I went over 3 years without matching, and let me tell you, it was a life changing experience. It started off really miserable because I was broke after the application seasons. I needed a job to support myself but because I was in academia for so long, I don't have any work experience. I sent out over 300 resume for a job, but got no interviews. So I was basically broke, living in my car :(. I took my computer to Starbucks every day and watch UA-cam, Udemy, and other videos to learn different skills. I learn digital marketing, and started my own business. Network my A$$ off, and now I own a multimillion dollar marketing agency with over 50 employees :). A lot of my clients are hospital executives, so I got some connections to do externship, shadowing, or anything to make sure I don't forget my medical knowledge. I went from living in my car in Modesto CA to moving to Los Angeles, CA in a luxury apartment in front of the ocean. I'm still going after the match because it's still my passion to be a physician. What I'm trying to say is that if you don't match, work hard to make money from another field, and use that money to pursue your dreams. Once you have enough money in your pocket, the match isn't that scary anymore. You end up enjoying medicine much more because it's not about the money or reputation, it's about studying something crazy narly.
Including the SOAP process, almost every year 95% of medical school graduates match! Before SOAP it's like low to mid 90% range. Don't let fear of not matching deter you from medicine all together!
Twenty years ago, I made the fateful decision to leave medical school after third year. To this day, I still believe it's the best decision I ever made. My heart goes out to everyone who has to go through the stress of not matching.
My daughter just went through this. She is amazing. Entered Spelman as the #4 student in the honors program. Graduated Magna Cum Laude. Attended UNC medical school. Didn’t match on day 1 but matched on day 2. She’s currently doing her residency at UNC but now she has to re-apply. Again she is amazing and not just because she’s my daughter. I pray every night that she remain mentally tough, perseveres through this process and of course place. I’ll tell her about you and perhaps she can get some uplift from your content.
@@princetonscholar5723she probably matched into a preliminary year or a transitional year or into a speciality that she didn't like and is going to reapply.
With hard work and determination all is possible ! Dr. Webb has shown that and I was an Hispanic Immigrant McDonalds worker and now an ER doc. One of my very intelligent friends did not match and just worked 2-3 random jobs one being MD consultant and re-applied the year after that and got in. Now years later has an attending job lined up ;). keep up the work and faith !!!!! ;)
I'm an M2 but accidentally started reading the SOAP thread on Reddit. Really scared myself! But then I looked at the data and saw at minimum 90% of US grads do match. Residency in general kind of needs an overhaul - it's been built haphazardly out of necessity with almost no long term planning.
My son had step scores high enough to compete with plastic surgery/dermatology. But he only wanted internal medicine . He did not match at all. He is heartbroken.
This video came at the right time! I just read that article a day ago and as a Caribbean medical student it is very concerning that I, and many of my fellow classmates, may not get residency spots upon graduating because we are IMGs. Thank you for posting this video and shedding more light on this issue, Dr. Francois.
I think applicants who don't match after 2 or 3 attempts should explore opportunities outside the US: New Zealand, Australia, Ireland, UK... Or learn a foreign language and move to Germany, Belgium, Iceland, Denmark, Israel... All these countries do accept foreign medical graduates based on various criteria. Do the research and take a leap. There will be some challenges, but it is doable.
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A family member shared the New York Times article with me and as soon as I saw the title I suspected that the applicants may have attended non-US medical schools. I explained to that family member that for those who attended a US allopathic medical school the match rate was over 90% across all specialties. Your video did a nice job of summarizing some of the factors that residencies consider when selecting applicants. Even the most competitive specialties usually have match rates in the high 80s, but I suspect that only highly competitive applicants apply to them.
This video didn’t mention some of the other things that can help with Match: 1) applying to programs that you can realistically get into, and doing so broadly; having away clerkships in your field of interest and then doing well on them; getting great letters of recommendation, doing research during medical school... Note that many 🇺🇸 residency programs offer interviews to people that are from their geographic area/in-state. If you’re from out-of-area/state, you need to clearly communicate why you would be motivated to move to that specific region of the United States.
Very informative video. As a current 3rd year medical student who will be applying for the match next year, this is definitely information that I need to know. Thanks Dr. Francois!
All the best to you!! My advice is to apply broadly (number of programs) even if you prefer to stay in a certain location. For example, since my family is NY and I really needed to be close to home, I applied to all the anesthesia programs in NY, northern-to middle NJ, and northern PA plus a few more outside that for safety ..I was SERIOUS!
@@Essays4College Yes, I was 3 years in at the time and although I knew about and was familiar with the process, Dr. Francois offered additional insight that I was not privy to at the time. Now, as a successfully matched 1st year dermatology resident, I am very glad I watched this video.
This is why I keep my ASCP certification current. I am a medical lab scientist and if I don't match in pathology or find a job post residency I will apply to become a Lab Director or a Histology specialist. I don't think path is all that competitive though... right???
I considered Pathology as a specialty bc I loved histology in med school..I’m unsure about it’s competitiveness currently; but to be honest, I don’t think I know of anyone in my year who applied but that was 10 years ago.
I’ve heard path isn’t competitive in the stats sense, but that there are far fewer residency spots available compared to other specialities. Some hospitals with only 2-3 spots per year.
@@y.m.505 That I'm 63? Born in 1958. That I just finished med school, YUP, Nov 20, 2020. That I applied to 200 residency program and only got 4 interviews, YUP. That I'm doing 10 UWorld Step 3 questions a day to keep sharp. Would you like me to explain the adrenal cascade pathways to you? Or explain DKA recovery protocol? Or how about the role of magnesium in hypoparathyroidism. I'm not often offended when someone calls me a liar, so I'll let this one slide.
Thank you for being open and honest about the process. No one tells us these things when we are going through premed in undergrad and afterwards. New subbie here! Keep the open and honest conversations going!
If it’s not included in the core rotation (or a part of your surgery clerkship) consider requesting an elective one earlier in 3rd yr..that goes for any potential interests..All the best to you!
@@3anesthesiame40 honestly, I didn’t think of that. I did for ER, but not anesthesia. Some Med students assume “oh I’ll get some anesthesia experience during 3rd year surgical rotation.” But I bet most of my time will be with the surgical team during that rotation, not anesthesia. That, and as a medic I go into withdrawals if weeks go by without intubating (not that I ever want someone to get intubated in the emergency setting, but I respectfully cannot explain the high of overcoming a difficult airway). So great advice!!
This happens to great candidates and it’s sometimes hard to pin down why..usually it’s bc they don’t apply broadly enough (number of programs), but could be other factors like interview skills or a red flag in their application. Thanks for watching!
It is a wierd system of spending so much money for nothing. But the match rate for US grads is 90%. IMG match rates are near 60%. What Indian doctors do is spend 1 year in US medical estanlishments as observers. In that time they gain knowledge of US practices and develop a professional network for recommendations which help thfm in getting residencies. Expendive way. Spend close to a year in US without salary.
Hi. I met MANY IGMs who matched into residencies in which they had no interest. However, it was SOMETHING they could do, to at least be a practicing physician in the U.S. Most were older folks (over 40) who were seasoned doctors from overseas. I met a couple of them who decided to become PAs. What do you think about the "associate physician" positions in one state (Montana, I think 🤔)? It allows unmatched MDs to practice under supervision of a licensed MD/DO (like PAs) until they match.
I large part of this problem is Caribbean schools. The match rate for mainland MD/DOs with no major academic shortcomings is over 95% while Caribbean schools are around 60 for those allowed to attempt it, even lower if you include the entire cohort. Also, with step 1 going p/f, these gaps are going to get larger due to an inability to distinguish ones self from these IMG school and more weight being put on the name of your medical school.
