competitive programs

[gerido]

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Hi all,

Recently got my step 1 score of 242. According to the all know Sticky, I have a "good chance" of matching into radiology. Anywho I kind of dick around during 2nd year and only got about 20% honors in my classes. Now in 3rd year, working hard, but getting honor here is kind of random. I anticipate maybe 30% honor..? who knows.

I kind of want to do academic medicine later, but I kinda dislike research (well I love the research, hate the politic). I've done research in undergrad, presented.. no paper... but 2nd and 3rd authorship. Brief research in med school, no paper, again poster presentation.

To ask some people who already match, is having a publication a major factor for matching at some of the more top programs? I hate to take a yr off for research, but I might have to. Say I don't really care about matching at top programs, is my less than stellar grades and anticipated clinical grades make the "good chance" much less likely... Will gunning for a good step II score help.. say 250+.

Obviously, there's no set formula, but I figure someone have similar experience can shed some light.

Sorry long post. Thanks

 

[DCMDtobe]

242 is strong: based on that alone, the 10 most competitive programs would be a reach, but possible. 2nd tier programs would be entirely possible, and you'll have plenty of "safety" programs as options.

don't worry about 1st and 2nd year grades, unless you failed something.

research helps, but you definitely don't need to do an extra year of research to match at a good university program

most important thing you can do now is get honors in your clinical rotations, esp. medicine and surgery. And yes, grading 3rd year can be highly subjective, so just do your best and play the game. If you don't get honors, it's not the end of the world, and you'll still match.

otherwise, getting in some rad research would be good