Army EM

[icarus8]

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Hi everyone,
I know there are dificulties in getting the exact residency you want (I mean, as far as specialty, i.e. internal med, emergency med, gen. surgery, w/e). I wanted to ask specifically about EM; if the Army has 3 programs, does that mean people tend to get it if it is their first choice? Or does it mean that alot of people go that route?

Just curious; don't want to end up with a terrible chance at the specialty I might want.

Thanks in advance.

 

[The White Coat Investor]

Hi everyone,
I know there are dificulties in getting the exact residency you want (I mean, as far as specialty, i.e. internal med, emergency med, gen. surgery, w/e). I wanted to ask specifically about EM; if the Army has 3 programs, does that mean people tend to get it if it is their first choice? Or does it mean that alot of people go that route?

Just curious; don't want to end up with a terrible chance at the specialty I might want.

Thanks in advance.

I would expect your odds to be somewhere between 30% and 90% at matching into an army EM residency spot. The more competitive a candidate, the higher the number. But it varies by the year. It is absolutely impossible to get any more specific than that until the fall you are applying. Then the people who can really tell you where you stand are the residency directors and the specialty advisor. Of course, you're kind of commmitted by then.

According to this: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=367738 it was 80% last year. The year I applied in the AF it was around 50%. It really comes down to how competitive you are (which is at least somewhat in your control), how many they take that particular year (not in your control at all and often changes at the board), and how many other people are interested in those slots. It can be pretty variable.

 

[icarus8]

Thanks for the info. 30-90% seems pretty variable, that is nuts. I understand some variation from year to year...

 

[bustbones26]

Thanks for the info. 30-90% seems pretty variable, that is nuts. I understand some variation from year to year...

In the words of Triple H: "Its all about the game, and how you play it".

Just to note, I am not an EM resident but can tell you that EM is pretty competitive. But as pointed out, maybe the year you apply, it will not be, maybe it will be? Unfortunately, that is the best anybody can tell you.

Go out on rotations at all 3 if you can, rank your choices, hope for the best, and do a good job in between.

Back when I was an intern, this is pretty much how it went down.

The EM program was filled. There were three TYs that expressed an interest in applying for EM. Yes, they would have had to start at the PGY-1 level but they were willing to do it. One of the three matched and the other two got GMO assignments.

I am not sure how it went down the following year whenever I was a PGY-2 but did note that particular year that they seemed to pick up a number of EM interns that were prior service or had done GMO time.

When I was a PGY-3, again, yet another intern reapplied for EM willing to restart his second year of GME as an EM intern. I can't speak for the ED guys, but I am under the impression that they will not do this for any more than one applicant per year.

 

[elderjack21]

Thanks for the info. 30-90% seems pretty variable, that is nuts. I understand some variation from year to year...

I think some of the other posters have it right, depends mostly on you.

Kind of like applying to medical school, you can look at the straight numbers and say you have somewhere between a 40 and 60% chance of getting in...but that doesn't tell the whole story.

If you have a high MCAT, high GPA, great ECs, and aren't a social disaster then your chances are much higher.

Ditto for obtaining a residency. high class standing, good clinical letters, high USMLE scores, and your chances are much higher.

 

[icarus8]

I think some of the other posters have it right, depends mostly on you.

Kind of like applying to medical school, you can look at the straight numbers and say you have somewhere between a 40 and 60% chance of getting in...but that doesn't tell the whole story.

If you have a high MCAT, high GPA, great ECs, and aren't a social disaster then your chances are much higher.

Ditto for obtaining a residency. high class standing, good clinical letters, high USMLE scores, and your chances are much higher.

This totally makes sense to me, but some have indicated that a large amount of emphasis is placed on prior service/USMA/USUHS considerations, lessening the impact of strong scores and grades in medical school.

 

[elderjack21]

This totally makes sense to me, but some have indicated that a large amount of emphasis is placed on prior service/USMA/USUHS considerations, lessening the impact of strong scores and grades in medical school.

In the case of going up against people who were forced into a GMO tour...that is a dealbuster right there. They get huge points in their favor. But, that probably comes more into play in the Air Force...a little less in the Navy, and much less in the Army based on the amount of GMO tours each of the services forces upon its members.

From what I can tell, prior service gets you some extra points (just like you would get extra points for publishing research), USUHS grads are just better connected because they do all their rotations in military facilities, USMA probably doesn't help you one bit, except that they know you are a lifer and that isn't really something that is treasured by the military medical community anyway (unless you get some pitty points).

Probably over-simplified, but if you are that worried about getting what you want in the military match, do FAP and a civilian residency. Then you are set...so long as you get what you want there (odds are better if you just look at numbers).

 

[The White Coat Investor]

This totally makes sense to me, but some have indicated that a large amount of emphasis is placed on prior service/USMA/USUHS considerations, lessening the impact of strong scores and grades in medical school.

The match gives points for pre-clinical grades, clinical grades, board scores, prior service, research, and "potential as an officer." So strong scores and grades are diluted more in the military match than the civilian match. On the other hand, if you've done a GMO tour or have prior service, you start a leg up on those frickin' med school know-nothing nerds with USMLEs of 260. Combined with constantly varying numbers of slots and applicants, it is enough to ruin the first half of your fourth year of med school.

 

[elderjack21]

The match gives points for pre-clinical grades, clinical grades, board scores, prior service, research, and "potential as an officer." So strong scores and grades are diluted more in the military match than the civilian match.

That sums it up in one short sentence.