Delay Match for a Year

[unstablecriteria]

---

Members don't see this ad.

-

 

[BorntobeDO?]

You want to add another red flag (delaying a year) to the red flags you already have? Seems like a bad idea.

 

[christmasindr]

What your adviser suggested sounds very reasonable. If you are able to find some sort of projects or even another master degree to keep you occupied during your gap year, I don't see why not?

 

[Mad Jack]

You're in bad shape for matching psych these days. It's not as uncompetitive as it used to be, with even lower tier programs struggling to juggle 1,000+ apps. So you have to really ask yourself, what do you offer to a program if you graduate straight through? What do you offer if you spend an extra year? I don't think your odds are that great unless you destroy Step 2 and have some fantastic letters and connections. I think the extra year might be the right decision given your Step failure and other red flags, but I would be more worried about matching at all at this point than matching psych. Have a backup plan, and good luck.

 

[unstablecriteria]

-

 

[W19]

You really think I'd have trouble matching anything even though I'd be a US MD grad and if I apply really broadly?? My advisor also said obviously to dual apply FM. On Charting Outcomes it shows that there's around 90 match rate for people with my scores for Psych/FM. Is having M4 year LORs/electives crucial for applying/ is it acceptable to add Step 2 CK/ LORs after Sept 15 submission?

But charting the outcomes does not say how many times people take the steps. Psych is getting very popular now among med students, so it will be an uphill battle like @Mad Jack is saying.

I know someone from my school (low tier MD) who did not match psych last year with a low step1/2 (Only one attempt in both), and he told me he applied to +50 programs.

 

[unstablecriteria]

-

 

[W19]

What did that oerson end up doing? It sounds like you all are saying I should for sure apply to FM as well. Obviously nothing is guaranteed but I feel like I should match somewhere if I apply to both FM/Psych like everywhere....

He had to scramble (or SOAP) for a preliminary position... He is applying this year again (not sure if FM or IM) because he told me months ago that he was not going to apply to psych again....

 

[Snoopy2006]

To be clear, delayed graduation is only a red flag when it's done because someone couldn't get through in 4 years. Taking a research year is common in competitive specialties and adds to your application. I have no psych specific insight but your advisor is being cautious. A fail and then a low pass on Step 1 is a big problem regardless of where you go to school. It also doesn't predict a great Step 2 score.

Your advisor is being cautious, yes, but it doesn't mean she's not giving sound advice. If I were in your shoes I'd get advice from my home PD in my field of interest or a chief resident that's sat in on ranking meetings, and then make a decision. OTOH if you take a "research year" but don't publish it's not going to help you and might only add to your red flags so I'd make sure I have a solid research opportunity lined up before going that route.

 

[DrSnips]

To be clear, delayed graduation is only a red flag when it's done because someone couldn't get through in 4 years.

True, but ERAS will include your transcripts, so everyone will know what happened here. There is no way to play this off as "just a research year".

 

[arcus]

Hi everyone, I'm a 3rd year at a low ranked US medical school ...

I know I won't match into a top program but ideally I'd like to be somewhere decent. Unfortunately, I failed Step 1 on my first attempt and then passed on my second attempt but by a few points only sadly..

I think you need to manage your expectations. Going to a “low ranked” school isnt a problem. Those graduates match. Period. If you should be so lucky. Yet you want to match “somewhere decent”. Alaska, Montana, New Mexico, Idaho, BFE never looked so good considering you failed Step 1 and passed marginally on second attempt. You are a liability on many fronts but foremost because of your attitude.

Attached I have included the 2016 NRMP Program Director Survey statistics of medical students who fail Step 1 and the percentage of programs (All Specialties and Psych) that will consider them. Once you view the numbers these should adjust your attitude and hopefully light a fire in you. You are lucky to be in medical school in the USA. Cherish that!

http://www.nrmp.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/NRMP-2016-Program-Director-Survey.pdf

Suggestion: step back, manage your expectations, and work like the devil to crush Step 2 CK and get stellar LOR that would make the dead sit up and flash you a thumbs up. If you can accomplish the latter, about 35% of Psych Program Directors might consider you for an interview. From there your interview determines all.

If you pull it off you will be called Doctor and will be on your way to being board certified in something. Good luck.

 

[583380]

----

 

[unstablecriteria]

-

 

[deleted480308]

Matching into psych will be HARD at this point...if you don’t believe us, ask your home PD your odds of matching at home....you’re going to find them hemmig and hawing and unable to come close to begging you to stay.

You failed and then barely passed. Your step 2 is going to be huge for your ability to get anything in psych, if you barely pass step 2 you aren’t a pyschiatrist unless you God grants you a miracle

Fm will still take you and you can be a doctor still. But you really need to pass step 2. Don’t try to rush and risk that. Do whatever must be done to do well on step2.