Couples match?

Did the couples match last year. Try searching the site for the topic, because there is actually quite a bit of info here from people who have done this.

So....how did it go?

It went fine. Sorry, I was kinda short on time when I posted previousely, but I'll try to address your original question based on my experience. Does the couple's match hurt an ortho applicant?-it depends. Does it help you?-that also depends. Unfortunately, alot rides with your significant other's choice of specialty. Obviously there are programs that are more or less receptive to the idea, and it's hard to determine who they are. But there are some things in my opinion that can be done to stack the cards in your favor. My strategy was basically:

1) Apply to a ton of programs. But apply to programs you feel are a reasonable match, and have opportunities for your s.o. as well.
2) Interview at a ton of programs and rank them-unless you ABSOLUTELY would not go. I did 17/she did 19. It's expensive, but consider it an investment. We literally couldn't stomach the idea of any more interviews when it was all said and done. Knowing my ROL and where I matched, did I need to go on that many--no. But, if I did it again I would. My philosophy was that I never really knew if that next program would be the one for me. In hindsight, it's made me appreciate where I am even more.
3) Keep in close contact with a school advisor (someone who has years of experience with successful and unsuccessful matches particulary in ortho), and previous graduates who have done the process. Learn from their successes and failures and tailor your application appropriately.
4) Take people's opinions on particular programs with a grain of salt, because that's exactly what they are--opinions. Everybody likes different places for different reasons. Bottomline, form your own opinions.
5) Be flexible. This is important both in selecting programs to apply to as well as forming your ROL. I've heard many people tell me how much they want to do ortho in ex. Chicago (fill in the major city of your choice). While many people have legitimate reasons for desiring a certain marketplace, living in a cool city is a bit deceiving because it doesn't take into account the quality of the training you will receive nor the lack of free time you will have (even with the 80 hr restriction-if adhered to). Fortunately, there are dozens of programs that satisfy both by providing excellent training and a nice metro area. However, many strong programs may be located in areas people view as less than desirable. Be honest to yourself and your s.o. about your priorities in a residency. Honesty up front will, avoid disappointment down the road.
6) Be honest and open. When you interview at programs, let it be known you are couple's matching and vice versa for your s.o. Surprisingly, as a couple you may pick up a few extra interviews. Finally, when it comes time for ranking be open to compromise by letting your feelings be known. It could mean the difference between both of you being happy and an upset resentful s.o. Remember, ortho will generally dictate where the other goes (depending on the specialty of course).

So does it hurt you? It can if you're not prepared. It's a tough decision and process to endure, but it can be done relatively painlessly with a little foresight. Good luck.

Any thoughts on disclosure about participating in the couples match? I've been told by one person to not disclose unless asked, and I've also seen advice on this site to send letters to the programs disclosing ahead of time (before interviews). My sig. o. is applying to a non-competitive residency, and willing to go wherever I get in.

Oh - one more question - are there any females going into ortho that did the couples match? Does that even make a difference?

Doing the couples match this year. Will let you all know how successful it is in 13 days. I agree with everything IMnailer said in his post. On ERAS where it asks about the couples match, the specific question is: are you couples matching AND do you want to notify programs of this. I answered no to this question because I figured at that point it would only hurt my chances to get an interview. Whether or not it makes a difference, I really don't know. Probably not if the rest of your application is solid.

However, I made sure to let several of my interviewers at every program know that I am couples matching. Only 2-3 places pointed to the ERAS question and only one person made an issue of it.

I would advise against keeping your couples match status to yourself unless specifically asked about it. They'll wonder what else you're keeping to yourself. I managed to bring it up in response to seemingly unrelated questions: How did you choose your aways? What do you do in your spare time? Why did you apply here? etc.

I met several guys on the trail who were couples matching, but no women.

