AOA: What does it take?

[xaelia]

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Sorry to raise such a tired question on the forums, but I looked through the archives and couldn't quite find anything that addressed it....

While most schools have minor variances in their criteria for selection to AOA, there is typically a very small percentage of students elected after their basic science years, i.e., "Junior AOA." Congratulations to them.

As for the rest of us on our clinical rotations, looking ahead to the slightly more attainable "Senior AOA" to help grease the wheels in residency applications, what exactly does it take?

For example, our school has seven third-year clerkships varying in length from 3 months to 1 month, and typically the top 10% of each clerkship will get honors, the next 15% are "letter"/("high pass"), and the remainder are...the remainder. While acknowledging that there may be leadership, research, basic science grades, board scores, and politics taken into account, just how well do you need to do during your third year to get into that top 1/6th or so of the class to get Senior AOA? Honors in half the rotations? Honors in all? Anyone who has recently been inducted who could provide an example of how they qualified for it would be helpful...in gauging just how much I can blow off my psych month. 😉

 

[bigfrank]

I wouldn't blow off your Psycho month, if you're wanting AOA. The students that make AOA have extracurriculars, top board scores, and very good grades. There isn't an exact formula to get accepted, though, as all schools do things differently. In any case, however, only 25% of the class can be nominated. For junior AOA, it is 1/6th of the 25% that can be chosen.

 

[DarksideAllstar]

I had stellar grades in the basic sciences and clerkships (all honors), solid step 1 score , lots of research, a few volunteer/mentoring gigs, and I was stil passed up. It really frustrated me as to who was selected over me, rather than not being selected. Good luck and pucker up! 😉

 

[bigfrank]

I had stellar grades in the basic sciences and clerkships (all honors), solid step 1 score , lots of research, a few volunteer/mentoring gigs, and I was stil passed up. It really frustrated me as to who was selected over me, rather than not being selected. Good luck and pucker up! 😉

Is this for junior or senior AOA?

 

[DOCTORSAIB]

I had stellar grades in the basic sciences and clerkships (all honors), solid step 1 score , lots of research, a few volunteer/mentoring gigs, and I was stil passed up. It really frustrated me as to who was selected over me, rather than not being selected. Good luck and pucker up! 😉

Your avator speaks volumes about your frustration!

I take it the guy with his back to the ground in your avatar is the guy who made the decisions for AOA at your school...haha.

 

[DarksideAllstar]

double post

 

[DarksideAllstar]

Is this for junior or senior AOA?

Senior AOA. I guess I should clarify my first post, I honored all of my 3rd year clerkships, all of 2nd year, and 80% of 1st year courses. I think my post implied that I honored everything, when I was trying to say that I honored all of 3rd year. We had two people selected for junor AOA, both of whom had honored all first/second year courses.

 

[dancelover]

At my school, the top 20% (? not sure of the exact percentage) gets nominated for senior AOA. Then you have to write a personal statement, get letters of rec, turn in a resume, etc. Each student is evaluated by the committee members in 4 or so categories (e.g. research, community involvement), the numbers are tallied, and about 2/3 of those initially nominated are selected for AOA. So grades are a must to get nominated in the first place, but won't guarantee you a spot.

 

[njbmd]

Hi there,
AOA (Alpha Omega Alpha) varies from chapter to chapter. Your best source of information is the individual chapter at your school. For some chapters, it's academics and leadership. For other chapters, it just academics. Selection can also be academics, leadership and political. (Read: Don't PO anyone in administration).

njbmd 🙂

 

[CANES2006]

Selection can also be academics, leadership and political. (Read: Don't PO anyone in administration).

Ain't that the truth. EVERYTHING in my school is political. 🙄

 

[bigfrank]

Senior AOA. I guess I should clarify my first post, I honored all of my 3rd year clerkships, all of 2nd year, and 80% of 1st year courses. I think my post implied that I honored everything, when I was trying to say that I honored all of 3rd year. We had two people selected for junor AOA, both of whom had honored all first/second year courses.

Based on our dealings here, I can tell you're a stand-up guy. And you're obviously very bright too. Man, that's too bad. Sounds like you certainly deserved it.

 

[DarksideAllstar]

Based on our dealings here, I can tell you're a stand-up guy. And you're obviously very bright too. Man, that's too bad. Sounds like you certainly deserved it.

Thanks for the vote of confidence, and I believe that I owe you a congratulations (you were elected AOA, no?). I believe that one thing that hurt me (and a select few) was that a small group of us didnt exactly "please" our community medicine professor (who sits on the AOA commitee) during first year (and therfore blackballed us). It is interesting that some schools ask nominees to submit essays and such, I don't think that ours did. Anyway, I am glad that I am not trying to match into an uber competitive specialty, it really takes the sting out of not being selected. Good luck to all.

 

[bigfrank]

Yea, I was selected. Luckily, at our school, there isn't much political B.S. involved; if there were, I'd have had a better chance being crowned People's "Sexiest Man Alive."

 

[dynx]

I had stellar grades in the basic sciences and clerkships (all honors), solid step 1 score , lots of research, a few volunteer/mentoring gigs, and I was stil passed up. It really frustrated me as to who was selected over me, rather than not being selected. Good luck and pucker up! 😉

Which brings us to the "intangibles" area of qualification. As in everything in medical school (and onward?) politics and who likes you plays a huge part. Numbers and such get you nominated, then you get picked. Sad but true. Tell your 3 year "doctoring" course IOR that his class is a complete waste of time and you're doomed...even if he asks.

 

[edmadison]

It is true that specific qualifications very from school to school. But per the national constitution, members must come from the top 25% of their class and no more than 16% of a given class may be inducted. Of this total number, up to 1/2 can be elected as juniors.

Ed

 

[streetdoc]

Judging from the way AOA went at my school, you MUST be able to make your cv LOOK good. it doesn't have to BE good, but really "fluff" it up with every little thing you have done and make it sound like you cured cancer/fed the hungry/sheltered the homeless...
good luck
streetdoc