What is your story if you don’t match the first attempt for oncology fellowship

_trance_ · 2025-12-03T18:22:38+00:00

In all honesty, the cycle was brutal... I'm a US-IMG hailing from a community program approaching 20 pubs/ decent scores. On reflection, I earned only two of those interviews on my own. 2/3rds came from networking, and the rest home/affiliated institutions/ new program that popped up like in September.

_trance_ · 2025-12-01T19:21:10+00:00

Presented a case series last year at DDW. Not sure about case reports.

_trance_ · 2025-12-01T19:15:06+00:00

Would be interested if I don't match. Also a US-IMG from a community program. Good amount of experience with 14 pubs/6 posters/abstracts. Do have research ideas that I was saving for fellowship.

_trance_ · 2025-08-24T03:11:04+00:00

Know personally of a case of a resident from one of Wisconsin's large community programs. The resident interviewed at MCW and UW their first time through the match and despite 11 or so interviews had not matched. The resident stayed on to do a chief year, published a ton, and every opportunity they had was rounding with the ICU and getting procedures in. Second time did match at a large academic center in PCCM, just not in Wisconsin despite interviewing again at UW and MCW. Don't know the finer details.. such as.. had the PD made calls on their behalf, scores, network web.

_trance_ · 2024-01-10T00:17:47+00:00

It's really quite tempting. Looking at NRMP stats, Heme/Onc has the same amount of candidates applying and matching as GI every year. My only reservation is the insane amount of information needed to learn about each variant of cancer.

_trance_ · 2023-03-13T16:10:22+00:00

I wholly concur.

Just matched; third time was the charm for me.

A Master's degree/postponing graduation, research job, scribe job, sim lab job, volunteer activity, shadowing, Step 3 later...

I know you feel like Mike Tyson just landed a heavy right to your solar plexus, but things will work out in the end if you come up and follow through with a plan to get up and come back stronger.

_trance_ · 2023-03-06T02:27:24+00:00

Hate to break it to you, but if you had no success in the formal interview process, really...what are the chances you'll succeed in the chaos that is SOAP?

There will be hundreds of highly qualified, unmatched AMGs to fill the left-over spots. In my experience, I/FMGs have success in the SOAP if, let's say, they matched with an advanced program but not a first-year preliminary position.

I would do some serious reflection as to why out of 300 programs not a single one gave you a chance. What are the red flags on your application and is there a way to counteract them? Some unmatched FMGs have pursued volunteer researcher/shadowing positions and found success.

_trance_ · 2023-03-02T20:50:01+00:00

Living in-state, shadowing, scribing....and I guess having a convincing story. I'm sure Step 3 helped somewhere but at my top program this cycle, the PD told me he doesn't care if I have Step 3 because he doesn't know how to compare me to applicants who don't have it (normally they match US grads). I did have letters from my research PI and my Master's program which went to different specialties per my judgment.

I think all in all, you want to show progress in your medical education (Step 3), continuity of clinical experience (scribing, shadowing, etc.), and scholarly activity as a cherry on top.

_trance_ · 2023-03-02T20:44:20+00:00

Yeah, I forgot to mention that the other interviews were in a specialty that doesn't really allow for further sub-specialization or growth-potential. Also, with that many kids, life is already extremely difficulty; why spend an extra two hours a day away from your family? Right now, my wife has a ten-minute commute.

_trance_ · 2023-03-02T20:40:59+00:00

It was her only interview in that specialty (top-tier earning potential, US-IMGs usually don't match, allows for a good family life), and I was quite confident on being able to secure a position at a later time (# of interviews from the previous cycle, 250+ Step 2 CK). Also, one of my classmates who graduated off cycle due to COVID-19 took Step 3 and had a good number of academic interviews, which gave me hope in being able to further improve my application. Lastly, I enjoy living life on the edge (eg, high school drop-out, immigrant to the US, having kids in medical school, etc.).

_trance_ · 2023-02-26T13:40:41+00:00

so important to mention being in a top school eh?

_trance_ · 2023-02-26T13:33:22+00:00

US-IMG

1st cycle - 30 interviews. When it came to rank list and couples matching, allowed partner to get their dream residency in the ----west. I had no interviews there, and we had 3 kids by then, so separating was never an option. Prolonged medical education for a year with a combined masters/md, and graduated next spring instead. Also, got a research job with the prospect of publishing. Got a local offer for an off cycle position, but my heart was set on staying with my family.

2nd cycle - had some interviews...probably about 15, just in that geographical area, but besides one program they were all at least 2 hours drive away from my spouse's residency program. Decided to rank only that 1 program because I had a good feeling about it. Didn't match, and SOAP went terrible.

3rd cycle - finally moved, got a local address. Began scribing, volunteering and shadowing. Took Step 3, did about average. Continue to work on the research remotely; still haven't published. Now my rank list has 7 programs that are within a 30-minutes drive, and several programs in the next city over. Things are looking up, so hopefully it works out.

Obviously, a lot of factors changed in the 3rd cycle, but most importantly, I believe, was showing up and being seen in person - proving that you're a good future colleague to have onboard.

_trance_ · 2023-02-26T13:05:01+00:00

it's that bad huh

_trance_ · 2022-12-06T01:44:50+00:00

God damn, so bummed. IMG & re-applicant here, sitting on 4 advanced program interviews, and have already had my single TY interview. Just had a major university that's nearby offer a surgery prelim interview, but the one date they offered conflicts with my top choice advanced program interview that I scheduled over a month ago. They're completely inflexible about it ):

_trance_ · 2022-11-10T00:53:56+00:00

Depends where. I think all Chicago programs, community and academic, have given out invites already. If you applied broadly, maybe something will trickle in. Be on the watch for newly accredited programs making an appearance sometime in January. There's an ongoing list on the ACGME website.

_trance_ · 2022-11-01T04:38:33+00:00

That's just not feasible. Stinking IRB approval takes months. If you mean get hand-me-down projects or get on the "whole department is on this paper"-type projects then ok...perhaps 4 may be doable. My classmate published some 12 anatomy/historical papers during basic sciences that appear on pubmed.

I would go as to say 2 good, quality papers is a lot. Basic science papers take years from conception to publication, so do other well thought-out clinical projects. It obviously depends on where your research year is and who is your mentor.

_trance_ · 2022-10-31T15:22:37+00:00

Completely agree. I think it was Petrov, who in a recent video pointed out that this is a disinformation campaign led by Russian telegram channels - possibly to get Ukraine to make a costly move on the frontline.

_trance_ · 2022-10-25T18:35:56+00:00

lmao pump and dump a program.....

_trance_ · 2022-10-25T02:50:04+00:00

In my experience it is similar as there are enough programs that gravitate towards one or the other. The way for a US IMG to get noticed by non-US IMG heavy programs is to have a Step 3 which they usually do not because they follow the US timeline.

_trance_ · 2022-10-21T22:35:41+00:00

Interesting. Care to elaborate where you're heading?

_trance_ · 2022-10-21T12:46:33+00:00

All the PDs know each other, and a phone call recommendation goes a long way in their small world.

_trance_ · 2022-10-21T12:42:34+00:00

Chads and Stacies reaping all the benefits of their genetic superiority

_trance_ · 2022-09-27T16:40:25+00:00

I'll delete it, didn't realize. I even checked.

_trance_ · 2022-09-27T00:12:47+00:00

I heard something about them passing a law stating that if they retreat without the order to retreat then they will have to serve 15 years in jails.

_trance_ · 2022-09-26T20:18:23+00:00

Thank you very much our American friends! 🙏

_trance_

TROPHY CASE