Day 564 My personal Experience with the Scramble and Advice

With several Days remaining till the match and the scramble, I decided to help. I have been through the scramble twice. I will go point by point.I think it could possibly help many of you.

1.Avoid Paying for Scramble services

There is a simply reason for why you shouldn't pay for a scramble service which basically automatically send off your cv and paper work to 100 program instantly, and that is because on scramble day you need to call EACH And EVERY program you are applying to ! Randomly sending it to a bulk of programs seems like no harm, but there are several problems with it.

* Many of these pay services email programs automatically. Majority of
programs suggest NOT sending emails. There is way too many emails to
read. These program only have several hours to fill their
spots, and they are not going to review all these emails, it just
takes too much time. They rather have paper work in their arms.
* These services send these random faxes and emails to programs that you
might not qualify for. IT raises your expectations. You shouldn't be
faxing programs that you do not qualify for. Don't waste your time and
energy.
* Too Expensive.

2. Get an extra friend to HELP you CALL PROGRAMS WHEN THE Scramble STARTS !!!!

As soon as the empty spot list is open in the National Match Registry. have an extra one or two friends on hand that will help you to start calling programs to ask them if you can send your papers. and whether you qualify or not. This is the most important thing to do on scramble day!! you need an extra one or two phone lines.
the secretary will tell you "yes your qualify, and please send your papers." This is perhaps the most important point, because they hear your voice over the phone and will be inclined to view your application. Or they will tell you "sorry we filled the spot" Don't take it too heart, move to the next number. You will hear many rejections that day. Don't waste time hang up and call the next. (I was fortunate to have my wife with me in the scramble twice. She was the greatest help!)

3. Speak Clear English over the phone when calling Program

When these programs hear that you are an IMG, they might think that you don't speak English. So many times when we called, the secretary was so surprised that I spoke English. Speak slow and take your time.If you are not good at English, just take your time speaking.

4. Have A fax at home or Use an online Fax Service (if you can afford it)

This might be hard for some, but you can fax your OWN papers to the programs, after you get off the phone with them. If you cannot afford a fax, then try to use an online fax service if you can afford it. You need to upload the papers to the fax service online, and then after speaking with the program send the fax. I personally don't have any experience with them, but its optional.I always used the fax machine,and it worked almost all the time.

5. The night before the scramble Be prepared with a List of who you will Call

The scramble is the day after the Match. There is no time to waste. start making a list of the programs you qualify for and get ready to call them. If you want review last years unmatched if you want an idea of the programs that will be possibly open. Right it in a neat paper. Make copies and hand them to your friend, and start calling. check the Match schedule site for the time of when the scramble day starts.

6.Be prepared for possible phone interviews

There will be programs that might give you an interview over the phone. be ready and speak slowly. Offer to travel to them for a live interview if you are in the same state !! They will love to see you go personally. (this is highly optional)

7. Prepare all the paper work you are going to send over the fax.

8. If you are in the same state as program,Let them KNOW you are in the same state few miles away!!

And let them know that if they are going to offer live interviews, that you are available to go the SAME DAY! I experienced this once. I was in the same state of the program I called, and they told me to go over for a live interview. IN fact going there changed my life. (following the link of my story on the bottom)

9.Put your ego aside. Call ALL THE PROGRAMS and specialties you Qualify for.

This is not the time to be picky. You need to call all the programs you qualify for. The name of the game now is to get any spot you can!! Put your pride and ego aside. Open all your doors.

10.Use 2 laptops and Have a good internet Connection

Make sure you internet is working.If you have too, tell your friend to bring there laptops to your house to help you.

11. Clear your house for the day. Make your house scramble central. Tell anyone in your house that is not going to help to leave you alone. You don't need any distractions.

12. PRAY the night before the Scramble.

perhaps you might not feel like it, and your heart is broken and you feel lost. This is the proper time to humble yourself and get on your knees and pray to GOD. I don't care if you are religious or not. This is no time for debates. you need help, and GOd can Help you. In the darkness moments of our lives, I really believe that God is there for us. come what may. It is difficult to get through these times, and you might not have the mental energy and strength to even go through the scramble. I still remember the night before the scramble. I had checked my email on match day and read the email that simply said "you did not Match" It was one of the lowest points in my life. It is very painful And many of you reading these will experience this. And from someone that went through 3 three matches and 2 scramble, I can tell you that don't lose hope. Life will hurt sometimes. there is days that shouldn't happen. But being that they do and you can't avoid it, you need someway of getting through it. God will not abandon you. he will carry you and help you get through the scramble, whether it works or not, you would have at least have the strength to get through the 24 hours. If you don't believe in GOd, it doesn't matter. God believes in you. He will help anyone that ask. God doesn't judge you. He will help the worst persons of all of us. Without merit. God will give you hope. you have nothing to lose. Try GOD.

A simple prayer or conversation as you would have with a friend. lock yourself in your room the night before the scramble and talk to God as if he was standing next to you. He will listen.He will help.

I hope this has helped many of you.

Good luck !!!!

God Bless. jesus loves you

Dr.Mike

You can do it!!!!

MY match Experience & how it changed My life
(http://http://thankyougodforresidency.blogspot.com/2008_08_01_archive.html)