Current MS3...Messed up early in medical school

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MS3Hopeless

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Current MS3, going to start 4th year. At a low ranked allopathic school in the Northeast.

When I started medical school, I failed two classes my first year. This triggered repeating the entire first year of medical school. I guess I was depressed during my repeating year, and I only passed all of my classes during that year. Went through second year getting all passes, and scored a 220 on step 1. After step 1, I decided to take a leave of absence and get a MPH (1 year). Came back, and made 3 HPs in IM, Neuro and Pysch, and the rest are passes in third year. I still have a few third year rotations left, but for the sake of this thread, I am assuming I don't fail any rotations and I just get passes on my remaining rotations.

Research: (somewhat decent, but then again, I had a lot more time than other students who finished medical school in 4 years).
1, second author paper (neurology)
2, First author papers (neurology)
A few cases reports here and there.
A few poster presentations from my papers at a few conferences.

I am having trouble figuring out what specialities I have a shot at. I resisted the urge to get too attached to a medical speciality during my third year, because I know that am a below average student and thus didn't want to become too interested in a speciality that I have zero chance of matching into. I like doing research, so idk if I would have a shot at any academic programs.

I guess what I am asking is, what fields can I rule out? I have ruled out anything related to surgery for myself since I hate surgery.

Any shot at the following: radiology (anywhere), a mid-tier academic IM program, mid-tier academic anesthesiology programs, or mid-tier academic neuro programs? I would like to stay in the northeast, or West Coast if possible, florida would be nice too. Again these are just some preferences. Obviously, location and academic nature of programs are things I am flexible with because I know I was a terrible student.
 
Rule out: Radiology, opthalmology, anesthesiology (though still possible), dermatology. Most other specialties aren't ruled out, but it will be a struggle for some unless you have extreme flexibility about location.

Some fields that are very doable: IM, FM, neurology, pediatrics, PM&R

There are other specialties that are doable, and I'd suggest you peruse this document to find out what they are: http://www.nrmp.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Charting-Outcomes-2014-Final.pdf
 
Radiology is a special case--competitive at the top but there are a lot of spots. more spots than applicants. Overall much less competitive than 10 years ago. You could get in somewhere, just not a desirable location or top program.
 
Sorry you had such a rough go at the beginning, but congrats on turning things around and getting to this point. That's no easy feat. Charting Outcomes is a great resource but certainly has its limitations, especially that it doesn't tell you anything about how repeating a year may have impacted people. My gut feeling says that nothing you mentioned is totally out of reach, but you obviously have an uphill battle ahead of you to overcome the red flag. If radiology is your desired field, I would start meeting with faculty at your school and getting some personalized advice. You have a decent application overall not counting the repeated year, though obviously adding some radiology research would be nice if that's your desired field. If neuro is what you really love, then start meeting with those folks -- you clearly must have some mentors in the department, so I'd start with them. Get some honest feedback about your chances and what, if anything, you can do to maximize them.

You'll need a good story for why you failed. The big reason it's a red flag is that people will wonder why someone who did pretty well afterwards managed to fail. The knee-jerk reaction everyone has to that situation is: substance abuse? mental illness? immaturity? You will need a good story along with strong letters and maybe even some aways to convince programs that you're not a risk.
 
tantacles said:
Rule out: Radiology, opthalmology, anesthesiology (though still possible), dermatology. Most other specialties aren't ruled out, but it will be a struggle for some unless you have extreme flexibility about location.

Some fields that are very doable: IM, FM, neurology, pediatrics, PM&R

There are other specialties that are doable, and I'd suggest you peruse this document to find out what they are: http://www.nrmp.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Charting-Outcomes-2014-Final.pdf
Click to expand...

why no rads? rads really isn't competitive anymore
 
tantacles said:
Rule out: Radiology, opthalmology, anesthesiology (though still possible), dermatology. Most other specialties aren't ruled out, but it will be a struggle for some unless you have extreme flexibility about location.

