What to do next year???

[efrainpb]

Hi,
Im currently an MS3 who wants ortho residency. Im posting because I am debating between taking a year off for research in ortho (between my third and fourth year) or completing my fourth year without taking my year off. I have no current research and my numbers are:
Step 1: 207
Third year: All Honors and HP
I have various volunteer works

I still don't know what to do... My second option is PM&R but I don't want to apply to PM&R without trying ortho!. I have connections in some ortho programs but I don't want to rely on that. I am planning to ace step 2.

Any suggestions are appreciated! Thank You

PS. I currently have 4 orthopedics who I know are going to give me good letters

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[samsoniter]

I am rads just perusing for fun, but you may want to consider the research. If it is anything like rads programs your step 1 could be a hindrance to interviews- many programs have cutoffs for step 1 that determine their interview list. For whatever reason it all seems weighted on step 1, while a good step 2 can help it cannot redeem a sub-par step 1.
I do not mean to offend, and firmly believe if you come from a good school with good letters ortho is totally within your reach, and a publication or 2 may give you an edge.
A classmate of mine did not match (top 5 school) though I am not aware of her grades and USMLE, but she ended up doing a research year after med school and got in to the ortho program she was doing research at.
Just my (somewhat irrelevant) 2 cents, GOOD LUCK!

 

[Magillicutty]

1. Most people in medical school have a mix of honors and high pass during 3rd year...which clerkships did you honor?

2. What happened on step1?

I think you're fighting a very uphill battle, and you may want to do the research, absolutely nail your away rotations, and then apply very broadly hoping for interviews.

 

[medstud20]

Really just depends on if you have other unique factors to help you stand out (athlete, cured cancer, female-which helps for ortho, etc) since step 1 didn't do you any favors. What sort of research would you do with the time off? Would it open the door for better letters?