MD & DO co'21 Residency Panic thread

Started by kraskadva
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Sent my LOI to my #1 today - have always considered it a bit of a reach, and so I felt pretty uneasy. Furthermore they have a policy that they will not send any "rank-to-match" emails or calls etc.

Got a response back from the PD just now that was extremely positive that came as close to saying the magic words without saying them directly. Trying not to read too much into it as I know it means nothing concrete until match day, but damn it did feel a bit good to read it haha.

Please don't be playing with my heart.





59bd2977-f531-4d40-9397-50d420231b32-screen-shot-2018-12-04-at-92701-am.jpg
 
Sent my LOI to my #1 today - have always considered it a bit of a reach, and so I felt pretty uneasy. Furthermore they have a policy that they will not send any "rank-to-match" emails or calls etc.

Got a response back from the PD just now that was extremely positive that came as close to saying the magic words without saying them directly. Trying not to read too much into it as I know it means nothing concrete until match day, but damn it did feel a bit good to read it haha.

Please don't be playing with my heart.





59bd2977-f531-4d40-9397-50d420231b32-screen-shot-2018-12-04-at-92701-am.jpg
Good luck!!! I got a similar sort of response from my top choice but my Pd told me NOT TO READ INTO IT....but I’m saying there is a chance 🥺 mine isn’t a reach since I put my number one in my husbands city - but congrats Branco!!! Hope you match to your top choice 🙂 50% chance even without this nice response- si se puede
 
It’s a miracle.

United States Medical Licensing Examination | Announcements
After reviewing current and anticipated progress with the exam and in consideration of the rapidly evolving medical education, practice and technology landscapes, we have decided to discontinue Step 2 CS. We have no plans to bring back Step 2 CS, but we intend to take this opportunity to focus on working with our colleagues in medical education and at the state medical boards to determine innovative ways to assess clinical skills.
 
ugh today I woke up with a pit in my stomach because my step 1 was so low (ok not low just average) but I feel like it's low and I'm worried about matching to my top 3 choices. why did i do so bad on step 1 ugh
 
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Gotta wonder if its going to rear its ugly head in some new way. Like having an FM Shelf Clinical Skills component that schools can opt into.

And while the data has always made it clear that CS was ridiculous for US MD/DO students to take - 95%+ passing first time and vast majority who failed passing the second time, so it almost looked arbitrary who had to repeat.

But, something like 1/4 or 1/3 international graduates was failing CS, seems like something needs to be in place for residency applicants from other nations to reassure PDs. Would hate to see a stigma against IMG/FMG as a result of this change.
 
Gotta wonder if its going to rear its ugly head in some new way. Like having an FM Shelf Clinical Skills component that schools can opt into.

And while the data has always made it clear that CS was ridiculous for US MD/DO students to take - 95%+ passing first time and vast majority who failed passing the second time, so it almost looked arbitrary who had to repeat.

But, something like 1/4 or 1/3 international graduates was failing CS, seems like something needs to be in place for residency applicants from other nations to reassure PDs. Would hate to see a stigma against IMG/FMG as a result of this change.
The exam should still exist for FMGs like it was originally intended. I see nothing wrong with that. I agree. It's like a vote of confidence for FMG applicants that a program can rest easy knowing the aren't some outlier who doesn't know English or doesn't get the culture at all.
 
I don't think NBOME will ever give up their cash cow. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if they open it up to non-US IMGs and charge them double.

They've already reached out to DO schools:

"Our plans to provide access to Level 2-PE again in April 2021 are progressing along well"

 
They've already reached out to DO schools:

"Our plans to provide access to Level 2-PE again in April 2021 are progressing along well"

Are there still schools out there that are forcing PE as a graduation requirement?
 
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Why does Step 3 even exist? Use Step 2 and the boards for fellowship stuff idc

I dunno. Seems more legit than CS. They had a select group of NP volunteers study for and take a watered down step 3 that was cherry picked for midlevels and the pass rate was less than 50% every year except one (they did it for 5 years). One year it was 33%.
 
