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1 | Otomatch | To start a new topic insert a new row above the third row. The first column will automatically timestamp the most recent edit to each row. To comment on a topic use the cell to the right To restore deleted comments and rows (login to google) Right click cell → Show edit history → Find last good version -> Select text → Copy & paste the text back in. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2 | Timestamp | Use the separate Match Results Sheet to post where you matched! Congrats! | Discord (new link 3/5/25) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3 | 3/28/2025 | This sheet is going to get locked and archived later tonite (Friday) Please continue the chat on the new sheet. —-sam | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4 | 3/28/2025 | Do rank lists have any correlation to how good applicants are as residents? | Ive tried to come up with ways of how to do this study….but theres no consensus on who were the best residents. So we dont have a metric to correlate with ranklist position. My personal, very anecdotal experience is that ranklist position correlates with board pass rate but has poor or even negative correlation with my personal opinion of how good they end up being as a resident and practicing ENT on graduation. Also board pass is not correlated (neither positive or negative) with resident or practicing ENT quality. —-sam | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
5 | 3/28/2025 | The 2023-2024 sheets is very glitchy. Any way to fix this? | Ive been trying for about a year. The problem is that it hit googles limit on size and google abruptly closed it. Ive been able to copy the chat out as a standalone view only sheet. It works fairly well. Other than the chat, I wasnt sure which tabs to copy out…so other priorities took…well priority. Any suggestions on which tabs to work on or other ways to fix it are welcome. —-sam | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
6 | 3/27/2025 | For the reapps that applied to every program, how many interviews did you get total? (both from signal and from non-signals) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
7 | 3/27/2025 | Keep adding to name n shame so we know who to be wary of next cycle please!! +1 | Thanks to those that have put stuff down already! Very informative | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
8 | 3/26/2025 | Typically, how long from interviewing do people hear back for research years? | Days to weeks, depended on the program | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
9 | 3/26/2025 | Has anyone successfully reapplied after taking a prelim gen surg year (especially this year)? If so, do you have any general tips on how to go about picking out signals, networking, staying relevant with ENT? + 1 | All the reapplicant folx I saw on the Match List took research years, so curious if anyone did a prelim year especially from this past cycle. > there are a couple on the sheet now | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
10 | 3/26/2025 | Out of curiosity, how did the "ranked to match" and "highly ranked" messages turn out for those that received it? Did you match there or was it all a lie? | BS. + 2. Did not match at all. Slightly different but was told retroactively that was ranked very competitively or very high, and also ended up unmatched > curious, were you folks told that by programs listed on the Post Interview Communication page? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11 | 3/25/2025 | This may be super neurotic, but I have to ask - does how far down your "preference" of time of rotation offered (i.e. I chose blocks July, then Sept, then Aug) matter in reality or tell you anything about how interested a program is in you? | No | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
12 | 3/25/2025 | Does anyone know what the rules are if you have been offered an away but your partner (who you are couples matching with) has not? Is it OK for them to send an email to ask for an udpate/provide an update? | I couples matched - yes send an email. The worst that happens is they say no. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
13 | 3/26/2025 | Thanks to whoever put the fancy checkbox tag thing on the Match Sheet ---sam | Can you unlock the Match sheet? Some of the programs have the wrong number of rows so not everyone can be listed (GW should be 2 not 1, Geisinger should be 3 not 2, Penn should be 6 not 5, etc.) - also, "Ascension Macomb Oakland Hospital (DO)" has changed its name to "Henry Ford - Warren (DO)" < changed so it just shows a warning before changes are made. ---sam | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
14 | 3/26/2025 | Thank you to everyone who has completed the survey so far. We are currently at 41 responses. I will leave the survey active for a few more weeks. Please fill out if you haven’t yet. We need everyone’s input, especially the SOAP, dual applicants, reapplicants, etc. Here are some quick results. I’ll post more in a week or so, | https://redcap.link/Otomatch_survey | https://redcap.link/Otomatch_survey | <cant access this link < thanks so much for putting this survey together. I can't access link either, but look forward to seeing the results.<Sorry. Changed the permissions. Should work now. <works for me | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
15 | 3/24/2025 | The match list might need to be updated as some programs increase the amount of positions they have available: Miami (4 + research), Geisinger (3) | How many spots did Miami and Dartmouth have in the 2025 match? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
16 | 3/24/2025 | Applicants, what is the one question you wish you would have asked in your interviews but didnt? | This will probably become relevant when the current cohort starts to get through intern year. I (and probably most of us) asked everything I thought would be relevant to making my ROL during interviews. < Fair enough. I was thinking more questions you were afraid to ask. Things like "Have you had any residents fail their boards recently?" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
17 | 3/26/2025 | For applicant below...as a reapplicant you absolutely have a valid point in how to best use your signals. The crowdsourced lists of where people matched over the past 5 years are the best publically available data we have, right now. But as a reapplicant, you should absolutely apply to every program in the coutnry. PD's will advise against this bc they don't want to read more applications. But even if its only 1 or 2 more interviews it matters for you. Play the games, tell the stories people want to hear, but optimize the game for you. Get new letters, and if anyone is hesitant to write a strong one, get one from someone else. Sorry to be so cynical...I've seen to many applicants that had amazing applications take bad advice or think they were going to match at their away for sure just to have their heart broken. But who am I to say my advice is best, I've had mentees with all these heartbreaks :(. On the plus side, I've seen more than half of those heartbreaks end up matching the next year....and this year, 2025, one applicant that just wouldn't take no for an answer found a PGY2+ spot after two years of gen surg prelim! ---sam | < Reapp here who matched. if you have the privilege ($) to apply to every program, you absolutely should. I got 3-4 non-signal invites so its not a trivial amount. YMMV but I only received 1/3 away rotations as invites the second go around even tho I signaled all 3. < agree with this as another reapp who matched. I also got 4 non-signal invites. If you need to be economical I would suggest focusing your non-signal apps on smaller programs (3/year or less). I also didn't reinterview anywhere except home/research year programs despite signaling aways and a few I interviewed at last year, so... > has anyone actually every matched to a non signalled program though? | For these folx that matched, did you match at any non-signals or any program at which you didn't have a direct connection outside of the interview? As in not an away any time, research year, or home program? Also, what range of your rank list did you match in? > looks like a few people matched at programs which they had no connections to | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
