2012-2013 Radiation Oncology Applications

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Sheldor

Sheldor

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Hello all. I purposely made the thread title general in case there are others out there with questions related to ERAS and the application season in general.

One helpful thing, I think, would be to compile a list of programs that aren't taking applications this cycle so that maybe we can all save a little money. Having worked through ERAS I've noticed the following aren't there, or don't seem to be accepting:

1. New York Methodist
2. SUNY Upstate
3. University of North Carolina
4. Methodist (In ERAS, but says "physician only")

Anybody contact the program coordinators at these programs or otherwise know any info about programs that are in ERAS, but not accepting applications this year?
 
Sheldor said:
Hello all. I purposely made the thread title general in case there are others out there with questions related to ERAS and the application season in general.

One helpful thing, I think, would be to compile a list of programs that aren't taking applications this cycle so that maybe we can all save a little money. Having worked through ERAS I've noticed the following aren't there, or don't seem to be accepting:

1. New York Methodist
2. SUNY Upstate
3. University of North Carolina
4. Methodist (In ERAS, but says "physician only")

Anybody contact the program coordinators at these programs or otherwise know any info about programs that are in ERAS, but not accepting applications this year?
Click to expand...

Good thread!

Last I heard SUNY Upstate is taking one in the match this year. (Source: I did a rotation there this past July)
 
UNC is slated to have 2 spots this year. Not sure what is up with ERAS but that is not accurate.
 
Having gone through this last year, I think a reasonable approach is to apply to all programs you're interested in unless the program's website clearly states they are not accepting residents this year. You may end up eating a few hundred dollars of application fees that way, but IMHO that's better than missing out on potential interviews. Websites like ERAS or FREIDA aren't always up-to-date or accurate. Threads like this were helpful last year, so everyone should post here as well.
 
What is the typical length that everyone is writing for there "experiences"? I feel like one-two sentences is right but I'd love to hear what everyone else is doing.
 
mheat3 said:
What is the typical length that everyone is writing for there "experiences"? I feel like one-two sentences is right but I'd love to hear what everyone else is doing.
Click to expand...

I'm doing the same. I feel like the right answer is "as much as needed to accurately describe the experience and not a word more," so thats what I'm aiming for.

Thats interesting that SUNY upstate and UNC are both unable to apply on ERAS, hopefully they fix that.

How are you guys gauging the length of your personal statement? I know the rule of thumb is to keep it to one page, but how are you guys measuring that? One page in word?
 
I believe one page in courier new 10 point font (how it prints on eras site) for PS. When are you guys aiming to have LORs in by?
 
So we can start submitting sept 15 correct? If we submit then change something in our application how log do we have to update it before programs download our app?
 
General rule for life is keep PS as short as possible. Never more than a page. Its a skill to be able to say what you need to say being as thourough yet precise as possible. If you are long winded a) you are borining on paper (which is bad when they have hundreds of these to read) and b) you are probably long winded on, say, patient presentations. These are not assumptions you want made about you. Ask your home PD to proof your PS for you. Then you will know you are on the right track.

One thing that gets under rated is the PS. This is the opportunity to stand out. Your not going to stand out because of grades or board scores, everyone chosen to interview is going to be golden there. Dont talk about grades or anything they can get from the application elsewhere. Tell them why you are interesting and what skills you have that make you a good fit for rad onc and give a convincing reason why rad onc is for you. These are actually very important points considered in who gets interviewed at a lot of places.
 
Just wondering, which months and how many rad onc rotations did you guys do?
 
3 wks at home institution june-july
4 wks away july-august
4 wks away august-sept
 
What are the best places to search for residency programs? Not just in radiation oncology, but residency programs in general. FREIDA Online? And can you guys share the URLs please, thanks!
 
my advice (I'm a last year's "matchee") would be to email or call program coordinators for the programs that you have heard have no spots, and confirm. There was much confusion last year. No need to waste $ unnecessarily (but then I am a penny-pincher).

For ERAS "experiences" one-liners is all you want. They'll all ask you f/u questions at the interview if they are interested.
 
Sheldor said:
So fellow applicants, how many TY/Prelim applications are you guys going to send out?
Click to expand...