Thats not true for all schools. For example, Ross's match rate is like 95%. But again, there are schools like ross with a lot of US Connections. SGU also. But other Carib med schools I would avoid. If that is your only option and you can't imagine your life without being a doctor, you better make it Ross, SGU or AUC.
@@princeofball I didnt say all Carib schools, I simply stated that the congrugant of carib schools skews the average. I dont agree completely with your statements though. Yes Ross, SGU, and AUC have 90%+ match rates for m4s allowed to apply, but thats for those that are allowed to apply, a very small percentage (i have seen reports as low as ~30%) of the initial accepted class. These schools should be avoided at all costs and students should amend their applications for mainland MD/DO schools before using them. I personally know 2 people who are sattled with 250k+ students loans and have MD's that cant find a job. One of them from AUC. Very few people put value in these degrees.
@@princeofball Ross has fabricated those stats by removing groups which allows them to publish that false number. If you look into all their data, their true match rate equals all Caribbean schools. There are no outliers identifiable for an entire school. I have a math degree. I do plenty of stat work. They are fabricating data by exclusivist practices.
My niece's husband also did a year of study for a Fellowship before he got a "real" job. With the shortage of doctors in the US I'd think that more people would be hired. It's ridiculous. My Cardiologist and Pulmonologist are booked out a year. My primary told me , last time I saw her, that she has 1500 patients. It's NUTS.
With a person with learning disability and teachers telling me that I cant make it because of the lack of learning differently, my thing is that dont let no one tell you what you can or cant not do.
Speaking as a doctor educated in the British system - ‘Matching’ for house jobs (internship) was done, and every graduate had to complete 6 months in general medicine and another 6 months in surgery. Once this was done, full registration was obtained. Thereafter, different people did different things, but generally time was spent broadening experience by means of 3-6 moths in various specialities, and only then did most people decide on a speciality. After full registration I did 5 months paediatric surgery, 2 1/2 years neurosurgery and then went into anaesthetics - 6 1/2 years in an academic setting, and then I moved to a smaller hospital to continue anaesthetics and ICU. I then moved into a trauma unit and worked in ICU. During the time in trauma ICU I became involved in flight medevacs and have gone on to get a BSc (Hons) Aerospace Medicine.
Knew something was up. It's called rationing. Between the politicians & the AMA they always prefer a shortage of docs than trying to appropriate the needs of society so that we can get out to rural sections, inner cities, even doctors w/o borders. Surely pandemic has taught us something that we also need to be able to spell docs who have been working around the clock.
Thank you for this informative video. With shadowing shut down due to covid, I’ve had to rely on other resources for physician perspectives, like your channel lol. I’m a non traditional premed that’s considering a career change into medicine. Not matching is one of my greatest fears because getting into medical school will be challenging enough (I’ve been out of school for a decade). But trying to keep up with the “younger” competition will probably be my biggest challenge yet. I’m not considering competitive residencies and am focusing on primary care ones in my state and surrounding ones. I’m determined to just do my very best and no matter the outcome, I will find a job to pay back my debt ASAP. However, I also don’t like surprises so I appreciate honest channels like yours that try to prepare premeds to be prepared and especially not to take those boards lightly. When I’m a med student, I will have those USMLE books glued to my face!
Thank you for watching and for your perspective! I really wanted to present this potential outcome and bring some reality. I wish you all the best in your endeavor!!
Thank you for this video and for your perspective. I am an undergraduate student currently and hope to go to medical school after graduation. This is all good information to keep in mind. There are some doctors who are double and even triple board certified in different specialties. How does this process work? Do they go the match process more than once or after they have finished one?
@@meilindye44 residency and fellowships. Example: someone completes residency in pediatrics and then completed a fellowship in pediatric critical care & pulmonology. They will take a board exam for each specialty group available in the training they have completed
It seems nonsensical to me to let so many more people into the beginning of the process than five or ten years ago when the number of job slots at the end of the process has not changed in more than ten years.
@@2davivadiva What is your greedy self going to do when there are three times as many graduates as job openings? A person can't earn a hospital salary without finding an empty job slot at the hospital and filling it. I blame the school admissions committee for giving people [false!!! ] hope. If experts predict that type X specialty will only have 12,000 job openings in the next five years, why let 25,000 people study that specialty every year for the next five years? Lots of people are going to be unemployed and debt ridden after graduation.
@@gwillis01 US medical schools have a greater than 90% match rate, so it's not the US schools that are giving people false hope, it's the international schools taking advantage of people who were rejected by US med schools. The international schools accept applicants even while knowing that the applicants likely won't ever get a residency spot in the US
One dimensional. How would you predict closure of programs 4 years later? Why don't you run the thing and see how much of a mess you create? Lol. Pathetic. Know what you are talking before you actually talk.
I do not like creating false hope. Letting more people in on the front end when the number of job slots at the end of the process has not changed creates false hope.
This is so interesting to me. In my country we don’t have enough doctors because med school places are so limited (that’s also why it’s so hard to get into medical school the first place) but if you finish medical school it is kinda guaranteed you get a job and further residency training. I think it’s not fair that people give their hardest work to get a place in medical school, go through this hard education and then don’t get a job? Why would you go through all of this :( also I’ve heard medical school in the us is super expensive… that would really scare me as an applicant
Great contents, thank you for your video! Please do another video of “alternative routes if you don’t get matched.” Like teaching(school board committee, career training programs), Health Informatics, coaching medical students, write books on learned materials, Step 1 Test preparation, question samples, etc.
Great video. Very educational and well presented. I’m a public health student, but as one who was formerly premed with an interest in pediatrics, I find this video fascinating. Quite sad that ppl can work their behind off and not secure their dreams. Tough world.
Thank you for covering this topic. I am newly subscribed because this topic is overall taboo. I have not matched but will continue to try to. (I am an AMG)
Keep pushing! All the best this season..and if not successful, you should try again considering perhaps other specialties/ways to improve your odds such a research..different letter writers, etc.
I'm not going to medical school, but I always struggled with working and taking classes at the same time so yeah I could definitely not risk going to medical school if that's what I wanted. I would probably have a lot of trouble studying and taking on extra activities at the same time.
Same here. But for me I was interested in med school at one point in college until I realized with little sleep, I could not function. I did many microsleeps while writing my papers and would fall asleep in class. Med school is worse and later doctors up for days with little sleep. I would end up dropping out of med school and have loans for a track i never completed. Can't do.
Wow I just don't get it. In Vegas we are so short on doctors. There should be a easier process. I cant imagine going through all that and then not match. The residency programs should increase the amt of students they take in. Then once u graduate. There should be easier ways of finding a job. We are so short on doctors. Do they have a match system once your done with all the what 14 plus yrs of training?
i wonder why that is? I looked at the match statistics for # of spots available in internal med for hospitals in las vegas and surprisingly even big UNLV didn't completely fill all their spots, granted it was only 1-2 spots vacant, but looking at other places, even lesser known programs in nearby Coachella valley managed to fill their seats.
@@rnhim2072 that is odd. It's sad because if u just graduated here. I hear it's way to expensive to open a solo practice. None of the residents wanted internal medicine. Most wanted to be a hospitalist.we had a excellent resident as PCP then he graduated😊for him 😭sad for us. We found a good young PCP. Hospitalist half the week and in clinic a week
@@sherrydawson6253 yeah to open up a practice is becoming cost-prohibitive, alot of medical groups are getting absorbed by hospitals and doctors end up becoming staff. Anyway I thought internal med were usually the hospitalists while family med mostly clinic/outpatient?
Wife , 3 kids and attending you go!!! I always tell girls that are just graduating undergrad to stop thinking about the family they don’t have and making career decisions based off that because of people like you. I say I see women with crazy careers that have families all the time. I also say unless you want to do family medicine don’t do IMG. You won’t match into anything else. This is for certain. In the past they could specialize but those days are long gone.
👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾..the “stop thinking about the family they don’t have” part is a quotable! Yes, it’s really hard to be a mom while training, but it’s not impossible. (That’s a topic for another video!!) Thanks for watching and for this great comment ♥️
theres some good news, AAMC reports that hospitals will receive funding to open up 1000 more residency spots, which hasn't happened in 25 years. I'm not sure when exactly these plans will take place, how the 1000 spots will be distributed among specialties (although high need areas such as rural settings will get more funding) or if it will be rolled out all at once or gradually increased, but still good to hear they will expand residencies.
Man, this system seems pretty flawed. I don't think any other country does it like this. In my country, after school you get a job at any of thousands of government approved hospitals for a year, which is called a housemanship. If you complete it, you get your licence. You can practice as a general practitioner. You don't even think of residency until you're ready to specialise, and then you take your residency exams to get into a residency
the medical "schools" in the carribean and mexico are bogus to put it nicely. people who apply to those schools already know that up front. nobody says I want to go to school in the Caribbean because I like palm trees and the beach. ..So I am going to pass up a medical school in the united states. sorry, if you do not get into a legit school maybe go with plan B!
I'll just say this, I went and excelled at a Caribbean medical school. I matched into my number one ranked residency (on my first and only attempt), and I am currently the chief resident at this large well known university. There are a multitude of reasons one might not get accepted into their desired medical schools. Going to a different path to obtain the same end goal needs research and knowledge in what that path entails. No path to residency is easy, but this is part of the grind to become a physician. The fact is that there are new medical schools opening every year, and never enough residency spots for a single year's graduating class nationwide. If you don't match, work with your medical school on how to better your application for the following year (if you don't match via SOAP). Persistence is another trait that you will talk about on your next rounds of interviews. Also, try to find alumni in those residencies or even area to help you. Reach out; network. Your hard work will pay off.
i have a hard luck story. Had to scramble back in 2007. Then was dismissed from a 4 year residency after 2 years due to academic problems while struggling to balance work and family. Then i worked in the field seeing under-served rural patients for several years and tried to be their advocate but got into a legal mess. Now i have no medical license (for at least 3 years), no DEA, still no board certification, and a mountain of debt. Tried to match this year but unsuccessful; no luck with the SOAP either (which was this week). Feeling like a failure; don't know what to do. i don't have a plan b or c. i'm not a salesman or an entrepreneur. So I have no faith in the system, and my spirit is broken and crushed, maybe beyond repair.
Thanks for sharing your story. Sorry to hear that..it’s truly been a tough road and I am hopeful you will make it work somehow. Really examine other opportunities (re-attempt scramble..or consider other potential paths outside of medicine). Your story’s not over yet! ♥️
@@elizabethbrandon677 Hello, Elizabeth. Sadly, my situation has not changed all that much. Not only do i not have a license, but i am now on a Medicare exclusion list. This means i can't work in any capacity for any company that even touches Medicare dollars until at least 2029. And since most medical residencies are funded at least partially through Medicare, my hopes have dimmed even further. Thankfully, my debts have been adjusted, but i still have no steady job. All i get is disability from the VA. Just trying not to think about all the years of hard work that now seem to have been for nothing. i'm beginning to regret ever having gone into medicine or tried to help people. Indeed, i'm starting to question ALL of my major life choices. 😞 i'm sorry i don't have better news, Elizabeth. All the best to you.🌹
I didn’t take away the clear “Do’s” and “Don’t’s” of being a more secure applicant for matching into residency. And also, if you don’t match, is that simply the end of the road for newly graduated doctors? Loved the video!
Thanks for watching! Check out my video “How to become an anesthesiologist” and also “Interview Day” for some tips on the process. For doctors that don’t match, there are some positions available outside of the nation residency match program that they can try to pursue, those opportunities are fewer though. I’ve seen several really fortunate ppl successfully get a residency position that way.
If you go to a medical school in the US the only way you don’t match into something if you overreach based on your step scores. Don’t apply dermatology or ENT if your scores aren’t even competitive for Family Med
Fam Med, Internal, PCP these have become undesirable positions for most Med school graduates. I'd rather drive a truck before doing Fam Med. Not because of Fam Med but because of the McDonald's type work which Fam Med has turned into. Truck drivers have it better.
Hi I still want to be a doctor and if some things go south I would go over sea, or South American to help though who need my help as a doctor!!! If any one can help me please do so.
im a rising senior (in hs) idk why im here but I just learned about matching today and got a little scared I know I have 9 years but I was just confused great video made me feel better
Any time frame where there’s a lapse in training (similar to when students take a year off after Highschool before beginning college -gap year) admissions committees will want to know why and what you were doing then. Leaves of absence, Or if someone had to repeat or remediate a failed year or course they’ll want to know about that too. They are looking for consistent training and gaps might be red flags.
On the Admin side, I would think that being bilingual would be a huge plus for being matched. Get out the Rosetta Stone! LOL Large cities have so many multinational patients that Bilingual adds in additions as you said willing to go anywhere.
Hi doc, would you consider anesthesiology IMG friendly? What are the most important things program directors look for when screening applicants applying to anesthesiology?
I would say yes, based only on my own experience in New York. Competitive applications have great med school transcripts (plenty of honors), great letters of recommendation, and for now until it becomes P/F, strong USMLE scores amongst other things that point to maturity/reliable/resilient character. (This is purely my opinion as a non-PD residency interviewer)
Please draw attention to the fact that paraprofessionals like PA/NP with far less knowledge than a physician can get a very good high paying job just out of school without a residency. Physicians have access to none of these jobs due to stringencies imposed on them by the licensure process. This is what is most disturbing about our commitment to highly trained care in the US, and suggestive of why the ACGME and match needs to adapt to modern affairs, and possibly need to be eliminated completely as they interfere with physician education. This is a very frustrating time to be acquiring the knowledge and specialization previously believed to be necessary to provide care. There is definitely a part of this story about how international schools prey upon bright eyed undergrads wanting to be physicians, but another part of this story about unqualified paraprofessionals performing care that needs to be picked up!
I agree! Thank you for for this great comment. It is a less than perfect system for sure! Residency is a crucial part of the physician training process in my opinion since it’s crammed with learning experiences( in other words opportunities to make and learn from mistakes while under the wing of someone who knows how to fix them) and interactions with experts who can gear you towards mastery of your specialty. That mastery is KEY especially in the critical care fields of medicine. Our society expects nothing short of excellence from physicians, otherwise you’ll end up as a defendant..those are the facts. We need more spots and opportunities to train physicians..Bc as you said the healthcare need is here and now. PA/NPs are necessary and are definitely filling the gap.
Yes the system..especially primary care is extremely lacking! I think bc preventative care doesn’t make the big bucks for the system it’s not valued enough and that sentiment has a ripple effect unfortunately. I just posted a video about working class/low income med students and having to take out large amounts of student loans to make it through..As someone with that experience as well as that of a prior career I’d say it’s worth it in the end to have a profession where one feels challenged, engaged and genuinely happy. Thanks so much for your comment.. and for sharing your experience
If matching is never a guarantee and if in the end it leaves you broke and without a job for several of years, why don't American MD's try to go to a different country to specialize such as the UK or Australia? Of course, the pay is not the same but at least you will get paid and not broke spending a countless amount of money trying to re-apply for the match. Just never made sense to me
Thank you for posting this video. It’s very well done with the editing and stock footage. You are a great presenter. Did any of your classmates who did not match initially ever end up getting a match or what did they do over time?
