- Joined
- Nov 13, 2002
- Messages
- 768
- Reaction score
- 4
That's how I see it too.
AOA and EM Residency
- Thread starter edinOH
- Start date
- Joined
- Sep 27, 2001
- Messages
- 181
- Reaction score
- 0
Wow...that was weird. Anyway, I had asked:
"Does anyone know which EM residency programs require you to be AOA? I had heard a rumor that Orlando does, anyone know any others?"
Thanks...
"Does anyone know which EM residency programs require you to be AOA? I had heard a rumor that Orlando does, anyone know any others?"
Thanks...
- Joined
- Dec 6, 2000
- Messages
- 4,226
- Reaction score
- 17
I was AOA from M1 year, but didnt' get an interview at Orlando... in fact I got rejected from Emory, UVA, Hopkins, GW... oh wait...
I was talking about American Osteopathic Association...
Q< DO
I was talking about American Osteopathic Association...
Q< DO
- Joined
- Nov 18, 2002
- Messages
- 5,220
- Reaction score
- 2,441
I was lucky. I found out very early in my medical school career that over half the EM programs require you to be AOA , when I still had time to backstab my classmates to ensure my dominance "where it counts." Without that I would have never gotten the prestigious interviews at the incredible residencies that I did. The door was just plain shut to all those "above average yet below superior" students.
But seriously...why the thread? Its crazy to think there are residencies out there that make an AOA cutoff. Even if there were, would you want to go to a place like that?
But seriously...why the thread? Its crazy to think there are residencies out there that make an AOA cutoff. Even if there were, would you want to go to a place like that?
- Joined
- May 28, 2003
- Messages
- 1,069
- Reaction score
- 37
And AOA is? I am thinking American Ostrich Association. No that can not be it.
- Joined
- Nov 5, 2003
- Messages
- 1,516
- Reaction score
- 233
I am "hey no way" if you look at my transcript. Then again, maybe that's why I only got one interview...
- Joined
- Dec 3, 2002
- Messages
- 107
- Reaction score
- 0
I have not heard that AOA is required anywhere. It definitely cannot hurt your application.
Oh, and everyone make sure you clear all your questions first with Desperado before he questions your motives. Seriously, let people ask what they are going to ask. While some may be trying to scare their colleagues, others may have legitimate questions.
Oh, and everyone make sure you clear all your questions first with Desperado before he questions your motives. Seriously, let people ask what they are going to ask. While some may be trying to scare their colleagues, others may have legitimate questions.
- Joined
- Nov 18, 2002
- Messages
- 5,220
- Reaction score
- 2,441
Ouch....sorry, didn't mean to come across like that. I've just met too many people as an undergrad and as a medical student who talked themselves out of doing what they wanted to do because they heard it was too competitive, and then later I saw it wasn't that competitive at all. Case in point: Roommate in college started premed and changed due to "competitiveness," is now 29 and in a field he hates and planning to go back to medical or dental school. So I just try to dispel the myths before they get too far. (in my sarcastic and occasionally not very funny manner) I didn't mean to come across as discouraging questions. I'm sorry.
The point is this....I was not AOA. I interviewed at many of the "most competitive" programs in the country, both in terms of location and prestige and quality (all of which are different things in my opinion.) I got 28/30 interviews. I had a buddy ranked a few places above me in the class who was AOA who also got 28/30 interviews. In other respects our applications/numbers/letters etc were similar. There just aren't enough AOA applicants out there that a program can refuse to interview people who aren't AOA. Even presuming that all EM applicants came from the top half of the class (they don't) that would be 30% of the applicant pool carrying the letters AOA behind their name. Let's say maybe 1/4 of the applicant pool (300) applies to any particular program and that program only offers interviews to the 30% that is AOA. That's 90 applicants. 1/3 of them turn down the interview, so you're down to 60 applicants. Since most programs interview around 10 applicants per slot, that would have to be a very small program to be able to have such a competitive cut-off.
The point is this....I was not AOA. I interviewed at many of the "most competitive" programs in the country, both in terms of location and prestige and quality (all of which are different things in my opinion.) I got 28/30 interviews. I had a buddy ranked a few places above me in the class who was AOA who also got 28/30 interviews. In other respects our applications/numbers/letters etc were similar. There just aren't enough AOA applicants out there that a program can refuse to interview people who aren't AOA. Even presuming that all EM applicants came from the top half of the class (they don't) that would be 30% of the applicant pool carrying the letters AOA behind their name. Let's say maybe 1/4 of the applicant pool (300) applies to any particular program and that program only offers interviews to the 30% that is AOA. That's 90 applicants. 1/3 of them turn down the interview, so you're down to 60 applicants. Since most programs interview around 10 applicants per slot, that would have to be a very small program to be able to have such a competitive cut-off.
- Joined
- Jul 25, 2003
- Messages
- 1,614
- Reaction score
- 6
AOA is Alpha Omega Alpha, the medicine honor society. Membership is awarded for outstanding preclinical grades, outstanding clinical grades, and schmoozing the faculty who make the decisions. I believe that you can also become a member after medical school.
Casey
Casey
