back up plans?

[Pewl]

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Are any of you guys applying to other residencies as well in addition to Rad Onc? Such as, say, internal medicine or something? Kinda like a backup? Considering how competitive it is to do rad onc is it common practice to apply to something else as backup?

P.S. Just wondering, how many of you guys are AOA? =P

 

[napoleondynamite]

Are any of you guys applying to other residencies as well in addition to Rad Onc? Such as, say, internal medicine or something? Kinda like a backup? Considering how competitive it is to do rad onc is it common practice to apply to something else as backup?

P.S. Just wondering, how many of you guys are AOA? =P

I know some people do apply to multiple specialties..however, I don't think it's super common really (I could be mistaken). Once you've tasted the sweet fruit of radonc, it's hard to get it out of your system enough to think of doing another specialty. I know in my case, I would never be fully satisfied if I matched into a "back-up" specialty. I'm willing to apply several times if that's what it takes. Heck, if you consider many of the successful applicants are MD/PhD's who've already invested 4-7 years more than you, what's a coupla extra years if that's what it takes?

In terms of AOA, only 21% of applicants were AOA in 2005 (http://www.nrmp.org/matchoutcomes.pdf). It has been discussed ad nauseum on this forum that there is probably a little inflation of scores on this forum..or at least, only the cream of the crop seems to post their stats (except for a few of us regular folks 😱 )

 

[Pewl]

Heck, if you consider many of the successful applicants are MD/PhD's who've already invested 4-7 years more than you, what's a coupla extra years if that's what it takes?

4-7 years eh? I've invested 2 extra years in grad school for a master's in rad physics. At this point I'm not really willing to invest more time outside of med school (i.e. year long research fellowships) unless it is absolutely, posifreakintively necessary. Right now time is more of a priority for me, unfortunately. I also saw the nrmp stat that 78% had a publication. That's freakin' crazy!

 

[stephew]

your extra schoolling i'm sure will be taken well. and while md-phd's are nice looking on paper, ive seen plenty of them torpedo their chances (and before anyone gets nuts, no, its not any mroe or less than MDs) you've got a nice background and if you get interviews and show your stuff, you can wow them.

4-7 years eh? I've invested 2 extra years in grad school for a master's in rad physics. At this point I'm not really willing to invest more time outside of med school unless it is absoultely, positively necessary. Right now time is more of a priority for me, unfortunately. I also saw the nrmp stat that 78% had a publication. That's freakin' crazy!

 

[stephew]

and yes its fairly common.

Are any of you guys applying to other residencies as well in addition to Rad Onc? Such as, say, internal medicine or something? Kinda like a backup? Considering how competitive it is to do rad onc is it common practice to apply to something else as backup?

P.S. Just wondering, how many of you guys are AOA? =P

 

[Pewl]

your extra schoolling i'm sure will be taken well. and while md-phd's are nice looking on paper, ive seen plenty of them torpedo their chances (and before anyone gets nuts, no, its not any mroe or less than MDs) you've got a nice background and if you get interviews and show your stuff, you can wow them.

Haha, "torpedo." By that do you mean like they make total jackasses of themselves on the application and interview, or do you mean they just not present themselves well? Thanks for the encouragement though. I have few 'Honors' grades to show for on preclinical coursework. 😳

 

[stephew]

just dont present themselves as people who either really want to take care of patients or who dont seem like people folks want to work with for four years.

Preclinical course work is nice but clinicals are where its out.

Haha, "torpedo." By that do you mean like they make total jackasses of themselves on the application and interview, or do you mean they just not present themselves well? Thanks for the encouragement though. I have few 'Honors' grades to show for on preclinical coursework. 😳

 

[bjolly]

how about this package: straight Bs in the preclinical years except for 1 honors (anatomy); straight As so far in rotations. Board score in the 230s. Only a little research and unfortunately, no publications. 10+ years as a professional in a mental health field (which shows in relating really well to patients).

how much should I expect the relative lack of research to hurt me? I'm kind of like the OP in that I really don't want to invest extra years at this stage.

 

[stephew]

i dont think the b's would hurt from preclinical years too much.
while being a pro in mental health would make one HOPE you relate well to patients, one can only hope. Anyway no one can say whether or not you'll get an interview. only one way to find out.

 

[Pewl]

I recently found a project to work on with a professor at my school, dealing with some severe complications following a combined hyperfractionation/chemo treatment. I don't think a publication will come of this but it does sound interesting. Do you think it's worth my time? I'd like to get a publication eventually somewhere but I don't know if I can just turn down an opportunity to get some research either. Keeping in mind, my school doesn't have a large research-oriented rad onc department, so maybe I should take what I can get?

 

[Pewl]

how about this package: straight Bs in the preclinical years except for 1 honors (anatomy); straight As so far in rotations. Board score in the 230s. Only a little research and unfortunately, no publications. 10+ years as a professional in a mental health field (which shows in relating really well to patients).

how much should I expect the relative lack of research to hurt me? I'm kind of like the OP in that I really don't want to invest extra years at this stage.

The mental health field seems like this big ambiguous fog that I'm trying to run away from. =D