This possible? Wow I did not know this was a thing. I have no internet in medicine or medical school, but love watching videos about them for some reason lol
I know I'm kinda late to this but.. honestly, the fact is a certain percentage of medical students will not match regardless of their performance because there simply isn't enough spaces for residency training... and that's what many people don't talk about.. it's simple math.. 100 students, 80 spaces.. 20 will not get in. No matter how high or low their step 1 or 2 score is..
The article likely talking about Caribbean grads. These are bottom of the barrel students that have lower cognitive ability. They cant get into peripheral allied healthcare programs in the usa.
For that reason I stop thinking in Med school, I was doing Biology and try doing volunteer getting everything and when I started to research more, I found that medical school is just for people that does not have anything else in their life, so I change to Bioinformatic and Medical Lab, I still will be in health care but in a way more easy to get there
@@lonnisplace1459 it your decision every person do what they think that is better for them. For me was difficult think in spend more than 300K and has a minimum of 10 yrs of my life studying to no necessary be able to achieve the goal. I believe in me but I am immigrant, I think that med school is more for traditional students who have the opportunity to just focus on get into Medical school, with parents that pay their needs and people who are good getting straight A
That is so sad. My brother in law graduated from medical school in 1990. I do not remember him doing a residency. And he has been a physician since then. Did I not pay attention to the pictures with the government? Lol
My plan is to finish the 6 yrs n do the usmle to work in us.... N u plz explain this to do when u want to make yo application standout apart from yo scores
Things that make applications stand out apart from scores are unique experiences outside of medicine that demonstrate your maturity, resilience, and commitment to your goals and passions; great letters of recommendation from physicians in the same field you are applying to; strong personal statements. All the best to you!
Loved this, I’ve kind of been freaking out. This year I made it my goal to not think too much and just go for it. I’m still pre med but I am working to break a habit of talking myself out of greatness just because I’m afraid. Side request: could you make a video of Anesthesia stories? I see a lot of videos of typical Anesthesia days but I never hear the stories of how Anesthesiologist truly save the day in The OR when things start going down hill.
Great. One more thing to stress about. 😅. I’m an optician and I’m currently taking my prereqs to get my bachelor’s in biomedical engineering. But I do plan on going on into medical school as well, with optometry being a back-up plan.I’m not necessarily the sharpest tool in the box, but not the dullest either. If I do happen to get into medical school, I know is gonna suck, but knowing that the chance of me not being matched is kinda high is kinda disheartening.
As a high school student wanting to pursue a career in medicine what can I start doing now to help me be prepared for my pre med and medical school years
Do great in undergrad and take accredited science classes no matter your major. This will help prepare you for the MCAT. Also you must be an all around person and someone who shows “people first leadership” if that makes sense. You wanna be someone that’s easy and fun to work with.
That’s correct..it’s called SOAP (match week and Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program) and ppl can get residency spots in the same week, sometimes before match day.
@@3anesthesiame40 Scramble comes after SOAP. SOAP has very strict rules and processes but scramble is worse - it's a total free for all! You can just call random programs and beg for the spot basically.
Well I find myself in the exact perdicament you discussed. I went to school have my degree and didn't match. How do you get pass the filters to have PD's take a look at the whole person. Some feed back on what to do next would be apprecitaed. already chasing down medical research option. considering the assistant physician license in Missouri wondering due you think this is a good idea and worth it?
I thought the U.S. had a really big doctor shortage? If you're willing to go anywhere and take any position, I would think jobs would be available. With experience you can then find a better position.
@@3anesthesiame40 After so many years of hard study, plus a lot of money spent I would go anywhere for a job. After a couple years of experience then I would be able to go somewhere I would really like. I lived & worked in 47, soon to be 48 countries as I am going to Kenya for a month. One thing I learned is that no matter how awful a person thinks a place is, there are good things to be discovered. Don't give up a wonderful career just to remain in one place.
Technically you have fulfilled your exam requirements for licensure after passing the 3 USMLE exams, and can apply for medical license in any state ..however your job prospects will be limited if you practice without completing a residency..it has definitely been done..but certainly not in a hospital, where board certification (and residency graduation) is typically required. Great question..Thanks for watching!
When you said international graduate status, do you mean someone who graduated from an overseas medical school or international students who graduated from a US medical school? Thanks.
I went over 3 years without matching, and let me tell you, it was a life changing experience. It started off really miserable because I was broke after the application seasons. I needed a job to support myself but because I was in academia for so long, I don't have any work experience. I sent out over 300 resume for a job, but got no interviews. So I was basically broke, living in my car :(. I took my computer to Starbucks every day and watch UA-cam, Udemy, and other videos to learn different skills. I learn digital marketing, and started my own business. Network my A$$ off, and now I own a multimillion dollar marketing agency with over 50 employees :). A lot of my clients are hospital executives, so I got some connections to do externship, shadowing, or anything to make sure I don't forget my medical knowledge. I went from living in my car in Modesto CA to moving to Los Angeles, CA in a luxury apartment in front of the ocean. I'm still going after the match because it's still my passion to be a physician. What I'm trying to say is that if you don't match, work hard to make money from another field, and use that money to pursue your dreams. Once you have enough money in your pocket, the match isn't that scary anymore. You end up enjoying medicine much more because it's not about the money or reputation, it's about studying something crazy narly.
Awesome!
You are amazing proud of you
What school did you go to?
W
Sorry son but I have a hard time believing your story 😂
Oh my god. This is one of my fears. I don't want to go through 4 years of undergrad and 4 years of med school if I can't match. This is really scary.
OMG!!! like can you imagine, the time, the money, emotional, and physical energy spent!!!🤦🏿♀️🤦🏿♀️🤦🏿♀️🤦🏿♀️
do not go to carribean school. Get a DO or MD in America.
go to a US MD/DO school and youll be fine
Depends on your goals, if you're going into primary care, it might not be a waste. If you want to be a surgeon, forget it.The odds are against you
Including the SOAP process, almost every year 95% of medical school graduates match! Before SOAP it's like low to mid 90% range. Don't let fear of not matching deter you from medicine all together!
Twenty years ago, I made the fateful decision to leave medical school after third year. To this day, I still believe it's the best decision I ever made. My heart goes out to everyone who has to go through the stress of not matching.
Are you still in professional field?
@@kkg108 Retired early.
Thank you for this, a lot of doctors are scared to admit they did not get matched and are 300k in debt doing a research assistant job.
My daughter just went through this. She is amazing. Entered Spelman as the #4 student in the honors program. Graduated Magna Cum Laude. Attended UNC medical school. Didn’t match on day 1 but matched on day 2. She’s currently doing her residency at UNC but now she has to re-apply. Again she is amazing and not just because she’s my daughter. I pray every night that she remain mentally tough, perseveres through this process and of course place. I’ll tell her about you and perhaps she can get some uplift from your content.
You're a great dad. I wish her the best of luck.
Why did she have to reapply if she already matched?
Thanks
Reapply? After match?
Never heard of this.
- Anesthesiologist x 25 yrs
@@princetonscholar5723she probably matched into a preliminary year or a transitional year or into a speciality that she didn't like and is going to reapply.
With hard work and determination all is possible ! Dr. Webb has shown that and I was an Hispanic Immigrant McDonalds worker and now an ER doc. One of my very intelligent friends did not match and just worked 2-3 random jobs one being MD consultant and re-applied the year after that and got in. Now years later has an attending job lined up ;).
keep up the work and faith !!!!! ;)
So true! It’s all about your drive! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for your persistence!! We need you!!!
W
Amen
I'm an M2 but accidentally started reading the SOAP thread on Reddit. Really scared myself! But then I looked at the data and saw at minimum 90% of US grads do match. Residency in general kind of needs an overhaul - it's been built haphazardly out of necessity with almost no long term planning.
My son had step scores high enough to compete with plastic surgery/dermatology. But he only wanted internal medicine . He did not match at all. He is heartbroken.
