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[Redpancreas]

Hello!

M3 considering ophthalmology. First gained interest 2nd half of M2, but didn’t become more definitive until a few months into M3. Currently on my elective. I’m just very worried about not being competitive enough to match and the idea of SOAPing is dreary.

A little about me:

URM female
Step 1: 252
Step 2: not taken yet
Pre-clerkship grades: mix of P, HP, & H
Clerkship: Honored medicine, pending surgery grade (think it will be HP)
Research: My definite weak spot. I was never a research heavy person, love the clinical aspect of medicine. Have a couple poster and abstract presentations non-ophtho related, focused on underserved populations (wrote a manuscript for one but no pub lol). I have been reaching out to several people seeking research. Just received an idea today for an ophtho project to start on.
ECs: Decent leadership & volunteering I’d say. Only ophtho related EC was an interest group I participated in
Other info: Home program. Applying to do an away.

If I had more research I would feel more confident. Not aiming to go to a top research heavy program, just a decent program with some diversity in the area. I do have a home program that I would be happy to stay at and they seem to indicate they’d like to have me, but I’m weary that this is an initial reaction to me being URM (aka they haven’t seen my CV and would scoff at my lack of research lmao). Not interested in doing a research year. Considered dual applying to IM or applying IM altogether as this was the other specialty I enjoyed.

Any advice appreciated!

Honestly, it's really a binary decision here. You either want Opthalmology or you don't. A cursory read of this tells me you're not set on it. You can save yourself a LOT of added stress at the tail end of this year just applying IM. That said, this decision will affect the next 30+ years of your life so make sure you're set on what you're willing to settle on or do. You will match extremely well in IM with your test-taking skills, honors in medicine, and demographics. That in turn will translate to higher chances for a procedural fellowship I anticipate you'll prefer given your proclivity for a procedural specialty already. That said, I think Ophthalmology is doable this round too if we assume a decent Step 2 performance as well. If you want it, get that Ophthalmology research done because I do think if you have absolutely no ophthalmology research, I don't see how programs look past that despite the other things going for you because at the end of the day, it's a specialty and research is how you show interest. There's still time. Try to find a case report or two and consider writing a case series or meta-analysis in lieu of a retrospective chart review which requires months of logistics. Get 1 case report and one review article/case series/meta-analysis done and you're golden. Just submit them. Talk to someone in the Opthalmology department about this. In regards to dual applying, only do it if you aren't 100% of Opthalmology because your chance of matching IM is 99.9%. With your Step score, Honors in Medicine, and demographics, you will match extremely well in the field.

My advice on the research is to get this first assignment done ASAP. More research comes your way if you follow through on what's given to you first instead of trying to throw a lot of darts at the target hoping one will hit. You need to fail with things a few times. The issue is you don't have too much time to fail hence work fast and focus on things that don't need an IRB/extensive planning and logistics.

Hope this helps!

 

[ball123]

Ophthalmology has always been very competitive. This year two of my friends with 250+ step 1 didn't match. Super sad!

But if it's something you really want - then you just got to go all in for it!

 

[Browns99]

Thank you, I really appreciate this. I am currently enjoying my elective and seriously considering it, I think the hesitancy just comes from evaluating competitiveness so I get anxious lol. Research is the priority right now and the project proposed today (sounds like a case series) seems like it won't be difficult to dedicate a few weekends to, so that's my goal.

"A few weekends"....Are you truly committed, because it is going to require more than a few weekends if you want it to come across as having done legitimate research. Research should not be merely looked at as something to put on your CV, although it has become that today. Either way, if you are serious about Ophthalmology, then you should line yourself up with quality research and hope to get a good mentor known in the field. As it sits now, your stats do not seem to stand out in what is a very competitive field.

 

[DOVinciRobot]

Don’t not apply to something purely because it’s competitive. Just have a good app strategy and have a back up plan ready just in case. You’re a good applicant.

 

[Lawpy]

Hello!