18 | 3/28/2025 | Can the APDO or whoever start requiring programs share which programs are re-applicant friendly vs. which aren't? As it becomes more common for reapplication and with the addition of the 25 signals, it's very hard to make a data driven determination of which places to signal, which is a direct determinant of how many II you'll get and your chances of matching. Folx are spending time on research years and prelims, and it shouldn't be a crapshoot/luck that you magically choose the places that decide to consider reapplicants that cycle, especially because the Otomatch data that says programs are reapplicant friendly have inconsistent other factors (virtual vs. in-person, 25 signals vs. not). Thankful that Otomatch exists as a crowdsourced data resource, but this shouldn't be the only data available given it's likely incomplete and accurate. | The lack of transparency in program-specific criteria is truly unnecessary. As far as I know, programs do not make money from more ERAS applications and it also makes it such that perhaps unqualified/poor fit applicants are applying to places that they have no chance at, which ultimately means less time spent reviewing applications for competitive candidates by faculty as well. | Could this be something as simple as a survey for programs with some of the questions being, do you consider reapplicants, IMGs, step 2 <250? Do you think that programs that don't consider reapplicants would be honest and say no. Maybe stronger worded, like have you matched anyone in the last 5 years with the following characteristics...IMG, reapplicant, step 2 <250, ??? | What program is going to say that they don't consider re-applicants, step 2<250, etc.? You also aren't going to be able to get this information from re-applicants who match. No one wants to paint themselves into this box. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
19 | 3/22/2025 | If anyone is still looking for a research year, Headmirror has a list of 30+ programs that they have vetted for funding. ---sam | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
20 | 3/22/2025 | If we're writing on "why i didn't rank higher" or "name and shame" do we write on the tab rn or just wait until a new one opens on the 2025-2026 sheet cause this one is closing at the end of the weekend, no? | Best to add new comments on the new one. IV Impressions, Name and fame, Name and shame, Name and Fame 24-25, #1 Rank and Stats have their own sheet to prevent locking from too many users. This sheet will be locked/archived on Friday and anything on here won't be synchronized to the new one. ---sam | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
21 | 3/22/2025 | For people who weren't able to SOAP and didn't match into anything/do not want to do a research year etc, I'm on residency swap and there's various spots (5) open for TYs at McLaren in MI if you're interested. They just posted about them today and did not go through the Match or SOAP process this year and are accepting apps via ERAS. I'm just sharing to be helpful. <+1 real MVP! Any other spots for PGY2-5's? | OP here: Spots for PGY2-5 for other specialties? There's tons, but it's hard to share that data given the website is outdated and unsure which specialty etc. If you're in that position, I'd suggest spending the money to check it out. It's about 100 dollars or so, which isn't that bad. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
22 | 3/22/2025 | Just feeling very down today after not matching a second time. What are my chances of matching into otolaryngology on a third try? + 1 | Not sure if you're the same person who emailed me earlier today, but if not, please email me at tkml2024tkml@gmail.com and we can be buddies. In solidarity! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
23 | 3/22/2025 | Can successful applicants please fill out as much of the sheet as possible, especially for signals and reapplicants and what y'all did, including contact information if comfortable? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
24 | 3/25/2025 | Google is poping up warnings of too many user. If you arent adding a comment please close the window and use the view only link instead. | https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vS74W0IChl8mmJHr1OEQo-1tM_-t7jS1hLztYVfMq9V_8RjnYB2ykWXavKauPkFpkTjtHrnJtl-iwaA/pubhtml | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
25 | 3/24/2025 | Best wishes to everyone! Please come back after you Match and fill out the survey and Match results. Even if you match into a back-up specialty or went through SOAP or choose to do a research year, please take the survey. I especially want to hear from you. There are several comment boxes. I will read these. This is your opportunity to help change the system for those that come after you. I will keep the survey open for a few weeks, so even if it takes you a few days to come back (sober up) to complete the survey, please come back. We need everyone’s input, especially the SOAP, dual applicants, reapplicants, etc. Good luck everyone | https://redcap.link/Otomatch_survey | This is Dr. King's Otomatch survey. I encourage all this year's applicants to participate. ---sam | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
26 | 3/21/2025 | Is there a chance you could get rejected from an away even if you applied the HOUR it opened? The program is first-come first serve and yet I haven't heard anything. | Yes < Answer is yes, but it is also super early to be hearing back. I don't think I heard back from any away until at least April 1, and a few were quite a bit later | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
27 | 3/21/2025 | Are we making the sheet of who match at each spot > and also a why I didnt rank higher sheet > a why I didn't rank higher sheet has been created | Sam made a separate sheet - Otomatch 2025 Match Results | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
28 | 3/22/2025 | Anyone have good book recs for learning anatomy during residency/sub I? | Mayo videos, Sinai Videos, operative oto book, anki! << Any helpful surgical atlas? < operative oto is the meyers atlas, lots of narative. I like Coker and Jenkins for ears. Its older but has simple line drawings and concise text. VULA aka Open Access Atlas of Otolaryngology has lots of photos and is free for everyone. < Jackler is also great for ears and probably better for sub-I level. | Operative Techniques in OtoHNS put together a set of articles grouped by year they are making freely available. Several articles on specific anatomy (Orbit and auricle look good) and embryology topics along with lots of line drawing style atlas pics. I added a link to the the 2025-26 Welcome tab. ---sam PS - I still havent found a good summary article on all the anatomic terms FPRS guys use to describe the bends and dents of the nose (radix v rhinion v nasion). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
29 | 3/21/2025 | PP ENT here. Just wanted to say good luck to you all on Friday. Keep your chins up if you didn't match. Chances are, you have higher scores, published and did more than 90% of practicing ENTs. Sometimes it comes down to a simple supply and demand issue. So if you find yourself in that situation, be instrospective and strategic. If you make it through in the end I'll bet on your grit any day. <+1 | Adding onto this as a current intern: super proud of all of you for making it this far in a super challenging process :) All of us are super excited for tomorrow, and we can't wait to meet our new colleagues!! Best of luck! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
30 | 3/26/2025 | What is the process for after we match on Friday? Should we keep our phones on us for any calls and such over the weekend? Or just chillax and wait until next week? | Usually your PD and chief residents may call you to congratulate you the day of. Your program coordinator will work on getting your onboarding stuff together in the coming weeks. << Thanks!! | *Spoiler alert* Don't look in cell to right if you dont want to be spoiled. | Some places like to call you Thursday night or Friday morning to give you the good news. < when do programs find out who matched there? +1 do they really call the night before? < Programs find out on Thursday. Not all programs spill the beans, but its pretty common. < Does anyone know which programs historically have done that? i.e., calling on the Thursday night to spill the beans haha? +4 < Technically a match violation so I don't think people will be open about their residency program doing this < Who's gonna report that | literally never heard of this actually happening > yeah, this only seems ridiculous, can't imagine a program would rob their incoming intern(s) of the magic of match day > the comedy of the person saying its "pretty common" is killing me lol | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
