you're going to see until you get there... It's so great to catch up with people after not seeing them for almost a year.

2. LAMPOON

Saturday was the day (among others, see below) I've been planning for almost all year: Lampoon! I was super stressed all last week just trying to tie down all the loose ends, but it came together the night of the show. It was a great show, or at least that's what people have been telling me (I'm hypercritical about shows and timing of scene changes and technical aspects... Blame my mother, the theatre director). Needless to say, the show went off with out a hitch (almost) and left me barely able to move the next day; I was on my feet from about 10:30 am to 1:30 am, running around, moving chairs and tables, running the booth, etc.

It was a success either way, and I am so proud of our 4th year class: Our class has won 7/8 of the all the Lampoons during our time at Wayne (we lost for best video our 2nd year). 

This year it was a lot harder to watch though, because 1) I was in the booth texting the stage manager all night about screen cues while she was texting me about light cues, and 2) because watching the 4th year videos made me realize how close to the end we all are right now. 

I'm not going to lie and say I would do med school all over again, but to quote ZDoggMD, "I definitely wouldn't not do it once." It has been a hard, but great four years, and I'm going to miss all the friends I've made here. Seeing the videos confirmed that fact, at least for me.

3. BLACK MONDAY

Even though Match Day is officially March 17th (3rd Thursday of March... which conveniently coincides with St. Patty's Day this year), I think most of my friends were more concerned about Black Monday.
Black Monday is the day you find out if you have a job for next year... To quote one of my friends, "It's like Christmas, if Christmas could go horribly wrong."

Surgery has gotten a lot more competitive in the past few years; this past year it was #4 on the list for unmatched US seniors (meaning the fourth most common specialty for which US graduates didn't get a job)... So, while everyone else was sitting there telling me it was going to be fine, I also knew it could go "horribly wrong."

I could not fall asleep on Sunday night and half convinced myself that I was not going to match (to stave off the utter despair that would have manifested should the worse actually happen). I almost got out of bed at 2 am just to check my CV and make sure it was in order in case I had to scramble. At about 11:30 yesterday I started feeling even more nauseous. Around 11:45 am I found a corner of the hospital where I could be alone and started to have palpitations as I was opening my computer to both the NRMP site and to gmail.

Thankfully, I was one of the people who got their email right away (Although, I could have just looked at NRMP if I didn't get the email; Some of my friends didn't get there emails until after 1 pm yesterday):

That's right, folks! I'm gonna be a surgeon! I have matched into a categorical surgery program, somewhere.

I find out Thursday at noon where I'll be going. Crossing my fingers now.

I think there were only 2 open categorical spots for surgery... giving it something like a 99.8% fill rate this year, which makes it more likely that someone could have matched RadOnc, Derm, or even ENT when you compare fill rates and open spots.

Anyways, I'm glad to report that almost everyone I know matched (including my roommates into ENT, OB/GYN, and PM&R). I only know 2 people for sure that didn't match; both of whom applied to general surgery, one of whom I know scrambled into a prelim spot at the program he ranked #1 for a categorical position.

=============================
I'm not sure the validity of this statement, but per one of my friends Wayne had to scramble 18 this year, out of a class of 347 (roughly 94% match rate), many of whom had board scores >240.


To make matters worse, the NRMP website was down until well after 1pm today; Scramble starts at noon. I'm not sure overall how we did, I can just hope they did well.

=============================
A Few Definitions (nitty gritty and most likely somewhat inaccurate)

• Categorical: A program that once you match to, you complete your entire training with... i.e. Surgery, Medicine, Peds, Family Med, Ob/Gyn
• Transitional: A 1 year program that is a prerequisite for another specialty's program; needed for things like neurosurgery, urology, orthopedics, radiology, radiation oncology, etc.
• Integrated: A program for a specialty that usually requires a transitional year, but who's transitional year is guaranteed at their institution.
• Preliminary (Prelim): 1 year program which does not guarantee a PGY-2 spot; requires the applicant to reapply for the match in the following year.

I Love Med School

Lampoon wrap-up later today... once my entire body stops hurting.

Until then, some of the amazing 4th year videos:

So proud to claim Detroit as my home

Although I am hoping to go outside of Michigan for residency (fingers crossed)... I am so proud to have called Detroit home for the last 4 years.

I love this city.

Period.

I will miss it sorely when (and if) I leave. And I will be very happy to complete my residency here, if that's what happens.

When people ask me why I love Detroit so much I usually respond with, "It's hard to explain. But there's something about the grittiness of Detroit and about the hope that is constantly rising up from the ashes of this once great city."

I really cannot wait for Detroit to make it's comeback... it's in its infancy right now. Just wait.

4 Days Left!

Only 4 more days until Lampoon 2011!!

For your viewing pleasure, our latest and last ad:

http://www.med.wayne.edu/aesculapians/lampoon2011.asp

Radiology can be disturbing

Today I had the explicit pleasure of observing something called a "defecating proctogram." This is by far one of the more disturbing exams I've seen. It consists of taking a caulking gun (just like the ones at Home Depot) filled with barium contrast and depositing the entire tube of contrast  into the patient's rectum. The patient then sits on a toilet and has images of them defecating under fluoroscopy taken.

Now before you starting saying, "Why in God's name?!" The study exists to diagnose things like rectoceles, fistulas, and the like. But let's just say it is by far the strangest piece of medicine I've seen, or at least have seen in the last few months.

If you would like to see a humorous article (written by some of the radiology residents at the hospital I'm working at, here's the unedited Wikipedia page. Please note, that the edited page removed the picture of the actual instrument they use (and some of the false humorous parts). And for more humor, please see: Defecating Postures.

Other interesting things I learned today: UGI studies and barium enemas require gymnastic abilities in the patient; turning and spinning and standing on their heads (not really). It made me a little more conscious about how some patient will never be able to do some of the studies we order.

Current Motto

Yes, it may be overused, but it's because it's so good. I have set the above image as my computer backdrop and will continue to tell myself this every time I find myself getting stressed out between now and next Saturday (Lampoon) and between now and next Monday/ Thursday.

What happened to my radiovacay?!

It is a well known fact by 4th year students (and attendings) that after about December, when interviews start rolling in, that your mind will not want to actually do work for the rest of the year. This "senioritis" is so entrenched in medical knowledge that most residents and attendings don't really care if you're there*.

Thus, most 4th year students make their schedules as much of a cake walk as possible for the second half of their final year (getting all the hard, required stuff out in the first few months). One of the known easy rotations is radiology, also known as radioholiday and radiovacay.

Why? Because radiology consists of individuals sitting in front of computers scanning images... it's pretty much a one-person job, which leaves the medical student asking a few questions, but mostly just sitting and watching. And usually, the residents or attending will send you home before or right after lunch, or tell you to just not bother showing up for a few days a week.

So how is it possible that most of these facts have seem to have been missed by my radiology elective?! Not only do I have to show up every day (which I don't mind)... I have required noon conference and required med student lectures at 4 pm... including every Friday. And then there's the fact that the guy in charge of medical education decided to put the required ethics breakfast at 7 am the day after Match (a day most medical students are nursing rather large hangovers... especially this year as the Match is on St. Patty's Day.)

What the hell?!?! Don't these people know what the Match is and the importance of the day?! They should know that at this point in the year, we really are only thinking about the Match and getting our lives ready for July 1 (including finding a new place to live and moving).

Yes, I want to learn some radiology... but come on... give me a break here. Everyone else on the elective is working 2 hours a day and have already been told they don't have to show up after the 16th.

I'm so annoyed.

Muggle Medicine?

Love ZDoggMD!



Just a little more medical humor for all you HP fans out there.