My strategy is as follows: I will apply to TYs in cities I feel it would be financially advantageous for me to move there a year early vs my current location. That will probably be in the neighborhood of 6-8 plus local Prelims. Keep in mind that some programs, though not technically Categorical, will reserve/offer a few spots for Prelim year to those applicants/matched who want it.
 
Thank you for the comment about the "one-liners" def confirms what I've heard.

Also to the above post about unofficial reserve/offer of prelim years at specific programs, is that information they usually make available during interviews or can you find out beforehand?

Thanks to all the informative replies.
 
mheat3 said:
Thank you for the comment about the "one-liners" def confirms what I've heard.

Also to the above post about unofficial reserve/offer of prelim years at specific programs, is that information they usually make available during interviews or can you find out beforehand?

Thanks to all the informative replies.
Click to expand...

I've heard the same thing. Someone told me to constantly think about what a really tired physician, who is anxious to get home, would want to read at 5 PM. Seemed like a good rule of thumb!

ReOxygenation said:
My strategy is as follows: I will apply to TYs in cities I feel it would be financially advantageous for me to move there a year early vs my current location. That will probably be in the neighborhood of 6-8 plus local Prelims. Keep in mind that some programs, though not technically Categorical, will reserve/offer a few spots for Prelim year to those applicants/matched who want it.
Click to expand...

This sound like a great strategy and I similar to what I was thinking. Hard to mentally accept applying to so few programs since as rad onc applicants we are always hearing how important it is to apply broadly!

The reality that applications go out on less than three weeks hit me right.... now.
 
I thought it may be helpful to make a list of the number of spots available for each program, and we can add to it as we go. Feel like this could be helpful. Unfortunately, I've never formatted a list like this on SDN so I'm a novice. If someone else wants to fix the format, please feel free!!

Once we get the format down, just go through the quote, remove quotes, add number of spots process!

Number of Spots for Programs

UAB 2
University of Arizona
City of Hope 1
UCSD 2
Loma Linda
USC 2
UCLA 2
Kaiser SC 2
UC Irvine 2
UC Davis
UCSF 3
Cal Pacific 1
Stanford
University of Colorado 2
Yale
Georgetown
University of Florida
Mayo Jacksonville
Jackson Memorial
U. South Florida
Emory
Rush University
University of Chicago
Northwestern
Loyola
Indiana University
University of Iowa
University of Kansas
University of Kentucky
University of Louisville
Johns Hopkins
University of Maryland
Harvard
Tufts
University of Michigan
Henry Ford/Wayne State
Detroit Medical/Wayne state
William Beaumont
University of Minnesota
Mayo Rochester
University of Mississippi
Wash U.
University of Nebraska
UMDNJ- Robert Wood
Albert Einstein
SUNY Brookyln
New York Methodist
University at Buffalo
Hofstra
New York Pres. Columbia
Sloan Kettering
NYU
Mount Sinai
New York Hospital - Cornell
University of Rochester
SUNY Upstate
University of NC 2
Duke University
Wake Forest
University of Cincinnati
Case Western
Cleveland Clinic
Ohio State
University of Oklahoma
Oregon Health and Science
Drexel
Thomas Jefferson
University of Penn.
Fox Chase
UPMC
Allegheny General Hospital
Medical University of SC
Vanderbilt
UT Southwestern
UTMB
Methodist
Baylor
MD Anderson
UT San Antonio
Texas A&M
University of Utah
University of Virgnia
VCU
University of Washington
University of Wisconsin 2
MCW
 
Corrected UC Irvine, thanks for the PM. If others know spots, and don't want to post, please feel free to PM me and I can add them so that everyone can remain anonymous.

