MD & DO co'21 Residency Panic thread

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Good to see the chances to be neurotic never ends. So glad it didn’t end when I got into med school.

I like to call it "attention to detail" to prevent myself from going mad.

But in all seriousness, ERAS is overly vague for no particular reason. There should be no reason why I have to make 3-4 clicks to get my test transcripts sent without receiving any clear confirmation on my end...
 
Anyone else scrambling for last minute letters? Not having built any long term connections has me really feeling the stress of knocking first impressions out of the park + finding attendings i really click with
I’m asking literally everyone haha I talked to my IM attending from last September and went and met with him to get at least something. I doubt it’ll be incredible but at least I have an emergency letter to fill the gaps
 
I’m asking literally everyone haha I talked to my IM attending from last September and went and met with him to get at least something. I doubt it’ll be incredible but at least I have an emergency letter to fill the gaps
Also doing something similar lol had a doc back in feb that I really clicked with who offered to write me a LOR but I didnt take them up on it at the time and now 7 months later im like “sooooo about that letter?!”
 
Anyone else scrambling for last minute letters? Not having built any long term connections has me really feeling the stress of knocking first impressions out of the park + finding attendings i really click with
Best is when you’re ghosted by not just the attending but the entire staff like the nurses, receptionist. Your only contact with the attending is e-mail and you’re too far to go to their office. I have friends applying to FM/Peds etc with just 1 letter total (No joke). 2020 be weird!
 
Holy crap, reading this makes me way less anxious. At this point I was thinking about asking the school janitor for a LOR, Ive made more of a connection with him than anyone else the last 6 months.
Honestly...depending on what you're going into... at this point that might be a worthwhile letter to have. At least to hear some of the PDs talk - they'd definitely rather somebody who knows you that whatever BS specialty letter from somebody who's basically gonna make it up.
 
Anyone else scrambling for last minute letters? Not having built any long term connections has me really feeling the stress of knocking first impressions out of the park + finding attendings i really click with
I have 2 in, waiting on my IM letter from my core site for 6 months (COVID19 kinda derailed them but I just sent a follow up email because tick tock), and I have 1 more week on my critical care audition and I’m going to ask the CC aPD/clerkship director after I work with him directly next week.
 
I forgot to put MD after the title of my recommenders who already submitted their letters... does it matter?

This is a nothingburger. Don't do anything.

I'm there as well. I could be wrong, but I think you assign to each program, and then you pay when you submit the application??

What I think is weird is how I can't see exactly what gets sent to the programs. As in, I got my step 2 scores back a few weeks ago, and I "authorized" a few days after my scores came back, but I'm paranoid that for some reason they will only send step 1 and not step 2 as well.

You will pay the USMLE extortion fee when you actually submit your applications. They will get their pound of flesh.

What will be released is whatever scores are available on 10/21 or whatever day your application actually goes out. Once that happens, you'll be able to see in MyERAS exactly what has been sent.
 
This is a nothingburger. Don't do anything.



You will pay the USMLE extortion fee when you actually submit your applications. They will get their pound of flesh.

What will be released is whatever scores are available on 10/21 or whatever day your application actually goes out. Once that happens, you'll be able to see in MyERAS exactly what has been sent.
Piggybacking off this post, does it matter if my MSPE gets uploaded before a board score is released? I will absolutely have the score before ERAS open to programs and will submit it via the NBME per normal. Just curious on if this matters because programs will be able to see my score outside the MSPE anyways. Thanks.
 
Piggybacking off this post, does it matter if my MSPE gets uploaded before a board score is released? I will absolutely have the score before ERAS open to programs and will submit it via the NBME per normal. Just curious on if this matters because programs will be able to see my score outside the MSPE anyways. Thanks.
No, this does not matter. I assume (?) your concern was that your MSPE won't have your score in it? No one will care.
 
Piggybacking off this post, does it matter if my MSPE gets uploaded before a board score is released? I will absolutely have the score before ERAS open to programs and will submit it via the NBME per normal. Just curious on if this matters because programs will be able to see my score outside the MSPE anyways. Thanks.

Buddy we got a lot more to be worried about on our MSPE than board scores. :laugh:
 
Hey all,

I was hoping I could get some input on my current Step 2 CK scheduling plans. First, I’m a US MD student and strong step 1 (255-265) . Applying for IM.

Right now, my step 2 CK is scheduled for October 6, which means that if all goes in my favor I would maybe have the score the week of October 21st. However, I’m going to be stuck in a rotation until September 25, meaning I have to study after my shifts. It’s making me a bit uneasy because ideally I would have some dedicated time to study.

I was considering pushing it to either the following week (October 13ish) or a week after that, but that would mean my score won’t be back until after October 21.

I’m not too informed on the process how programs receive applications, but based on what I’ve read it seems that applicants who don’t have their step 2 ck scores in are marked as incomplete, meaning that they don’t even look at those applications unless they refresh their list (which they may not even do?)

I know that this cycle will be unique from the rest, but I would appreciate if anyone could give some insight into the impact a late step 2 ck score has on the eras application.
 
Hey all,

I was hoping I could get some input on my current Step 2 CK scheduling plans. First, I’m a US MD student and strong step 1 (255-265) . Applying for IM.

Right now, my step 2 CK is scheduled for October 6, which means that if all goes in my favor I would maybe have the score the week of October 21st. However, I’m going to be stuck in a rotation until September 25, meaning I have to study after my shifts. It’s making me a bit uneasy because ideally I would have some dedicated time to study.

