About to submit my application. Very nervous.

[PathNeuroIMorFM]

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Just writing this out because I'm anxious and would like some reassurance.

Med school was a hard fought battle from day 1, which makes this application so much more stressful. I left unscathed without any red flags and built an otherwise really good application I'm really proud of, but I guess I'm just down and worried that my Step 2CK score (low 230s) will force me to be filtered from most programs I apply to. Applying to 41 programs, which is fairly above the average MD amount and almost on par with DO, and I'm hoping is "applying broadly" enough. I'm going hard on interview prep because I am stuck with this sinking sensation that any single mistake I make from here on out is life or death.

If anyone has any tips or words of wisdom, I'd really appreciate it.

 

[SunBakedTrash]

Grab a beer and chill out. People far less qualified than you match pathology all the time. You’ll be elbow deep in formalin and poop soon enough.

 

[KeratinPearls]

Get your training and get experience as fast as you can. Who knows when this job market will go south.

 

[EnDOHmetrial]

Just writing this out because I'm anxious and would like some reassurance.

Med school was a hard fought battle from day 1, which makes this application so much more stressful. I left unscathed without any red flags and built an otherwise really good application I'm really proud of, but I guess I'm just down and worried that my Step 2CK score (low 230s) will force me to be filtered from most programs I apply to. Applying to 41 programs, which is fairly above the average MD amount and almost on par with DO, and I'm hoping is "applying broadly" enough. I'm going hard on interview prep because I am stuck with this sinking sensation that any single mistake I make from here on out is life or death.

If anyone has any tips or words of wisdom, I'd really appreciate it.

Dude, Step 2 score is one of the less important things that PD's look at for Path, ESPECIALLY if you're an MD student. With no red flags I think you applied to way too many programs for a US-MD, you are absolutely going to be having to pick and choose interviews to go on. I have two red flags (medical leave and preclinical course remediation), and am a DO, and am applying to 45 with a Step 2 of 252 and I feel like I'm going to get too many, so you definitely will. Path is more "competitive" now but if you are a USMD or DO who applies broadly and smartly with path LOR's, there is no good reason you shouldn't match. When people say "competitive", it's more for IMG's who are going to near always take a back seat to an American graduate. They are going to hit hard these upcoming cycles.

I honestly think you are going to look at this post after matching and think it was very silly. You are an outstanding applicant just by virtue of being an MD student and having a solid app.

 

[KeratinPearls]

Just writing this out because I'm anxious and would like some reassurance.

Med school was a hard fought battle from day 1, which makes this application so much more stressful. I left unscathed without any red flags and built an otherwise really good application I'm really proud of, but I guess I'm just down and worried that my Step 2CK score (low 230s) will force me to be filtered from most programs I apply to. Applying to 41 programs, which is fairly above the average MD amount and almost on par with DO, and I'm hoping is "applying broadly" enough. I'm going hard on interview prep because I am stuck with this sinking sensation that any single mistake I make from here on out is life or death.

If anyone has any tips or words of wisdom, I'd really appreciate it.

Dude I know some first years that are like “wtf are you doing in pathology” types. You don’t have to worry. Just be normal during interviews. Hell I know some people I wouldn’t even let them come near my family members biopsy!

 

[PathNeuroIMorFM]

Update: sitting on now 12 interviews, almost all at really great institutions I'd be really proud to attend 🙂 some good programs, some really great programs, and 2-3 top tier programs!

I was passed over at a few ivy league reach programs I applied to, but didn't signal/geo signal most of them, so no hard feelings there.

Overall feeling really optimistic for this cycle. Fingers crossed I end up in a place that I'll be happiest in 🤞