Defer Rads this cycle?

[Madhatter]

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Hello everyone,

I just decided to pursue Radiology for this match cycle, however I feel grossly unprepared to apply. I'm an MS4 and I have zero research experience, I rank in the middle third of my class (3.5 GPA) with a Step I score of 236. Would you advise taking a year off to improve my stats/research and save money rather than applying this match cycle (is it futile for me to try?)?

thanks for the feedback!

 

[Taurus]

You should be fine. Apply broadly.

I know someone who scored below average on step 1 and failed one of the critical core rotations and still got in somewhere.

 

[Amxcvbcv]

Hello everyone,

I just decided to pursue Radiology for this match cycle, however I feel grossly unprepared to apply. I'm an MS4 and I have zero research experience, I rank in the middle third of my class (3.5 GPA) with a Step I score of 236. Would you advise taking a year off to improve my stats/research and save money rather than applying this match cycle (is it futile for me to try?)?

thanks for the feedback!

Sure, take a year off and apply with next year's class, so I don't have to worry about you competing for my spot.


Seriously, your statistics are solid. You should match unless you're crazy about where you apply/interview.

 

[gonogo]

Hello everyone,

I just decided to pursue Radiology for this match cycle, however I feel grossly unprepared to apply. I'm an MS4 and I have zero research experience, I rank in the middle third of my class (3.5 GPA) with a Step I score of 236. Would you advise taking a year off to improve my stats/research and save money rather than applying this match cycle (is it futile for me to try?)?

thanks for the feedback!

Are you being serious?

 

[fun8stuff]

Hello everyone,

I just decided to pursue Radiology for this match cycle, however I feel grossly unprepared to apply. I'm an MS4 and I have zero research experience, I rank in the middle third of my class (3.5 GPA) with a Step I score of 236. Would you advise taking a year off to improve my stats/research and save money rather than applying this match cycle (is it futile for me to try?)?

thanks for the feedback!

...more anecdotal evidence.... i know of someone who decided in early October they wanted to do radiology with similar stats and they got a position at a solid community program.

 

[Madhatter]

This may be a silly question, but how can I know which programs are less competitive (so I can tailor my applications somewhat)?

 

[gonogo]

This may be a silly question, but how can I know which programs are less competitive (so I can tailor my applications somewhat)?

But honestly, with all due respect, what is it that you find so wrong with your credentials? Your step 1 score is slightly above the avg score of those who matched last year. So definitely your score won't prevent you from getting interviews. Your GPA is fairly good. Now you just have to focus on the other parts of your application. Try to get very strong LORs, start doing some research, etc...

 

[IheartCaffeine]

This may be a silly question, but how can I know which programs are less competitive (so I can tailor my applications somewhat)?

I don't think it's a silly question.
The more competitive programs are the university programs, so anything that says "university of xyz" will be more competitive. The less competitive programs are the community programs based at private hospitals. For example, I'm in chicago, so the big university programs are u.of chicago and northwestern, and the smaller community programs include st.francis - evanston, and advocate illinois masonic, which are quite reachable. if you want to go to a university program, you have to have some solid research behind you. I've heard that for the community programs, a lot of them couldn't care less about research. Even if you have non-rads research it's prob. enough to make you competitive for the community programs. Oh, also, anywhere in California is automatically very competitive. Big cities on the coasts are going to be more competitive than smaller cities.

btw, im applying this year as well, and i think you have some solid stats. assuming you're a US medical student, and you have realistic expectations, you'll match somewhere. i wouldn't want to wait a year. this process is soo darn long as it is. just go for it.

 

[Madhatter]

Thank you all for the replies. I may not be able to get in much research before interviews, how many univ based programs do I need to apply to in the hopes of matching?

 

[Madhatter]

I'm really interested in the Chicago area or the NE, which programs do I have a better chance of matching at (my scores are 236 on step 1, and 3.5 gpa (middle third of my class))? I ask because I am trying to do externships, so I want to know where I have the best shot.