2012-2013 Radiology Applicants Thread

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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?
just submit. they will look at it when they have all the letters and they update regularly
 
All 4 of my letters are in. Application basically ready to submit. T-2 days. :scared:
 
A few days ago I received an email with a pdf regarding step 2 CK/CS and program requirements from the AAMC/ERAS... the interesting part of it was that it states the average USMG radiology applicant applies to 50.4 programs! Does this seem high to anyone else? I'm at 33 and feel like that is overkill.
 
what kind of stuff did you guys put under 'medical school awards' in eras? my school doesn't do honors and i've already seen my deans letter that has my class rank and all my shelf exams and what not in it so i'm wondering if putting that crap in there again is a waste of time or not.
 
Are there any programs that will not even consider you if you do not submit the app on the day ERAS opens (9/15)? I was wondering if programs would even download it then since its a Saturday and that they would more likely download it first thing Monday morning.
 
Quick question to you guys - I noticed in some websites of Radiology Programs and Transitional year programs specifically stating that they would like Common ERAS Application form and CV (notice they state it separately). Perhaps me being neurotic, but does this mean they want us to separately send a copy of our CV to them via email? I know our ERAS Experience tab generates our own CV, but since the requirement states they want CV along ERAS common application, I wasn't sure if I am missing something.
 
A few days ago I received an email with a pdf regarding step 2 CK/CS and program requirements from the AAMC/ERAS... the interesting part of it was that it states the average USMG radiology applicant applies to 50.4 programs! Does this seem high to anyone else? I'm at 33 and feel like that is overkill.

I was told by a PD to apply to 40 or as many programs as I could reasonably afford and I'm not a weak applicant by any means. Not super strong, but not weak. It just depends on your goals though. I have a lot of programs where I probably don't stand a chance, but thought I'd give it a try anyway. I don't really count those in my total (even though they will count against my bank account.)
 
A few days ago I received an email with a pdf regarding step 2 CK/CS and program requirements from the AAMC/ERAS... the interesting part of it was that it states the average USMG radiology applicant applies to 50.4 programs! Does this seem high to anyone else? I'm at 33 and feel like that is overkill.

Depends on how competitive you are. I applied to 40 last year and was an extremely strong candidate.
 
Alright this is what my list looks like now. 54 rads programs 15 TY/prelims.

Is this overkill? This app is going to be expensive... A lot of my programs are "reaches" aka the ivory towers with "good fits" scattered in. I feel I'm competitive but still believe those are longshots for me.

Midwest allopathic state school
Step 1 high 250s
"comprehensive honors" each year of school
Top 5% class rank
Likely senior AOA
1 first author non rads paper published
no rads research
 
Seems a little high but might be fine, it just depends which programs and where your prelim/TYs are. I'd have to see the entire list to comment further. If you really want feedback, PM me.

Alright this is what my list looks like now. 54 rads programs 15 TY/prelims.

Is this overkill? This app is going to be expensive... A lot of my programs are "reaches" aka the ivory towers with "good fits" scattered in. I feel I'm competitive but still believe those are longshots for me.

Midwest allopathic state school
Step 1 high 250s
"comprehensive honors" each year of school
Top 5% class rank
Likely senior AOA
1 first author non rads paper published
no rads research
 
Hmm. I certified my application, paid the fees for STEP transcript and applications (expensive), and confirmed applying to all programs. Now I see zero programs in my program selection list and they are all instead in my ADTS Program list.

Am I done, for now?? Is there any other step to take? Phew that was tiring.
 
Univeristy of New Mexico and Ohio State already downloaded my application. Damn they are fast. :laugh:
 
I have had 5 programs download my app so far. I am glad I ignored the advice from some people who said it doesn't matter when you get it in since it is a weekend.
 
I have had 5 programs download my app so far. I am glad I ignored the advice from some people who said it doesn't matter when you get it in since it is a weekend.
I didn't think people would be downloading apps due to it being a Saturday...wrong
 
Historically UT-H and UT-Knoxville offered interviews within 3 days of ERAS submission. Michigan was usually within the first week and CCF was also an early one. Good luck guys! I'm sure I'll see some of you this year on the TY interview trail!
 