31 | 3/27/2025 | The Otomatch Top 3 Ranklist Survey is still open. Preliminary results have gone out to about 80 applicants who submitted a response before March 7. A few more responses have trickled in. The survey will remain open until March 28. So if you haven't submitted a response yet, please click here. I will be texting the final results out to all the participants about a week before we post them on the website later in April. ---sam | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
32 | 3/19/2025 | Did a tufts resident really quit? | Looks like there's one fewer resident on the site than previously for the PGY2 class< there was an earlier post on this so you can try to scroll and find it, but there was more context for that particular resident than just the program < looks like the posts on GeneralChat tab in Feb got deleted. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
33 | 3/24/2025 | Does step 3 matter for fellowship apps? Thinking of getting it done in some of my free time before residency starts so that I have more free time later. | Doesn't really matter for ENT. But your state licensing board may have some clinical requirements before you take it....I think you have to be "enrolled" in a PGY1 year to take it most places.The FSMB and USMLE point fingers at each other and are vague about additional requirements (beyond medschool graduation) on their websites. | I had to include my scores with my head and neck fellowship application last year. It's unclear if it made any difference or if anyone cared. < i did NOT have to include it on my head and neck fellowship applicaiton THIS year | Also it's expensive and some programs will cover the cost so there could be a benefit to waiting | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
34 | 3/18/2025 | Is the 2025 match results page going to be on this Google sheet or the 2025-2026 Otomatch spreadsheet? Also when is the official Dr king survey coming out? | Dr. Kings survey ask about where you matched, so it should be out on match day. The Match Results have their own sheet. There is a link on the Welcome tab. This will hopefully keep them from getting overloaded and crashing on match day this year. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
35 | 3/19/2025 | Can we please unlock the announcements page so any research positions that are being released today can get posted? Some of us didn't match and need a research year :) +1 | New posts should be going on the new sheet. Links to new sheet are on the Welcome tab https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1eUQYESFSP8iS7Qq-YjNfV1Nw3jP8F6_s4dWTTXFj23Y/edit?gid=1096275770#gid=1096275770 | UMiami and VCU put up posts for paid research fellowships on new sheet <U Arkansas added paid ersearch fellowship as well. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
36 | 3/17/2025 | For someone who dual applied and ranked ent, gen surg categorical, and gen surg prelim, if our email just said "congratulation, you have matched!", does that mean you matched either ent or gen surg categorical but no change of gen surg prelimin? | It could be anything you put on your ranklist.<usually it means that you matched to a categorical position bc if it was only prelim you get the dreaded partial match thing | I think if you matched prelim it will say something like you matched to a one year instead of you have matched. + 1 I can confirm this happens. You receive the following email: "Congratulations, you have matched to a one year position." with the city, state, and zip code of the preliminary position. <+1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
37 | 3/18/2025 | which programs have unfilled positions this year? >> One program had one spot, the DO Ohio program >> That program isn't taking people this year | Do we know how many ENT programs went unmatched? > just one, but I'm confused - why is it on SOAP if it isn't taking applications this year? >> NRMP report shows there are 2 unfilled positions. does anyone know what the other program is? > can you share the link to that nrmp report? > Not sure how we can share a pdf, for us in NRMP portal we can click on the report and it opens up sharing there are 2 spots in 2 ENT programs one central one southern both unfilled > Attending lurker: thanks for giving us without an NRMP account the inside scoop. | Its odd that they would be listed on SOAP, but not taking applications this year. Some programs that don't match decide not to SOAP and take applications after SOAP is done. Not sure whats going on here. > also appears to be a DO-only program - copy pasted from their website: Applicants must have graduated from an osteopathic medical school or obtained equivalent osteopathic manipulative medicine training. You must also have successfully completed your Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing or Saudi Medical Licensing examination. | 3rd year DO here, that program likely did not rank anyone and is just fielding DOs. Doctors hospital is known for having osteopathic awards, which is rare. Likely they wll try and match someone who did not match <+1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
38 | 3/25/2025 | Every year, this sheet gets locked up due to all the activity in match week. I've been thinking of ways to try to prevent that this year. I tried to have people overflow discusion to the Discord during the Interview Release Date, but people had issues with signing up for a discord account. And then discord locked up because they thought we were getting DDOS'd So my plan for Black Monday this year is to break things up into multiple sheets. That way if one locks up, hopefully the others will stay open. I've put links to these sheets on the Welcome page. If things completely lockup, the discussion will fallback to the Discord, so sign up for your discord account now if you don't have one. Best wishes to everyone for your perfect match this week, ---sam PS - I'lll watch the sheet til midnight, but then I gotta get to bed. Please post if there are issues. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
39 | 3/25/2025 | From a current resident who didn't match my first cycle: good luck to everyone tomorrow! Please note that if it doesn't turn out the way you hoped, it does not mean that you don't deserve to match. Even if you are unmatched, you can still become an ENT resident and a good one too. Be kind to yourself and proud of all you've done <+1 you are one of the good ones doc! | From a current resident who didn't match my first cycle: good luck to everyone tomorrow! Please note that if it doesn't turn out the way you hoped, it does not mean that you don't deserve to match. Even if you are unmatched, you can still become an ENT resident and a good one too. Be kind to yourself and proud of all you've done <+1 you are one of the good ones doc! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
40 | 3/18/2025 | Tryna decide between Emory vs Michigan for an away rotation, does anyone have any advice as to which I should choose? Especially as someone coming from a school without a home program | I think if you're not from either area, I would put Atlanta > Michigan. Both programs will train you well, but Michigan has a stronger focus on research compared to Emory. I'm an applicant this year and the biggest change i saw in my priorities was location. At the beginning of sub-i season, I thought location wasn't that important and that program was most important. However after months of away rotations, I think location is actually incredibly important in terms of having support nearby (or for me, at least being by a big-ish city for things to do). Just my two cents though. 1+ > how do you know if a program is research heavy vs not?? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
41 | 3/18/2025 | For applicants who receive a solid number of interviews (12-14 or more) and still do not match—despite ranking all interviewed programs—what are the common reasons for an unsuccessful match? | Bro match emails tomorrow morning… bad timing 😂 +1 >> guess I can answer for you tomorrow 😭😏 + 2 lololol | Bad interviewer is most common reason for not matching with good stats and 10+ interviews.. Other can be only ranking top tier programs. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
