Match day for residency

Warning: rant/general complaining session ahead

As a few of you gals know, I am graduating from med school this May and am looking to do a residency in ob/gyn beginning in July. This Monday is when we find out if we matched (got a spot to train in) at all, and Thursday is when we find out where we are going. Right now I have started freaking out. I finished interviewing in early January and have been waiting this freaking long, and I am not a patient person ;) We started getting all of the emails about how we MUST be able to be contacted on Monday in case we didn't match :( and how nobody is allowed in the medical student services office the next day. That on top of the class meetings that were designed to scare us to death about all of this stuff. This on top of knowing that I will have 2mo approximately to find a new place to live, which may include buying a house while I am still doing rotations, figuring out my student loans with all the new goverment regulations, and all the other stress that comes with graduating.

So what have I done the last two days - biked 41miles yesterday, took a ballroom dancing class, rode a couple of horses, and ran 8miles this morning. If this lasts too much longer I might be ready for an ironman in July ;)

Just had to get that off my chest - even typing about it makes it seem a little bit better; now what else am I going to do to keep myself occupied this weekend when I'm not on call :eek:

Where are you hoping for?

BT: First off, congratulations! What an accomplishment so far -- and LOTS of hard work! Secondly, let me just wish you a lot of luck. We at the house will have our fingers (and paws) crossed for you. These kinds of things are very nerve-racking. Especially for we over-achiever types... waiting for ANYTHING is pure agony, but waiting to hear about our life plan, well that's unacceptable. Try to keep busy and keep your mind occupied! Let us know where you will end up!
Jes

Wow! you have so much going for you right now. How exciting! You need to look at this as an adventure! at least you are on your own right now and don't have a family in tow. All you have to worry about is yourself and that's not so bad! Please keep us informed! And breath, always remember to breath! At least 3 deep breaths holding to the count of 10 and releasing to the count of 10. We're cheering for you!

Wow - that is exciting! The process and the waiting are nerve wracking I am sure. I would probably hole up and watch reruns of "Scrubs" and eat ice cream - you're putting your nervous energy to much more productive use! Good for you!

Whatever is meant to happen will happen. Sometimes I just have to take a step back from life and remind myself of that. Sure if I'd gotten into Harvard Law School, I probably would be working in some hot shot firm making five times what I make now. But I would have met my husband or had this silly kid. And I probably wouldn't have become a cyclist. ;)

It'll work out. (But we want to know as soon as you find out!! :D )

Hang in there. The wait is unpleasant but it will end very soon. My husband - therefore me too! - just went through it and I'm glad it's over.

Luckily in Canada the match is a bit earlier: although interviews are all in February (most students get time off all at the same time to go to interviews), Match Day is the 6th of March. On the 4th, and the 5th I was literally counting hours, as our whole life and many decisions to be made had been hanging in the air: "We'll see after the match..."

Thankfully, he matched in his first choice, which was here in Vancouver so we don't have to move across the country and deal with all the logistics. But we would have done it if we had to. Don't feel like you need to rush through things. There will still be some time after you graduate to take care of things, no?

Good luck! I'll be thinking about you.

Good luck on the match! I hope you get your top choice!

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Originally Posted by btchance

Just had to get that off my chest - even typing about it makes it seem a little bit better; now what else am I going to do to keep myself occupied this weekend when I'm not on call :eek:

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In the meantime you could hang out with all of the others who are obsessing about the same over on SDN. :rolleyes:

Thanks for the words of encouragement. As far as where I am wanting to go, my top choices are all in Oklahoma, Texas, and Kansas, so let's hope I end up there. Grog - you guys were lucky that you found out so soon after interviews - that just makes more sense to me than making us sweat it out for months. And yeah, I do have some time after graduation to get everything straightened out, well, everything except for the new housing stuff. Dianyla - I have been over at the SDN board a bit, mainly just reading though and not posting.