Number of Spots for Programs

UAB 2
University of Arizona
City of Hope 1
UCSD 2
Loma Linda
USC 2
UCLA 2
Kaiser SC 2
UC Irvine 1
UC Davis
UCSF 3
Cal Pacific 1
Stanford
University of Colorado 2
Yale
Georgetown
University of Florida
Mayo Jacksonville
Jackson Memorial
U. South Florida
Emory
Rush University
University of Chicago
Northwestern
Loyola
Indiana University
University of Iowa
University of Kansas
University of Kentucky
University of Louisville
Johns Hopkins
University of Maryland
Harvard
Tufts
University of Michigan
Henry Ford/Wayne State
Detroit Medical/Wayne state
William Beaumont
University of Minnesota
Mayo Rochester
University of Mississippi
Wash U.
University of Nebraska
UMDNJ- Robert Wood
Albert Einstein
SUNY Brookyln
New York Methodist
University at Buffalo
Hofstra
New York Pres. Columbia
Sloan Kettering
NYU
Mount Sinai
New York Hospital - Cornell
University of Rochester
SUNY Upstate
University of NC 2
Duke University
Wake Forest
University of Cincinnati
Case Western
Cleveland Clinic
Ohio State
University of Oklahoma
Oregon Health and Science
Drexel
Thomas Jefferson
University of Penn.
Fox Chase
UPMC
Allegheny General Hospital
Medical University of SC
Vanderbilt
UT Southwestern
UTMB
Methodist
Baylor
MD Anderson
UT San Antonio
Texas A&M
University of Utah
University of Virgnia
VCU
University of Washington
University of Wisconsin 2
MCW
 
Adding Allegheny General, University of Florida, Mayo Jacksonville, Jackson Memorial, Southwestern and MD Anderson. Thanks for all the PM's folks...

Number of Spots for Programs

UAB 2
University of Arizona
City of Hope 1
UCSD 2
Loma Linda
USC 2
UCLA 2
Kaiser SC 2
UC Irvine 1
UC Davis
UCSF 3
Cal Pacific 1
Stanford
University of Colorado 2
Yale
Georgetown
University of Florida 2
Mayo Jacksonville 1
Jackson Memorial 2
U. South Florida
Emory
Rush University
University of Chicago
Northwestern
Loyola
Indiana University
University of Iowa
University of Kansas
University of Kentucky
University of Louisville
Johns Hopkins
University of Maryland
Harvard
Tufts
University of Michigan
Henry Ford/Wayne State
Detroit Medical/Wayne state
William Beaumont
University of Minnesota
Mayo Rochester
University of Mississippi
Wash U.
University of Nebraska
UMDNJ- Robert Wood
Albert Einstein
SUNY Brookyln
New York Methodist
University at Buffalo
Hofstra
New York Pres. Columbia
Sloan Kettering
NYU
Mount Sinai
New York Hospital - Cornell
University of Rochester
SUNY Upstate
University of NC 2
Duke University
Wake Forest
University of Cincinnati
Case Western
Cleveland Clinic
Ohio State
University of Oklahoma
Oregon Health and Science
Drexel
Thomas Jefferson
University of Penn.
Fox Chase
UPMC
Allegheny General Hospital 1
Medical University of SC
Vanderbilt
UT Southwestern 2
UTMB
Methodist
Baylor
MD Anderson 6
UT San Antonio
Texas A&M
University of Utah
University of Virgnia
VCU
University of Washington
University of Wisconsin 2
MCW[/QUOTE]
 
Adding Emory, Cleveland clinic and SUNY Upstate... Keep 'em coming.

Number of Spots for Programs

UAB 2
University of Arizona
City of Hope 1
UCSD 2
Loma Linda
USC 2
UCLA 2
Kaiser SC 2
UC Irvine 1
UC Davis
UCSF 3
Cal Pacific 1
Stanford
University of Colorado 2
Yale
Georgetown
University of Florida 2
Mayo Jacksonville 1
Jackson Memorial 2
U. South Florida
Emory 4
Rush University
University of Chicago
Northwestern
Loyola
Indiana University
University of Iowa
University of Kansas
University of Kentucky
University of Louisville
Johns Hopkins
University of Maryland
Harvard
Tufts
University of Michigan
Henry Ford/Wayne State
Detroit Medical/Wayne state
William Beaumont
University of Minnesota
Mayo Rochester
University of Mississippi
Wash U.
University of Nebraska
UMDNJ- Robert Wood
Albert Einstein
SUNY Brookyln
New York Methodist
University at Buffalo
Hofstra
New York Pres. Columbia
Sloan Kettering
NYU
Mount Sinai
New York Hospital - Cornell
University of Rochester
SUNY Upstate 1
University of NC 2
Duke University
Wake Forest
University of Cincinnati
Case Western
Cleveland Clinic 3
Ohio State
University of Oklahoma
Oregon Health and Science
Drexel
Thomas Jefferson
University of Penn.
Fox Chase
UPMC
Allegheny General Hospital 1
Medical University of SC
Vanderbilt
UT Southwestern 2
UTMB
Methodist
Baylor
MD Anderson 6
UT San Antonio
Texas A&M
University of Utah
University of Virgnia
VCU
University of Washington
University of Wisconsin 2
MCW
 
StIGMA said:
Why is this remarkable? Over the past years they have generally taken around 4 residents.
Click to expand...