I was considering pushing it to either the following week (October 13ish) or a week after that, but that would mean my score won’t be back until after October 21.

I’m not too informed on the process how programs receive applications, but based on what I’ve read it seems that applicants who don’t have their step 2 ck scores in are marked as incomplete, meaning that they don’t even look at those applications unless they refresh their list (which they may not even do?)

I know that this cycle will be unique from the rest, but I would appreciate if anyone could give some insight into the impact a late step 2 ck score has on the eras application.

With a step 1 score that high I would apply without CK. But check with the programs you are most interested in to make sure they don't require CK before offering interviews.
 
With a step 1 score that high I would apply without CK. But check with the programs you are most interested in to make sure they don't require CK before offering interviews.

Thank you for the input. As of now, it seems like the programs i'm interested in are evenly split in terms of CK requirement.
 
Have a question about ERAS publication categories. Trying to avoid misrepresentation but also don't want to sell myself short.

My name was on a poster presentation that was presented at several conferences. I did not attend the conferences myself to present. The abstracts for those conferences were then published in the supplemental area of a peer-reviewed journal.

Should I list this under "peer reviewed abstract," "presentation," or both/neither? And should I list all of the ~3 conferences that it was presented at?

This research also went on to be published as an actual manuscript, which I've listed as a publication, so I don't now if it would be considered padding if I also added these conference presentations. At the same time though, they are national/international level conferences so I think they warrant a mention. Thanks!
 
I decided to push my step 2 ck a week later, October 13. I figured having a higher score is better than just having it on time.

I heard that not having a step 2 ck score uploaded doesn’t mark your application as incomplete. Is this true, or depends if the school requires a step 2 ck score prior to offering interview invites.
 
I decided to push my step 2 ck a week later, October 13. I figured having a higher score is better than just having it on time.

I heard that not having a step 2 ck score uploaded doesn’t mark your application as incomplete. Is this true, or depends if the school requires a step 2 ck score prior to offering interview invites.

Having just taken it in the middle of a rotation. This was the right call. It was much more difficult and much less straight forward than expected.
 
I just want to make sure I understand the process correctly. When I get my Step 2 CK score back, is it automatically updated to my ERAS and sent to programs? The reason why i'm confused is because I heard on reddit that the score won't be available to programs until they "update their list". Meaning, since they already run through a ton of applications when ERAS opens, there is a chance they won't "update the list".
 
I just want to make sure I understand the process correctly. When I get my Step 2 CK score back, is it automatically updated to my ERAS and sent to programs? The reason why i'm confused is because I heard on reddit that the score won't be available to programs until they "update their list". Meaning, since they already run through a ton of applications when ERAS opens, there is a chance they won't "update the list".
No, you have to go to ERAS and have the score transmitted (basically a one-click process). It's up to you when/whether you want to, but most programs in most specialties will want to see it at least by the time rank lists are due, if not before offering an interview. Whether the programs check to see if your score has come through is their own decision.
 
No, you have to go to ERAS and have the score transmitted (basically a one-click process). It's up to you when/whether you want to, but most programs in most specialties will want to see it at least by the time rank lists are due, if not before offering an interview. Whether the programs check to see if your score has come through is their own decision.
Ah thank you. I should have been more specific. I meant after I release my score, is it automatically sent to programs or do they have to update it on their end?
 
My main stressor right now is my program list which is fluctuating by 1-4 programs/day. I’ll get confident and add a reach, then I’ll feel like crap and take it off, then I’ll hear a good thing about a small program, then I’ll decide suddenly I don’t want to live in Gainesville, FL because the 1st google image didn’t look exciting enough to me.
 
My main stressor right now is my program list which is fluctuating by 1-4 programs/day. I’ll get confident and add a reach, then I’ll feel like crap and take it off, then I’ll hear a good thing about a small program, then I’ll decide suddenly I don’t want to live in Gainesville, FL because the 1st google image didn’t look exciting enough to me.
My vote is just put all the fluctuating programs on your list.
 
ya I think that might be the move. Someone said - maybe on here idk - that we’ve spent all this gov money on medical school, now’s not the time to be cheap about things
Yeah. You’ll have to tease all those things out when you make your rank list later. But for applications? If you’re even thinking maybe just send it.
 
When do we have to register for the match and get the NRMP ID thing by? I just heard about this.
 
Anyone else still working on their personal statement?


psimg.jpg
 
ya I think that might be the move. Someone said - maybe on here idk - that we’ve spent all this gov money on medical school, now’s not the time to be cheap about things
When I applied last year one of our deans said “if you haven’t heard back from as many programs as you were expecting, send out some more apps the first week of October”. I did this. Yield of 0 and I felt like I couldn’t even send a LOI because I obviously added them late. If a program crosses your mind, apply.
 
How many programs are you guys applying to?
 
Once you release your score, we can see it immediately. When (or whether) programs will look is up to each program.
What if I clicked the button to release my score a few months ago, but obviously haven't submitted apps yet? My Step 2 has since come back, so do I need to "release" my scores yet again before I hit "submit?"
 
Right now I'm pushing around 80 for IM. Subpar boards from a DO school. Unfortunately can't take chances. Sad part is, this would the PERFECT year to trial with app caps and interview caps for all specialities but unfortunately it doesn't look like it will be that way.


Edit: the whole, adding another round of SOAP is freaking me out a bit too. They're expecting it to be wild this year.
 
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