Some fields that are very doable: IM, FM, neurology, pediatrics, PM&R

There are other specialties that are doable, and I'd suggest you peruse this document to find out what they are: http://www.nrmp.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Charting-Outcomes-2014-Final.pdf
Click to expand...
You should immediately discount the advice of anyone who gives advice on the basis of the ridiculous ROAD acronym (like this person)

You need to look beyond "mid tier" and "academic" if you want to have options. Radiology shouldn't be a problem as long as you don't mind a community program. You can prob find an academic anesthesia program. For IM you'll prob need to look into community programs or academic programs in less desirable locations that have difficulty attracting US MDs. Neuro shouldn't be a problem. It's more important to end up in a specialty you like rather than a mid tier or academic program.
 
I would think all that neuro research plus the hp on your rotation could be leveraged into some decent neuro program interviews...
 
R.O.A.D is dead (minus derm). Welcome to the new age. Yes, you have a chance at Rads if you are flexible. I would r/o surgical subspecialities, and derm.
 
Do what you like. Residency is just a few years; it's a limited amount of time. But you're probably going to have to work in the specialty that you choose for the rest of your life. So don't base your decision off of what you think you might get or off of trying to get into a mid-tier or academic program. Do what you like, wherever it takes you. If you can see yourself doing Radiology until you're old, pick that. If you really like Neuro, choose that instead, etc.
 
I'll echo that rads is very doable. Average step score is deceptive. Applicant pool has taken a nosedive. If I submitted eras last month I could pull a few interviews and I'm not even going rads (exaggeration. Slightly.)
 
Tri723 said:
R.O.A.D is dead (minus derm). Welcome to the new age. Yes, you have a chance at Rads if you are flexible. I would r/o surgical subspecialities, and derm.
Click to expand...
whats the new road then?
 
just D for derm. nothing else is really cush.
 
MS3Hopeless said:
Current MS3, going to start 4th year. At a low ranked allopathic school in the Northeast.

When I started medical school, I failed two classes my first year. This triggered repeating the entire first year of medical school. I guess I was depressed during my repeating year, and I only passed all of my classes during that year. Went through second year getting all passes, and scored a 220 on step 1. After step 1, I decided to take a leave of absence and get a MPH (1 year). Came back, and made 3 HPs in IM, Neuro and Pysch, and the rest are passes in third year. I still have a few third year rotations left, but for the sake of this thread, I am assuming I don't fail any rotations and I just get passes on my remaining rotations.

Research: (somewhat decent, but then again, I had a lot more time than other students who finished medical school in 4 years).
1, second author paper (neurology)
2, First author papers (neurology)
A few cases reports here and there.
A few poster presentations from my papers at a few conferences.

I am having trouble figuring out what specialities I have a shot at. I resisted the urge to get too attached to a medical speciality during my third year, because I know that am a below average student and thus didn't want to become too interested in a speciality that I have zero chance of matching into. I like doing research, so idk if I would have a shot at any academic programs.

I guess what I am asking is, what fields can I rule out? I have ruled out anything related to surgery for myself since I hate surgery.

Any shot at the following: radiology (anywhere), a mid-tier academic IM program, mid-tier academic anesthesiology programs, or mid-tier academic neuro programs? I would like to stay in the northeast, or West Coast if possible, florida would be nice too. Again these are just some preferences. Obviously, location and academic nature of programs are things I am flexible with because I know I was a terrible student.
Click to expand...

You will match into Radiology. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Look at the 2014 match outcomes:-
92 % of the people with 201-210 USMLE Step 1 score matched.
95 % of the people with 211-220 USMLE Step 1 score matched.
97.8 % of the people with 221-230 USMLE Step 1 score matched.

I don't know why the hell people think Radiology is so competitive. It used to be but not anymore. Sure you will NOT match at a decent place but you can get a residency in Radiology somewhere and that's more than enough.