I hope gets something if he tries to match again.
This video came at the right time! I just read that article a day ago and as a Caribbean medical student it is very concerning that I, and many of my fellow classmates, may not get residency spots upon graduating because we are IMGs. Thank you for posting this video and shedding more light on this issue, Dr. Francois.
Articles like that are nothing new tbh
Note that American graduates of Caribbean medical schools have better chances of matching to American residency programs than foreign-born grads.
I think applicants who don't match after 2 or 3 attempts should explore opportunities outside the US: New Zealand, Australia, Ireland, UK... Or learn a foreign language and move to Germany, Belgium, Iceland, Denmark, Israel... All these countries do accept foreign medical graduates based on various criteria. Do the research and take a leap. There will be some challenges, but it is doable.
GET LICENSURE IN ANY STATE. ASK WHAT TRIBE NEEDS A DR. I LOVE THE SW TRIBES, NAVAJO MY BEST CHOICE. IF YOU HAVE A LICENSE IN ANY STATE. THE PLACE NEEDING A DR. WILL HELP YOU OBTAIN THAT PAPER. yOU DON'T NEED A PASSPORT NOR A FOREIGN LANGUAGE.
Thank you for acknowledging this.
A family member shared the New York Times article with me and as soon as I saw the title I suspected that the applicants may have attended non-US medical schools. I explained to that family member that for those who attended a US allopathic medical school the match rate was over 90% across all specialties.
Your video did a nice job of summarizing some of the factors that residencies consider when selecting applicants. Even the most competitive specialties usually have match rates in the high 80s, but I suspect that only highly competitive applicants apply to them.
This video didn’t mention some of the other things that can help with Match: 1) applying to programs that you can realistically get into, and doing so broadly; having away clerkships in your field of interest and then doing well on them; getting great letters of recommendation, doing research during medical school...
Note that many 🇺🇸 residency programs offer interviews to people that are from their geographic area/in-state. If you’re from out-of-area/state, you need to clearly communicate why you would be motivated to move to that specific region of the United States.
Osteopathic medical schools also have a high match rate
Very informative video. As a current 3rd year medical student who will be applying for the match next year, this is definitely information that I need to know. Thanks Dr. Francois!
All the best to you!! My advice is to apply broadly (number of programs) even if you prefer to stay in a certain location. For example, since my family is NY and I really needed to be close to home, I applied to all the anesthesia programs in NY, northern-to middle NJ, and northern PA plus a few more outside that for safety ..I was SERIOUS!
@@3anesthesiame40 Can you apply to more than one specialty? Can I apply for radiology and general surgery for example?
@@odeiniketubosin2652 yes you can
You’re 3 years in and didn’t know about the process?
@@Essays4College Yes, I was 3 years in at the time and although I knew about and was familiar with the process, Dr. Francois offered additional insight that I was not privy to at the time. Now, as a successfully matched 1st year dermatology resident, I am very glad I watched this video.
Thank you for bringing this to attention. I am downloading the article now.
Really? How is that possible?
This is why I keep my ASCP certification current. I am a medical lab scientist and if I don't match in pathology or find a job post residency I will apply to become a Lab Director or a Histology specialist. I don't think path is all that competitive though... right???
I considered Pathology as a specialty bc I loved histology in med school..I’m unsure about it’s competitiveness currently; but to be honest, I don’t think I know of anyone in my year who applied but that was 10 years ago.
You’re wise! EVERYONE should have a backup plan..
I’ve heard path isn’t competitive in the stats sense, but that there are far fewer residency spots available compared to other specialities. Some hospitals with only 2-3 spots per year.
Match week is next week. I'm 63yo. If no match, I know why. I've got a couple plan B and C's already in the works. It's call hustle.
All the best to you!
Wow, does that mean you went to medical school at 59?
@@taiwoshogbanmu9747 YUP. What are your thoughts?
@@glencmac I don't believe you. 🙃
@@y.m.505 That I'm 63? Born in 1958. That I just finished med school, YUP, Nov 20, 2020. That I applied to 200 residency program and only got 4 interviews, YUP. That I'm doing 10 UWorld Step 3 questions a day to keep sharp. Would you like me to explain the adrenal cascade pathways to you? Or explain DKA recovery protocol? Or how about the role of magnesium in hypoparathyroidism. I'm not often offended when someone calls me a liar, so I'll let this one slide.
Thank you for being open and honest about the process. No one tells us these things when we are going through premed in undergrad and afterwards. New subbie here! Keep the open and honest conversations going!
That’s why I’m not letting my paramedic license lapse through medical school. It’s collateral, and matching is never guaranteed.
You’re wise! Thinking of Anesthesia?
@@3anesthesiame40 yep, it’s on my list. But still have a ways to go before 3rd and 4th year. Still, on my mind!
If it’s not included in the core rotation (or a part of your surgery clerkship) consider requesting an elective one earlier in 3rd yr..that goes for any potential interests..All the best to you!
@@3anesthesiame40 honestly, I didn’t think of that. I did for ER, but not anesthesia. Some Med students assume “oh I’ll get some anesthesia experience during 3rd year surgical rotation.” But I bet most of my time will be with the surgical team during that rotation, not anesthesia. That, and as a medic I go into withdrawals if weeks go by without intubating (not that I ever want someone to get intubated in the emergency setting, but I respectfully cannot explain the high of overcoming a difficult airway). So great advice!!
Exactly! Some rotations are definitely not guaranteed..so proactivity is key...and about the airway...what a rush!
I knew a girl who didn’t match. I was shocked.
This happens to great candidates and it’s sometimes hard to pin down why..usually it’s bc they don’t apply broadly enough (number of programs), but could be other factors like interview skills or a red flag in their application. Thanks for watching!
@@3anesthesiame40 scary thought to think interview skills good enough for medical school wouldnt be good enough for a residency
Thanks for covering this. It’s really helpful!
Thanks for watching
This video cleared up some important things for me. Keep up the great work.
It is a wierd system of spending so much money for nothing. But the match rate for US grads is 90%. IMG match rates are near 60%.
What Indian doctors do is spend 1 year in US medical estanlishments as observers. In that time they gain knowledge of US practices and develop a professional network for recommendations which help thfm in getting residencies. Expendive way. Spend close to a year in US without salary.
Hi. I met MANY IGMs who matched into residencies in which they had no interest. However, it was SOMETHING they could do, to at least be a practicing physician in the U.S. Most were older folks (over 40) who were seasoned doctors from overseas. I met a couple of them who decided to become PAs. What do you think about the "associate physician" positions in one state (Montana, I think 🤔)? It allows unmatched MDs to practice under supervision of a licensed MD/DO (like PAs) until they match.
I large part of this problem is Caribbean schools. The match rate for mainland MD/DOs with no major academic shortcomings is over 95% while Caribbean schools are around 60 for those allowed to attempt it, even lower if you include the entire cohort. Also, with step 1 going p/f, these gaps are going to get larger due to an inability to distinguish ones self from these IMG school and more weight being put on the name of your medical school.
Thats not true for all schools. For example, Ross's match rate is like 95%. But again, there are schools like ross with a lot of US Connections. SGU also. But other Carib med schools I would avoid. If that is your only option and you can't imagine your life without being a doctor, you better make it Ross, SGU or AUC.
@@princeofball I didnt say all Carib schools, I simply stated that the congrugant of carib schools skews the average. I dont agree completely with your statements though. Yes Ross, SGU, and AUC have 90%+ match rates for m4s allowed to apply, but thats for those that are allowed to apply, a very small percentage (i have seen reports as low as ~30%) of the initial accepted class. These schools should be avoided at all costs and students should amend their applications for mainland MD/DO schools before using them. I personally know 2 people who are sattled with 250k+ students loans and have MD's that cant find a job. One of them from AUC. Very few people put value in these degrees.
