Applying to Pediatrics Question!

[Gordon24]

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Hello Everyone,

Long time lurker first time poster. I am an internal medicine resident in the Houston area. My fiancee (soon to be wife) is going to be applying for peds this coming year (2010-2011) and I wanted to ask some advice here:

She's a solid medical student in a decent medical school. Step 1 is 220 and mostly B's in medical school courses. She doesn't have any research in medical school (did some in undergrad). Our primary goal is for her to match in Houston in pediatrics or med/peds and she is really worried that she won't be able to match there since she hasn't done any research and doesn't have straight A's or AoA or anything.

Can anyone give advice on applying to programs around the Houston area and what are our chances in achieving our goal? So far she plans to do an away rotation at UT Houston and Baylor each and get LoRs from attendings there or at least a note to the PD before she interviews. She is taking Step 2s in August and has been studying hard for them and has set aside some study time right before as well.

thanks in advance.

 

[generic]

For Baylor:

Step 1 of 220 isn't bad, if she can improve her Step 2 score to maybe 230-240 that would look better I think. Hopefully at least the grades in Pedi core rotation and electives are A's?

Doing an away rotation is highly advisable (at both institutions, I'd imagine). She might try to do Infectious Disease here and get to know some of the attendings well to get a letter from an insider.

Still seems like there might be time to get started on research before applications go in (or at least by interview time). Alternatively, some interesting international or service project experience might help her stand out from the pack and get that interview.

And do make it quite clear that she REALLY wants to match in Houston, that will always help the PD know she's not just flirting around.

Good luck!

 

[AttyHubby]

My wife just matched at Baylor, and was in a pretty similar situation. She had steps of 221/230, mostly P and HP MS1&2, mostly HP and a couple H MS3, all H MS4 before match.

Considering the fairly pedestrian numbers, I truly think the difference makers for her were research and me (don't worry, I won't break my arm trying to pay myself on the back 🙂 ). She did a lot of research in college, that resulted in several publications in pediatric path where she was 2nd or 3rd author. She also got involved this year in some child abuse research after her rotation in it. She was asked about the research constantly, and it seemed to really make a difference to the interviewers. People were especially excited about the child abuse research, since it's still a relatively new field/fellowship in peds.

It also helped that I have been living and working in Houston since November, and she made sure to work that into practically every conversation/interview. She really wanted/needed to match in Houston, and everyone knew it.

My advice is to play up the Houston connection constantly, and try to highlight any research she did, even in college (did they result in publications? that would be helpful). Also, there is plenty of time to get involved in research between now and match. Ongoing research is great during interviews, because you always have stuff fresh in your mind to talk about.

Good luck!

 

[Gordon24]

thanks for the replies so far!

She has done a couple of international electives and we'll see if she can get involved with some research in 4th year before app / interviews.

As far as timing for away rotations, what would be best? Currently she plans to do them early in July / August so she can get her LoRs before submitting her application. Any opinions on what is a good time for away rotations in a case like this?

I don't expect clear nepotism or anything but I've been told that programs look kindly at spouses of their current residents when they app. Is this true and if so does it still have any influence when I work in medicine and she is applying to pediatrics?

Finally I've been told Baylor is a top notch Pediatrics program and can be competitive to get into. what about UT-Houston and even UTMB-Galveston as far as competitiveness for pediatrics?

 

[AttyHubby]

thanks for the replies so far!

She has done a couple of international electives and we'll see if she can get involved with some research in 4th year before app / interviews.

As far as timing for away rotations, what would be best? Currently she plans to do them early in July / August so she can get her LoRs before submitting her application. Any opinions on what is a good time for away rotations in a case like this?

My wife did hers in Nov and Jan, with Dec off to interview. Our idea was that way she would be fresh in their minds during interview season. I think it's pretty rare to get actual LORs from away rotations, more likely to just get a good note to the PD for your file.

I don't expect clear nepotism or anything but I've been told that programs look kindly at spouses of their current residents when they app. Is this true and if so does it still have any influence when I work in medicine and she is applying to pediatrics?

Can't hurt! I don't think it will be so much nepotism as it is just one more reason to think she would rank the program highly. PDs always want people that want them.

Finally I've been told Baylor is a top notch Pediatrics program and can be competitive to get into. what about UT-Houston and even UTMB-Galveston as far as competitiveness for pediatrics?

Baylor is one of the 5-10 best peds programs in the country, and as a result is pretty competitive. UTH and UTMB will be noticeably less so. I can't really offer specifics, since we didn't have to deal with moving down the ROL 🙂.