Historically UT-H and UT-Knoxville offered interviews within 3 days of ERAS submission. Michigan was usually within the first week and CCF was also an early one. Good luck guys! I'm sure I'll see some of you this year on the TY interview trail!

Thanks for providing your advice. I ended up applying to 92 programs focusing on the SE, Texas, midwest, and heartland. Threw in a mix of epic-reaches, academic, and community programs. In the end I will probably stay in my home state, but who knows what is in store.


Four programs: Ohio State, UPMC, UVA, and New Mexico have downloaded my app.
 
Good luck everyone! The process is sometimes daunting but try to have some fun, it really is an enjoyable year.
 
Thanks for providing your advice. I ended up applying to 92 programs focusing on the SE, Texas, midwest, and heartland. Threw in a mix of epic-reaches, academic, and community programs. In the end I will probably stay in my home state, but who knows what is in store.


Four programs: Ohio State, UPMC, UVA, and New Mexico have downloaded my app.

😱

Probably submitting mine later tonight or tomorrow morning. Good luck everyone! Hope to meet some sdners on the trail. 👍
 
Thanks for providing your advice. I ended up applying to 92 programs focusing on the SE, Texas, midwest, and heartland. Threw in a mix of epic-reaches, academic, and community programs. In the end I will probably stay in my home state, but who knows what is in store.


Four programs: Ohio State, UPMC, UVA, and New Mexico have downloaded my app.

Yup, I've gotten those same programs along with BU and Mayo Rochester. I'm kind of surprised they were downloading so quick. I was expecting them to at least wait a little bit for USMLE scores to start getting uploaded.

Good luck to everyone. I feel like a weight is lifted off just by submitting all the stuff. While I am still nervous/anxious/excited for the next couple of months, it is mostly out of my hands at this point.
 
Yup, I've gotten those same programs along with BU and Mayo Rochester. I'm kind of surprised they were downloading so quick. I was expecting them to at least wait a little bit for USMLE scores to start getting uploaded.

Good luck to everyone. I feel like a weight is lifted off just by submitting all the stuff. While I am still nervous/anxious/excited for the next couple of months, it is mostly out of my hands at this point.

No kidding. But I too am surprised how many programs have already downloaded my app. By the way, when does USMLE score get uploaded? Besides releasing our score in document and providing ID# in profile, do we have to do anything else? Just making sure I have not missed anything here...
 
Usually USMLE scores get uploaded in few hrs-3 days. Most of the programs downloading information today have done it multiple times today. I think it's an automated program that does it for them. I doubt that there is some poor soul sitting there on a weekend clicking refresh button every 30 mins.
 
Of course there are also weirder things than having a neurotic person obsessively logging in and checking the status of applications over and over again. 😉
 
I wish ERAS had a more efficient way of checking documents. I tweaked my PS a bit and had to change every individual one. 😳
 
Yea, I assigned a blank LOR to a program and had to dig around before returning to the original assignment area to change it.
 
No USMLE transcripts uploaded yet. It looks like nbme giant is sleeping over weekend. Hopefully it wakes up tomorrow.
 
Submitted my app yesterday, although incomplete (only 2 LORs). USMLE scores still pending upload, but I suppose that's because it's the weekend. So far 5 programs out of 38 have downloaded my app...hopefully they re-download soon after my last letter gets uploaded on Monday/Tuesday.
 
I've already told myself to not expect anything for 2-3 weeks. If it does, then sweet but I'm not getting my hopes up.
 
Do prelim interviews generally get sent out first?
 
Last year, first interview offer was 10/5, last was 12/29. First prelim/TY offer was 10/8.
 
Seems like a good estimate to go by. It is possible that it could be a little earlier with the earlier MSPE release, but I highly doubt that if interviews were offered on October 8, an October 1 release would have a huge impact.
 
Seems like a good estimate to go by. It is possible that it could be a little earlier with the earlier MSPE release, but I highly doubt that if interviews were offered on October 8, an October 1 release would have a huge impact.

I'm honestly not even going to worry about it as it's out of my hands at this point. I'd like to have the rest of September off anyway and not fly out this month...mid-October is early enough for me.
 
I'm honestly not even going to worry about it as it's out of my hands at this point. I'd like to have the rest of September off anyway and not fly out this month...mid-October is early enough for me.

