MD co ‘20 Residency Panic Thread

Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine
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I never got the MSPE email. Weird. That makes me wonder if my email account is down =/
 
marathonermedicinegal said:
Hey guys question about scheduling interviews. I have gotten a few invites (psych applicant) and have scheduled the majority of them in November and a few in December, even though they offer October dates because it worked the best with travel, missing the least time for rotations. Is this dumb? Should I try to schedule earlier from now on? Just don’t want to run out of room in the schedule and would like to schedule around 10 more. How many interviews happen in January? I am banking on being able to get about 4 done during that month to work with my schedule. I’m also probably overthinking this LOL. Thanks !
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Of the IV’s ive gotten (FM), only a few had January dates open.
 
marathonermedicinegal said:
Hey guys question about scheduling interviews. I have gotten a few invites (psych applicant) and have scheduled the majority of them in November and a few in December, even though they offer October dates because it worked the best with travel, missing the least time for rotations. Is this dumb? Should I try to schedule earlier from now on? Just don’t want to run out of room in the schedule and would like to schedule around 10 more. How many interviews happen in January? I am banking on being able to get about 4 done during that month to work with my schedule. I’m also probably overthinking this LOL. Thanks !
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Most programs I’ve seen interview through January 10 (IM). Might be hard to squeeze in 4 with the holidays unless psych goes later.
 
marathonermedicinegal said:
Hey guys question about scheduling interviews. I have gotten a few invites (psych applicant) and have scheduled the majority of them in November and a few in December, even though they offer October dates because it worked the best with travel, missing the least time for rotations. Is this dumb? Should I try to schedule earlier from now on? Just don’t want to run out of room in the schedule and would like to schedule around 10 more. How many interviews happen in January? I am banking on being able to get about 4 done during that month to work with my schedule. I’m also probably overthinking this LOL. Thanks !
Click to expand...
I'm currently trying to block off mid Nov-mid Dec dates for top choice programs and scheduling "safety" programs either earlier in the cycle (for interview practice for upcoming more higher priority programs) or late in the cycle (in case I cancel). Of course, if you are able to cluster interview dates based on region, that's also helpful. Also keep in mind that the later you schedule, the more likely you will be burnt out from interviewing by then.

Different programs have different interview schedules; I've seen dates as late as January 22 for the programs I'm applying to but I would think most programs stop around the first week of January.
 
rukia013 said:
I'm currently trying to block off mid Nov-mid Dec dates for top choice programs and scheduling "safety" programs either earlier in the cycle (for interview practice for upcoming more higher priority programs) or late in the cycle (in case I cancel). Of course, if you are able to cluster interview dates based on region, that's also helpful. Also keep in mind that the later you schedule, the more likely you will be burnt out from interviewing by then.

Different programs have different interview schedules; I've seen dates as late as January 22 for the programs I'm applying to but I would think most programs stop around the first week of January.
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OB interviews into February!
 
marathonermedicinegal said:
Hey guys question about scheduling interviews. I have gotten a few invites (psych applicant) and have scheduled the majority of them in November and a few in December, even though they offer October dates because it worked the best with travel, missing the least time for rotations. Is this dumb? Should I try to schedule earlier from now on? Just don’t want to run out of room in the schedule and would like to schedule around 10 more. How many interviews happen in January? I am banking on being able to get about 4 done during that month to work with my schedule. I’m also probably overthinking this LOL. Thanks !
Click to expand...

Don’t worry about needing to do things “earlier” unless you want to; it won’t affect your likelihood of matching significantly. I didn’t apply to psych, but did 20% of my interviews in Jan (Nov-Jan only). Also, if conflicts arise, you can always email coordinators to ask to reschedule the interview you’re less interested in. I moved one interview to January that way, though I was on a waitlist for the new date for a while.
 
differentiating said:
Don’t worry about needing to do things “earlier” unless you want to; it won’t affect your likelihood of matching significantly. I didn’t apply to psych, but did 20% of my interviews in Jan (Nov-Jan only). Also, if conflicts arise, you can always email coordinators to ask to reschedule the interview you’re less interested in. I moved one interview to January that way, though I was on a waitlist for the new date for a while.
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Curious about how you tactfully phrase a request to move a date? I mean I'm sure they know it's due to other interviews, do you come right out and say that? Or just request to move it without explanation?
 
Oedipa Maas said:
Curious about how you tactfully phrase a request to move a date? I mean I'm sure they know it's due to other interviews, do you come right out and say that? Or just request to move it without explanation?
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Literally the body of my email was:
“Unfortunately, I will no longer be able to make the X interview date. Is there any availability for the Y or Z dates?”

It’s not an uncommon thing - I’d just make it clear that you’re still very interested and want to reschedule.
 
