DO applying only ACGME radiology?

[Melkor]

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3rd year DO student here trying to decide if I can comfortably only apply to ACGME programs for this next cycle (along with a few other random questions). I was thinking of applying to 15-20 "safety programs" (not sure if there are such things as ACGME safety programs for DO students), 15 programs that would be considered middle tier and then a fair amount of "reach programs" (haven't decided yet). Probably looking at around 40-55 programs total all over the country if I had to guess right now. The only place I would not like to live is in the South but other than that I have no preference for one region over another.

Stats thus far are; step 1 257, shelf scores all 90+ percentile with 2 remaining, step 2 unknown (will probably take in June, expecting 250+ I guess...), Top 5% of class, extracurriculars I assume are the same as everyone else (nothing spectacular), only 3 LORs currently (1 in family-my weakest one, good but not rock star quality, 1 in psych-best one/excellent letter, 1 in DR from decently big name in research-somewhere in between my family and psych one for quality), goal will be to get a great one in IM or peds and hopefully get a better one in family before applications go out. Since personality during the interview is huge I think it warrants a brief mention (without trying to sound smug I guess). I think I have a pretty easy going personality. I assume most people would consider myself to be laid back in general (a lot of my close friends and family have told me they would "love" to see me blow up on someone b/c I just never have before...). I do think I'm probably too much of a "yes-man" which I could foresee being off-putting to some programs.

I have not done any research during med school, have some undergrad projects but nothing spectacular (a few poster presentations). My school does however give us a month off anytime 4th year for research and I was trying to decide if it would be better to spend one of my early months 4th year trying to get a better LOR in family or use it for research (working w/the DR academic guy).

Now with all that in mind, thoughts on entirely skipping the AOA match and only applying ACGME or should I do both just in case and remove myself from the AOA match if things start looking good on the other side. I have a few different reasons (won't get into right now) for not wanting to do the AOA match but if the general consensus is that it would be a good idea, I would.

 

[Dr Skeptismo]

With your scores, I think you'll have a great shot of matching an ACGME program in any part of the country. I say this as a current DO 4th yr who had a slightly lower step 1, but still got plenty of interviews from great programs across the US. You could try adding an IM or surg LOR to your app if you're looking to beef it up. Those clerkships tend to be tougher, so a LOR from a surg attending may carry more weight than one from a touchy-feely psych rotation(no offense to psych). No one really mentioned my DR letter, unless they knew the guy that wrote it, but I had a few comment on my OB/GYN and surg letters.

DR is still a tough field to break into, but it's currently a buyer's market for applicants. Unless something major happens, I don't see that changing next year, so it might not be a bad idea to add more "reach" programs to your list. You have a great step 1 score, and it might surprise you how many programs will want to meet you based on that alone.

 

[Fitz H. Curtis]

Based on my experience this past year, you will have no trouble matching ACGME. I only took COMLEX, scores upper 500's, no research, great letters, extremely laid back/"likable" personality (for lack of an easier way to say it), applied to only 10 programs and had 6 interviews. I basically stuck with community programs and smaller university programs in the midwest, but was shocked at the interviews I received. My biggest mistake was not applying to enough TY's, so make sure to apply broadly to those in areas similar to those that you will be applying to Rads.

I ended up ranking 3 DO programs and happily matched to my top choice, but having received a fair number of emails from MD programs that can't find my name in the NRMP database to rank me, I feel confident I wold have matched MD had I foregone DO. Also, Rads applications are trending down right now, so that will also help your odds. So, this is only one experience, but I would imagine you will be a competitive applicant for MD programs.

Feel free to PM me if you have any other questions.

 

[qxrt]

It is not difficult nowadays for DOs to get into an ACGME radiology residency. It only becomes difficult if you are aiming at top programs or ones in competitive locations (e.g. California, Boston, etc.).