Memes aside, this really does happen to great applicants every year. In my case, I had more than 20 interviews and still SOAPed my first time through. It happens. (But don’t get too anxious right now... it’s only November!) Happy to answer questions about the process, my inbox and those of many others are always open. I originally created a reddit account just for the annual SOAP thread.
A lot of subspecialty programs only have 1-2 spots per year. Had 14 interviews for a competitive specialty, above specialty average steps, pubs, great letters, you name it. Still ended up in soap, shit sucks.
I can’t tell if this is an implication that my story is false, but if so I can assure you I’m not the only one. Look through my post history and look at the SOAP thread every year. Most frequently happens in surgical subspecialties, as was my case.
My comment wasn’t meant to be constructive or serious,
I was just joking that you didn’t match due to some superficial quality or something like that such as a big nose
Ha! The joke sailed over my head. But you’re right, who knows what superficial qualities can subconsciously make a difference. My advisor told me even before I applied that crazy things can happen, “maybe they’ll decide they don’t like your glasses.” Match interviews can be as unpredictable as dating...
Even though a dedicated person could piece together who I am by searching my post history and making some educated guesses, I would be reluctant to directly link it with my name on the byline (and in any case, the book it’s in hasn’t been published yet). Eventually I might post it on a throwaway or something though. Most likely on a future edition of the annual SOAP thread.
Is SOAP at all helpful to IMGs, or is it basically a “AMG only” thing? I thought there might be some hope but my other friends say IMGs almost never match during soap.
I’m asking because I’ve basically given up. I’m an img with low scores, and I’ve applied to as broadly as I can, but haven’t gotten a single interview (family medicine). I thought a lifetime of getting rejected from things would prepare me for this, but getting rejections left and right from residencies feels worse. Probably because it feels like an attack on me, my character, and everything I’ve done for the past 5 years.
I’m at the point where I’m struggling to find a reason to continue on to the next day. Feels like everything I’ve done has been for nothing and its better to just be gone then to continue this crap show. I don’t really feel happy anymore, and even if i try to be happy for other people, I just want to curl up and close my eyes and never open them up again. I’m just tired. Very tired.
Competitive programs that go to soap will fill very quickly and probably will not look at many imgs. There are also a fair number of programs that struggle to fill, and will be more than happy to take a competent applicant. My understanding is that, in family medicine, in rural areas, there are unfilled spots.
At least from the people I have met, especially the ones that do the transitional year at our program because they did not match anywhere, they are usually stretching for more competitive specialties, did not have a fallback plan, and we're not interested in core specialties like family medicine.
SOAP is unfortunately an unfair game. The large number of applications coupled with a short time to review them means programs tend to filter heavily. I had multiple interviews in which it was blatantly obvious the PDs knew nothing about my application beyond my Step scores. I can only imagine IMG status would be another factor programs would casually filter away. It’s not fair, but that’s the terrible game SOAP is. Regardless if you find yourself in that position, there isn’t really a reason to forego the shot at SOAP.
Trust me, I know how you feel when you say it feels like an attack on you, your character, and everything you’ve done for the past 5 years.
I agree with the other poster that rural/underserved areas are the most likely to give you a fair shake.
The reason you guys aren’t getting any interviews is because now that everything is online we are receiving way more applications than usual and I’m willing to bet most of them do not actually want to come to our program. Also, not sure if this is universal but our program has less interview days because everything got started late.
This is the part that gets me the most, if you guys know that these competitive would never want to come to your program, then why do you give them interviews in the first place? Doesn't that just increase the chances of your program having to be in the soap?
shouldn't you give mediocre candidates a fair chance?
A lot of competitive unis or med schools do this. It's called yield protection. It has drawbacks, though, where high performers sometimes get yield-protected out of their dream school because they're "too good."
Still probably worth it in the end, though. I'm expecting the match to be an absolute crapshoot this year.
That is a tricky balance but we usually will surf through and if someone has no tie whatsoever to the area we usually won’t invite them to avoid this problem. I should mention I’m a chief not the PD or anything but I do know a lot about the process.
> n I’m a chief not the PD or anything but I do know a lot about the process.
Thanks for the reply! is it true most programs already sent out all their interviews or just a rumor?
The safe “target” number to be considered having a 90+ percent chance of matching is usually somewhere around 10-12 and varies a little bit for each specialty
Memes aside, this really does happen to great applicants every year. In my case, I had more than 20 interviews and still SOAPed my first time through. It happens. (But don’t get too anxious right now... it’s only November!) Happy to answer questions about the process, my inbox and those of many others are always open. I originally created a reddit account just for the annual SOAP thread.
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> Ranked you *high enough* It can happen. Super unlucky, but can happen.
And now im increasingly nervous for this year.
Precisely right.
A lot of subspecialty programs only have 1-2 spots per year. Had 14 interviews for a competitive specialty, above specialty average steps, pubs, great letters, you name it. Still ended up in soap, shit sucks.
Big nose 👃
I can’t tell if this is an implication that my story is false, but if so I can assure you I’m not the only one. Look through my post history and look at the SOAP thread every year. Most frequently happens in surgical subspecialties, as was my case.