42 | 3/14/2025 | How important is "standing out" really? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
43 | 3/14/2025 | Announcement update 3/13/25 NYU, USC, and UKansas research fellowships | restored: "what is wrong with the announcements tab?' < the logo Kansas used is huge, so it takes a bit to load. give it a sec and it will look better. << sorry I realized that and thus quickly deleted my question. Thanks! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
44 | 3/13/2025 | Sheet is very flaky now. Going down to put in a fix. Hopefully back up by 6 PM | Fix is in....let see if this works better | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
45 | 3/13/2025 | I just got a disturbing note from one of our gross anatomy instructors. Sounds like the head and neck anatomy is being cut from our new curriculum except for a one hour session about head and neck anatomy taught during the head and neck session for the physical exam. They are expecting clinicians to teach the relevant anatomy during MS3. I've been out of med school for a while.Is this a national trend I'm just now hearing about, or is our med school just going down the toilet? | << In the medical school I studied at, we had anatomy instruction weekly during years 1&2, which from my understanding is more anatomy instruction than most medical students receive. Despite this, I do not recall a specific module on head & neck anatomy. I wouldn't worry about it -- it's likely beyond your control, and shouldn't prevent you from pursuing otolaryngology if that's your goal. < Did you get tested on what SCM, VII or XI were? These seem very basic and our students seem clueless on what they are? << I do remember learning most of the anterior neck muscles, and some of the posterior neck muscles. Didn't learn the CN's though. | test | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
46 | 3/17/2025 | What's the consensus for withdrawing from aways (before acceptance) and withdrawing from aways after getting accepted but before confirming at top programs: i.e. MEEI, UCSF, Stanford> | << If you do plan to do an away at a program, don't withdraw. If you don't plan to do an away at a program, withdraw. No one cares what other programs you've applied to. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
47 | 3/12/2025 | Anyone else still waiting to get the email or text from the Top 3 Rank survey? | < If you submitted a response to the survey but did not get a text, please send a text message with your email address to (716) 220-8777. I sent about ten out last night in response to texts. Didn't get any texts today. But I'll be up another couple hours, so I'll check again before bed< No texts at 10:30 PM Eastern. I'll check again tomorrow evening. < Sent a text at 10:42 PM Eastern and still have not heard anything < emailed and texted again. check your spam folder and unkown senders folder. Subject is Otomatch Top 3 Ranklist Survey. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
48 | 3/11/2025 | can anyone post if/where they got rank to match calls from | The post-IV Comm tab is the best spot for posting RTM calls. So far looks like JHU and UPMC are the only ones people have posted as RTM rather than just ranked highly. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
49 | 3/12/2025 | anyone hear about the open ucsd spot < where are people hearing about this? | Sunshine, beaches, and ENT! If its real, this will fill quickly. Historically its been a great program BTW. | << Just texted a current PGY 2/3 at UCSD to get more info. I'll update with her response. < it's already filled << Yeah my contact hadn't heard about the vacancy. Seems like it was filled quickly, if it even existed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
50 | Is the 2023-2024 doc opening for you guys? It's glitching on me | Its *very* glitchy. When it opens it takes over 2 minutes to work for me. There is a link to the GeneralChat tab on the otomatch.com home page that works better, but its just that one tab. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
51 | 3/12/2025 | How many accepted publications did you apply with on ERAS? 1-5: , 5-10: , 10-15 | 1-5: 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
52 | 3/12/2025 | what is the difference between ranked to match and highly ranked? | RTM means you are ranked between 1 and the number of positions a program has available, so for a program with 3 intern spots, that means you are ranked in the top 3. Highly ranked means essentially nothing and is entirely subjective as it could mean top 5 or top 15 or whatever else someone deems as being ranked high. <agree with everything said here, but also wanted to add that "ranked to match" can still be used ambiguously. Someone may say you are "ranked to match," meaning that you are ranked in a higher position than than the lowest position they historically fall to on their rank list. tldr; take everything with a grain of salt > more likely RTM means, we liked you. rank us highly. people go unmatched that were told they are rtm at multiple programs every year. | test | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
53 | 3/15/2025 | Does anyone know when Rush VSLO will open? | Rush accepts applications via email and then once accepted you fill out VSLO. Here's the website: https://www.rushu.rush.edu/rush-medical-college/departments/department-otorhinolaryngology-head-neck-surgery/otolaryngology-elective-clerkship | test | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
54 | 3/13/2025 | Now that matches are set, can more people fill out the Name and Fame/Shame :) | Same with the #1 Rank '24-'25 sheet please < and if you've posted the the #1 Rank sheet, please check that your respons is linked to the right program. Some have been resorted to other programs. < Not sure there's any way to completely fix the #1 rank - how would someone know if their response got moved and to where? There are several rows that have been corrected and others that have not still < I was thinking if you recognized your comment got moved....but yeah. its kinda hosed. kinda self serving, but there is still time to submit to the top 3 ranklist survey. But results wont be out until April. | test | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
55 | 3/12/2025 | A bit of a throwback, but does anyone know if the UB Oto Chautauqua June 27th session was recorded? I can't seem to find it in the folder :( | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
56 | 3/12/2025 | does anyone know what is the right course to apply to for upenn subi on VSLO? | i just asked their registrar's office - OTO300A is the standard sub-i, OTO601 is the funded scholarship program. hope that helps! | test | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
57 | This is a follow up from a thread pretty far below. Matt Carlson at Headmirror/Mayo got back to me and said the problems accessing otorecall should be fixed. Please let us know if you are still having issues downloading it. < I was able to download it, thank you! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
58 | Has anyone been texted the survey results yet? | I was only able to send two more responses tonight. I'll try to send the last 20 or so in the morning. | Thanks for sending. Can you let us know when all responses have been sent out? I believe I was one of the earlier responses and haven't received a text yet. Thanks!! +1 | Prelim top 3 rank survey results have been texted to the cell number of all those that participated. Please let me know in this row if you participated and didnt get the link or are having issues getting it to work. >> I never got a text :/ +4 ----sam | Text received this morning asking if I want the results, but results never received < Reply to the text. There were some suspicious looking numbers (999-999-9999 was one of them) that I called and didn't get an answer. So I sent a text asking for a response. Reply to that text to confirm it is a legit number and I will send the link. | < If you submitted a response to the survey but did not get a text, please send a text message with your email address to (716) 220-8777. If your cell number is on the list of those that have submitted thus far I will email you the link. If you aren't on the list I will ask you to resubmit your ranklist. I'm thinking of sending out the final results to those that submitted responses about a week before putting it on the website. Thoughts? | I texted the number but haven't received an email still and filled out the form previously. +2 | I emailed out a link to those that texted back their email. I also retexted from my cell # for a few numbers that might not have got it in the first round on saturday. If anyone submitted a response and still hasn't got the link send a text message to 716-220-8777 with your email. Thanks to all for participating, ---sam | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
