From Unmatched to Top Pick: The Highs and Lows of a Year in Limbo

I had completed 4 years of medical school and dozens of research projects; applied to my dream specialty, dermatology; and secured a handful of interviews at top programs. It had been almost 2 weeks since I had submitted my rank list, contrary to rumors that it only takes 17 seconds for the National Residency Matching Program to run their matching algorithm, and I opened my email to read the sentence that turned my world upside-down: "We are sorry, you did not match to any position."

Ramie Fathy

Going unmatched was among the most challenging and humbling experiences that I had faced up to that point. I was left feeling alone despite endless support from family and mentors, inadequate, shocked, and most of all, ashamed. After decades of having a relatively clear plan for the future, I wasn't sure what the next year or years would look like — let alone which of several possible next steps was best. Remembering how difficult and isolating the experience was, I wanted to share my story not to vaunt my success — going unmatched was truly an immensely humbling experience — but in the hope that it might help others who also go or have gone unmatched.