Curious about Residency

[Ashers]

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medical student. Until you actually start residency.

I actually just had a conversation about this with some of my friends. Upon further consideration, I was thinking about using "Pre-Health" since that designation is vague. I'm pre-residency, but done with med school. 😉

Maybe there should be an "Intermediate-Health" status. 😀

 

[Law2Doc]

I actually just had a conversation about this with some of my friends. Upon further consideration, I was thinking about using "Pre-Health" since that designation is vague. I'm pre-residency, but done with med school. 😉

Maybe there should be an "Intermediate-Health" status. 😀

Pre-health works too because it doesn't make people think you know more than you do. It's the jumping to the next level prematurely that misleads.

 

[Ashers]

Pre-health works too because it doesn't make people think you know more than you do. It's the jumping to the next level prematurely that misleads.

I agree. I just don't want to be a Medical Student anymore, and I don't think I'm a resident until I start orientation (and start getting paid). It's the doldrums, and I want a new status. =)

Edit: In all seriousness for the status, I was just planning on not having a status until I start. "Doldrums" would be a good status for it though.

 

[45408]

2. Reputation of school- I think that this is huge. It is mainly important as to who is writing your letters of recommendation. In the closer knit fields like plastic surgery a letter from a big name, (most likely at a bigger, known school) speaks much louder than a letter from someone no one has heard of at a smaller school. I am from a school without a plastics department and that actually killed my chances at a lot of places.

I would be much more inclined to think that that was your problem, as opposed to strictly the reputation of your school in general. If you went to a mid-range school that was associated with a hospital with a powerhouse plastic surgery program with lots of well-known surgeons, I'm pretty sure that would take precedence over a "top-ranked" school with a lackluster department. This of course is why US News rankings are to be taken with a bag of salt.

But, as I said to start this only truly applies to those aiming for plastics, derm, optho, etc... Those that are applying to IM, Peds, etc.. can match at great places without AOA, or a high class rank.

Trust me- it is more competetive than you can ever imagine and every little bit helps... Just work hard throughout medical school, do what you can and give yourself every opportunity to do what you want.

For plastics, I believe you. It's just worth reminding everyone that half of all med students are below average. Their LORs are below average, their Step 1 is below average, and most of their grades are below average. And for all that, just about all of them match.

 

[45408]

If you are heavily involved in research prior to starting med school and then a paper or two comes out of that research while you are a first year do you think they will be looked at as inferior also?

Published papers are with you for life. If you've got some big publications, that's great, but if you are applying for a research-heavy kind of spot, and you haven't done research in 5 years, that might look odd.

 

[45408]

Also, who would you rather take advice from? A 4th year resident who forgot the process and is unaware of the changes over the last 4 years.... Someone who just did it has the best idea of what to expect as it is so fresh. By your response I am guessing that you are either still a MS3 or a new 4 or you did not match where you wanted as you seem rather disgruntled.... I am sorry if I offended you or anyone else. I just offered my opinions on the topic and apparently since they differ from your opinion (which by the number of posts you have I am guessing you have a big opinion) you have to get all bent out of shape.

You've made a lot of wrong guesses. I would advise against guessing any more.

 

[LizzyM]

May I suggest this week's article (see link at the top of the page) "Interview with residency applications researcher, Dr. Marianne Green".

Useful info from what appears to be a very reliable source.

 

[Van Chowder]

medical student. Until you actually start residency.

Ohhh that makes sense ( since) WHich word ?!



i like msfieldscookies

 

[richse]

Yes. The "best" research is going to be anything you did in med school. The stuff you did before is still "good", but lots of folks did undergrad research with publications (some coming out in first year), and while that was deemed as "useful" on the ERAS application, it still wasn't deemed quite as valuable as stuff done while in med school. Much like what you did in high school doesn't mean much on AMCAS compared to stuff you did in college. At least that's what the mentors told me. You list it all on the application anyhow. But the sad truth is that there is nothing you can do before you start med school to help you in terms of residency. That's when the game starts.

My question might not have been clear. If the papers come out while you are in medical school or even during the summer after first year, how will they know that the papers were not from research you did while in medical school?

 

[Law2Doc]

... If the papers come out while you are in medical school or even during the summer after first year, how will they know that the papers were not from research you did while in medical school?

Because not only do you list publications on ERAS, but you presumably are going to list the research leading up to this as a research activity/employment. It isn't rocket science to match up the two. (It's also pretty obvious when someone has a publication come out very early in first year -- not that many people have the time to squeeze a ton of research on top of the usual first year fare.) As mentioned LOTS of people do undergrad research which has papers which come out later. But more recent research, AFTER you have started med school, is, for whatever reason, deemed more valuable by PDs. Again, you still get to list the pre-med school research and publications on ERAS -- it's just not going to be given the same weight as research and publications you were involved in after you start. Sorry. (I was in the same boat). So plan on doing some more research if you are seeking something uber competitive. The nice thing is that research at the med school level (esp the summer after first year) is more often paid, so it's not a total loss.

 

[atomi]

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[Law2Doc]

WTF, who cares?

The folks who are trying to evaluate advice based on status. That's sort of the point of giving status. Because info about med school is more likely meaningful coming from a med student than a premed, etc. There is another thread where this topic was discussed more extensively.