Oh, and after my first post I got an email entitled: Scramble Advisory - that is just evil, as the Scramble is Tuesday and you only are involved with it if you do not match - last year for all the ob/gyn positions, there were only 6 left open in the nation for many more applicants :eek: Part of the reason for the freaking out.

Jeez, what pressure! You sound like you're dealing with it OK though--doing your best to stay sane. Good luck with the match--hope you get your first choice!

best of luck...

I can relate to your stress to a certain degree. I had to wait to see if I got into my first choice grad school. When I did I went out and got myself something nice...this helps.


karen

How did it go???

I think Match Day was one of the most stressful days of my life.

I think I have never been so drunk as I was the evening of Match Day. Blehhh:eek:

I hope you got what you wanted!

hurdle #1 down - I know I matched somewhere - I'll find out where that somewhere is on Thursday after 11am CST.

Roadie gal - my best friend and I are currently trying to devise a plan to sneak alcohol into the match ceremony so we can have a buzz going before hand - we had planned to just drink and then have her husband drive us to there, but alas we have to be at a meeting a 9:30am, so the buzz would be gone by them. But I'm sure alcohol will be involved that night:D

Congratulations!!!! Happy thoughts that you got your top choice:D:D

Be sure to let us know (in the midst of your alcohol fueled celebration):D:D

So if you're in somewhere it is somewhere you had on your list, right? I find this whole process fascinating! (I considered going back for a post-bac to go to med school before I got pregnant. It was not to be. :) ).

Just knowing you ARE matched is a great weight off! Congrats! I hope it's your first choice.

I'm off to find out - will let you know when I get back :D :eek:

Whoo-hooooo! Let us know right away! (well, you can tell your family and friends first, but *then* let us know right away!) :D

Thinking about you!

Good luck!

Alrighty - so I'm headed to Scott and White hospital, Texas A&M, Temple Tx. It's about 1/2 way between Austin and waco. I'm pretty happy with it - it was in my top 3. Now to find a place to move, and where to workout and do my races at!

Congrats!!!

Congratulations!!!!

Congrats, what an exciting time for you!

Congratulations!

Right on! Now don't forget to celebrate!

Congratulations!! On to more exciting adventures.. I am happy for you.

That's so cool! I am happy for you. I always kinda wanted to be a doctor -- the medical field is so fascinating. Have fun on your new adventure!

Emily

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Originally Posted by btchance

Alrighty - so I'm headed to Scott and White hospital, Texas A&M, Temple Tx. It's about 1/2 way between Austin and waco. I'm pretty happy with it - it was in my top 3. Now to find a place to move, and where to workout and do my races at!

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You will LOVE S&W, my college roommate is a Peds resident there! She and her husband bought a house in Belton, which is a short drive and really nice. I am only 40 miles down the road if you have any questions shoot me a PM. My husband started racing again this year and may be able to help with questions on that.

Oh and CONGRATS!!!

So cool! Moving onward and upward. Celebrate before your have to start working your arse off again!

AWESOME!!! Ain't that a great feeling?

Congratulations!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by btchance

Alrighty - so I'm headed to Scott and White hospital, Texas A&M, Temple Tx. It's about 1/2 way between Austin and waco. I'm pretty happy with it - it was in my top 3. Now to find a place to move, and where to workout and do my races at!

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Congrats! S&W was my first client when I started as a software consultant 11 years ago. They are still one of my company's best clients! Lots of nice folks down that way and being on the outskirts of Hill Country doesn't hurt one bit. Best wishes getting settled in and HOWDY! - Jennifer

Congrats! Top 3 is great!

BTW, I may have missed this on a previous posting, what is your specialty?

Aggie Ama - I will probably get in contact with you guys later to find out more about the biking in the area.

Everybody, thanks! It's good to hear from others how great the hospital is.

Roadie gal - it's ob/gyn. I'm just happy with where I'm going (wanted to stay away from my bottom 4)