4th year...ATTN!!!RADRULES

[Student2005]

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Howdy,

RadRules!!! I was getting your attention because I respect your advice on these threads.

My Medical School does not have formal teaching in Radiology (no residency here). Students can do electives fouth year. Even then most students simply use that time to play golf. Therefore, I do not think that a letter from any Radiologist at my school is going to help me anywhere. My plan was to do two away rotations at schools that I may want to attend residency at. I figure I might as well do my two alloted Radiology electives at places where I can show my pretty face, oh and work hard. I have one of those places figured out , but need a suggestion for a middle tier school in the northeast. I say middle tier because I only want to do away electives at a school where I would be considered for Residency. (Step 1 - 221, Still AOA (rank about 10-15 in my class), clinical scores have been above 90% for the first half of third year, NMBE grades get curved at my school but I have always been above avergae on them..usually). As of now thats what I have to work with. I think it is horse-manure to think that a guy with a 250 on Step 1 or 2 knows more about Radiology than a guy with a 182 on Step 1. Any suggestions for schools in the northeast that would interview a hard working Texan with the above numbers. And no... I dont' ride a horse to the hospital. I take the cart and donkey like everyone else.

Thanks.

P.S. What about machines reading X rays? Friend of mine just asked me that? Any thoughts?

 

[RADRULES]

Well, unfortunately, even if board scores do not correlate to how good a radiologist a person can be, it is the way the system works. I personally am not too thrilled with the increased competitiveness of radiology of late. Some of the people interviewing for radiology these days I would not want reading my dog's films.

In my opinion, becoming a great radiologist has a lot more to do with seeing as many cases as possible..... volume and experience. It helps to have a good memory, makes your life easier, but not necessary. Pure "smarts" the way I classically think about it is optional. The truth is, after a while, when you see something you will either know what it is or not.... and hopefully you are able to add more to the "what I know" catagory through repeated experience.

Anyway, back to your question. I think doing the away rotations are a must in your situation without a home radiology programs. I think your best chances for "middle of the road" programs would be in Texas actually. There are many very solid but slightly lesser known programs, such as

UTMB-Galveston (several famous faculty)
UT-Houston (affiliated with MD Anderson)
UT San Antonio
Texas A&M Scott and White
Baylor

I do not know much about the NE, but I would take a look at Mount Auburn and SUNY Syracuse.

Good luck.

 

[Student2005]

Radrules,

As always you have been a great help. I feel confident I can match in Radiology with my "numbers. " I thinks Rads is going to continue to be an awesome field and I cant wait to be a part of it. Thanks again for your advice.

Student2005