59 | It seems the #1 Rank '24-25 tab was messed with. Previous ranks are under another programs now. +2 | Any idea when the last good version was? last week? That usually ends up happening when someone not used to google sheets tries to sort the tab. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
60 | https://redcap.ctsi.psu.edu/surveys/?s=8M38RJD7KHDMLJY7 For those who applied this cycle, please consider participating in this survey regarding handedness in surgical training! Participation involves completing a one-time, anonymous online survey that will take ~10 minutes. No personal identifiers will be collected and your responses will remain confidential. If you have any concerns or questions, please contact Emily Milarachi (PGY3) at emilarachi@pennstatehealth.psu.edu. PI: Neerav Goyal MD, MPH (ngoyal1@pennstatehealth.psu.edu) Penn State Health Department of Otolaryngology 500 University Drive, Box H095 Hershey, PA 17033 717-531-8945 This projected was deemed exempt by the Penn State University IRB Study#00026346 Please feel free to share with friends applying to any surgical specialty! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
61 | If unmatched, is it advisable to apply to away rotations again? Would it be too late to start applying to away rotations next week? | Faculty here - one consideration is that you have to be an active medical student typically to do an away rotation. This obviously has graduation implications. | << I second this. There is no mechanism to indemnify medical graduates who are no longer affiliated with a medical school. For grads, the best one can hope for is an observership w/no hands-on clinical priveleges. Most unmatched grads opt to do a year of research. The other, less popular option is to do a prelim Gen Surgery internship. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
62 | When is the MUSC research fellowship due? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
63 | Is there any info somewhere on how far applicants in the past have fallen on their list? Not sure if this was a tab or survey before | Here are two surveys: 2024: Otomatch 2023-24 Survey Overview stats.pdf 2022: Results of Otomatch survey 2022.pdf And then here the data for rank list length vs match probability: Match Likelihood in Otolaryngology for MD Seniors by rank list number | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
64 | 3/7/2025 | Has anyone heard back from Jefferson or Michigan for an away yet? If not, when did previous cycles hear back? | Check the Away Rotation Offers Tab from 2024. I made a new one for 2025, so share your info as it comes in. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
65 | Research solicitation removed Please repost with IRB info Please see Otomatch Research Guidelines for future research surveys | Thanks for posting with all infor above. Sounds like an interesting study. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
66 | 3/6/2025 | Is the top 3 rank surgery being texted to the individuals who filled it out going to be sent out soon? | Update on the Otomatch Top 3 Rank Survey. Currently at about 60 submissions. Planning to text link to PRELIM results on March 7, before 11 PM 🤞. This will only go out to those who have submissions in by the time I start tablulating results tomorrow afternoon. The survey will stay open until March 28. Final results will be announced later in April. https://form.jotform.com/250343836751155 | Update: 79 submissions by 2 PM. I'll start counting em up at 5 PM Eastern, so there is still time to get your submission in and get the prelim results. | Not gonna make the 11 pm deadline folks…sorry….hopefully in the morning. | Sent out 30 texts before google capped my google voice number. Will try to get the other 50 out soon. Look for a text from (716) 220-8777 > any updates?) > I was able to send out another 20 or so this morning before I got limited again. Ive been working through in order responses were submitted so earliest have got the link first. Also check in the Unkown Senders folder on iphones. Hopefully will be able to send out the rest tonite. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
67 | 3/11/2025 | Google seems to be caping the sheet at 20 viewer. I keep getting disconnected halfway through each comment. I'm going to lock the sheet for the night. Please use the discord for discusion tonight. If its not working better tomorrow we may need to move to a new sheet for discussion sooner than match week. --sam | Sheet is back open. Disabled timestamp and error logging since it was throwing errors from too many simultaneous coppies running. Hopefully the throttling wont be so bad. ---sam | Timestamp reactivated. Hopefully its doesn't crash the sheet. ---sam | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
68 | 3/5/2025 | When is it normal to hear back from aways for Duke? I applied the day it opened back in mid-Feb? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
69 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
70 | 3/4/2025 | Does anyone know if an Otomatch sheet link is available for 2025-2026 or do we just keep using this one? | New sheet should be out match week. ---sam | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
71 | 3/4/2025 | Is it a bad sign for match to not receive interview invites from all of your sub-i/away rotations? I received 15 interview invites (attended 13), but was not invited to interview at two of my away rotations. I'm very concerned that I have "quantity" but not "quality" invites | How many aways did you do and where? Some programs only interview a small number of their away rotators, so its tough to tell. Based on the numbers, you should have a pretty good chance of matching. << Attending here. Didn't get interviews at either of my away rotations and matched at my #1. Wouldn't worry too much about it << Appreciate the reassurance. Without doxxing myself, I did 3 in popular metropolitan areas. | How many aways did you do and where? Some programs only interview a small number of their away rotators, so its tough to tell. Based on the numbers, you should have a pretty good chance of matching. << Attending here. Didn't get interviews at either of my away rotations and matched at my #1. Wouldn't worry too much about it << Appreciate the reassurance. Without doxxing myself, I did 3 in popular metropolitan areas. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
72 | 3/5/2025 | Would it be sketchy for someone who did a research year with a PI to not have a letter from them? I'm under the impression that he wouldn't write the strongest letter, and I know I can get my letters from my aways (3) plus my home program. FWIW, I've also been doing research with my home program director who is pretty well known in the field, and who can speak to my research contributions | If PI is PhD, most would ignore it. If PI was MD, may consider having PD review a copy of PI's letter and write a "summary" letter of recommendations from your home department. These summary letters from PD or chair are pretty common from home dept. Bonus for you is that PD knows you. Also, don't count on away rotations as guaranteed good letters. >> considering the PI i'm doing research with is in a different institution to my home program, would the advice be the same? >> I would definitely still ask your PI for a letter to have as a backup and if you don't end up using it then so be it | Going off of this, in an away rotation where you didn't get an interview, but did get a LOR do you think the LOR would not be a good one and would actually hurt you? << Best just to ask the PD if s/he is able to write a favorable letter. I was interviewed at a program that wouldnt write me a letter - total waste of my time. I also received a decent letter from a program where I wasn't interviewed. | A letter from your PI is much less valuable than a letter from someone who understands what an ENT residency entails, assuming your PI is not also a clinician. In my experience, receiving a letter from a non-clinical academic is highly transactional, and requires a quid pro quo of some sort < Every LOR for a job is transactional. They need to see you doing some type of work to comment on how well you work. << Not my experience at all. Believe it or not, some people are willing to help others without receiving anything in return! | <MD PhD resident here. Applied with 2 PI letters (PhD only, non clinical) and 2 clinical letters (home PI, attending at away rotation and matched at my #1. No one commended on my lack of letters "from soneone who knows what ENT residency entails". << Cool! While this is a heart-warming, n=1 anecdote, common sense says that applicants would be served best by having LORs from people who know the job. i.e. otolaryngologists. Also, OP says that this PI probably wouldn't write a strong letter, and only worked together for 1 year, so it's dubious that including the PI's weak letter would help her/his application. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
