How are other "average" applicants doing?

Hey new to this site. MS3 mid tier med school, really interested in ortho after surgery rotation.

Do you know of a site that can show all the rankings for schools and what their applicant looks like?

I'm not competitive at all, or at least I don't think and would like to compare: 238, no honors, A's, class vice president,1 ortho podium presentation, ex-athlete.

Thanks for the help much appreciated.

That site doesn't exist, at least from what I have seen. The orthopedic surgery residency "rankings" can be found at Doximity, but take these with a grain of salt, they are mostly based on school prestige and publication production.

With your stats it is possible to match, but it will be important to do away rotations at schools that favor rotators, as your paper app won't jump out at readers.

Teggie is right on. Your app, sadly, doesnt seem like it will hook reviewers, so you may need to do 3 (or even 4) aways to snag some interviews. These forums ARE good about revealing which programs essentially guarantee an interview to all rotators (notoriously Emory, Minnesota, and really most programs do; UCSF, Vandy do NOT, etc).

Such a ranking system wouldn't work. As trite as it may sound, you really, really, can't get a good grip on a program unless you've rotated there for like a FEW months. Maybe even longerSeriously. Even after an away, you will find that your experience was different from others who rotated at the same place...even on the same service. One can probably only review their HOME program relatively accurately. And even that may be off.

I say to to point out that since you can't really get a definitively reliable review system, it's important to talk to as many knowledgeable people as you can (without being all annoying of course). If you hear the same stories over and over and over about certain programs, it gives you some sort of gist. That gist is less likely to be rumor, and more likely to be reputation, no matter how subjective it is.

But even with then, again, this whole thing is super random. Sadly, you will have to apply to a gazillion programs to snag interviews-> "competitive" or not. Once you do that, it becomes a much more level playing field.

This is my first and last post ever on this website. I'm on the other side (last year as a chief resident and this year as a fellow) of the curtain and you're missing the point about away rotations with guaranteed interviews.

If you rotate at a place that for, whatever reason, decides not to invite you back for an interview because your application will not be given serious consideration, that program is doing you a FAVOR. They are saving you the interview expenses, time away from family, and opportunity cost to interview at another program. It sounds brutal, and in some ways it is, but sometimes the truth hurts. Why should they waste their time and your time / money for an interview that is really a formality.

The bottom line is that if you don't have a top tier application, don't rotate at a top tier institution and expect an interview, unless you blow people away with your charming personality and work ethic. Likewise, if you show up and perform poorly on your rotation, you shouldn't be demanding an interview. Like it or not, the ball is in the programs' court. Sorry but that's the way it is. The orthopaedic residency application process is a seller's market.

That being said, stories about places offering / not offering interviews to rotators should not change your list of programs to rotate at. Bitter upperclassmen who didn't make the cut (via poor scores, grades, or rotation performance) will lament their choice of away rotation, but don't let the fact that they sucked on an away scare you from rotating there. If you have the scores/grades, work hard, read about anatomy, and are a likeable person, you will be a good rotator and given an interview. Anywhere.

Also, some of those programs previously mentioned here conduct their interviews during the rotation, which is entirely different than being invited back for an interview. Just because you are "interviewed" in July doesn't mean you'll be on the rank list in January.

I agree with this, but for an average/below average applicant is there any better chance than to try to rotate at a place that favors rotators and work your butt off? I wouldn't expect the strategy to work at HSS, but a community program would possibly rank an excellent rotator with a below avg numbers who would otherwise be lucky to get any interviews.

bonetrauma2 wrote: Home program: Midwest, not top-tier
Step 1: 235-240
Step 2: 250-255
Honors in all preclinicals/clinicals except for 2 HPs, AOA
1 non-ortho pub in upper tier journal, couple of research presentations, strong ECs

Interviews: 3 from away rotations, 3 others from north/midwest programs (6 total). 5 waitlists.

Starting to get a bit worried about the prospect of matching. Hoping to get off a couple of waitlists and get a few more from programs that haven't offered yet. I knew this was going to be stressful, especially with my stats, but man this is brutal.

I just wanted to update now that interviews have pretty much come to a close. I ended up getting 13 interview offers (aways included) and went on 12. For others in a similar position early on in the cycle just be patient. I got quite a few offers the last week of November/1st week of December. I also received invites off of two waitlists so just hang in there. I know how stressful it can be so hopefully this gives next years group a little bit of hope to hang on to.