Competitive specialties with near-average step 1

[QUESTIONPLEASE]

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First time posting, so I apologize if this is an over-asked question, but I am new to third year and have surprisingly really enjoyed the surgery environment and all aspects of pre, peri and post-op care. It's my first rotation. With recent step 1 results of 227 (I guess just below this years average of 228 +/- some) , where does that put me if I choose to pursue this path. Would I be a reach for categorical general surgery? Any shot at surgical specialties outside of general? I have done my research online, but a lot of the information on this subject seems to be dated or vague. For instance, looking at NRMP stats, I see that people with my score are matching into general and even a substantial percentage of applicants at this score into ortho, but I don't want to be getting false information if some of these stats are overestimated by people matching into prelim year positions. Thank for any help.

 

[Psai]

http://www.nrmp.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Charting-Outcomes-2014-Final.pdf

 

[QUESTIONPLEASE]

So that doesn't include prelim year spots?

 

[chichimoochichi]

You will match into a general surgery residency program if you're average in everything else. It probably wouldn't be Johns Hopkins or MGH but you have a good shot at most community programs if you apply, interview and rank broadly. The average step 1 for matching GS is 230 last year. If you have excellent LORs and AOA then obviously you'll be more competitive. The same with research and publications. It all depends on the rest of your application.

 

[Slack3r]

Your step 1 makes you far below average for every surgical subspecialty. That said, it's not impossible to match. We sent someone into ENT with a <220 step 1 this year. Make contacts with your department, do A LOT of research, and throw up the Hail Mary.

 

[TOcho118]

Agree with above. If you really want a subspecialty, consider a year off for research. A couple people at my program matched ortho this year with 220's taking this approach.

 

[PhillyMed777]

Concur with the above. Make sure you look at charting outcomes that Psai posted above. It's THE direct, objective source.

 

[notbobtrustme]

if you want it, you're going to have to work for it. We had 2 plastics matches with <240 Step 1 but I'm sure they had to work like dogs and/or take gap years to get there.

 

[mimelim]

if you want it, you're going to have to work for it. We had 2 plastics matches with <240 Step 1 but I'm sure they had to work like dogs and/or take gap years to get there.

What he said, but also, have a backup plan. Don't go into things as "Plastics or bust". You don't want to be stuck in limbo after not matching, especially with a less competitive score.

 

[qwerty89]

What he said, but also, have a backup plan. Don't go into things as "Plastics or bust". You don't want to be stuck in limbo after not matching, especially with a less competitive score.

Bingo. Some students at my school did this approach. Some matched and were ecstatic. Others didn't. One applied Urology only (got terrible faculty advice) and then didnt match. Luckily its an earlier match so he had time to reorganize. Unfortunately he ended up matching at a random community IM program in the middle of nowhere. I'm sure he woulda matched at a great IM program had he applied for IM as a backup on Sep 15th. Applying late kills your chances.

Gonna be hard to match GI from that program. Bad planning can have serious consequences.

 

[Dave89]

Bingo. Some students at my school did this approach. Some matched and were ecstatic. Others didn't. One applied Urology only (got terrible faculty advice) and then didnt match. Luckily its an earlier match so he had time to reorganize. Unfortunately he ended up matching at a random community IM program in the middle of nowhere. I'm sure he woulda matched at a great IM program had he applied for IM as a backup on Sep 15th. Applying late kills your chances.

Gonna be hard to match GI from that program. Bad planning can have serious consequences.

It might have been more prudent to have taken a year off and reapplied.

 

[Jeffrety]

You'd be a reach for general surgery and ROAD. I hear radiology is declining but not not 227 low. I wouldn't worry about specialities since most doctors end up in IM or FP anyway.

 

[jw3600]

You'd be a reach for general surgery and ROAD. I hear radiology is declining but not not 227 low. I wouldn't worry about specialities since most doctors end up in IM or FP anyway.

Are you really a resident. I can't imagine someone that graduated two years ago would use the acronym ROAD and still expect it to hold meaning. Matching anesthesiology and radiology this year and in the future years with a 227 is an absolute guarantee.

