Am I competitive for ob/gyn?

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GladifImakeit said:
I already posted in confidential consult. If I am not supposed to post twice, please disregard this message. Thank you.

I recently finished my 3rd year of med school. I then took a leave of absence (gap year) and enrolled in the MPH program at JHU. You can verify these facts by glancing at my previous posts on SDN. Unfortunately, I crashed and burned with depression upon starting the MPH. I had to drop out very soon after starting. I dropped before the drop/add period ended, so there really are no incomplete grades or even a record of being there in the first place. Luckily, I'm doing a little better now and found a job at my hometown's university. I plan to go back to medical school as was originally planned and finish my MD in 2013. What am I obligated to tell my medical school and residencies to which I apply? May I simply say that I opted to work for 6 months, or do I need to explain the whole depression thing? Will this negatively effect my chances? Am I still competitive for ob/gyn? If I had to characterize my med school experience briefly, it's that I do well most of the time but occasionally do very poorly. I hate depression. It's not fair. I have stellar board scores and go to a top 5 school, and have decent clerkship reviews, but am in this position of worrying about not matching because of a few bad experiences due to depression. Please do share your thoughts, advice and encouragement. Thank you very much.
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Heh, too much in common not to commnent. I'm applying in OBGYN now and took a year off to get a Master's of Science in Epidemiology - my best friend here at Penn did the year MPH program at JHU.

First off, remember that OB-GYN is a less competitive field (which is what I try to tell myself while waiting on interview invites). Additionally, it's a very understanding one. I've seen and heard of OBGYN residents switching in and out of the specialty and even taking a leave of absence (though we have one of the loveliest, most wonderful chairs at Penn). I don't think you'll have any difficulty matching *somewhere* (just maybe not Brigham/MGH but who knows).

Secondly, tell your med school what's going on. At some point they're going to wonder why they don't have transcripts for JHU. Additionally, they'll have better advice than anyone on SDN about how to play this on residency apps. I've had friends go through personal crises and the administration at Penn has been very supportive for the most part. I'm not sure how things are at your "top 5" school though.

Finally, on ERAS (residency app), you will need to explain any leaves of absence in your training (they'll do the math to see you took 5 years). For me it was a simple explanation of doing a Master's degree. You'll have a paragraph+ to explain what you did in your time off, and it's advised to address it in your personal statement and Dean's letter. It seems like it would be your choice for whether or not you include the whole JHU and depression incident describing this year.
 
HumbleMD said:
Heh, too much in common not to commnent. I'm applying in OBGYN now and took a year off to get a Master's of Science in Epidemiology - my best friend here at Penn did the year MPH program at JHU.

First off, remember that OB-GYN is a less competitive field (which is what I try to tell myself while waiting on interview invites). Additionally, it's a very understanding one. I've seen and heard of OBGYN residents switching in and out of the specialty and even taking a leave of absence (though we have one of the loveliest, most wonderful chairs at Penn). I don't think you'll have any difficulty matching *somewhere* (just maybe not Brigham/MGH but who knows).

Secondly, tell your med school what's going on. At some point they're going to wonder why they don't have transcripts for JHU. Additionally, they'll have better advice than anyone on SDN about how to play this on residency apps. I've had friends go through personal crises and the administration at Penn has been very supportive for the most part. I'm not sure how things are at your "top 5" school though.

Finally, on ERAS (residency app), you will need to explain any leaves of absence in your training (they'll do the math to see you took 5 years). For me it was a simple explanation of doing a Master's degree. You'll have a paragraph+ to explain what you did in your time off, and it's advised to address it in your personal statement and Dean's letter. It seems like it would be your choice for whether or not you include the whole JHU and depression incident describing this year.
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Thank you. I hope I'm not doomed!
 
I don't think you are doomed, but I do think you have some work to do to prove how awesome you truly are. I think it is perfectly acceptable to note that you had some medical problems during that time period, and required a leave of absence. While this is one of the few fields that has any chance of actually asking "what kind of medical problem?" you have the option at that point to answer honestly and let things fall as they may, or kindly replying "I'd rather not get into that at this time, but I'm happy to provide documentation from my doctor if needed." Also, you could just say "personal/family issues" which again, few people would inquire about, since your academic record is unscathed.

Best of luck!
 
at first I thought you were trolling...then I was like... :scared:

g/luck.
 
What you mean in trouble with admins?

Also, why do some people give a range when they tell their scores. If you're gonna come out and say it just say it...
 
Brewmeister said:
What you mean in trouble with admins?

Also, why do some people give a range when they tell their scores. If you're gonna come out and say it just say it...
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Well to be a little bit more anonymous, although in this case, I think the other descriptors make it quite easy to identify the person if you were at their school.
 
