chances

[jeesapeesa]

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US IMG here. just trying to get a reality check whether i should even apply for anesthesiology. first choice ever since the start of medical school (worked as an RT for about 4 years before medical school, talked to some anesthesiology attendings, observed some surgeries, and worked in the ICU managing vents, performed ABGs, etc).
Step 1 - 229/99
Step 2 - 224/97
3rd year grades - All "As"
- LORS - one from surgery chairman, another from IM geriatric director, another from pediatrics director. still waiting on the anesthesiologist I rotated with to write me a letter.

- did a research paper with anesthesiologist but no publications

so any chance ANYWHERE? i don't care where, i just want to match. can't see myself doing anything else. thanks everyone.
-jeesa

 

[cfdavid]

US IMG here. just trying to get a reality check whether i should even apply for anesthesiology. first choice ever since the start of medical school (worked as an RT for about 4 years before medical school, talked to some anesthesiology attendings, observed some surgeries, and worked in the ICU managing vents, performed ABGs, etc).
Step 1 - 229/99
Step 2 - 224/97
3rd year grades - All "As"
- LORS - one from surgery chairman, another from IM geriatric director, another from pediatrics director. still waiting on the anesthesiologist I rotated with to write me a letter.

- did a research paper with anesthesiologist but no publications

so any chance ANYWHERE? i don't care where, i just want to match. can't see myself doing anything else. thanks everyone.
-jeesa

Ah... I think you'll do fine. Not too dialed into the effects of being an international grad but you should look into IMG/FMG friendly programs.

The way I look at this "chances" stuff is that IF you are really sure you want to be an anesthesiologist, THEN I would think that you'd be willing to go pretty much anywhere for a few years.

IF you are willing to go anywhere (i.e. you really want to be an anesthesiologist), then pick some lesser competitive or lesser geographically desireable locations and focus in on them. Apply broadly, and when you get a better feel for your targets then you should do second looks at those places (can't do aways at them all).

***The point is that if you are smart about it, you could have a reasonably mediocre CV and still match.

 

[RussianJoo]

Your scores are about average, Apply to as many places as you can and you should be able to match somewhere. Definitely apply to at least 70 programs. Most of your interviews will be in the mid-west. You should also try to take your CS as soon as possible. Hopefully the anesthesia letter comes soon, have you done a critical care rotation? That might be good to have on your transcript.

If I remember correctly having 10 ranks on the NRMP match Rank list gives you a 90% chance of matching. good luck.

 

[vector2]

Just wanted to say it's refreshing not seeing another 'top 10 school, step 1>250, all honors, will i match?????' post. GL jeesa.

 

[sevoflurane]

US IMG here. just trying to get a reality check whether i should even apply for anesthesiology. first choice ever since the start of medical school (worked as an RT for about 4 years before medical school, talked to some anesthesiology attendings, observed some surgeries, and worked in the ICU managing vents, performed ABGs, etc).
Step 1 - 229/99
Step 2 - 224/97
3rd year grades - All "As"
- LORS - one from surgery chairman, another from IM geriatric director, another from pediatrics director. still waiting on the anesthesiologist I rotated with to write me a letter.

- did a research paper with anesthesiologist but no publications

so any chance ANYWHERE? i don't care where, i just want to match. can't see myself doing anything else. thanks everyone.
-jeesa

Don't sweat it. You will match.

Apply wide.

 

[Gasmonkey]

US IMG here. just trying to get a reality check whether i should even apply for anesthesiology. first choice ever since the start of medical school (worked as an RT for about 4 years before medical school, talked to some anesthesiology attendings, observed some surgeries, and worked in the ICU managing vents, performed ABGs, etc).
Step 1 - 229/99
Step 2 - 224/97
3rd year grades - All "As"
- LORS - one from surgery chairman, another from IM geriatric director, another from pediatrics director. still waiting on the anesthesiologist I rotated with to write me a letter.