Hope this helps, Good Luck

I am in the couples match, same situation as BoneSaw. I did announce my couples match status on my ERAS. For me, it was an opportunity for me to tell them what a strong couple we are (not a risk) -we've been married through medical school. If a program accepts one half of a shaky couple, I feel they take the risk that if that couple disbands during residency they took part in forcing them to be in proximity.

It was important for me to get the point across that I would be a much happier resident particularly in the areas that my wife would be happy.

Although my application and my interviews broadcast my situation, I second what bonesaw says about being up front. Any application surprise from an applicant is a bad one.

I did meet one female ortho couples matching with psych. I probably met 15 ortho peds males, 4 ortho obgyn males, 2 ortho derm (good luck guys) males and 2 ortho family medicine males.

thanks for the good advice, bonesaw, southpaw - hey, it rhymes! yah, i breathed a sigh of relief when my partner r/o optho for good! good luck in 2 weeks guys.

this was a great post for those of us getting ready for couples match,

i was wondering if anything has changed this year?

any new experiences with the couples match?

are any programs particularly couples friendly?

thanks for your help, good luck to all next month

I am couple's matching this year, and must say that I would have to agree with basically everything said a year ago. We were advised not to disclose that information on ERAS and to hide it as much as possible. Of course, we were not yet engaged at the time, and weren't 100% sure yet anyways. However, one it was decided for sure, we went into every interview open and honest. Nearly every program asks blatantly illegal questions regarding marital status anyway, so it WILL come up. On the very few others that kept to themselves, we were very honest and told them our intentions. Who knows how that will play out, but at least we know we did the right thing.

We applied to A LOT of programs (she was ready to kill me at times because other specialties get every interview they apply for), and we applied geographically. She pushed off the far away interviews until the end of Jan to find out what cities I would interview (and she cancelled the rest).

It may have hurt us a bit, but likely not too much. A few of her places offered to make a call on my behalf. One of my programs offered to make a call on her behalf. The only place to openly express reservations to me was the same one to offer to make a call for her to make things more of a sure thing.

It may have helped me a bit in convincing some of the programs in the typically less desirable locations. "Why do you want to come to City X?" -- Because we are both really interested in the respective programs here.

In the end, things will likely work out very well for those couple's matching, assuming the S.O. isn't going into derm or neurosurg. We've been honest to ourselves, each other, and the programs we're applying to all along. If they are not happy with us couple's matching, and weren't going to do anything about helping make it work, then they weren't going to be the right place for us. You'll realize that the best place for you (and your S.O.) may not be the one highest ranked by US News.

Update on couples match so far (MS4 now, done w/ interviews, matching w/ a medicine guy):

Couldn't agree more with asl17's post. Did not list it on ERAS (for the same reasons), but brought it up at interviews. As it turns out, most people have no friggin idea what the process is for couples match. I did a lot of education on this. If the SO is flexible enough, it should not make the chances of ranking any different that doing it solo. He even got me one interview. Made sure programs knew he's a strong candidate and would have no problem matching into that city. He also wanted to kill me, with 33 interviews lined up at one point (ended up doing 19) - in every city I interviewed, he had a minimum of one safety, one middle-of-the-road, and one reach.

About ranking, we did every possible combo, with the very end of the list being me no-match and him matching in one city - one where I had a reasonable chance of getting a research fellowship.

A tip: when discussing couples match with interviewers and they refer to your SO as your husband/wife (and you aren't married - or even engaged yet), just nod your head and say uh-huh. I realized that went I said "oh, he's my boyfriend", they just look at you kinda funny like you aren't serious w/ this person or something.

I welcome any questions about this - we'll see if I'm a valid advice-giver on March 17 however!

P.S. I did meet a female resident on the trail that successfully couples matched...with psych!

Quick question.... If one partner in the couple matches and the other one doesn't, does NRMP allow the unmatched partner to know where the matched person got in so they can target their scramble?

NRMP won't, I believe - but your school might. I was told by my academic dean that on un-match day, if I went unmatched, he would tell me what city or region my SO matched in.