Chances.........

[nancy114]

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I know people keep asking this annoying question, but I just want some honest opinions on my chance of matching ophtho....

Step 1: 218
Haven't taken Step 2 yet
not AOA
Only had internal medicine and surgery rotation, no honors
School doesn't have an ophtho program
ENT research published and ophtho research lined up
Excellent LOR

 

[jbloggs]

you need to do a few things:

1. take step 2 early and improve by ~15 points
2. do more things ophtho! your passion for ophtho should shine through on your app.
3. if possible, stellar LOR from an ophtho faculty in addition to the excellent one you already have.

i just matched and started with a step 1 score lower than yours and rallied in years 3 and 4. you can make this happen.

 

[MR1]

Definitely take step 2 early and improve a lot. Do that research you have lined up and hopefully get something published from it. You need probably 2 excellent LOR from ophthalmologists, so since you don't have a home program you need to do at least one probably 2 away rotations as early as possible. If there is a private practive ophtho in town you know or could work with I would do that... at letter from they would not be ideal but would work if you needed it. Good luck

 

[DiveMD]

Also keep in mind, heart and soul the SF MATCH rule: "apply broadly and early."

-But aslo keep calling, double checking and annoying the SF Match help line until you are 100% certain your stuff was received.-

 

[martyshka82]

I would recommend doing lots of away electives and doing them early (July, Aug, Sept). You can either do them at places you think you are going to be able to match at or you can do them at MEEI and the like and get LORs from them.