@@princeofball Ross has fabricated those stats by removing groups which allows them to publish that false number. If you look into all their data, their true match rate equals all Caribbean schools. There are no outliers identifiable for an entire school. I have a math degree. I do plenty of stat work. They are fabricating data by exclusivist practices.
My niece's husband also did a year of study for a Fellowship before he got a "real" job. With the shortage of doctors in the US I'd think that more people would be hired. It's ridiculous. My Cardiologist and Pulmonologist are booked out a year. My primary told me , last time I saw her, that she has 1500 patients. It's NUTS.
With a person with learning disability and teachers telling me that I cant make it because of the lack of learning differently, my thing is that dont let no one tell you what you can or cant not do.
I love this! Keep pushing forward ♥️
Speaking as a doctor educated in the British system -
‘Matching’ for house jobs (internship) was done, and every graduate had to complete 6 months in general medicine and another 6 months in surgery.
Once this was done, full registration was obtained.
Thereafter, different people did different things, but generally time was spent broadening experience by means of 3-6 moths in various specialities, and only then did most people decide on a speciality.
After full registration I did 5 months paediatric surgery, 2 1/2 years neurosurgery and then went into anaesthetics - 6 1/2 years in an academic setting, and then I moved to a smaller hospital to continue anaesthetics and ICU.
I then moved into a trauma unit and worked in ICU.
During the time in trauma ICU I became involved in flight medevacs and have gone on to get a BSc (Hons) Aerospace Medicine.
Do you have "matching" residency in the british medical system? and will you be able to get the license to practice if you passed the final test?
Knew something was up. It's called rationing. Between the politicians & the AMA they always prefer a shortage of docs than trying to appropriate the needs of society so that we can get out to rural sections, inner cities, even doctors w/o borders. Surely pandemic has taught us something that we also need to be able to spell docs who have been working around the clock.
Thank you for this informative video. With shadowing shut down due to covid, I’ve had to rely on other resources for physician perspectives, like your channel lol. I’m a non traditional premed that’s considering a career change into medicine. Not matching is one of my greatest fears because getting into medical school will be challenging enough (I’ve been out of school for a decade). But trying to keep up with the “younger” competition will probably be my biggest challenge yet. I’m not considering competitive residencies and am focusing on primary care ones in my state and surrounding ones. I’m determined to just do my very best and no matter the outcome, I will find a job to pay back my debt ASAP.
However, I also don’t like surprises so I appreciate honest channels like yours that try to prepare premeds to be prepared and especially not to take those boards lightly. When I’m a med student, I will have those USMLE books glued to my face!
Thank you for watching and for your perspective! I really wanted to present this potential outcome and bring some reality. I wish you all the best in your endeavor!!
Thank you for this video and for your perspective. I am an undergraduate student currently and hope to go to medical school after graduation. This is all good information to keep in mind. There are some doctors who are double and even triple board certified in different specialties. How does this process work? Do they go the match process more than once or after they have finished one?
@@meilindye44 residency and fellowships. Example: someone completes residency in pediatrics and then completed a fellowship in pediatric critical care & pulmonology. They will take a board exam for each specialty group available in the training they have completed
It seems nonsensical to me to let so many more people into the beginning of the process than five or ten years ago when the number of job slots at the end of the process has not changed in more than ten years.
Money, Gwin. Money makes sense to a lot of people
@@2davivadiva What is your greedy self going to do when there are three times as many graduates as job openings?
A person can't earn a hospital salary without finding an empty job slot at the hospital and filling it.
I blame the school admissions committee for giving people [false!!! ] hope.
If experts predict that type X specialty will only have 12,000 job openings in the next five years, why let 25,000 people study that specialty every year for the next five years? Lots of people are going to be unemployed and debt ridden after graduation.
@@gwillis01 US medical schools have a greater than 90% match rate, so it's not the US schools that are giving people false hope, it's the international schools taking advantage of people who were rejected by US med schools. The international schools accept applicants even while knowing that the applicants likely won't ever get a residency spot in the US
One dimensional. How would you predict closure of programs 4 years later? Why don't you run the thing and see how much of a mess you create? Lol. Pathetic. Know what you are talking before you actually talk.
I do not like creating false hope. Letting more people in on the front end when the number of job slots at the end of the process has not changed creates false hope.
This is so interesting to me. In my country we don’t have enough doctors because med school places are so limited (that’s also why it’s so hard to get into medical school the first place) but if you finish medical school it is kinda guaranteed you get a job and further residency training. I think it’s not fair that people give their hardest work to get a place in medical school, go through this hard education and then don’t get a job? Why would you go through all of this :( also I’ve heard medical school in the us is super expensive… that would really scare me as an applicant
The challenge lies in a scarcity of consultants, rather than a deficit of trainers.
If you’re unable to match. You can work as a physician assistant at some states.
Great contents, thank you for your video! Please do another video of “alternative routes if you don’t get matched.” Like teaching(school board committee, career training programs), Health Informatics, coaching medical students, write books on learned materials, Step 1 Test preparation, question samples, etc.
All of those! Excellent ideas, stay tuned
Does being a doctor give you perfect teeth too? 😍 gorgeous.
Great video. Very educational and well presented. I’m a public health student, but as one who was formerly premed with an interest in pediatrics, I find this video fascinating. Quite sad that ppl can work their behind off and not secure their dreams. Tough world.
Thank you for covering this topic. I am newly subscribed because this topic is overall taboo. I have not matched but will continue to try to. (I am an AMG)
Keep pushing! All the best this season..and if not successful, you should try again considering perhaps other specialties/ways to improve your odds such a research..different letter writers, etc.
@@3anesthesiame40 Thank you! I appreciate your advice.
I'm not going to medical school, but I always struggled with working and taking classes at the same time so yeah I could definitely not risk going to medical school if that's what I wanted. I would probably have a lot of trouble studying and taking on extra activities at the same time.
Same here. But for me I was interested in med school at one point in college until I realized with little sleep, I could not function. I did many microsleeps while writing my papers and would fall asleep in class. Med school is worse and later doctors up for days with little sleep. I would end up dropping out of med school and have loans for a track i never completed. Can't do.
Wow I just don't get it. In Vegas we are so short on doctors. There should be a easier process. I cant imagine going through all that and then not match. The residency programs should increase the amt of students they take in. Then once u graduate. There should be easier ways of finding a job. We are so short on doctors. Do they have a match system once your done with all the what 14 plus yrs of training?
i wonder why that is? I looked at the match statistics for # of spots available in internal med for hospitals in las vegas and surprisingly even big UNLV didn't completely fill all their spots, granted it was only 1-2 spots vacant, but looking at other places, even lesser known programs in nearby Coachella valley managed to fill their seats.
@@rnhim2072 that is odd. It's sad because if u just graduated here. I hear it's way to expensive to open a solo practice. None of the residents wanted internal medicine. Most wanted to be a hospitalist.we had a excellent resident as PCP then he graduated😊for him 😭sad for us. We found a good young PCP. Hospitalist half the week and in clinic a week
@@sherrydawson6253 yeah to open up a practice is becoming cost-prohibitive, alot of medical groups are getting absorbed by hospitals and doctors end up becoming staff. Anyway I thought internal med were usually the hospitalists while family med mostly clinic/outpatient?
First Advice i was told by my mentirs . "DO NOT GO TO CARRIBEAN"
There are DO school
There arr MD school
Why would you go ti carribean for school
You can take your MD and work in other fields. It may not be ideal but it is an option.
I have definitely seen this!
@@3anesthesiame40 where? I have a friend who can't get a decent job to save his life, and he's working clinically all the time.