- did a research paper with anesthesiologist but no publications

so any chance ANYWHERE? i don't care where, i just want to match. can't see myself doing anything else. thanks everyone.
-jeesa

I never had a SDN account until just now. I saw your step scores and I had to make an account and talk to you. Ironically, I'm in the EXACT same spot as you.

US IMG - Ross
229/99
224/97
CS pass 1st try
1 LOR from Anesthesiology Head
3 LORs from IM
1 LOR from Cardiology (UMiami)

I'm applying this year too, I believe 60 Gas spots and about 10 prelim spots. Since we are in such a similar spot, if you don't mind chatting send me a message.

 

[cliquesh]

Hey,

I'm going to be a dick and hijack your thread, sorry.

I'm a DO student, top 20% of class, some research, 251 on step 1

I have two questions:

1) what are some programs do you think I will be competitive for?
2) Should I take usmle step 2?

 

[RussianJoo]

I never had a SDN account until just now. I saw your step scores and I had to make an account and talk to you. Ironically, I'm in the EXACT same spot as you.

US IMG - Ross
229/99
224/97
CS pass 1st try
1 LOR from Anesthesiology Head
3 LORs from IM
1 LOR from Cardiology (UMiami)

I'm applying this year too, I believe 60 Gas spots and about 10 prelim spots. Since we are in such a similar spot, if you don't mind chatting send me a message.

I would apply to more programs than that if I were you. I am an SGU grad with similar stats (went up on my step2 score). I applied to about 90 anesthesia programs and 60 prelim/transitional year programs. I had only 7 anesthesia invites, and about 20 prelim/transitional year invites.

 

[Meds1]

Had very similar stats, slightly higher, but very close. Also an IMG. It was very tight when I matched and I was lucky to get a spot. Many programs prefer to take a bottom, ie 190's US grad over a 99 IMG. Its just the reality of it. I think you have a chance but its not going to be a cake walk and you need a contigency plan. Good luck!

I would apply to more programs than that if I were you. I am an SGU grad with similar stats (went up on my step2 score). I applied to about 90 anesthesia programs and 60 prelim/transitional year programs. I had only 7 anesthesia invites, and about 20 prelim/transitional year invites.

 

[Gasmonkey]

I have 60 programs because I eliminated all the crazy ones. Duke, Alabama, UPenn, MGH, yale, Etc. My # isn't me being picky its me being realistic. Sure I have a preference of where I want to go, but I'll be happy to match anywhere. Also, for the prelim spots I applied to places in FL that I know usually are IMG heavy. If you guys (Russian and Meds1) don't mind sharing your stats that would be cool, just send me a private message or something + the places you received interviews at would be great too so I have an idea of who really is "IMG friendly." Thanks guys.

 

[RussianJoo]

The mid west is vert img friendly. the north east, the south, and the west aren't that friendly. I applied to everywhere except the state of California, and big name programs.

I got interviews at Penn State, St. Barnabas (NJ), St. Joeseph's (NJ), Case Western Metro Health, Wayne State DMC, U of Toledo, U of Missouri Columbia.

my stats are 227/95 step1, 231/95 step2, CS Pass, all first attempts, had straight A's during my core rotations, my basic science grads weren't that great (some where really bad actually). Had strong LORs from Chief of Surgery, Chief of ICU, Chief of Anesthesia, and Program Director of IM, at the place where I did 99% of my rotations in 3rd and 4th year.

 

[Gasmonkey]

were any of you guys ECFMG certified by the time you applied? I passed all the tests, I just don't have the certificate because I'm graduating in May 2012. Also, could I write on ERAS ECFMG certified, YES but then write the FUTURE date of June 2012.

 

[RussianJoo]

no i wasn't ecfmg certified. being ecfmg verified is good enough. everyone knows you can't get certified before graduating.

 

[Gasmonkey]

yeah I figured that, but some of these schools say "ECFMG certif is required at time of interview" So I don't know if its even worth applying to them if they are just going to trash my app.

 

[RussianJoo]

call them and ask. you'll be surprised what they say.

