Rejections 2005-2006

i agree the politics of this are wack. I am AOA, 250 good med school plenty of research and i am from the midwest trying to get out. Not a single NE school has shown me love. But the midwest loves me. looks like im stuck for 5 more yrs

I think you guys are discouraging future applicants. Its really not that bad; just look at the lists of residents at any NE school and you'll find plenty of people from non-Ivy's. I suspect it has less to do with politics but rather w/ programs trying to guess at who is more likely to end up there. So when a NE program looks at a mid-west applicant who has grown up in the midwest and never been to the coast they may think that this applicant is more likely to rank programs in the midwest higher because its closer to home etc. Same for the new yorker who has never left the city - why would a program in the midwest think they could snag a competetive applicant away from Manhattan? So if you're from midwest and want to go to east coast, show it - try to do some rotations there, personalize your personal statement, etc.

I also think that it varies with the faculty of each program. I would guess that if you apply to a program where an influential faculty member (chairman, or program director, etc) went to your medschool or did a residency at your institution your chances probably increase. Unfortunately, people tend to stay in the same geographic area, hence the discrepancy in interview offers.

If our friendly residency coordinator is reading this, maybe they could offer some advice on this.

Tufts hates me, alot

Yes Tufts hates me. too.... They suggested that next time I apply please do not send in a full body shot in profile showing my priapism....

In regards to previous comments made regarding the interview selection process. I do not believe it matters where you go to medical school, what your grades/board scores/AOA status are; or what your letters say. If you are a qualified candidate for an orthopaedic residency, ie. you are not a dumbass then you probably will get interviews if you apply to enough programs.

I am not AOA, not 250 and not an ivy league student. However, I got interviews across the midwest, east coast and south. I didn't apply anywhere else. A classmate of mine who has slightly better numbers did apply all over and has interviews at all of the top programs in the country. Neither of us are ivy leaguers. Yet he didn't get interviews at some of the places that I did and his numbers are good enough for Wash U/Iowa/Mayo etc.

None of it makes since. The point is that programs have to guess not only on who will be good residents but also on who will actually rank them high enough to fill their spots.

If you are a up and coming M3 interested in ortho, I agree with priapism in that you should save as much money for drinking but don't be discouraged from applying to different regions.

JackDanielsIfYouPlease

I have gotten acceptances at some places and rejections from some places. With both coming from strong academic and smaller community programs. I got an interview at one of my home state institutions and not at the other. Got an interview at Case, Einstein Phily, & HSS, but not Harvard or Miami. This is a game that none of us can predict. Doesn't ease the frustration, but it is what it is. The interesting part about it all is that we were all warned by our predecessors that this would be a crazy and unpredictable game. Yet, most of us, including myself at times are completely at awe. LOL. It is kind of funny. Or maybe I just laugh to keep from cursing.

By the way, I am not the traditional ortho candidate. Take that as you wish and how I am sure some of you will take it and you will sit at home wondering why myself or another person who is not 260 and God's to the ortho world got interviews in the 1st place.

Obviously this is like rolling dice. Lol. Just humor perspective. Take nothing personally. Good luck to all and to all a good night.