Beating the Odds?

[northandponce]

Hi- well, i think i've delayed my ERAS application long enough- time to be decisive, so i need a bit of help. I'm not in anyway pessimistic, rather i consider myself a "realist" and I guess I'd just like someone else's perspective.

I am not-
- a med-scientist
- interested in research or academia
- a US graduate

But...i do love surgery- funny enough, I love the top and bottom (ENT and URO)

And yes- oh yes, I'm a carib student... so- should I just be my typical realistic self, and go into IM? Because as of yet, I don't know of any programs that have Carib students.... and trust me, i've spent countless hours on the computer.

I think i'm intelligent, dilligent and enthusiastic- good grades, decent board scores-- i'm just not superwoman.

any particular programs I should be looking at? From what I've read... I really like U-Colorado Denver, U-Mississippi- UT-Houston- and I do believe LSU-Shreveport is known to accept IMG/FMG but I dont know much about their program... and of couse, Iowa- but that may be setting my sights too high.

Hope to click submit by the end of this weekend, so advice is appreciated.

 

[exmike]

I'm not sure any US-IMGs have matched in the last few years. Usually the IMGs that match are foreign IMGs that somehow slid into a program, or did a lot of research at a program and earned a spot. I would say the difficulty is on par with matching as a DO into an allo ENT program, only one has in the last three years. Nevertheless, there are always exceptions. You really have nothing to lose by hitting that submit button. If you really want it, there are always other pathways, such as post-grad research fellowships and what not. Good luck.

I forgot - people on this board (and otomatch.com as well) are loathe to single out "safety", "backup", or "easy" programs because of what it implies since the entire field is competitive and supposedly there are no "easy" programs. That said, podunk community U ent program is not as competitive as hopkins, so just use that as a guideline.

 

[northandponce]

thanks 😉 nice to hear something vaguely hopeful.

i wouldn't mind a community-uni hospital, it suits me better since i'm really not into research, and I'm happy with just basic "bread and butter" ent.