73 | 3/3/2025 | Is it normal to be asked to submit a letter of interest to an AWAY? | yes << I sent an email explaining why I was interested to the PC last year and got the away, it wouldn't hurt so I recommend it if you feel strongly! | t | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
74 | 3/3/2025 | 2 more weeks.... how we doing team, sending good vibes to everyone | So nervous but hanging in there | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
75 | 3/4/2025 | How should we go about choosing away rotations? My mentor told me to pick between research heavy vs clinical programs. How do I look for that? | If i could do it again, I'd look at the residents and see if theres a pattern of the type of residents they choose (ex. top tier schools, research heavy applicants, etc), then choose 2-3 schools from there. < so would it be unwise if you are a from a low-mid tier med school to be doing aways where all of the residents are ivy or top tier MDs?? < For most people, yes. There are exceptions. If you have stellar step 2, research and are very personable it may work out. But the odds are against moving up in tier. << I wouldn't even think about it. You really gotta take off the rose colored glasses of these top schools. I told myself that I am really not that guy and changed up my away rotations and school list. Just take advantage of your aways and fall in love with programs that would give a chance to look your way regardless of schoolname < I see, pretty sad how limited people are by school name | Away rotations are becoming the most important part of the application process- don't waste one exploring. I would rotate where you think you are most likely to want to go and not complicate it more than that. | I would recommend definitely doing places you like or are interested in (though double edge sword if you blow it), but also reasonable to try to rotate at different environments. Like a heavy research big program vs a a more clinically focused program would provide good perspective when you interview at places like that on the trail | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
76 | 3/5/2025 | When trying to understand your own general level of competitiveness, other than asking mentors, what makes/what are the "cutoff" metrics for an stand-out or top tier ENT applicant? i.e. # of pubs, #first-author publications, Step 2 score, etc? | Just hit slightly above average on the metrics seen on charting the outcomes. Once you get the interview its pretty much the interview that's going to make or break whether you rank there once you get your foot in the door. | Step 2 of 260+ and a signal will get you the interview at all but the most research intense programs. Programs in the top 20 or so for doximity's research rankings and those with research track positions will obviously value research more highly than most programs. So they may be willing to risk a meh step 2 (250+) for an outstanding research background (mdphd w 5 first authors in respecable journals and double digit total pubs, abstracts and meetings should be double digits too). But this will only be 2 or 3 of the interviews they give out. They may even interview 1 or 2 IMGs with this outstanding research background AND instane step 2 (270+). The vast majority at top 20 research programs will have step 2 265+, 3+ first author pubs and double digit total pubs, look great in a photo, and have a compelling PS. The average appliant than matches in ENT will have step 2 of 250+, one first author pub and 3-5 other pubs. It is NOT a bell shaped curve. No data to prove this, but I expect the distribution on all those number to be shaped like the # of interviews histogram for those that matched into ENT. ---> If you're a DO a 260+ will not not get you an interivew that's for sure <DO's at MD programs and IMGs at any program are a whole different thing.But I would expect DO with 260+ to get an away rotation at any DO program they want. For DO's the away rotation IS your interview. | < strong disagree. 260+ step and a signal guarantee nothing. Coming from 28x scorer with no red flags who did not receive interviews from 50% of low and mid tier programs I signaled < with a step 2 of 280+, how many interviews did you get? < 13. Coming from mid-tier MD with average numbers of pubs, first quartile. I really don't think step score matters much - you just have to hit the minimum threshold < thirteen interviews is pretty good. you have a great chance to match. mid and low tier programs may have thought you were unlikely to go there...though a signals supposed to nix that doubt. best wishes for your perfect match << school name is king. Step 2 won't tip the scales past a 260+ and even research will have a cap if you're coming from a low tier MD school imo. This is coming from someone from a low tier MD school < school name gets you LORs from more well know faculty. | Going off this advice, would you expect an applicant with 248 Step 2, low-mid tier med school, 10+ publications (after research year) to be competitive enough to match? >> if you have a research year, you are competitive imo you're already a step above the herd < I'd say you've optimized your chances of matching given a low step2 score, but realistically I would dual apply. pulling numbers out of the air, but id give you a 50% chance of matching ent. >> I'll just add that I had a step score lower than yours (24x) and got 11 interview invites. On all other fronts I was an average ENT applicant, but I had stellar letters - talk to your letter writers about where you stand, think about where they have connections, and be sure to distribute your signals across a range of programs. <+1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
77 | 3/1/2025 | Realistically, how does turning down an away rotation look? Will this affect us later on in the interview process (even if I go on to signal that program)? | If you turn it down at a reasonable time for quick turnaround I don't think it would affect you harshly. I personally have heard people getting interviews from places they signaled but turned down an away | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
78 | 3/12/2025 | Everyone reading this will be rolling their eyes, but to check 1 last time, ask long as you are verified, paid, and certified on the NRMP website you're done correct? Like programs will be able to find you on the NRMP if they choose to rank you | Everyone reading this will be rolling their eyes, but to check 1 last time, ask long as you are verified, paid, and certified on the NRMP website you're done correct? Like programs will be able to find you on the NRMP if they choose to rank you < I emailed them a couple days ago and got a response, called them this morning for good measure | Here are two surveys: 2024: Otomatch 2023-24 Survey Overview stats.pdf ... 2022: Results of Otomatch survey 2022.pdf And then here the data for rank list length vs match probability: Match Likelihood in Otolaryngology for MD Seniors by rank list number <+1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