M3 considering ophthalmology. First gained interest 2nd half of M2, but didn’t become more definitive until a few months into M3. Currently on my elective. I’m just very worried about not being competitive enough to match and the idea of SOAPing is dreary.

A little about me:

URM female
Step 1: 252
Step 2: not taken yet
Pre-clerkship grades: mix of P, HP, & H
Clerkship: Honored medicine, pending surgery grade (think it will be HP)
Research: My definite weak spot. I was never a research heavy person, love the clinical aspect of medicine. Have a couple poster and abstract presentations non-ophtho related, focused on underserved populations (wrote a manuscript for one but no pub lol). I have been reaching out to several people seeking research. Just received an idea today for an ophtho project to start on.
ECs: Decent leadership & volunteering I’d say. Only ophtho related EC was an interest group I participated in
Other info: Home program. Applying to do an away.

If I had more research I would feel more confident. Not aiming to go to a top research heavy program, just a decent program with some diversity in the area. I do have a home program that I would be happy to stay at and they seem to indicate they’d like to have me, but I’m weary that this is an initial reaction to me being URM (aka they haven’t seen my CV and would scoff at my lack of research lmao). Not interested in doing a research year. Considered dual applying to IM or applying IM altogether as this was the other specialty I enjoyed.

Any advice appreciated!

I think you have a strong application. But competitive specialties like ophtho require research (even though such requirements are completely absurd and only add more nonsense to the literature, but that’s unfortunately how the game is). If you can get a few ophtho papers published, you should be fine.

 

[Lawpy]

Ophthalmology has always been very competitive. This year two of my friends with 250+ step 1 didn't match. Super sad!

But if it's something you really want - then you just got to go all in for it!

Any reasons as to why they didn’t match? I’m looking for more than just “it’s competitive” because people can match pretty comfortably from some places even in competitive specialties

 

[Browns99]

I think you have a strong application. But competitive specialties like ophtho require research (even though such requirements are completely absurd and only add more nonsense to the literature, but that’s unfortunately how the game is). If you can get a few ophtho papers published, you should be fine.

Other than the step one score, what makes them a "strong applicant." No research, a mixed bag of clinical grades ( P, HP, H). I only say this because you don't want someone to feel that they have a strong app and then coast, vs building the application up, like the OP talked about getting research.

I see no mention as to whether the OP will have any strong letters or whether they have any well-known mentors. I know Ophthalmology is not hyper-competitive like Neursoruergy, integrated plastic surgery, ENT, etc), but it is relatively competitive. I also don't recall seeing the school they're at. There's a lot to know before someone can evaluate as to whether they are a strong applicant or not.

I do agree, however, that a field that is competitive should not make you not want to apply, that is, unless you know you are not a competitive applicant or not passionate about the field.

 

[Lawpy]

Other than the step one score, what makes them a "strong applicant." No research, a mixed bag of clinical grades ( P, HP, H). I only say this because you don't want someone to feel that they have a strong app and then coast, vs building the application up, like the OP talked about getting research.

I see no mention as to whether the OP will have any strong letters or whether they have any well-known mentors. I know Ophthalmology is not hyper-competitive like Neursoruergy, integrated plastic surgery, ENT, etc), but it is relatively competitive.

I do agree, however, that a field that is competitive should not make you not want to apply, that is, unless you know you are not a competitive applicant or not passionate about the field.

I thought OP only had 2 clinical grades? H in medicine and maybe HP in surgery. If OP can continue getting mostly H/few HPs, she’ll make her app even stronger. It’s Step 1/clinical grades/demographics that are key here

I agree OP needs to have a serious interest in ophtho to get the necessary good letters, research and aways. But so far, OP is in a strong track.

 

[Browns99]

I thought OP only had 2 clinical grades? H in medicine and maybe HP in surgery. If OP can continue getting mostly H/few HPs, she’ll make her app even stronger. It’s Step 1/clinical grades/demographics that are key here

I agree OP needs to have a serious interest in ophtho to get the necessary good letters, research and aways. But so far, OP is in a strong track.

I agree, the OP needs work to bring the app up to be competetive.