Anyone know how to check how many letters of rec a program requires?? I have sent 3 to all my programs (including Dept. letter) and have an extra one lying around that I only want to assign if I need to but can't tell which programs req 4 LoR total?
 
Seanman111 said:
Anyone know how to check how many letters of rec a program requires?? I have sent 3 to all my programs (including Dept. letter) and have an extra one lying around that I only want to assign if I need to but can't tell which programs req 4 LoR total?
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The program’s website usually lists a “how to apply” section or something similar. It will note their requirements including number of letters and if they have any specific specialty requirements for letters.
 
Seanman111 said:
Anyone know how to check how many letters of rec a program requires?? I have sent 3 to all my programs (including Dept. letter) and have an extra one lying around that I only want to assign if I need to but can't tell which programs req 4 LoR total?
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I just sent 4 to everyone cause while I found a couple that required 4 I mostly saw “minimum of 3”
 
Just got an interview invite via thalamus and with only one open date for tuesday next week. The costs of flights plus other family reasons make it really hard to attend this immediate date. I emailed the program and called them to ask for other dates but no response. They seemingly have not opened up other date slots as yet for late nov/ december. I am really looking fwd to interviewing here. Anyone else having this problem with programs?
 
I gave somewhere two interviews dates, they gave me a third random date that I HAPPEN to have Step 2 CS on...ugh
 
So I have a dilemma. My top choice program sends out very few invites and has already sent a lot this week and usually doesn’t send anymore after October 1st according to the spreadsheet. I’m doing an away rotation in November. Should I email them and mention this?
 
jpmiz said:
So I have a dilemma. My top choice program sends out very few invites and has already sent a lot this week and usually doesn’t send anymore after October 1st according to the spreadsheet. I’m doing an away rotation in November. Should I email them and mention this?
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I mean I wouldn’t want to come off aggressive. They might just interview you on your AI
 
Alright I’ll hold off! Hoping they just interview during my AI too. This process is stressful haha
 
I'm also fidgeting looking at that "MSPE Not Uploaded" knowing that my school waits till the last minute to do a lot of things and just hoping it's uploaded on Monday. I'm a have it a few days early kinda person and I'm on edge. We got an email on the 20th that lady in charge of them has a plan to have them submitted to the right people by Wednesday and she left on vacation today. I. am. shook.:bang:
 
Current M4 here applying for internal medicine. I believe I am a pretty strong applicant (Step 1 248, AOA) and have so far received a good amount of interviews. However, I am really concerned about my MSPE. At my school, they provide a graph of our cumulative average clinical evaluation grades relative to the class in the categories of Clinical Knowledge, Interpersonal Skills, and Professionalism. Of course, we all know that clinical grades tend to be heavily inflated, making the average for each category about a 4.5/5. I am at about average for the clinical knowledge and interpersonal categories, but 2 SD’s below the mean for professionalism (pretty much bottom of the class) . My average however is still a 4.1/5 and I have never had any issues with professionalism. I just had some pretty tough attendings that weren’t the ones to give straight 5’s. I’m really worried about how this will impact my application overall. My MSPE adjective is “outstanding” and I am in the first quartile of the class. How much will these low clinical grades affect me? Would programs not give me an interview despite the rest of my application being strong? Thanks for any input.
 
datpremedgirl said:
Current M4 here applying for internal medicine. I believe I am a pretty strong applicant (Step 1 248, AOA) and have so far received a good amount of interviews. However, I am really concerned about my MSPE. At my school, they provide a graph of our cumulative average clinical evaluation grades relative to the class in the categories of Clinical Knowledge, Interpersonal Skills, and Professionalism. Of course, we all know that clinical grades tend to be heavily inflated, making the average for each category about a 4.5/5. I am at about average for the clinical knowledge and interpersonal categories, but 2 SD’s below the mean for professionalism (pretty much bottom of the class) . My average however is still a 4.1/5 and I have never had any issues with professionalism. I just had some pretty tough attendings that weren’t the ones to give straight 5’s. I’m really worried about how this will impact my application overall. My MSPE adjective is “outstanding” and I am in the first quartile of the class. How much will these low clinical grades affect me? Would programs not give me an interview despite the rest of my application being strong? Thanks for any input.
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I feel like it's so silly to grade professionalism on a scale like this, what even is the difference between exceeding expectations in professionalism and meeting expectations in professionalism? Then you throw in attendings who think this way and give threes for that category and then ones who "get it" and give fives because they gave us fives on the rest of it. Hopefully PDs understand this and don't hold that against you. Hopefully if there aren't actual issues with professionalism in your MSPE you'll be fine.
 