79 | 3/2/2025 | When is the best time to do an away rotation at your 1st choice program? Should it be your 1st, 2nd, or 3rd rotation? | 1st or 2nd after your home program. +2 You're going to burn out. Coming from someone who didn't burnout during clerkships but did horribly my last away. Also try to avoid a back to back with at least a week of break between your rotations > can't emphasize this enough | << thank you! so in terms of getting breaks between rotations, are we allowed to request to start a rotation a week later? or do you mean I should just choose rotations that start a week later? <<< Choose rotations that start a week or so later. Program coordinators are not going to accomodate a week off so you can "rest". I highly do not recommend a back to back. Burned out the last 2 weeks and didn't get an interview at that program < Most programs have set rotation dates. They are not going to work around your schedule. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
80 | 3/2/2025 | How do you even go about formatting or starting to think about creating a personal statement? Is it different for VSLO vs ERAS and are there any samples available online lol? - an overwhelmed M3 | It can lowkey be a rough draft of your PS nothing serious. Also most places will say "why our program" and what you to integrate it into the PS for VSLO | DeepSeek, write a 500 word essay about why you want to be an ENT.Important life experiences to include are… | I just wrote about ties I have to the area and why I wanted to rotate there. Key for getting aways is just getting all their paperwork in right when it opens <-- thank you! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
81 | 3/1/2025 | Does anyone have advice on trying to align away rotations as a couples match? Is it helpful to email the coordinators and let them know that you are highly interested because your partner is doing an away at their institution? | I emailed PD's to express interest. <-- Hi! Thank you so much for the info, when would a good time to reach out be in your experience? Right after you submit VSLO? Or 2-3 weeks out when you're expecting to hear back about the away? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
82 | 2/27/2025 | Is there any resource for preparing for aways you felt was most helpful? | Is there any resource for preparing for aways you felt was most helpful? | ENT Secrets before bed every night. Know everything in that book and you will be at the passing level of a pgy2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
83 | 3/2/2025 | Intern here, seriously considering switching to Anesthesia. I am profoundly unhappy in the program I am in and it wasn't what I was promised when I interviewed (some of the residents straight up lied to us when I interviewed here originally). I'm obviously worried that if i actually do this I will leave my co-interns high and dry for PGY3 year and beyond, but also don't know if I can make it through this residency. Does anyone have any advice on how to approach switching specialties or know anyone that has done it before successfully? < someone posted this in the resident chat but reposting here for greater visibility < out of curiosity op, is it more an issue with you not liking ENT or issues with the the program? applicants would like to know what to look out for with program issues. < I personally would try to stick through it, if you truly enjoy ENT you can just keep reminding yourself that residency is 5 years and you have much more say when you are done. If you do decide to switch, please post an update as myself and other re-applicants who did a prelim year would love the opportunity to interview for your spot. Wish you the best in your decision. | Which program? Considering how small ENT classes are, they probably won't say it hahahaha | is the main issue the place or ent itself? i've heard of people switching after pgy2 i guess i would just give your program as much notice as possible to increase their chances of filling the pgy3 spot. or try to do an ent-ent swap with someone your same year at a different institution | <- I think anesthesia programs can count a surgical PGY1 <- maybe reach our or ask your PD to connect you with anesthesia PD | Talk to your PD asap. Its much easier for them to find a pgy2 to fill your spot than a pgy3. | I've done it, and I know others who have also. You'll be able to switch if you go for it. Talk with your PD asap. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
84 | 2/27/2025 | Is there a consensus on research year vs prelim gen surg as a backup option? | Research year if you have few (<3 first author) pubs. If you have tons of research you need to prove yourself clinically, so Gen surg prelim at a place w a large ent program or history of burning out ent interns. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
85 | 3/3/2025 | Now that interview season has pretty much come to an end, I'm curious to know how many interviews applicants were able to attend this year recognizing the logistical constraints of interviews being all in-person this year. How many interviews were you able to attend this year? <bumped these two "for fun" surveys to the top again < Bumping for the last week before certification | 1-2: 3 3-5: 1 6-8: 11 9-11: 23 12-14: 27 15-17: 11 18+: 5 | Whats the highest an away rotation/home program is ranked for y'all? | 1: 17 2: 7 3:2 4: 2 5: 1 Unranked: 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
86 | 2/25/2025 | What is everyones thougths about withdrawing from an away rotation? Does it break ties with a program if you get a different away rotation later and have to replace one previous gotten? So hard since they all open at different times, and don't want to get stuck without one | Not the end of the world if you withdraw, I still got interviews from places I withdrew from +1 --> same here. I think the key is to be very early to withdraw if you do. Don't hold onto an acceptance for months and then withdraw a few weeks before it starts. Always be considerate of the fact that when you withdraw, they then have to fill the spot and that can take time. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
87 | 2/24/2025 | I'm sure this is program dependent but as an intern are you typically able to get vacation weeks that you ask for? Have a family event this fall and don't know if I should book travel or not. Would appreciate any resident input on how getting vacation you ask for has gone. | Highly depends. I would definitely wait until you match, and then after match day email your chiefs or whoever is in charge to figure it out. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
88 | 2/24/2025 | I'm booking christmas and new years flights early, what are the odds that we would have an interview the day after new years? it looks like the 24-25 cycle had interviews almost directly after new years. | Usually not until the first monday after. I think the first IV in the new year was Jan 6 <-- on the interview dates tab, some were on that saturday after new years. I guess it's rare enough that it shouldn't be an issue? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
89 | 2/25/2025 | What happened to the colors for the recent updated timestamps lol | looks like they are working for me. viewing on a laptop. ymmv on a phone. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
90 | 3/2/2025 | Update on the Otomatch Top 3 Rank Survey. Currently at about 45 submissions. Planning to text link to prelim results on March 7 > is it still only at 45? +1 <Currently at 49 responses. But there is still a week for people to make their decisions before the match deadline. <Bumping for the last week of certification | Top 3 Ranklist Survey. https://form.jotform.com/250343836751155 | Texting results to only people who filled out the form correct? < Prelim results on Match 7 will only go out to those that submitted a response. Final results will eventually be published on the otomatch.com website | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
91 | 2/24/2025 | Start adding to the #1 Rank tab and also keep adding to the Post-IV Comm tab! ****** | did the #1 rank tab get deleted? <-- I feel like it was just there this morning? <-- restored, hopefully doesn't happen again but some vandals don't get deterred easily <-- #1 Rank '24 - 25 or the #1 Rank? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
92 | 2/21/2025 | Does anyone know if there are any updates on the union for Montefiore regarding salary for next year? | > would also love to hear if anyone has updates on the philly programs + unionization | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
