2012-2013 Radiology Applicants Thread
Started by dude1344
Right here. Where are you looking at applying?
I'll be applying to most of the programs west of a line I drew from Chicago to Houston, so no competition from me for those east coast spots. How many programs is everyone applying to this year? I'm have 42rads and 12 TYs on the list so far and will probably cut this down to 30 and 8 by the end of the month.
I'm applying. If you guys want, I could setup a google doc or something to post interview invites at. Who knows, if we end up on same interview then we could always organize transport or ways to save a little cash. No biggie if not game. Just an idea.
The FREIDA residency program search site has a place under the general tab for Step 1 and 2 cut off's from each program. Only some programs have them filled in. And who knows if they truly live by those cut offs.
That being said. I'm sure many programs do use strict Step 1 cut offs... perhaps even as high as 240 at some institutions. I've also heard people say that institutions will use AOA status as their filter. This of course is all hearsay unless you hear it from someone you trust to know the truth... and perhaps the FREIDA site can shed some light on Step 1 cut offs if they are in fact accurate.
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Yea.. fair enough. And it makes sense for programs to do this. And after making my comment about FREIDA I decided to go back and take another look. Some programs list realistic cut offs... for example Ohio State with a 220 cut off. Other programs clearly just entered a number for the sake of entering a number... for example Duke with a cut off of 175 (which as you know is well below failing).
So the utility of the FREIDA numbers is limited at best.
The problem is there are always exceptions. Using something like AOA is questionable to me, but only because some schools have a seemingly random selection process. My school nominates anyone in the top 25% and then goes through the CVs and makes a judgement call off of that, but they always seem to make sure someone from each regional campus gets it. Third year grades aren't heavily factored in at my school either. (I had one of the top clinical performances in the class and didn't get AOA because I started off slow first year)
Using it as a soft cutoff is ok, especially at the top programs....not that they care what I think.
Using it as a soft cutoff is ok, especially at the top programs....not that they care what I think.
Does it make a diff if you're senior or junior?
With the average step 1 being 240 I think a rule of thumb would be that community programs and academic programs in bad locations (exceptions of course) are lower than this. At the same time programs in desirable places like CA or DC and the top programs are likely above this average.
Frankly... I'd just apply wherever you want. If you apply to a program... you may or may not get an interview. If you do not apply to a program.... you cannot get an interview. And yes, it gets expensive... but for me it was a drop in the bucket relative to my loans overall. So I say just apply wherever you want. I did that for the most part and I got interviews at places I didn't think I was qualified for and didn't get interviews at places that I was easily qualified for. Programs are weird sometimes with who they offer interviews to.
That being said... if your scores are low... may save some money and not bother with MGH, BWH, JHU, Duke...
That being said... if your scores are low... may save some money and not bother with MGH, BWH, JHU, Duke...
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Anyone know when interviews likely will start/end?
Begin early/mid September (especially with internship programs.... radiology usually follows a week or two later). I suppose this may be two weeks later overally this year if ERAS apps don't go out til the 15th.
End around the end of Jan beginning of Feb.
Depends on the program. I know one that begins in November. I am sure invitations come before then.
There are threads up on auntminnie from last year's interview process with the interview dates for most places.
asap. some programs that give out early interviews will not consider you complete until you have 3 letters. Others will.
I found most programs that I looked at only wanted 3 letters. You should make sure to see what each program wants individually.
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Yeah at least 3 for most. Most want only 1-2 radiology letters. I have 1 radiology, 1 radiology research, and 2 from medicine. My 3 important ones are uploaded into ERAS and waiting... thank god.
so will you be sending 4 even if their website says they want only 3?
If you call or email the programs, they'll mostly tell you that you can send as many as you want but they can't guarantee they'll read them all. I sent four to all my programs.
Most websites I have encountered only say they REQUIRE 3 recommendations. I haven't seen many that say "at most" or "no more then" (other than those that want no more than 1 radiology letter... I can just argue that my other rays letter is a research letter).
What are you guys using to search for programs?
Both Rads and intern/transitional year?
Both Rads and intern/transitional year?
Use the FREIDA residency search program on the AMA website.
yupp!
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So on Freida, there's a transitional year tab. But how do you search for prelim year IM programs? Do you just look at regular IM programs? Since we're only doing 1 year, will programs know?
And on ERAS, how do you even apply to these 1 year prelim program? Bah this process is so confusing.. definitely more prepared for med school apps.
And on ERAS, how do you even apply to these 1 year prelim program? Bah this process is so confusing.. definitely more prepared for med school apps.
When you select med/surg programs on ERAS, you have to check the box for whether youre applying for a prelim or categorical spot. From what I've seen, most IM and GS programs that you'll find have both prelim and categorical spots available.
I have another question regarding letters...
Is it OK to have just 3 letters: one clinical, one rads and one research?
I got the sense that it was necessary to have 2 clinicals but I took a year off bw third and fourth year and it has been hard to get another clinical.
Thanks in advance!
Is it OK to have just 3 letters: one clinical, one rads and one research?
I got the sense that it was necessary to have 2 clinicals but I took a year off bw third and fourth year and it has been hard to get another clinical.
Thanks in advance!
Read the requirements for schools; I think you'd really want two clinical letters, though.
asked for 4 letters total: 2 clinical, 1 rads, 1 rsch
so far: 1 clinical and 1 rads are in. Delay app for a few days?
so far: 1 clinical and 1 rads are in. Delay app for a few days?
I am in the same boat. Got 2 clinical in, waiting on the rads and research. No choice but to hold off on app submission?
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