4th (bottom) quartile match?

[docvino]

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anybody in the bottom quartile match into EM?
any advice for me?

ive already been told it will be difficult to match. just curious if anyone out there has any advice from personal experience.

i welcome PMs if you aren't comfortable posting. thanks.

 

[Thruster]

i always thought that class rank did not matter as long as you have decent boards, and remainder of app.

 

[Powdermonkey]

Bottom half of my class.
COMLEX scores were slightly above average.
USMLE 1 was barely passing, step 2 was still below average.
Had some pretty great letters (I think).
Tons of extracirriculars and stuff related to EM since I knew thats what I wanted to do.

I busted my tail on away rotations the beginning of fourth year to get some great SLORs. And I went to the ACEP meeting last year to go to the residency fair. I got to speak in person with multiple program directors and assistant program directors, chief residents, etc. Made some great contacts, got at least half of my interviews because of that.

I matched into my number one spot in an allopathic residency (I'm a DO) and I couldn't be happier. Work you butt off and things have a greater chance of turning out the way you want them. PM me if you have any questions.

 

[Chromatid]

I also was very low in class rate, I guess it would be the 31st percentile to be exact. DO. Comlex1 was within several points of passing. Frankly the first two years of medical school intimidated the hell out of me. Worked tail off 3rd year. In spring was told by our dean of students that I should consider family medicine and that I wouldn't match. Discouraged me, considered it, continued working hard and studying. Owned comlex2 and usmle 2(granted probably not to the same level as many SDNers, but for me it was owning it). Had early audition rotations, got decent SLORs, discussed my personal statement and interest with the docs who lead the student rotations. Applied to a lot of programs, you have to be realistic and realized you most likely will not be heading anywhere "Sexy" for residency

 

[blackavar]

kinda following the thread of the previous poster...I'd focus on residencies that take multiple DO students and do aways there and I would consider doing 2 away rotations. The idea being this...if you're a hard worker and an enjoyable person to work with, I think there are a significant amount of residencies that can look beyond your grades and see that you're someone they want in their program. I once had an associate program director tell a group of people (paraphrasing here) "We care much more about the things your mother taught you before the age of 5 then what you learned in medical school. I can teach you to be a good doctor, I can't teach you to be a good person."

 

[Apollyon]

I also was very low in class rate, I guess it would be the 31st percentile to be exact. DO. Comlex1 was within several points of passing. Frankly the first two years of medical school intimidated the hell out of me. Worked tail off 3rd year. In spring was told by our dean of students that I should consider family medicine and that I wouldn't match. Discouraged me, considered it, continued working hard and studying. Owned comlex2 and usmle 2(granted probably not to the same level as many SDNers, but for me it was owning it). Had early audition rotations, got decent SLORs, discussed my personal statement and interest with the docs who lead the student rotations. Applied to a lot of programs, you have to be realistic and realized you most likely will not be heading anywhere "Sexy" for residency

That whole story, and no completion. Did you match? It kinda deflates the whole damn thing if you didn't match.

 

[OccupyTheED]

I was in a pretty similar situation at the beginning of fourth year. My class rank was probably bottom 1/3, I had a 201 on Step 1 and a red flag from 2nd year (failed renal). I think you need 2-3 away rotations and work your behind off while you're there. I did two + a few weeks at my home institution (we don't have an EM program) and my letters were commented on very positively at most places that I interviewed. If there's a reasonable explanation for you not performing as well as you would have liked, being open to discussing it wouldn't hurt either. I would also go to SAEM and try to network with as many PDs as you can. Aim for a 20-30 point increase on Step 2. Being personable also helped me a ton but I guess that's the kind of thing you either have or you don't. Having said that, it still wasn't an easy road. I got 6 interview offers out of 36 applications, two being places that I rotated but ultimately I wound up matching at my #1. In hindsight it probably would have been prudent for me to apply to some FM programs or prelim medicine years as a backup but it was a risk I was willing to take because I wouldn't have been happy doing anything but EM.

. . . The idea being this...if you're a hard worker and an enjoyable person to work with, I think there are a significant amount of residencies that can look beyond your grades and see that you're someone they want in their program . . .

This.

 

[Chromatid]

Matched, sorry I didn't clarify that

 

[docvino]

wow thanks that's all very inspirational. thanks.