FSU MED Magazine Fall 2018, Vol. 14 | Page 38

second opinion
MATCH . com : Doctors for Hire
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second opinion

MATCH . com : Doctors for Hire

A s September quickly approaches every year , thousands of fourth-year medical students are putting the final touches on their applications and uploading the perfect profile picture . The next six months

There is an immense pressure to match . For students who do not , there is a program called SOAP where unfilled programs can pick up unmatched applicants . Students are then put in a position of choosing between not having a job and taking a position
will be spent traveling around the country , for the most
potentially without ever seeing or formally interviewing
part on the students ’ own dollar , to meet with potential
with a program . Needless to say , for a group of soonto-be
employers for their first job as a physician .
physicians who have put countless hours of study
Pressing “ Submit ” on the Electronic Residency Application
and work into their academic careers , the concept of not
Service ( ERAS ) starts an exciting , yet stressful , process for
having control of your first job as a doctor can create
senior medical students . One aspect of the uncertainty
anxiety . Still , students can take comfort that in the 2018
involves the decisions a student needs to make before
Match , 94 percent of allopathic medical students matched ,
applying . In addition to choosing a medical specialty , the
and 77 percent matched to one of their top three choices .
student must decide which programs and how many
programs to add to the application . The Match releases
The best advice I can give as a participant in the most
statistical data ( at NRMP . org ) that gives students an idea of
Kristin Price ( M . D ., ’ 18 ).
recent Match is to remember that the results of the Match
how many programs they need to apply to , interview with ,
do not define you , your success or what kind of doctor you
and rank to have a high probability of matching .
will be . The Match is a combination of a dating website and employment
service that was set up in a time when there were more jobs than applicants .
Part of the uncertainty is that applying to a program does not mean
You have worked so hard to even be eligible for the Match before being
that program will interview the candidate – and interviewing at a program
forced to put out all your academic and personal information to impress
does not guarantee that program will rank the applicant highly , or at all .
your possible future employers .
This aspect of the Match , in addition to there being more applicants than
positions offered , has put pressure on students to apply broadly .
Whether you open your envelope and cry out in joy or want to just cry ,
your first job as a physician is not you – it ’ s just the next part of your
In the 2017 Match , U . S . medical graduates applied to an average of 58
journey to become the best doctor you can be for your patients . It ’ s a time
programs through ERAS . The fee system for ERAS increases as more
to celebrate that you have fulfilled a dream – becoming a physician .
applications are submitted . Applying to 58 programs costs a student
May the odds be ever in your favor .
approximately $ 1,100 . International medical graduates applied to an average
of 135 programs , costing students a whopping $ 3,000 . These fees do not
Kristin ( Magrini ) Price ( M . D . ’ 18 ) is a first-year resident with the FSU College of
include travel expenses .
Medicine Internal Medicine Residency Program at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare .

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Related: Can you apply to too many residency programs? (AAMC News)