93 | 2/28/2025 | If we don't match and the plan is to take a research year, is there anything we should prepare in advance? Contacting letter writers now or writing cover letters in advance? Just want to make sure we're set up for success in case of not matching if there's a quick turnaround for research year deadlines +1 | If we don't match and the plan is to take a research year, is there anything we should prepare in advance? Contacting letter writers now or writing cover letters in advance? Just want to make sure we're set up for success in case of not matching if there's a quick turnaround for research year deadlines +1 | Identify labs doing research you are interested in contributing to, and reach out to the P.I. Ask if s/he is hiring, and what the process is. Update your CV. Be prepared to explain how you can contribute to their work. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
94 | 2/28/2025 | Has anyone ever done a general surgery prelim with the hope of eventually matching into ENT, but failed to match? Asking because I am probably not going to match | I have heard that statistically lower percentage of people match as reapplicants, but am not sure exactly what those numbers look like. > For what its worth, I am a reapplicant and currently doing a research year and I was told on several of my interviews that a research year was the right choice. Unfortunately, its not a perfect science as it differs a bit based on personal preferences in terms of if the PD or chair prefers a RY or prelim year, but waned to share my experience | Just to clarify the original question. Are you asking about not matching into a prelim gen surg spot as a backup plan….or not matching into ENT after a year as a gen surg prelim? The first does happen, but its generally thought that your home gen surg program *should* rank you high enough as a prelim that you match. Not matching to a gen surg prelim program is considered by some old heads to be a red flag. If you match to another gen surg prelim, you will need to come up with a good answer to why for next years interviews. As far as not matching ent after a gen surg prelim…it happens all the time. Im pulling these numbers out of my butt, but Id guess only a 10% chance you match into ent after a gen surg prelim. | I'm someone who matched into ENT after during a gen surg prelim year. Funnily enough, I got the opposite feedback on my interview days: people commented on how doing a prelim year was the right choice (one department chair actually said they didn't understand why people did research years). I think this means that programs are split on what is best option. Doing a prelim year was one of the hardest things I'd ever done, but was the right option for me. I already had a good amount of research. I also was able to make a good amount of money (I lived a very barebones life for a year, where my entire life centered around work). | I think research fellowship is definitely the way to go if lack of research/quality research experience is a reasonable potential explanation for not matching. The most important aspect of reapplication is being able to point to tangible ways that you've improved your application/addressed the reasons for not matching. A prelim year can be a good experience, particularly if you're able to rotate and make connections with an ENT department at that hospital system, but it doesn't leave you a lot of time to work on other deficiencies in your application. My anecdotal experience as a reapplicant is that of the 20+ reapplicants I met on the interview trail this year, only 1 was doing a prelim--the rest were doing research fellowships. Though I'm sure there's an element of bias there (programs that are interviewing me, a research fellow, are more likely to interview research fellows, whereas other programs prefer reapplicants doing prelims). | Thanks to everyone who responded to my question. To clarify, what I meant was this: what are the chances of an applicant not matching into ENT after having completed a gen surg prelim year? It seems based on your responses that there is no clear consensus on doing a gen surg prelim year vs research year. But, one respondent estimated only a 10% chance of matching into ENT after completing a gen surgery prelim. It would be great if there was some data floating around to confirm/refute this estimate. Also, research years seem more prevalent based on one reapplicant's informal survey of 20+ reapplicants. Based on your responses, I will probably opt to do ENT research in a lab with a clinican scientist PI, or work in the biomedical/biotechnology industry for a company focused on ENT-related drug development/technology. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
95 | 2/25/2025 | Interesting read about the interview and hiring process in the tech world. Theirs has way more pimping than ours, but it seems like both are going toward in-person interviews. https://kanenarraway.com/posts/ai-killed-the-tech-interview-now-what/ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
96 | 2/21/2025 | I know it is program dependent, but when does intern year typically start for most places/on average? What is the earliest programs are known to start intern year? Trying to plan my post med school vacations | Coordinator here. We have an HR/ Admin start date of June 9th and clinical (rotation) start date of June 23rd. > does the HR/Admin start date mean that paperwork has to be in by June 9th, or that you would have to be in person starting June 9th? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
97 | 3/5/2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
98 | 2/23/2025 | Opinions on VCU? Hearing mixed reviews but not seeing anything in the past few years on this forum.... any info appreciated!+3 | I'm a current resident - Obviously may be biased but happy to answer any questions you may have! | < Could you answer a bit about why you chose there? How does autonomy look? Would they take a DO? Are sub-is always interviewed? +1 on the DO question | I'm personally interested in ears and I think that's one of the strong suits at VCU, as our ear attendings are from different backgrounds and training. Both are excellent. I know we've interviewed DOs in the past, but if you look at things historically, I can't remember the last time we had a DO in our program to be honest. In terms of autonomy, it's a bit hard for me to say since I was a covid year without away rotations so my experience with other programs are a little more limited. But I think we're pretty normal/middle of the pact. You hear stories of some institutions where residents are left alone to do total laryngectomies. That certainly won't happen here but I think the graduation of OR responsibilities is appropriate. Overall I'm certainly happy with where I am. I think we have a great group of residents as well. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
99 | 2/19/2025 | This is a really silly question but how do programs make sure they don't take more than 1 applicant (or even home students) from the same program? Met several of my co-applicants from the same home program on the interview trail | There's definitely some strategy at ROL meetings to try to avoid this. We have had a few years with EXTREMELY strong home students with a couple who actually wanted to stay. In those cases we tend to bump our less-favored picks a tiny bit lower. However, we ultimately would rather have two phenomenal home students than just one, plus somebody we didn't really like from lower on the list - so it's not like we're making major moves here (think moving someone from "ranked to match," down to #8 or so when we usually don't fall below our top 5. Thankfully usually not a problem, as any given crop of good students will usually have different goals in terms of subspecialties, academics vs PP, and location, so we can usually just rank according to our preference and have almost 0 chance to match more than one home student. <Incredibly interesting. Thank you for your comment | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
100 | 2/17/2025 | Keep posting in Post-IV Comm if a program called you so the rest of us can know if our shot is lower please :/ +1 | Feel like ENT doesn't really show their cards unlike specialties like ortho lmao < I've heard of people getting calls from top places in past years though < got examples? Historically feel like it's just been mayo az, NYP, and home programs to home students | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||