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MS3: chances/advice for MS4?

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10 years 7 months ago #33932 by BMP2osteophyte
Hi all! Here's my breakdown:
MS3, female, at a state SOM

Preclinical: about 1/2 honors, 1/2 pass

Step 1: 242-244

Clinical so far: honors in IM, surgery, and family. HP in neurology

Research: (all ortho basic science)
-*hopefully* 1st author publication by time of application
- Podium presentation (1st author) at international conference
-1st author poster at a different international conference
- 3rd author-ish on 2 other posters at conferences
- A few smaller things: school research awards for posters, presenting at the department's research day with residents/fellows, and a med student conference podium presentation, above posters presented at "research days" at a hospital in our system

I am starting to think of where I should do my aways. I am planning to do 3. I'm having a hard time figuring out what programs I can maximize my chances at without wasting a month at a program that's out of my league. One of my mentors is pushing for me to try to rotate at Iowa, but I'm worried that it might be out of reach for me. Other places I'm considering for aways would be New Mexico, Minnesota, Utah, Loyola, Ohio state, GWU. I feel clueless about choosing aways!

Thanks for any input!

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10 years 7 months ago #33937 by bones123
GWU is very very female friendly, which might be something to look into.

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10 years 7 months ago #33940 by butterfingerbbs
I don't know anything personally about these programs, but I have heard good things from applicants about Utah and Minnesota. If you like the midwest, I would also think about WashU. If you want to get a feel for these program, talk to other medical students at your school and read the orthogate residency review thread.

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10 years 7 months ago #33951 by BMP2osteophyte
Hmmm, I assumed my sub 250 step 1 score would make WashU unreachable. In fact, I'm worried that it might be too low for Iowa and Utah as well...

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10 years 6 months ago #33980 by recentgrad
Not sure about 'unreachable'. It sounds like you are a solid candidate with good grades, a reasonable Step1, and better-than-many research. Now, it really depends on what you want in a program and career. If your research work has been out of passion and you are interested in an academic career, then a one-month rotation at a place like WashU in St Louis (though recent losses in spine/shoulder), Iowa (plenty of success recently and aways of producing field leaders),, University of Washington (some years are half women, had a recent resident woman researcher of the year) is a good idea.

An away rotation can take you from a borderline interview to a pursued candidate - if you are a dependable, hard-working, good to be around person. If your research was out of a desire to get into residency, and what you fear most is rotating somewhere and not getting an interview there, you should make different choices. I don't think an away with no interview is really a waste... you still learn a lot, and if a place doesn't want to interview you they are just showing you the respect of letting you know that they don't think you are a good fit for their program.

As an aside - If you only do aways at places that interview all their away rotators, you don't know whether they are interviewing you out of legitimate interest or because they interview all their away rotators.

I'd suggest doing away rotations at places you really think you might want to spend five years of your life - either a place your partner will also be happy (or a place from which you'd like to find your partner), friends/family aren't far, etc. If you want to pick at least one place that is 'safe' I really don't think there are any safe orthopaedic programs. Every away rotation is a 24 hour, 7 day a week, month-long exhausting interview - or if it isn't, probably you are doing something wrong.

Anyway, random thoughts from someone who finished residency just a bit ago. Congrats on your successes to date, and good luck!

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