Decision 2012 – Rank Order Lists & The Possible Prematch
Yesterday marked the end of the interview season for me and I could not be more relieved. After visiting 15 places over 12 weeks, I could hardly distinguish one program from another. Some had friendlier faculty, some had tastier lunches; some had nicer NICUs, some boasted better benefits. Even as I neared the end, I couldn’t help but wonder how I was going to be able to make my Rank Order List based on half-day snapshots of programs on their best behaviors. I knew which places were going to be at the bottom of my ROL (often before the interview day was even over) but the trouble now was deciding which should be at the top. Should I give more weight to university programs or community-based programs, free-standing children’s hospitals or hospitals within hospitals, programs closer to Queens or programs further from home? Was a “good feeling” enough to push a smaller, less prestigious program ahead of one with a better reputation? Do I have to be at an institution that does ECMO? What about salary? What about fellowship placements? What about availability of eligible bachelors? How could I make a decision about not only a 3-year commitment but possibly the course of my future based on such limited information?
To make matters worse, there weren’t very many people I could confide in about all my anxiety. One of my two best pals from med school isn’t in the match this year (due to crazy scheduling issues I mentioned in the past). The other, who is participating, has been going through a really rough period–aside from his increasing disillusionment with the US health care system, he’s afraid he won’t even match at all. There was no way I was going to throw the fact that because I received so many interviews, I was having a tough time choosing which place I liked the best in his face. The title ‘advisor’ is basically a joke when it comes to my school because the amount of advice (career or otherwise) we receive from Ross is laughable. And there was no one I was willing to talk to about the fact that all along the interview trail, a wedding or engagement ring was practically an essential accessory and that for that reason, availability of eligible bachelors was actually a serious consideration of mine.
In the midst of this muddle of questions to consider, there was another development. After sending a ‘thanks for inviting me!’ follow up to the director of a program at which I had a particularly nice interview experience, I received a reply informing me that the faculty were favorably inclined to me following my interview and that, if I were interested, the recruitment committee could discuss offering me a prematch agreement. Huh? What did that mean? Were they trying to gauge my receptiveness to a prematch? If they really liked me that much, why didn’t they just offer it straight out? And what if I said that I was interested and they took it back? Psych! We just wanted to see if you liked us. I was transported back to elementary school – isn’t this how kids declare their intentions? Although it had gone through about 50 different incarnations, the top of my ROL seemed pretty set in my mind. This program had shifted between 2 and 3 but had never managed to topple another program from the number 1 spot. If I agreed to a prematch, I would have to remove myself from the match. I’d be set, residency-wise but I’d never know what would have been with number 1… On the other hand, if a prematch was offered and I declined it, the program would almost certainly not put me on their list in the regular match. They’d think that I was holding out for a better off and take someone who wanted them more.
ROLs must be submitted by February 22nd but if this prematch thing actually comes to fruition, I have to decide on it by Tuesday. I emailed program number 1, which doesn’t generally offer prematches (although I’ve heard that they do make promises) to find out how seriously they were considering me. As of yet, I’ve received no response. However, I haven’t received any actual pre-match offer or contract to sign. I may just have to wait until Match Day (March 16th) to find out if I’ll have a job as a pediatrician in July. Who knows where I’ll end up? Keep your fingers crossed and keep reading to find out!
Tags: Rank Order List, The Match
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