This is the first year that they've taken 4. By my count, there are (now) only 6 programs that take 4+ in a year (UPenn, WashU, MSKCC, MDACC, Harvard, and now Emory).
 
Where is the correct spot to list away rotations in ERAS? Is there one?

Here is why I ask -- I am completing away #3 in a few weeks and it will apparently not be listed on my transcript/MSPE unless I have a grade, which will not be possible. Also, I am maxed out on LoRs already so adding another letter is not an option, but would like to include the away in ERAS because I would love to end up in this general region but have no prior ties to this area of the country. Any advice?
 
Updated the list alphabetically, and simplified names of programs. Thought it might be easier to find programs of interest. Hopefully I didn't accidentally delete anything in the process...

Albert Einstein
Allegheny General Hospital 1
Arizona
Baylor
Buffalo
Cal Pacific 1
Case Western
Cincinnati
City of Hope 1
Cleveland Clinic 3
Colorado 2
Columbia
Cornell
Drexel
Duke
Emory
Florida 2
Fox Chase
Georgetown
Harvard
Henry Ford
Hofstra
Indiana
Iowa
Johns Hopkins
Kaiser 2
Kansas
Kentucky
Loma Linda
Louisville
Loyola
Maryland
Mayo Jacksonville 1
Mayo Rochester
MCW
MD Anderson 6
Methodist
Miami 2
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Moffitt
Mount Sinai
MSKCC
MUSC
Nebraska
New York Methodist
Northwestern
NYU
Ohio State
Oklahoma
Oregon Health and Science
Penn
Pitt
Rochester
Roswell Park (Buffalo)
Rush
Stanford
SUNY Brookyln
SUNY Upstate 1
Texas A&M
Thomas Jefferson
Tufts
UAB
UC Davis
UChicago
UC Irvine 1
UCLA 2
UCSD 2
UCSF 3
UMDNJ
UNC 2
USC 2
Utah
UTMB
UT San Antonio
UT Southwestern 2
University of Virginia
University of Washington
Vanderbilt 2
VCU
Wake Forest
WashU
Wayne State
Wisconsin
William Beaumont
Yale 5
 
thesauce said:
This is the first year that they've taken 4. By my count, there are (now) only 6 programs that take 4+ in a year (UPenn, WashU, MSKCC, MDACC, Harvard, and now Emory).
Click to expand...

Per their website, Yale is taking 5 this year.
 
Question for those who have matched in previous years: Once you submit your application you can't change the research section right? How did you guys go about updating programs about changes? (IE, submitted to accepted for publication)
 
Sheldor said:
Question for those who have matched in previous years: Once you submit your application you can't change the research section right? How did you guys go about updating programs about changes? (IE, submitted to accepted for publication)
Click to expand...
I emailed the program secretary/coordinator. You can also update programs in person when you interview with an updated CV if you have something accepted while you're on the trail. Best of luck!
 
StIGMA said:
Why is this remarkable? Over the past years they have generally taken around 4 residents.
Click to expand...

May want to double check this.. They only have 2 graduating PGY-5's and still only 16 spots, so not sure how taking 4 works out.
 
Sheldor said:
Question for those who have matched in previous years: Once you submit your application you can't change the research section right? How did you guys go about updating programs about changes? (IE, submitted to accepted for publication)
Click to expand...


send it to the coordinator via e mail, and bring 15-20 copies at least of the abstract to hand to all the attendings in case the update didnt make it into your file
 
Last edited:
StIGMA said:
Their PGY 2, 3 and 4 classes are 5, 5, and 4. I didn't know what their total spots were, but 16 spots over 4 PGY classes is 4 per year, correct? (per http://www.emoryradiationoncology.org/switch.cfm?action=AP_RS#PGY1_2)
Click to expand...

