sunymed Registered User Posts: 9 (5/24/01 11:12:20 am) Reply Match This is for those who matched into ortho. the second (or third) time around and for those who didn't match this year - What did you guys do (or will do) during that year off - research, internship, something else? Looking back, what would you guys suggest for those who don't match the first time around. orthocb Registered User Posts: 6 (5/28/01 5:01:47 pm) Reply Re: Match do a surgery prelim year, preferibly at a program with an ortho residency. Work hard, get a good rec from a high up surgery attending, this will put you in line for either a pgy1 or pgy2 ortho spot, if you dont match again you can do a year of high powered research and be in line for the same positions. that is my take and experience. IamNikolas Registered User Posts: 24 (5/28/01 7:02:57 pm) Reply match Orthocb: How about taking a year off and doing research with an institution after the first time you don't match? Is that a good option? Obviously you think it's best to do a surgery prelim year. But my question is how can you possibly improve your application when you're doing a surgery prelim? Wouldn't you be applying with pretty much the same credentials that weren't good enough to match the first time around ?? orthocb Registered User Posts: 7 (5/28/01 8:39:59 pm) Reply Re: match That depends on your situation, if you did not get many interviews the first go then clearly you need to make yourself more competitive, that might be a good option. But in that case the chances of you not matching again are still high and if you do an internship first, at least you can get licensed and make some cash in the following year if you are going to do research (moonlighting) or you can scrub with the staff that you are doing research with or help out in clinic. Also if all else fails and you decide to change fields you have the intership under your belt and you can move on with your life. this is just my opinion? orthocb Registered User Posts: 8 (5/28/01 8:42:09 pm) Reply Re: match also a good rec from ortho and surgery staff in your intership goes a long way, and you dont have to tell them you can handle the hard work and long hours, your recs will prove it.