I dunno. Seems more legit than CS. They had a select group of NP volunteers study for and take a watered down step 3 that was cherry picked for midlevels and the pass rate was less than 50% every year except one (they did it for 5 years). One year it was 33%.
I've heard this before but never seen a source. Can you link the study? I wanna have firepower when I bring this up in the future lol
 
I dunno. Seems more legit than CS. They had a select group of NP volunteers study for and take a watered down step 3 that was cherry picked for midlevels and the pass rate was less than 50% every year except one (they did it for 5 years). One year it was 33%.
Step 3 is more of a remnant from when everybody did a true internship and rotated through a bunch of different specialties still. So pretty outdated seeing as most fields don’t do that anymore, but it’s P/F and not terribly difficult so I’m not sure it a battle worth fighting right now
 
Why does Step 3 even exist? Use Step 2 and the boards for fellowship stuff idc
Step 3 grants you license to practice medicine and can be useful for folks who either do not complete a full residency or want to moonlight during residency (provided you also complete 1 or 2 year PGY training based on AMG or IMG status). From a content perspective, step 3 tests on clinical cases (on the second test day) where you act like a physician and write out orders, assessment and plan.

Edit: I like your idea though. Those of us who completes residency and pass individual boards should have step 3 requirements waived. If one fails to complete residency, they can take step 3 and apply for a medical license.
 
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I've heard this before but never seen a source. Can you link the study? I wanna have firepower when I bring this up in the future lol

It’s in Patients at Risk. But the body that worked with nbme to do the experiment no longer exists and tried to remove all the stuff from the internet. Someone on Reddit used the wayback machine to find it.

 
People who are trying to match and live in SF, NYC, Boston, LA, etc on 60-65k per year - what's your reasoning that makes it worth the CoL? Nearly all my friends are trying to go to these kinds of cities, and many didn't even bother applying to programs anywhere but the coasts.

Having spent my adult life in "undesirable" places like St Louis and Baltimore, can someone clue me in on why? These are real cities with metros of 2-3 million people, plenty of restaurants and bars and movie theaters and concert venues and sports arenas, mild winters, safe suburbs all the docs live in, and for the same price as renting a 600 sqft studio in california you can pay the mortgage on a 2000 sqft house.

So help me out folks. What are y'all planning to do in a place like Boston or coastal california cities that you couldn't find elsewhere? What is it about these places that trumps your housing situation, and having plenty of spending money?
 
People who are trying to match and live in SF, NYC, Boston, LA, etc on 60-65k per year - what's your reasoning that makes it worth the CoL? Nearly all my friends are trying to go to these kinds of cities, and many didn't even bother applying to programs anywhere but the coasts.

Having spent my adult life in "undesirable" places like St Louis and Baltimore, can someone clue me in on why? These are real cities with metros of 2-3 million people, plenty of restaurants and bars and movie theaters and concert venues and sports arenas, mild winters, safe suburbs all the docs live in, and for the same price as renting a 600 sqft studio in california you can pay the mortgage on a 2000 sqft house.

So help me out folks. What are y'all planning to do in a place like Boston or coastal california cities that you couldn't find elsewhere? What is it about these places that trumps your housing situation, and having plenty of spending money?
I think part of it is family. Most of the population in the US is located in these metros so there is the appeal to go back.
 
People who are trying to match and live in SF, NYC, Boston, LA, etc on 60-65k per year - what's your reasoning that makes it worth the CoL? Nearly all my friends are trying to go to these kinds of cities, and many didn't even bother applying to programs anywhere but the coasts.

Having spent my adult life in "undesirable" places like St Louis and Baltimore, can someone clue me in on why? These are real cities with metros of 2-3 million people, plenty of restaurants and bars and movie theaters and concert venues and sports arenas, mild winters, safe suburbs all the docs live in, and for the same price as renting a 600 sqft studio in california you can pay the mortgage on a 2000 sqft house.

So help me out folks. What are y'all planning to do in a place like Boston or coastal california cities that you couldn't find elsewhere? What is it about these places that trumps your housing situation, and having plenty of spending money?

I think part of it is family. Most of the population in the US is located in these metros so there is the appeal to go back.

It's definitely about family. trust me, I am not looking forward to living like a peasant as a doctor in a big metro city, but family is family
 
People who are trying to match and live in SF, NYC, Boston, LA, etc on 60-65k per year - what's your reasoning that makes it worth the CoL? Nearly all my friends are trying to go to these kinds of cities, and many didn't even bother applying to programs anywhere but the coasts.

Having spent my adult life in "undesirable" places like St Louis and Baltimore, can someone clue me in on why? These are real cities with metros of 2-3 million people, plenty of restaurants and bars and movie theaters and concert venues and sports arenas, mild winters, safe suburbs all the docs live in, and for the same price as renting a 600 sqft studio in california you can pay the mortgage on a 2000 sqft house.