Oedipa Maas said:
I feel like it's so silly to grade professionalism on a scale like this, what even is the difference between exceeding expectations in professionalism and meeting expectations in professionalism? Then you throw in attendings who think this way and give threes for that category and then ones who "get it" and give fives because they gave us fives on the rest of it. Hopefully PDs understand this and don't hold that against you. Hopefully if there aren't actual issues with professionalism in your MSPE you'll be fine.
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Nope, never had any issues with professionalism. In fact, my MSPE summary mentions how I am a "very professional" candidate. Thanks for the response! Makes me feel better haha. Just don't want these subjective evaluations to become the deal-breaker for me
 
datpremedgirl said:
Current M4 here applying for internal medicine. I believe I am a pretty strong applicant (Step 1 248, AOA) and have so far received a good amount of interviews. However, I am really concerned about my MSPE. At my school, they provide a graph of our cumulative average clinical evaluation grades relative to the class in the categories of Clinical Knowledge, Interpersonal Skills, and Professionalism. Of course, we all know that clinical grades tend to be heavily inflated, making the average for each category about a 4.5/5. I am at about average for the clinical knowledge and interpersonal categories, but 2 SD’s below the mean for professionalism (pretty much bottom of the class) . My average however is still a 4.1/5 and I have never had any issues with professionalism. I just had some pretty tough attendings that weren’t the ones to give straight 5’s. I’m really worried about how this will impact my application overall. My MSPE adjective is “outstanding” and I am in the first quartile of the class. How much will these low clinical grades affect me? Would programs not give me an interview despite the rest of my application being strong? Thanks for any input.
Click to expand...

I’m that doofus who applied a day late by accident, Steps >250 and AOA (also applying IM), so far only 4 invites. Don’t mean to be ungrateful. But - did I get affected by that, you think? For what it’s worth, I go to a lower-tier school.
 
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curlyowl said:
I’m that doofus who applied a day late by accident, 254 and AOA (also applying IM), so far only 4 invites. Don’t mean to be ungrateful. But - did I get affected by that, you think? For what it’s worth, I go to a lower-tier school.
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I doubt it. We have similar stats, but I'm not AOA and go to a high-tier (I hate the saying top-tier) school and only have 3!

Edit to say also medicine.
 
I absolutely would.

jpmiz said:
So I have a dilemma. My top choice program sends out very few invites and has already sent a lot this week and usually doesn’t send anymore after October 1st according to the spreadsheet. I’m doing an away rotation in November. Should I email them and mention this?
Click to expand...
 
curlyowl said:
I’m that doofus who applied a day late by accident, Steps >250 and AOA (also applying IM), so far only 4 invites. Don’t mean to be ungrateful. But - did I get affected by that, you think? For what it’s worth, I go to a lower-tier school.
Click to expand...

Depends on the programs you are applying to. Assuming you are applying to fairly competitive programs, most wait until weeks 3 and 4 (next week and week after) to send out their invites. I have similar stats, go to a low tier and am applying IM as well and have 8 right now...but of those 8, I'm really interested in only 4 of them. So I'm still waiting on a lot of programs higher on my list.
 
Receive invite. Was asked to email school with choice of preferred dates (from a list of available dates). Sent email a few hours after receiving invite. Came back waitlisted. What to do now? What typically happens in such cases?
 
Frodo&sam said:
Receive invite. Was asked to email school with choice of preferred dates (from a list of available dates). Sent email a few hours after receiving invite. Came back waitlisted. What to do now? What typically happens in such cases?
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Hope that the super competitive people get more invites to top places and drop some dates which trickle down to you. Thats what I'm hoping for.
 
curlyowl said:
I’m that doofus who applied a day late by accident, Steps >250 and AOA (also applying IM), so far only 4 invites. Don’t mean to be ungrateful. But - did I get affected by that, you think? For what it’s worth, I go to a lower-tier school.
Click to expand...
I'm in a similar boat to you (but not AOA and low-tier) and sitting at 2 applying IM. I think this is a pretty common occurance for people applying IM with our stats. We tend to self-select to apply to the higher end of programs, most of which don't send out invites until after MSPE's. For comparison, I have friends with step 1 230's applying IM that are at 8+ interviews already, but most of that is due to differences in program lists (community programs, academic programs in rural areas).
 
Desolatelands said:
My DO school is last minute first minute late everything too so don’t feel bad

Unless it’s dumb worthless **** then they on time
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Ooooh what did he do to get put in time out

Edit: I saw it. Ooof.
 
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Aaaaaaand its 9/30 and my MSPE still isn't finished. /panic

Also: dumb question, I got my CS pass after I sent out USMLE transcript; however, on ERAS request report says STEP 2 CS under "scores included." Do I need to Re-send now that I have my pass??
 
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I suspect I won’t get any after my MSPE cause they’ll see how much I suck.

The 4 I have will have to be fantastic
 
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