Can I make it into Allo-OB programs?

[OBornotOB]

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Sorry if this topic has been hit on multiple times already but I searched but havent found anything quite on point.

I'm a DO student wanting to go into OB and I was wondering if I could possibly get into MD programs. I don't care where I end up, just want to go somewhere. Here is what I got going for me:

COMLEX 1: 490
1&2 year grades: 2.9 GPA
3rd year grades: 3.5 GPA
Real good evaluations on rotations
Two publications

Like I said, I'm not especially picky on where I end up, but for various reasons I want to try to get into an allopathic program. Not looking for fellowship down the line or anything. If I apply broadly will I get enough interviews to be able to rank a large amount of programs? How many should I be ranking?

Oh and as an aside, is it true about how if you couples match with someone who is very competitive that they can help pull you into a program, or is that not true?


Thanks everyone.

 

[FutureDoc734]

I think you can definitely get into an allopathic program, albeit at a lower-tier institution. And you'll have to apply broadly and probably to at least 30 programs, to ensure that you get enough interviews to match. Talk to the PD at your school, or even the chairman, for recommendations about which programs to apply to that are within your reach.

I can't really comment much on the couples match question, as I'm not going through that process.

Best of luck!

 

[Requiem4Souless]

Check out programs that have DOs listed as residents on their websites. Also, check the APGO site. If a program has lots of foreign medical graduates as residents, you'd probably stand a better chance. That being said, don't be afraid to try for a few better programs. The worst they can do is say no.

 

[tiotropium]

How does one determine what's a lower vs mid-high tiered program? I'm also a male DO but with a weaker application compared to the OP. I'd be okay with going anywhere for OB/GYN tbh.

 

[FutureDoc734]

How does one determine what's a lower vs mid-high tiered program? I'm also a male DO but with a weaker application compared to the OP. I'd be okay with going anywhere for OB/GYN tbh.

It's a word-of-mouth thing. You're not going to find a list of "top tier Ob/Gyn programs," but you'll become familiar with them once you start the application process. Again, talk to your PD and/or chairman, as well as faculty members, for further info.

 

[HumbleMD]

How does one determine what's a lower vs mid-high tiered program? I'm also a male DO but with a weaker application compared to the OP. I'd be okay with going anywhere for OB/GYN tbh.

For the most part they follow the same rules as medical schools. There are some surprises, though. For instance, U Alabama, Brown, and Pitt are not too much to write home about for medical school, but push into the top tier for OBGYN programs. Programs you'd expect to be good, say, USC and UChicago, aren't OBGYN powerhouses.

You could try peeking at USNEWS rankings of OBGYN hospitals, but this can be confusing (Cornell and Columbia are combined), and not a direct correlation of quality programs. Talk to your chair or clerkship director, or maybe some grads from your school that went into the field. Even with that, a lot you won't find out or realize until you apply and interview.

 

[koennen]

... U Alabama, Brown, and Pitt are not too much to write home about for medical school ...

Really?? Pitt and Brown are ranked 14th and 29th, respectively, and Alabama is tied with NYU for 30th in the USNWR rankings. Admittedly, all below Penn's #2 ranking. But, "not to much to write home about??" Arrogant much?

 

[FutureDoc734]

Really?? Pitt and Brown are ranked 14th and 29th, respectively, and Alabama is tied with NYU for 30th in the USNWR rankings. Admittedly, all below Penn's #2 ranking. But, "not to much to write home about??" Arrogant much?[/QUOTE

Koennen - yes, it sounds odd, but HumbleMD is absolutely correct. US News ranking almost never correlates with what the ob/gyn community sees as "top tier", and it's not only for our particular specialty. US News puts together their ranking based on quality of nursing staff, patient satisfaction, and the like, but they don't base it on the quality of the training at all. UAb, Brown, and Magee are excellent Ob/Gyn residency programs - in fact, in my chairman's point of view, UAb is one of the best in the nation. So, needless to say, it all comes down to doing your research.

When I started my application process, and told my parents which programs I had found to be "top tier in Ob/Gyn," they were shocked because they couldn't recognize most of the names of these institutions. Again, it comes down to training, not name.

 

[berger911]

Really?? Pitt and Brown are ranked 14th and 29th, respectively, and Alabama is tied with NYU for 30th in the USNWR rankings. Admittedly, all below Penn's #2 ranking. But, "not to much to write home about??" Arrogant much?

Those are all excellent medical schools and carry a lot of weight in the interview trail. An applicant with similar scores as you from any of those schools is equally as competitive. You are insane if you think "they are not too much to write home about."

UChicago's residency program is very reputable; they get anyone they want into fellowship programs. I would personally categorize them as a high-tier program. Middle tier programs include Jefferson, Louisville, Cincinnati, Kentucky, Florida, GW, VCU, Miami, and arguably Mt. Sinai and UVa.