 

[Gasmonkey]

Yep, that's my plan for tomorrow before I submit on Thursday. Is there anytime specific that applications open up on the 1st? Midnight or something like noon the day of?

 

[RussianJoo]

sorry i don't remember.

 

[Gasmonkey]

Forgot to ask. Did you go to all your interview invites & rank them all?

 

[RussianJoo]

of course, i didn't care where i matched as long as i matched.

 

[jeesapeesa]

awesome responses and very helpful. thank you to everybody. i was reading an old thread and it said that if you applied to an advanced, 3 year program, then you will have to fetch a prelim spot on your own. my question is does it still hold true that when you rank these advanced programs, you simultaneously rank the prelim spot (IM/Surgery) you want?

i want to increase my chances and NOT limit myself to categorical programs. thanks.

 

[jeesapeesa]

I would apply to more programs than that if I were you. I am an SGU grad with similar stats (went up on my step2 score). I applied to about 90 anesthesia programs and 60 prelim/transitional year programs. I had only 7 anesthesia invites, and about 20 prelim/transitional year invites.

so what if you didn't have the anesthesia invites but instead had the 20 prelim invites? would you be stuck with just a prelim year for july? no other "back up" specialties that you considered?

 

[RussianJoo]

yes you still have to make a secondary list of prelim programs to match into for the match.

prelim spots are only 1 year contracts, if you match into that but not into an advanced anesthesia program then you would either reapply for next year or if the place you do your prelim really likes you they can offer to keep you as a categorical resident in that specialty.

 

[jeesapeesa]

yes you still have to make a secondary list of prelim programs to match into for the match.

prelim spots are only 1 year contracts, if you match into that but not into an advanced anesthesia program then you would either reapply for next year or if the place you do your prelim really likes you they can offer to keep you as a categorical resident in that specialty.

thanks for the input again, russianjoo. so for prelim spots, let's say internal medicine, do you still assign them your anesthesia personal statement?

 

[Gasmonkey]

just applied a few hours back. It takes a few days for the USMLE transcript to show up correct? Also, Russian when did you start seeing interviews come in, I think you said you applied day one right? Thanks again.

 

[RussianJoo]

yes i used the same presonal statement for prelim programs, i just added a few lines at the end on why i thought a prelim would enhance my anesthesia knowledge.


i got most of my interviews before the MSPE came out, so maybe at the end of septmeber or sometime in october was when i got my first interview.

 

[Gasmonkey]

cool thanks. nothing to do now but wait around.

 

[jeesapeesa]

i eventually applied to 81 anesthesia programs and 33 prelim programs. hopefully i get some good results.

 

[Reignmaker]

Same boat as you guys, IMG from Ross
Step I: 225/97
Step II: 234/99
CS Pass
GPA: 3.7
LORs: Anesthesia, IM and ICU

I keep feverishly checking my email and myERAS as well as this site to see which programs have sent out invites. So far I've only gotten love from TT in lubbock. I applied EVERYWHERE and dropped a lot of coin doing so, but hey it's my one chance, so I figured, I might as well go big. Have you guys heard anything yet?
I've heard so much stuff being an IMG. Other IMGs in other residencies would tell me "oh you want to go into anesthesia . . . hmmm . . . I dunno about that, that will never happen, you should pick something easier to get." I don't know about you guys, but I don't want to settle. There is NOTHING else I would rather do than this. I'd rather lose a year trying, than settle for an "easier to get" residency and spend the rest of my life wondering "what if?".
Anyway, I wish you the best. Please post if you hear anything.

 

[MRa2z]

us DO here,

228 on step 1, taking step 2 in mid october. Decent grades first 2 years of school, a few 'high passes' and mostly 'passes' on rotations, secretary actually lost my letter file so JUST filed for letters again today, and without any letters in i've gotten 2 interviews from academic programs and a few prelims. submitted on september 10th or so. so far...applied to 80. hoping once letters are in and complete within the next 2 weeks i'll see some more interview love.