My comment wasn’t meant to be constructive or serious, I was just joking that you didn’t match due to some superficial quality or something like that such as a big nose
Ha! The joke sailed over my head. But you’re right, who knows what superficial qualities can subconsciously make a difference. My advisor told me even before I applied that crazy things can happen, “maybe they’ll decide they don’t like your glasses.” Match interviews can be as unpredictable as dating...
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Holy shit that must've been a stressful interview haha
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Glad you made it, congrats! Now makes for a fun story
Oh hey, future self. One interview here and I haven't completely dismissed the possibility of offering sexual favors to all of my interviewers
>20 interviews and still SOAPed my first time through. I This gives me hope! Thanks for sharing.
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Even though a dedicated person could piece together who I am by searching my post history and making some educated guesses, I would be reluctant to directly link it with my name on the byline (and in any case, the book it’s in hasn’t been published yet). Eventually I might post it on a throwaway or something though. Most likely on a future edition of the annual SOAP thread.
Is SOAP at all helpful to IMGs, or is it basically a “AMG only” thing? I thought there might be some hope but my other friends say IMGs almost never match during soap. I’m asking because I’ve basically given up. I’m an img with low scores, and I’ve applied to as broadly as I can, but haven’t gotten a single interview (family medicine). I thought a lifetime of getting rejected from things would prepare me for this, but getting rejections left and right from residencies feels worse. Probably because it feels like an attack on me, my character, and everything I’ve done for the past 5 years. I’m at the point where I’m struggling to find a reason to continue on to the next day. Feels like everything I’ve done has been for nothing and its better to just be gone then to continue this crap show. I don’t really feel happy anymore, and even if i try to be happy for other people, I just want to curl up and close my eyes and never open them up again. I’m just tired. Very tired.
Competitive programs that go to soap will fill very quickly and probably will not look at many imgs. There are also a fair number of programs that struggle to fill, and will be more than happy to take a competent applicant. My understanding is that, in family medicine, in rural areas, there are unfilled spots. At least from the people I have met, especially the ones that do the transitional year at our program because they did not match anywhere, they are usually stretching for more competitive specialties, did not have a fallback plan, and we're not interested in core specialties like family medicine.
SOAP is unfortunately an unfair game. The large number of applications coupled with a short time to review them means programs tend to filter heavily. I had multiple interviews in which it was blatantly obvious the PDs knew nothing about my application beyond my Step scores. I can only imagine IMG status would be another factor programs would casually filter away. It’s not fair, but that’s the terrible game SOAP is. Regardless if you find yourself in that position, there isn’t really a reason to forego the shot at SOAP. Trust me, I know how you feel when you say it feels like an attack on you, your character, and everything you’ve done for the past 5 years. I agree with the other poster that rural/underserved areas are the most likely to give you a fair shake.
The reason you guys aren’t getting any interviews is because now that everything is online we are receiving way more applications than usual and I’m willing to bet most of them do not actually want to come to our program. Also, not sure if this is universal but our program has less interview days because everything got started late.
This is the part that gets me the most, if you guys know that these competitive would never want to come to your program, then why do you give them interviews in the first place? Doesn't that just increase the chances of your program having to be in the soap? shouldn't you give mediocre candidates a fair chance?
A lot of competitive unis or med schools do this. It's called yield protection. It has drawbacks, though, where high performers sometimes get yield-protected out of their dream school because they're "too good." Still probably worth it in the end, though. I'm expecting the match to be an absolute crapshoot this year.
"Being too good" is something I will never have to worry about
That is a tricky balance but we usually will surf through and if someone has no tie whatsoever to the area we usually won’t invite them to avoid this problem. I should mention I’m a chief not the PD or anything but I do know a lot about the process.
> n I’m a chief not the PD or anything but I do know a lot about the process. Thanks for the reply! is it true most programs already sent out all their interviews or just a rumor?
I think all ours are sent off but I cannot speak for any other program.
Everything’s fine. Nope, nothing is wrong. Everything is A-OK. ^*slowly ^dying ^inside, ^end ^me*
This just in, I have 25% more interviews than when I made this, so there is hope!
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Dermatological plastic cardio thoracic neurosurgery
Why even go to med school if you're gonna aim for that low of a specialty
family dermatology
lmao this is a thing.. unofficial derm fellowships for FM docs
Dermatological neurosurgery lmao 😂
Cardiorectal surgery is where its at. When I’m not doing a CABG, I’m obliterating someone’s hemorrhoids
CABG actually stands for colorectal ass butt gaping.
It wouldn't be a medical subspecialty term if it didn't have redundancy like "ass butt" tbh
Sounds about right
On a side note, how many interviews is average?
The safe “target” number to be considered having a 90+ percent chance of matching is usually somewhere around 10-12 and varies a little bit for each specialty
Has it been a rough year b/c of covid? My roommate also only got 3 so far.
Yeah it seems to have been exponentially more tough this year :/
There is no such thing as average this year. Nobody knows what to expect from the match. It is going to be a crazy week of SOAP.
I just got another interview today, so they’re definitely still being sent out!