Advice Needed

[jbru3423]

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Hi all,

I was wondering if you could please help me with some input. I am trying to gauge how competitive I will be as an applicant to Anesthesiology residency programs. I am a DO student with quality academic credentials: Psi Sigma Alpha, Sigma Sigma Phi, numerous honors in clinical clerkships. My COMLEX Level I was a 632/91 and USMLE Step 2CK 246. I did not take USMLE Step 1 though. I understand this might be a problem. I am hoping the fact that I was a Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research Medical Student Anesthesia Research Fellowship recipient and my other academic credentials might overcome my lack of a USMLE Step 1 score. If anyone has any input as to whether I will be a competitive candidate or if certain programs are more forgiving for DO students without a USMLE Step 1 score I would love to get some information. Thank you!

 

[BobBarker]

Yes.

 

[Notanerd]

there could possibly be a huge issue. see when residency programs get applications most of their decisions are all computerized. Its not like they hand look at applications till they actually interview the applicant, there are just to many people applying to do it any other way. So with out a step one score to use as a cut off you might have your application rejected, by a lot of people. Plus if you go on program websites most of them require usmle step 1. I would really look into this bc the last thing you want is to send out tons of applications thinking one thing and not get any interviews bc you dont have a step one score. i know my program requires a step one score.

 

[bigyihoroi]

I know people from my school with good COMLEX level 1 and 2 score like yours (without usmle step 1 and 2) received well over 15 interviews (to name a few, texas tech, arizona, jeff, temple...). So you should be fine.

 

[Orin]

when residency programs get applications most of their decisions are all computerized.

Even if it isn't computerized, that first cut isn't based on the whole application and is more on quick benchmarks or location.

For example, it might pick out all applications with Step 1 > 230 and within the same state as the residency program.

If you have specific places you want to go, I recommend getting in touch with the PD there after your app is in and ask them directly about your status, situation, etc.

 

[zebalong]

Hi all,

I was wondering if you could please help me with some input. I am trying to gauge how competitive I will be as an applicant to Anesthesiology residency programs. I am a DO student with quality academic credentials: Psi Sigma Alpha, Sigma Sigma Phi, numerous honors in clinical clerkships. My COMLEX Level I was a 632/91 and USMLE Step 2CK 246. I did not take USMLE Step 1 though. I understand this might be a problem. I am hoping the fact that I was a Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research Medical Student Anesthesia Research Fellowship recipient and my other academic credentials might overcome my lack of a USMLE Step 1 score. If anyone has any input as to whether I will be a competitive candidate or if certain programs are more forgiving for DO students without a USMLE Step 1 score I would love to get some information. Thank you!

I had a DO friend who went through it last year, and as the poster said above it is probably best to contact programs you are interested in and just ask because it varies greatly between different programs. For instance some programs didn't even give serious consideration to DO applicants even with a step 1, while other programs emailed my friend back and said basically they consider everyone on equal footing. The range of attitudes and opinions on DO applicants and DO applicants with or without certain steps is so great that it seemed hard for my friend to assume anything. The only tip is probably if a program has their classes posted online - you can gauge how DO friendly they are. Good luck! he matched at a great program at the end.