My first interview (Mayo) which was at the very beginning of interview season for rads was 10/28.
 
Has anyone's USMLE transcript got released yet? My classmate told me her transcript went out and she was able to see it under "Other Supporting Documents" of ADTS tab. It is not showing up on mine and I wonder if I messed something up or didn't do all the steps. I provided my 8 digit USMLE ID in profile, released the score, and paid the fee. Does anyone also have similar issue?
 
Mine was uploaded, but some of my friends weren't. It will be up and won't make a difference, although I know it can make you anxious.
 
My first interview (Mayo) which was at the very beginning of interview season for rads was 10/28.

Thanks. That seems like a good start date to kick off interview season. I have three easy months of rotations (time-wise) starting then.
 
Thanks. That seems like a good start date to kick off interview season. I have three easy months of rotations (time-wise) starting then.

It's ok. The problem with interview season for rads is that it's really long. My last interview was on 2/1 and that's actually the program I'm attending next year. It seems like Midwest, south, and a few east coast programs were early, a few Midwest and a lot of east coast programs were dec-Jan, and CA programs were more Jan-early feb. If you apply nationally it'll be a long season. Check out auntminnie for last year's schedule but keep in mind it might be very different this year.
 
Where my peeps at?

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.


Google doc would be a great idea!

I applied to both MD and DO programs, should I start a new thread for DO application as I think most of the people in this thread are MD? Idk...

thanks
 
Thanks everyone for the great discussion so far.

I haven't found any recent posts about how having a PhD may impact your competitiveness. According to the latest NRMP data, there were 39 applicants in the 2011 pool with a PhD, and it seems like they all accumulated at places like Johns Hopkins / UWash / WashU / UCSF / Stanford / Harvard programs / etc. This would suggest to me that it is heavily valued at those types of places. Does anyone have a good sense for how selection committees weigh the PhD? Does it hurt you at places that do not have a strong research enterprise?

Thanks.
 
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Thanks everyone for the great discussion so far.

I haven't found any recent posts about how having a PhD may impact your competitiveness. According to the latest NRMP data, there were 39 applicants in the 2011 pool with a PhD, and it seems like they all accumulated at places like Johns Hopkins / UWash / WashU / UCSF / Stanford / Harvard programs / etc. This would suggest to me that it is heavily valued at those types of places. Does anyone have a good sense for how selection committees weigh the PhD? Does it hurt you at places that do not have a strong research enterprise?

Thanks.

I think a PhD would certainly make you more competitive at the academic oriented programs. A demonstration of research aptitude, productivity and committment to the field are all pluses. I still think however that you need to have covered the other aspects of the application (reasonably good USMLE scores, grades, evals). I don't think a PhD will inherently hurt you at non-academic programs, but if research is important to you, you may not be a good fit at a community program with no research opportunities.
 
It helps a lot at top places.

Thanks everyone for the great discussion so far.

I haven't found any recent posts about how having a PhD may impact your competitiveness. According to the latest NRMP data, there were 39 applicants in the 2011 pool with a PhD, and it seems like they all accumulated at places like Johns Hopkins / UWash / WashU / UCSF / Stanford / Harvard programs / etc. This would suggest to me that it is heavily valued at those types of places. Does anyone have a good sense for how selection committees weigh the PhD? Does it hurt you at places that do not have a strong research enterprise?

Thanks.
 
It helps a lot at top places.
Thanks to both of you. From my perspective it sure seems like it would be valuable to those top programs with strong research interests, but I'm obviously pretty biased 🙂 so it's nice to hear that those who have been through the process see it that way as well.
 
Our PD said he likes to see Step 2 scores. Especially for average rad applicants.
 
For programs with Categorical AND Advanced positions, why wouldn't anyone apply to both? And does categorical assume IM year automatically?
Anyone know how interviews work with these? I guess I'm trying to figure out if there's any harm in blindly selecting both options.
 
For programs with Categorical AND Advanced positions, why wouldn't anyone apply to both? And does categorical assume IM year automatically?
Anyone know how interviews work with these? I guess I'm trying to figure out if there's any harm in blindly selecting both options.

Some have a surgery prelim year, others have medicine, and a few have a TY.
 
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