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[deleted973577]

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[jstwannagraduaaate!!!]

Idk Im from a mid tier state school and we match students into derm all the time with no research year. Im not interested in derm so I dont know all the ins and outs but I assume if youre a good student and do research you will be fine coming from a top 10 school

 

[Hzreio]

Idk Im from a mid tier state school and we match students into derm all the time with no research year. Im not interested in derm so I dont know all the ins and outs but I assume if youre a good student and do research you will be fine coming from a top 10 school

There was a study saying that about a dozen or so schools produced a third of all derm residents. So it obviously helps but idt just Bc you’re from a top school means you can just cruise and expect to match derm or any other competitive speciality for that matter.

 

[Dr. Doctor MD]

Not sure if this is better here or the derm forum.

I just started clinical year, I did absolutely nothing in my first 1.5 years of school. No research, no volunteering, nothing. Completely chilled during the summer, not one activity for the resume. I obviously regret this now but I can't change the past. I thought I wanted to do EM and wouldn't need any resume padding (I hate research and volunteering and all that garbage) then I actually saw what the life was like and hated it.

I have 1.5 years until I apply, I could possibly fit in a research elective before I apply but I'm not sure how balancing that with rotating in derm while also taking step 1/2 in the 6 months between third year and applications will work. I'm hoping I can get a passing step 1 score without much studying which will allow for more research time.

Is it all possible to get sufficient research if I start the grind now? I think during neuro, psych, fm, peds I would have some time but obviously it would be more difficult during medicine and near impossible during surgery (student reported average at the location I do surgery at was 90 hours/ week)

I do go to a t10 school and feel like I could get a high step 2 score (my MCAT was very high, though it seems step is just how much knowledge you can memorize and critical reasoning isn't as important as on the MCAT, and my knowledge base as of now is pretty weak).

Would I need a bunch of other things like volunteering as well?

From my shadowing I like ophtho as well, albeit derm was actually more appealing to me. I would rather try for ophtho if I could get it without a research year than take a research year for derm and still maybe not match. I know ophtho is competitive but from my reading and statistics derm is on another level and it is not close.

Do I have a chance or did I dig myself too deep of a hole?

Entirely depends on how productive you can be in the next 1.5 years until applications go out. With some interesting projects and publications, coupled with good step 2, clinical grades, and networking, I don't see why you wouldn't be able to match, especially being at a top 10 school.

But if you basically do the same thing as you did for the past 1.5 years for the next 1.5 years, then I don't think being from a top 10 school will salvage your dermatology application, and you'd probably need a research year.

Another thing to consider is that no one knows how the application cycles for competitive specialties will look for the first classes with P/F Step 1. I don't think anyone can predict how things will play out until we actually reach that point.

 

[Browns99]

I think if you have a strong app( scores, clinical, AOA, etc.), research MAY not be necessary, but only you and your mentors will know that. I cannot stress enough how important it is to have strong letters of recommendation, too many candidates overlook the importance of the letters and worry about scores only. BTW, your mention of not studying much for step 1 in hopes of just passing is probably not a wise strategy.

 

[Dral]

Get involved with your home department now. Go to grand rounds, ask to shadow, ask if there are any opportunities for research or case write ups. Just don't be obnoxiously overbearing. You have the T10 school on your side for sure as Hzreio pointed out. I just said it in another thread somewhere, but when I was on the derm interview trail, it seemed like at every place I interviewed, there were a significant number of others who were from Harvard, Penn, Yale, NYU, Hopkins, etc.

I know lots of people who didn't decide until 3rd year (and obviously little research) and they didn't have issues.