MS3 need advice/chances

MS3 recently deciding to pursue ortho, was hoping to get some advice regarding LoR, 4th yr planning, away rotations, Step II, etc.
-Low-tier US MD
-preclinical: all honors
-Step I: 268
-clinical: honors in pediatrics, IM, psych, OBGYN
still to have family med, surgery rotations
-AOA
-Research: feel I am lacking here, have worked on 3 projects (2 basic science, 1 clinical) and have 4 poster presentations from these (all non-ortho). Currently trying to publish case report written during IM clerkship.

I know I am competitive from an academic standpoint, but am concerned that having decided relatively late & having no published research & no significant involvement in ortho will hurt my chances. What recommendations do you guys have?

bruh...

Do well on away rotations and don't be a total weirdo during interviews and you should be fine...you will get a stupid amount of interviews with a 268

I guess my question is how many away rotations should i plan on doing, do I need to try to get involved in some ortho research now (just started surgery rotation)?

Thanks

I would say most people are doing 3 these days. With your score you could do 2 probably. I don't think your research will be a big limiting factor really. Maybe in your personal statement have a line saying how you didn't discover Orthopedics late and they will understand that's why you don't have ortho research. If you have time you can try and get involved in a project just so if you are asked about it in an interview you can say once you decided on ortho you started seeking out research opporunities there as well. Having any research is generally fine though since it shows you are interested in the academic side and as long as you can talk intelligently about it you will be fine.