 

[Psai]

Are you really a resident. I can't imagine someone that graduated two years ago would used the acronym ROAD and still expect it to hold meaning. Matching anesthesiology and radiology this year and in the future years with a 227 is an absolute guarantee.

road doesn't mean competitive specialties

 

[J ROD]

I think OP would be competitive for GS, Anes, and Rads as long as rest of application is average, no red flags. I know rads is less competitive. Seen some folks I never would thought get in.

 

[Psai]

I think OP would be competitive for GS, Anes, and Rads as long as rest of application is average, no red flags. I know rads is less competitive. Seen some folks I never would thought get in.

yup everyone knows about rads and anes now

 

[jw3600]

On mobile double post.

 

[jw3600]

road doesn't mean competitive specialties

My post wasn't worded clearly. My point was by no means is the OP not competitive for gas and rads. I felt the "resident" was implying (incorrectly) that gas and rads were competitive when he said they were out of reach.

 

[Frazier]

227 is perfectly okay for Rads.

That ~240 mean doesn't mean much when 93 out of 95 folks match in the 220-230 bracket.

 

[Jeffrety]

I work at the highest levels of medical academia. I dont deal with pond scum community programs so maybe 227 is good enough these days. Either way I dont care. The only rads and anesthesia programs that matter are at the places Im familiar with so I am a subject matter expert. If you want to go to a dead end rads program then try your luck with a 227 at some lowly ranked site in BFE. You def wont get in to my program. We have standards and all our graduates end up in rad/onc or IR; the failures end up in neuroimaging but no one calls themselves a "general "or purely "diagnostic" radiologist around here. Same thing for anesthesia. If you arent on track for a CC fellowship then you matched into a crappy program; prepare to be subjugated by CRNAs, surgeons, OB's, urologists, etc.

 

[notbobtrustme]

I work at the highest levels of medical academia. I dont deal with pond scum community programs so maybe 227 is good enough these days. Either way I dont care. The only rads and anesthesia programs that matter are at the places Im familiar with so I am a subject matter expert. If you want to go to a dead end rads program then try your luck with a 227 at some lowly ranked site in BFE. You def wont get in to my program. We have standards and all our graduates end up in rad/onc or IR; the failures end up in neuroimaging but no one calls themselves a "general "or purely "diagnostic" radiologist around here. Same thing for anesthesia. If you arent on track for a CC fellowship then you matched into a crappy program; prepare to be subjugated by CRNAs, surgeons, OB's, urologists, etc.

oh ya so wut, my daddy trained under osler then had an all expense paid vacation to Europe in 1939.

 

[username456789]

I work at the highest levels of medical academia. I dont deal with pond scum community programs so maybe 227 is good enough these days. Either way I dont care. The only rads and anesthesia programs that matter are at the places Im familiar with so I am a subject matter expert. If you want to go to a dead end rads program then try your luck with a 227 at some lowly ranked site in BFE. You def wont get in to my program. We have standards and all our graduates end up in rad/onc or IR; the failures end up in neuroimaging but no one calls themselves a "general "or purely "diagnostic" radiologist around here. Same thing for anesthesia. If you arent on track for a CC fellowship then you matched into a crappy program; prepare to be subjugated by CRNAs, surgeons, OB's, urologists, etc.

You know, you probably had a few people fooled up until this post. You blatantly jumped the shark with this silly tirade.

Also FYI, radiation oncology is not a sub specialty within radiology.

 

[Psai]

oh ya so wut, my daddy trained under osler then had an all expense paid vacation to Europe in 1939.

my daddy a legend too all over america

 

[Brigade4Radiant]

I work at the highest levels of medical academia. I dont deal with pond scum community programs so maybe 227 is good enough these days. Either way I dont care. The only rads and anesthesia programs that matter are at the places Im familiar with so I am a subject matter expert. If you want to go to a dead end rads program then try your luck with a 227 at some lowly ranked site in BFE. You def wont get in to my program. We have standards and all our graduates end up in rad/onc or IR; the failures end up in neuroimaging but no one calls themselves a "general "or purely "diagnostic" radiologist around here. Same thing for anesthesia. If you arent on track for a CC fellowship then you matched into a crappy program; prepare to be subjugated by CRNAs, surgeons, OB's, urologists, etc.

Lol rad onc? Also medical academia means you get paid less. What is a dead end rads program when getting fellowships isn't that difficult?