So help me out folks. What are y'all planning to do in a place like Boston or coastal california cities that you couldn't find elsewhere? What is it about these places that trumps your housing situation, and having plenty of spending money?
Ive never lived in a city like NYC or LA and have no desire to, however my best guess would be dating purposes. Datings all a numbers game now that dating apps are the popular method of meeting people.

also square footage of apartment isnt everyones priority, even in a mid sized city/metro area I’d be perfectly happy in a 600sqft apartment as long as im close to some good take out spots, a gym, and a coffee shop or two
 
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Ive never lived in a city like NYC or LA and have no desire to, however my best guess would be dating purposes. Datings all a numbers game now that dating apps are the popular method of meeting people.

also square footage of apartment isnt everyones priority, even in a mid sized city/metro area I’d be perfectly happy in a 600sqft apartment as long as im close to some good take out spots, a gym, and a coffee shop or two
Dating is a good point I totally hadn't considered. I also was totally content living in a small bedroom with a bunch of room mates for many years...but after experiencing my own much bigger apartment with my SO we could never go back and are hype for even more space, privacy, and convenience with a house. It's funny to think a few years ago we were happy in dorms with communal bathrooms, handwashing our dishes, and dragging laundry to the communal washers/dryers!
 
I've had residents kinda indirectly ask about my interview season, where I've interviewed, what my rank list looks like, etc. on away rotations (on my last one) at programs I have interviewed at (& even one attending)...

I've been super protective of this information thus far & not given too much away; am I being overly protective? The nightmare paying out in my head is one of the residents telling a PD or something where else I've interviewed & being bumped to the bottom of their rank list hah.
 
I've had residents kinda indirectly ask about my interview season, where I've interviewed, what my rank list looks like, etc. on away rotations (on my last one) at programs I have interviewed at (& even one attending)...

I've been super protective of this information thus far & not given too much away; am I being overly protective? The nightmare paying out in my head is one of the residents telling a PD or something where else I've interviewed & being bumped to the bottom of their rank list hah.
I mean it depends how you're ranking them. If they're going to be a top choice, it can't hurt to tell them that.
 
People who are trying to match and live in SF, NYC, Boston, LA, etc on 60-65k per year - what's your reasoning that makes it worth the CoL? Nearly all my friends are trying to go to these kinds of cities, and many didn't even bother applying to programs anywhere but the coasts.

Having spent my adult life in "undesirable" places like St Louis and Baltimore, can someone clue me in on why? These are real cities with metros of 2-3 million people, plenty of restaurants and bars and movie theaters and concert venues and sports arenas, mild winters, safe suburbs all the docs live in, and for the same price as renting a 600 sqft studio in california you can pay the mortgage on a 2000 sqft house.

So help me out folks. What are y'all planning to do in a place like Boston or coastal california cities that you couldn't find elsewhere? What is it about these places that trumps your housing situation, and having plenty of spending money?

Having lived in NYC and also a few comparable cities to both St. Louis and Baltimore--I personally agree with you. For me, while I enjoy big city living, CoL is the most important thing. And I feel like I can get enough of a city experience in a more affordable location, albeit on a smaller scale.

But I don't need to spend paragraphs explaining why NYC isn't the same as St. Louis or Baltimore. Maybe some people like having to choose on a given free weekend whether to go to MoMA or the PS1 or the Whitney or the Guggenheim or the Met versus just the Columbus (Ohio) Museum of Art, for instance.

To each their own when if comes to CoL and trade-offs, but the differences between St. Louis and NYC are obvious, and for everyone, it's not just about having a grocery store nearby and a 2 bedroom apartment.
 
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Dating is a good point I totally hadn't considered. I also was totally content living in a small bedroom with a bunch of room mates for many years...but after experiencing my own much bigger apartment with my SO we could never go back and are hype for even more space, privacy, and convenience with a house. It's funny to think a few years ago we were happy in dorms with communal bathrooms, handwashing our dishes, and dragging laundry to the communal washers/dryers!
Some of the best times of my life were living in a 10x10 dorm with 3 beds and 4 roommates (school put 3 in a room meant for 2 and then we adopted a 4th that didnt want to ever stay with their own roommates lol) lol not to mention living off of microwave burritos and cup of noodles

Yeah if i knew I would have enough time for a dog or was planning on kids I’d absolutely be prioritizing affordability of homes, but its just not on my list of priorities atm. That being said, I still dont want to pay 2k+ for any apartment and dont wanna deal with big city traffic, so mid sized city/metro area will still hopefully be the move for me
 
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