Applying to PM&R after time off.

[Zline]

Greetings SDNers,

Just wanted to gauge the opinions of those with admissions/interview experience in PM&R as they relate to my non-trad applicant status.

In brief, I had to take time off between 3rd and 4th year due to a chronic medical condition that flared up; however, I was very productive during that year, doing research at a top-tier PM&R department/program. I'm now in fourth year, although I had to start late because my research poured over into the fall. Therefore, I'm planning on entering the match next fall (in other words, I'll have taken a full year off between years 3-4 for research, and have another gap year between grad and internship).

Some stats about me:
1. DO student
2. Above avg grades
3. 75th percentile COMLEX Level I, okay Level 2
4. Strong letters of rec from physiatrists, including research chair at the school where I did research for a year, & strong MSPE
5. 2 first-author publications of original PM&R research
6. Invitation for poster presentation and formal talk/presentation at AAP meeting in 2015
7. Genuine interest in physiatry (I've completed quite a few courses on manual msk medicine through osteopathic orgs, etc.)

I'm concerned that all of my time off will hinder my application, but at the same time I had a legitimate diagnosis in medical school (okay, okay, since I know all you docs are curious now...I was diagnosed with Addison's during MS2). I am qualified for disability, etc. but would rather not play that card right now and go on merit and my performance on interviews. As of now, my health is stable and I foresee no difficulties continuing down the residency path.

Any advice or insight is welcome.

Thanks!

Zline

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[j4pac]

I think that you will be ok. Something that you will learn about the residency matching process is that it is in many ways very random. There will probably be some competitive programs who will give you an invite...and others who won't...and the same applies to the less reputable programs.

You are a DO...and you didn't mention taking a USMLE...for that reason alone I would apply broadly. I am in the same boat and there is no question that I did not meet inclusion criteria for many programs because of my lack of a USMLE. Most programs are very open to DOs, but less so to ones without a USMLE. They like to be able to compare apples to oranges and the USMLE is often the easiest way to do that.

I think that you time off may be an issue for a minority of programs which you apply, yet another reason to apply broadly. I think that programs are far less likely to hold a medical condition against you than a reason such as being on probation or a leave of absence to "find yourself". This is especially true of advanced programs who will be receiving you after an internship. And the truth is that you really don't know anything about medicine before internship.

PM&R is becoming very competitive and there will be many very qualified candidates who don't match this year because there are tons of applicants and few spots. It is really turning into another Derm-like match experience. You need as many factors playing in your favor as possible.

Make a list of every program you would be willing to attend and apply. If you come across the problem of having too many invites...that's a good problem to have.

 

[Zline]

j4pac, thanks for the prompt and earnest reply. It's helpful to know many of the items you outlined above.

I chose to take exclusively COMLEX based on the advice of mentors a couple of years ago (I knew I wanted to go into PM&R since way back in...2010ish). However, it seems as though the playing fields have changed somewhat with the increasing competition in PM&R, and USMLE is now more of an advantage than it used to be. That said, would it be entirely crazy for me to try and shoot for taking USMLE sometime between now and next fall (2015-16 application season)? Think it would be worth all the extra effort and $$? I don't foresee it being a huge obstacle, as I will be on cush fourth year rotations or be done with fourth year entirely by summer, so I'll have ample time to study. But the question is whether or not it's worth it.

It's interesting to me that being a DO is still at a bit of a disadvantage in this field. After all, a desire to go into PM&R informed my decision to become a DO, as opposed to vice-versa.

 

[j4pac]

It is a issue I have juggled around...and I have decided to not do it. But then again...I graduated from med school in 2010...so performed my Step 1 about six years ago. Could I do it? Sure...but I believe that I could make better use of my time than re-learning detailed Biochem/Embryology/Micro etc. I keep up with Pathology, Physiology, Pharm, and Anatomy...but I honestly could get two %&^s about some of the other subjects I learned in my first two years of medical school.

I applied to 48 programs...I have received fourteen invites (not including Walter Reed), two waitlists, and will attend ten to eleven interviews (not including Walter Reed)...so if I don't match I think that it will probably be less to do with my lack of USMLE and more to do with the numbers games (There will be 600+ applicants and only a few hundred matches).

But it is worth mentioning that I have a pretty spectacular work experience, LORs, and personal statement. I have solid-to-good COMLEX scores. I was an average medical student, but I think that my class was #1 on comlex...so I had good competition. I don't know how much the programs I have got invites from were looking to overlook my lack of USMLE because of my elite work experience, LORs, and personal statement. And I don't know where these programs will be ranking me. If every program I interview at ranks me in their bottom half, I could be in trouble...but there will be lots of programs making mistakes if they did.

If you believe that you would do strong on retaking your USMLE 1/2 it wouldn't be a bad idea...but only take them if you are ready.

 

[luckystar1414]

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[Zline]

Great, thanks j4pac and luckystar for your inputs. It's been very helpful and given me some guidance and confidence in my current nontrad situation.

I spoke with the PM&R department research chair under whom I recently did research and authored 2 publications. I think he has a decent sense of what makes an attractive candidate and what doesn't, since he used to be on interview and selection committees for two top-tier PM&R programs. He suggested that despite my time off, I've been productive in ways that demonstrate genuine interest in the field, and because I'm a strong applicant otherwise, many programs *should* show interest in me.

Now it's a question of securing a prelim or TY spot...sigh...

Good luck to all those applying!

Zline