My professor has her MD and works teaching anatomy and physiology at the Community College, it is possible
@@dr4hearts91 tell him try for a less competitive speciality
Only the lower bottom of the class won't match. Honestly, you wouldn't want them to be your doctor.
--- I worked in Student Affairs and saw that.
I have heard it explained as being an [ apprentice doctor ] and not yet a full fledged doctor.
Am an IMG but not from Caribbean. You need a bunch of externships. Also good scores is important.
All IMGs are not equal. Many IMGs require a visa too. They gave even lower rates.
That is correct the matching rate is below 50% for most specialties, and the visa requirement makes the possibilities even harder.
Wife , 3 kids and attending you go!!! I always tell girls that are just graduating undergrad to stop thinking about the family they don’t have and making career decisions based off that because of people like you. I say I see women with crazy careers that have families all the time.
I also say unless you want to do family medicine don’t do IMG. You won’t match into anything else. This is for certain. In the past they could specialize but those days are long gone.
👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾..the “stop thinking about the family they don’t have” part is a quotable! Yes, it’s really hard to be a mom while training, but it’s not impossible. (That’s a topic for another video!!) Thanks for watching and for this great comment ♥️
theres some good news, AAMC reports that hospitals will receive funding to open up 1000 more residency spots, which hasn't happened in 25 years. I'm not sure when exactly these plans will take place, how the 1000 spots will be distributed among specialties (although high need areas such as rural settings will get more funding) or if it will be rolled out all at once or gradually increased, but still good to hear they will expand residencies.
Appreciate you Dr Francois 🙌🏾🥰
Thanks for your support!
Really interesting. I’ve wondered about what happens when obtaining a residency is a challenge. Thanks for talking about it.
Man, this system seems pretty flawed. I don't think any other country does it like this. In my country, after school you get a job at any of thousands of government approved hospitals for a year, which is called a housemanship. If you complete it, you get your licence. You can practice as a general practitioner. You don't even think of residency until you're ready to specialise, and then you take your residency exams to get into a residency
Never go to a low-standard "medical" schools .
the medical "schools" in the carribean and mexico are bogus to put it nicely. people who apply to those schools already know that up front. nobody says I want to go to school in the Caribbean because I like palm trees and the beach. ..So I am going to pass up a medical school in the united states. sorry, if you do not get into a legit school maybe go with plan B!
I'll just say this, I went and excelled at a Caribbean medical school. I matched into my number one ranked residency (on my first and only attempt), and I am currently the chief resident at this large well known university. There are a multitude of reasons one might not get accepted into their desired medical schools. Going to a different path to obtain the same end goal needs research and knowledge in what that path entails. No path to residency is easy, but this is part of the grind to become a physician. The fact is that there are new medical schools opening every year, and never enough residency spots for a single year's graduating class nationwide. If you don't match, work with your medical school on how to better your application for the following year (if you don't match via SOAP). Persistence is another trait that you will talk about on your next rounds of interviews. Also, try to find alumni in those residencies or even area to help you. Reach out; network. Your hard work will pay off.
Thank you so much for the informative video !
Thanks for watching!
i have a hard luck story. Had to scramble back in 2007. Then was dismissed from a 4 year residency after 2 years due to academic problems while struggling to balance work and family. Then i worked in the field seeing under-served rural patients for several years and tried to be their advocate but got into a legal mess. Now i have no medical license (for at least 3 years), no DEA, still no board certification, and a mountain of debt. Tried to match this year but unsuccessful; no luck with the SOAP either (which was this week). Feeling like a failure; don't know what to do. i don't have a plan b or c. i'm not a salesman or an entrepreneur. So I have no faith in the system, and my spirit is broken and crushed, maybe beyond repair.
Thanks for sharing your story. Sorry to hear that..it’s truly been a tough road and I am hopeful you will make it work somehow. Really examine other opportunities (re-attempt scramble..or consider other potential paths outside of medicine). Your story’s not over yet! ♥️
What MED school did you graduate from?
@@failyourwaytothetop Texas Tech School of Medicine (Lubbock, Texas)
I am just seeing this video a d reading your post now. Please share your update and let us know what you are doing now.
@@elizabethbrandon677 Hello, Elizabeth. Sadly, my situation has not changed all that much. Not only do i not have a license, but i am now on a Medicare exclusion list. This means i can't work in any capacity for any company that even touches Medicare dollars until at least 2029. And since most medical residencies are funded at least partially through Medicare, my hopes have dimmed even further. Thankfully, my debts have been adjusted, but i still have no steady job. All i get is disability from the VA. Just trying not to think about all the years of hard work that now seem to have been for nothing. i'm beginning to regret ever having gone into medicine or tried to help people. Indeed, i'm starting to question ALL of my major life choices. 😞
i'm sorry i don't have better news, Elizabeth. All the best to you.🌹
I didn’t take away the clear “Do’s” and “Don’t’s” of being a more secure applicant for matching into residency. And also, if you don’t match, is that simply the end of the road for newly graduated doctors? Loved the video!
Thanks for watching! Check out my video “How to become an anesthesiologist” and also “Interview Day” for some tips on the process. For doctors that don’t match, there are some positions available outside of the nation residency match program that they can try to pursue, those opportunities are fewer though. I’ve seen several really fortunate ppl successfully get a residency position that way.
So there is a shortage of doctors right now . Why don’t they allow them to match in a non competitive residency
You are glowing! Could you do a vid on your skincare regimen/diet?
It’s likely genetic
Thanks for talking about this
If you go to a medical school in the US the only way you don’t match into something if you overreach based on your step scores. Don’t apply dermatology or ENT if your scores aren’t even competitive for Family Med
Fam Med, Internal, PCP these have become undesirable positions for most Med school graduates. I'd rather drive a truck before doing Fam Med. Not because of Fam Med but because of the McDonald's type work which Fam Med has turned into. Truck drivers have it better.
Hi I still want to be a doctor and if some things go south I would go over sea, or South American to help though who need my help as a doctor!!! If any one can help me please do so.
So yall can get through med school and still not be a doctor? What a rough field.
im a rising senior (in hs) idk why im here but I just learned about matching today and got a little scared I know I have 9 years but I was just confused great video made me feel better
You can still get a license as a General Physician
You spoke about gaps in the medical education. Can you elaborate on that?
Any time frame where there’s a lapse in training (similar to when students take a year off after Highschool before beginning college -gap year) admissions committees will want to know why and what you were doing then. Leaves of absence, Or if someone had to repeat or remediate a failed year or course they’ll want to know about that too. They are looking for consistent training and gaps might be red flags.
On the Admin side, I would think that being bilingual would be a huge plus for being matched. Get out the Rosetta Stone! LOL Large cities have so many multinational patients that Bilingual adds in additions as you said willing to go anywhere.
This is actually part of my plan!
Hi doc, would you consider anesthesiology IMG friendly? What are the most important things program directors look for when screening applicants applying to anesthesiology?
I would say yes, based only on my own experience in New York. Competitive applications have great med school transcripts (plenty of honors), great letters of recommendation, and for now until it becomes P/F, strong USMLE scores amongst other things that point to maturity/reliable/resilient character. (This is purely my opinion as a non-PD residency interviewer)
Please draw attention to the fact that paraprofessionals like PA/NP with far less knowledge than a physician can get a very good high paying job just out of school without a residency. Physicians have access to none of these jobs due to stringencies imposed on them by the licensure process.
This is what is most disturbing about our commitment to highly trained care in the US, and suggestive of why the ACGME and match needs to adapt to modern affairs, and possibly need to be eliminated completely as they interfere with physician education. This is a very frustrating time to be acquiring the knowledge and specialization previously believed to be necessary to provide care.
There is definitely a part of this story about how international schools prey upon bright eyed undergrads wanting to be physicians, but another part of this story about unqualified paraprofessionals performing care that needs to be picked up!