Some spots are military/ independently funded and don't count in the 16, plus there's some discrepancy from when programs increase spots. They may take 4 some years, and not others. I.e. if they graduate two this year and take four, they are over the number of spots next year. Not saying it's not four, but just saying someone may want to double check before taking it as gospel 😉

ETA: if you look at that link they posted, they graduated two last year and only took two new PGY-1's, for example.
 
Last edited:
copperfrog09 said:
May want to double check this.. They only have 2 graduating PGY-5's and still only 16 spots, so not sure how taking 4 works out.
Click to expand...

They have 2 graduating PGY-5's which means the 2 people who matched in 2012 for PGY-2 Radonc spots will be filling those.

If you match in 2013 you will be filling the eventual out going PGY-4 spots.

PGY-1 is a transitional/prelim year and not included in the quoted 16.
 
Sheldor said:
Question for those who have matched in previous years: Once you submit your application you can't change the research section right? How did you guys go about updating programs about changes? (IE, submitted to accepted for publication)
Click to expand...

Wait... so if I start a new research project after I submit my application I can't update my application with the new project?
 
Sheldor said:
I don't believe so. Most of the application goes on lock down after we submit. Does anybody know for sure?
Click to expand...
That's correct. If I recall correctly the only portion of the application you can edit post-submission is the first page of the application - home address/phone number, AOA status, etc.
 
This may be a silly question but how do you guys list something that was accepted to ASTRO this year? Should it only be listed as an oral or a poster presentation, or does it also count as an abstract and if so which one? (unpublished vs. published?)
 
RSAOaky said:
This may be a silly question but how do you guys list something that was accepted to ASTRO this year? Should it only be listed as an oral or a poster presentation, or does it also count as an abstract and if so which one? (unpublished vs. published?)
Click to expand...

If its not published it can not officially be published... However you can always do the submitted route. At least it's harder to get called out.
 
RadOncDoc21 said:
If its not published it can not officially be published... However you can always do the submitted route. At least it's harder to get called out.
Click to expand...

I'm definitely not trying to upsell things, just curious what people have done in the past.
 
So in an effort to get another research project on my application and also waiting for my August rotation grade to be posted... I've decided to wait a week or two after Sept 14th to submit my application.

Anyone else doing something similar? ...am I crazy for not applying the day applications are open??
 
Albert Einstein
Allegheny General Hospital 1
Arizona
Baylor
Buffalo
Cal Pacific 1
Case Western
Cincinnati
City of Hope 1
Cleveland Clinic 3
Colorado 2
Columbia
Cornell
Drexel
Duke
Emory
Florida 2
Fox Chase
Georgetown
Harvard
Henry Ford
Hofstra
Indiana
Iowa
Johns Hopkins
Kaiser 2
Kansas
Kentucky
Loma Linda
Louisville
Loyola
Maryland
Mayo Jacksonville 1
Mayo Rochester
MCW
MD Anderson 6
Methodist
Miami 2
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Moffitt
Mount Sinai
MSKCC 5
MUSC
Nebraska
New York Methodist
Northwestern
NYU
Ohio State
Oklahoma
Oregon Health and Science
Penn
Pitt
Rochester
Roswell Park (Buffalo)
Rush
Stanford
SUNY Brookyln
SUNY Upstate 1
Texas A&M
Thomas Jefferson
Tufts
UAB
UC Davis
UChicago
UC Irvine 1
UCLA 2
UCSD 2
UCSF 3
UMDNJ
UNC 2
USC 2
Utah
UTMB
UT San Antonio
UT Southwestern 2
University of Virginia
University of Washington
Vanderbilt 2
VCU
Wake Forest
WashU
Wayne State
Wisconsin
William Beaumont
Yale 5
 
Aphtalyfe said:
So in an effort to get another research project on my application and also waiting for my August rotation grade to be posted... I've decided to wait a week or two after Sept 14th to submit my application.

Anyone else doing something similar? ...am I crazy for not applying the day applications are open??
Click to expand...

I'm not doing something similar, but I have consistently heard that Radiation Oncology won't be looking at applications until later in the cycle so maybe you'd be fine? I'm sure someone further along than us will chime in, that is a difficult decision to make!
 
Can someone more senior chime in if possible about applying on the 14th vs waiting till October to apply?
 
What is this Sept 14 I keep hearing about? Back in my day (2 yrs ago), after the annual ASTRO was when programs started reviewing applications.
 
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