DrBowtie said:
Well to be a little bit more anonymous, although in this case, I think the other descriptors make it quite easy to identify the person if you were at their school.
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especially when it says "location: san francisco" under the OP's name... lol. Pretty sure there's only one "top 5" school in SF
 
WashMe said:
especially when it says "location: san francisco" under the OP's name... lol. Pretty sure there's only one "top 5" school in SF
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I used to live in San Francisco. Let's just say it's a top 50 school somewhere in the US.
 
Sorry to hear about ur difficulties. I still don't get how one gets written up for crying, it's one thing laughing inappropriately at a patient's diagnosis, to his/her face, but crying? Who writes someone up for crying??? Am i missing something here?
 
Obvi the OP didn't get written up just for "crying." Schools are very supportive of mental health issues and will do everything they can for the student. This sounds like some sort of deeper issue/incident....
 
Brewmeister said:
Obvi the OP didn't get written up just for "crying." Schools are very supportive of mental health issues and will do everything they can for the student. This sounds like some sort of deeper issue/incident....
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I don't want this thread to go off topic, please. The original question is as follows: Am I competitive and what can I do to mitigate the negatives and maximize my chances? Thank you.
 
GladifImakeit said:
I don't want this thread to go off topic, please. The original question is as follows: Am I competitive and what can I do to mitigate the negatives and maximize my chances? Thank you.
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Your story does sound unbelievable, but if it truely is the way you describe it I say OB will probably look past you crying being mostly women and what not.

That said if you aren't giving the whole story, run ins with your school admin are red flags and you need to find out what if anything will be mentioned in your MSPE.
 
Nobody is going to be able to help you if you withhold the most important information.
 
Oh, I think you should be just fine. OBGYN is one specialty that indeed knows how to work with douche bags. No pun intended.







/edit:
(Pun intended)


Seriously though.... Remember those really annoying a-holes in your class that you worked with a while back? They will be running the med school your kid will attend.

Is it that hard to believe that an admin would write someone up for a stupid reason?
 
Guillemot said:
Is it that hard to believe that an admin would write someone up for a stupid reason?
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Yeah, I think it is. D-bags don't tend to rise to the top because they will definitely rub someone the wrong way along the road.

Medical schools go to great lengths to keep their students in the program and out of trouble. No school wants to lose students to attrition or have to write them up.
 
Take dominant index and middle fingers. Apply those fingers to ipsilateral anterolateral neck for appropriate time.

If you are a medical student and your pulse is >35 bpm, then you are competitive for OB/GYN.

If you are asking about super-competitive programs, then please edit thread title.
 
colbgw02 said:
Take dominant index and middle fingers. Apply those fingers to ipsilateral anterolateral neck for appropriate time.

If you are a medical student and your pulse is >35 bpm, then you are competitive for OB/GYN.

If you are asking about super-competitive programs, then please edit thread title.
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that makes me feel good about the care they can provide....:laugh:

hopefully they stayed in a Holiday Inn too!!
 
I have good news. Looks like my disciplinary action won't go into the MSPE since it was during pre-clinical years. Sweet.
 
@colbgw02:

I get it that if you're alive you'll probably get an ob/gyn residency SOMEWHERE, but how do I find the list of less competitive schools....?!
 
Bazile said:
@colbgw02:

I get it that if you're alive you'll probably get an ob/gyn residency SOMEWHERE, but how do I find the list of less competitive schools....?!
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Such lists don't really exist, even informally.

Look for community programs or programs in "less desirable" locations. Programs in coastal states or major in-land cities (e.g. Chicago) tend to be more competitive.

Your best bet is to sit down with an OB/Gyn advisor and your application. An experienced advisor will be able to point you toward programs that fit your competitiveness.
 
J DUB said:
enjoy
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Depression may seem insurmountable at times, but no one should give up their dreams. Therapy, medications, whatever it takes to get well. Being out of school made me realize how much I love medicine. I will never take medical school for granted again. I had some bad stuff happen cuz of depression but it's not the end of the world. I can recover, and be better than ever.
 
GladifImakeit said:
Depression may seem insurmountable at times, but no one should give up their dreams. Therapy, medications, whatever it takes to get well. Being out of school made me realize how much I love medicine. I will never take medical school for granted again. I had some bad stuff happen cuz of depression but it's not the end of the world. I can recover, and be better than ever.
Click to expand...

Enjoy....you should get in. OB is :scared: to me.....
 
Guillemot said:
Seriously though.... Remember those really annoying a-holes in your class that you worked with a while back? They will be running the med school your kid will attend.

Is it that hard to believe that an admin would write someone up for a stupid reason?
Click to expand...

:laugh::laugh::luck::luck:

To the OP. With those stats and coming from a UCSF you are a shoe in somewhere good, probably a top program. Does your school let you see your MSPE before it goes out?
 
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