I agree! Thank you for for this great comment. It is a less than perfect system for sure! Residency is a crucial part of the physician training process in my opinion since it’s crammed with learning experiences( in other words opportunities to make and learn from mistakes while under the wing of someone who knows how to fix them) and interactions with experts who can gear you towards mastery of your specialty. That mastery is KEY especially in the critical care fields of medicine. Our society expects nothing short of excellence from physicians, otherwise you’ll end up as a defendant..those are the facts. We need more spots and opportunities to train physicians..Bc as you said the healthcare need is here and now. PA/NPs are necessary and are definitely filling the gap.
Yes the system..especially primary care is extremely lacking! I think bc preventative care doesn’t make the big bucks for the system it’s not valued enough and that sentiment has a ripple effect unfortunately. I just posted a video about working class/low income med students and having to take out large amounts of student loans to make it through..As someone with that experience as well as that of a prior career I’d say it’s worth it in the end to have a profession where one feels challenged, engaged and genuinely happy. Thanks so much for your comment.. and for sharing your experience
This is wild. So unfortunate!
Very interesting...never knew that.
Can you apply to more than 1 specialty, is there a limit to how many hospitals you can apply to ?
If matching is never a guarantee and if in the end it leaves you broke and without a job for several of years, why don't American MD's try to go to a different country to specialize such as the UK or Australia? Of course, the pay is not the same but at least you will get paid and not broke spending a countless amount of money trying to re-apply for the match. Just never made sense to me
Thank you for posting this video. It’s very well done with the editing and stock footage. You are a great presenter. Did any of your classmates who did not match initially ever end up getting a match or what did they do over time?
Thanks!! Yes, some ppl were able to get a spot outside of the match for the same yr
This possible? Wow I did not know this was a thing. I have no internet in medicine or medical school, but love watching videos about them for some reason lol
I know I'm kinda late to this but.. honestly, the fact is a certain percentage of medical students will not match regardless of their performance because there simply isn't enough spaces for residency training... and that's what many people don't talk about.. it's simple math.. 100 students, 80 spaces.. 20 will not get in. No matter how high or low their step 1 or 2 score is..
Same is true of law school grads who dont pass the bar. The bottom of the barrel is still the bottom.
The article likely talking about Caribbean grads. These are bottom of the barrel students that have lower cognitive ability. They cant get into peripheral allied healthcare programs in the usa.
Can people get a match as a psychiatrist to work in the military?
For that reason I stop thinking in Med school, I was doing Biology and try doing volunteer getting everything and when I started to research more, I found that medical school is just for people that does not have anything else in their life, so I change to Bioinformatic and Medical Lab, I still will be in health care but in a way more easy to get there
Is this true? I want to be an fp and can only do that by going to med school. Maybe I should give up hope too?
@@lonnisplace1459 😭😭😭
@@lonnisplace1459 it your decision every person do what they think that is better for them. For me was difficult think in spend more than 300K and has a minimum of 10 yrs of my life studying to no necessary be able to achieve the goal. I believe in me but I am immigrant, I think that med school is more for traditional students who have the opportunity to just focus on get into Medical school, with parents that pay their needs and people who are good getting straight A
@@lonnisplace1459 no you just should not try working in medical school
@@betsi9183 exactly! Fir most of us who have to work it isn’t possible
I learned stock trading and option trading . Now I am financially independent.
teach me
Would be life crushing when someone doesn't match.
Definitely! it’s not always going to be a win on this road. It’s about what you do after the losses..
That is so sad. My brother in law graduated from medical school in 1990. I do not remember him doing a residency. And he has been a physician since then. Did I not pay attention to the pictures with the government? Lol
*In an International (Caribbean) school* *Hates Seeing 50%
Side note, it also depends on which school you go to in the Caribbean. The "Big 4" typically have a higher match rate than the other schools.
@@MillennialMedicine what schools do you consider as the ‘Top 4’?
My plan is to finish the 6 yrs n do the usmle to work in us.... N u plz explain this to do when u want to make yo application standout apart from yo scores
Things that make applications stand out apart from scores are unique experiences outside of medicine that demonstrate your maturity, resilience, and commitment to your goals and passions; great letters of recommendation from physicians in the same field you are applying to; strong personal statements. All the best to you!
Publications
Loved this, I’ve kind of been freaking out. This year I made it my goal to not think too much and just go for it. I’m still pre med but I am working to break a habit of talking myself out of greatness just because I’m afraid.
Side request: could you make a video of Anesthesia stories? I see a lot of videos of typical Anesthesia days but I never hear the stories of how Anesthesiologist truly save the day in The OR when things start going down hill.
Dr. Francois thank you for sharing this information!
Great. One more thing to stress about. 😅. I’m an optician and I’m currently taking my prereqs to get my bachelor’s in biomedical engineering. But I do plan on going on into medical school as well, with optometry being a back-up plan.I’m not necessarily the sharpest tool in the box, but not the dullest either. If I do happen to get into medical school, I know is gonna suck, but knowing that the chance of me not being matched is kinda high is kinda disheartening.
Don't ever loose faith.
@@3anesthesiame40 will try!!
As a high school student wanting to pursue a career in medicine what can I start doing now to help me be prepared for my pre med and medical school years
Do great in undergrad and take accredited science classes no matter your major. This will help prepare you for the MCAT. Also you must be an all around person and someone who shows “people first leadership” if that makes sense. You wanna be someone that’s easy and fun to work with.
Excellent advice!
Hey you can always apply to bs/md program if you are really good in your classes
I was informed that those who didn't match have to participate in scramble.
Yes they do.
That’s correct..it’s called SOAP (match week and Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program) and ppl can get residency spots in the same week, sometimes before match day.
@@3anesthesiame40 Scramble comes after SOAP. SOAP has very strict rules and processes but scramble is worse - it's a total free for all! You can just call random programs and beg for the spot basically.
Well I find myself in the exact perdicament you discussed. I went to school have my degree and didn't match. How do you get pass the filters to have PD's take a look at the whole person. Some feed back on what to do next would be apprecitaed. already chasing down medical research option. considering the assistant physician license in Missouri wondering due you think this is a good idea and worth it?
Why did UA-cam recommended this video to me...
Idk..but glad it did! Thanks for watching!
GREAT video ‼️‼️‼️
Interesting... but Why am I watching this?
I thought the U.S. had a really big doctor shortage? If you're willing to go anywhere and take any position, I would think jobs would be available. With experience you can then find a better position.
Willingness to go anywhere is the deal-breaker for many unfortunately and is perhaps what limits some from matching.
@@3anesthesiame40 After so many years of hard study, plus a lot of money spent I would go anywhere for a job. After a couple years of experience then I would be able to go somewhere I would really like. I lived & worked in 47, soon to be 48 countries as I am going to Kenya for a month. One thing I learned is that no matter how awful a person thinks a place is, there are good things to be discovered. Don't give up a wonderful career just to remain in one place.
good explanation
With hospitals in rural areas begging for doctors I would thinks states and federal government would be willing to help these people.
So whats the point of medical school
Can you practice after a PGY 1 year? I had seen some states allowing licensing after 1 year of training.
Technically you have fulfilled your exam requirements for licensure after passing the 3 USMLE exams, and can apply for medical license in any state ..however your job prospects will be limited if you practice without completing a residency..it has definitely been done..but certainly not in a hospital, where board certification (and residency graduation) is typically required. Great question..Thanks for watching!
I had unmatched friends go to the VA, and overseas.
What do they mean by if you don't match after med school.
Do you know where the hospital is?
When you said international graduate status, do you mean someone who graduated from an overseas medical school or international students who graduated from a US medical school? Thanks.
Overseas medical school
@@3anesthesiame40 Thank you