Applying realistically to residency programs

[joshkarp]

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I'm an M4 who is about to submit my ERAS. My goal is to end up doing a categorical internal medicine residency program in NYC or Boston. I was wondering if anyone out there has an idea of how to determine if you are competitive for a program or not. I am an average medical student in every sense of the word. I am right in the middle of my class at MCV/VCU and my step one scores were 217 which was, in fact, the average score at that time. I have good recs but then again everyone does. I have no research or publications but have extensive extracirrucular activities related to my hobby of backpacking and mountaineering. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[quideam]

I really think this thread would get many more responses in the 'general residency issues' forum or in the IM sub-forum

 

[Bobblehead]

I'm not sure how you expect people to answer this but commonly if you're "only" wanting to be in two cities it's best to apply to every categorical program in those two cities and take all the interviews that are offered. Geographic restriction can make your life difficult.