The things you can't do are:-
Plastic surgery, ENT, Dermatology, Orthopedic surgery, Opthamology, Urology.
Really other than those you can do anything you want.
 
no, but I guess PP of any medicine you can basically practice as much as you want
 
qw098 said:
You think derm will stay cush for the next 50 years?
Click to expand...
YES

What's going to happen after 50 years? Are people going to start having massive life threatening pimple explosions in the middle of the night that requires all Derm folks to be on call?
lol
 
You will get into rads or anesthsiology and mid tier IM just apply broadly you have nothing to worry about.
 
DrBowtie said:
There are lots of bad radiology programs.
Click to expand...

Really? Curious which ones. I've read another member, I think another resident, say that all rads programs are good. Rads used to be very competitive to get into until very recently so to me it makes more sense that most if not all the programs would be good. Sure new spots have opened but I'm not sure if those are at new programs, or just new spots at existing programs.
 
PL198 said:
are you talking about the direct pathways? if not, I have no idea why IR is off the table is rads is still on it
Click to expand...

Yes, direct pathways. Though I believe IR fellowships are very competitive and at least partially dependent on where you did your DR residency. Kind of like derm/mohs, but probably to a lesser extreme.
 
Rads- easy to get a residency, difficult to get a job (except endless fellowship after fellowship).
 
are the direct pathways even open for this application cycle?
 
sazerac said:
Rads- easy to get a residency, difficult to get a job (except endless fellowship after fellowship).
Click to expand...

endless fellowship after endless fellowship? I've never heard of someone doing more than 2.
 
WinslowPringle said:
Looks like rad IR residency starts accepting applicants for the 2015-2016 match. http://www.sirweb.org/misc/IR_ResFAQs_FINALFINAL_102714.pdf . IR fellowships are currently reasonably competitive; I'd guess that the IR residency would be fairly competitive as well.

But diagnostic radiology is definitely doable, OP, as is neuro.
Click to expand...
It doesn't look like their are any specific accredited IR residencies available yet. Probably won't be much to choose from for at least another 5 years or so.
 
I think the DIRECT program is the only thing available right now. From what I've read it requires 1-2 years of residency (I guess like a TY or prelim?) before you can apply for it.
 
Serous Demilune said:
It doesn't look like their are any specific accredited IR residencies available yet. Probably won't be much to choose from for at least another 5 years or so.
Click to expand...

damn it I was hoping for some to be going by 2017 match
 
For those suggesting 2 fellowships for rads in today's environment is something of a norm, I really don't think that is the case. And i'd rather not go right now into why i know so cause ive got some studying to do haha.
 
The 2015-2016 match is set to be the first IR residency cohort; ACGME has approved the residency and the RRC is in the process of reviewing applicant programs currently. Sounds like some will be reading for the match this fall; first grad is tentatively scheduled for 2017 (through transfer process). http://www.sirweb.org/clinical/IR_DR_cert.shtml#Timeline

The DIRECT pathway requires two initial years of training...but can also be applied to directly from med school? I don't really understand that part. But it looks like there are some good places involved. http://www.theabr.org/ic-dr-direct-pathway
 
WinslowPringle said:
The 2015-2016 match is set to be the first IR residency cohort; ACGME has approved the residency and the RRC is in the process of reviewing applicant programs currently. Sounds like some will be reading for the match this fall; first grad is tentatively scheduled for 2017 (through transfer process). http://www.sirweb.org/clinical/IR_DR_cert.shtml#Timeline

The DIRECT pathway requires two initial years of training...but can also be applied to directly from med school? I don't really understand that part. But it looks like there are some good places involved. http://www.theabr.org/ic-dr-direct-pathway
Click to expand...
Looks like you're right. Any ideas about which programs might be ready by then?
 
I heard from a Diagnostic Radiology resident that you pretty much have to do a fellowship these days.
 
Radiology isn't that competitive you can get a job somewhere if you do a Mammo fellowship
 
You can do radiology at a lower-tier program. You can also do IM/Anes/Neuro somewhere. In terms of mid-tier with your choices, I would guess your chances are Neuro > Anes > IM.

You will have to do at least 1 fellowship after your radiology residency.
 
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