do I have a chance?

[cookiegrub]

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Step 1: 227
Step 2: TBD

Research: 1 poster in ENT

I have always been interested in neuro and would like to go into a lifestyle friendly (balanced) specialty that also has a surgical component. After shadowing ENT, I don't really feel a draw toward this field and am starting to wean back to ophtho. Problem is my step score. I am already planning for a year off but I don't know if it will make a difference. How can I improve my application as I was in a traditional graded curriculum that made me focus only on classes my first 2 years. I only had 2 leadership positions during med school so far and was hoping to apply to another one this year only to find that it has been taken. I also have no ophtho home program.

 

[clayito]

A little tough love...

It sounds like you are not sure what you want to do and are wandering around. This deep into medical school, it’s time to make a decision. My advice would be figure out what you want to do, then put all your effort into that field/specialty with research/publications, developing relationships within the specialty, and the like.

If you keep wandering, you have very little chance at matching into a competitive specialty like ophthalmology. You are competing with many highly qualified applicants who have worked their butts off and are passionate about the field. With your step 1 score, you need publications within the field, meaningful connections to at least one or two well respected ophthalmologists who can write letters/make phone calls, and meaningful volunteer work/experience within the field. Actually, applicants need all that stuff even with a great step 1 score.

A year off is not a bad idea if you make good use of it. A year passes in a flash, so you would need to go into that year with a specific plan and well-defined goals.

It will take hard work and dedication. Matching into ophthalmology with your step 1 score is possible, but you have to kick things in gear now and realize you may not match even if you do everything right from here.

My 2 cents, and I wish you well.

cdh

 

[cookiegrub]

A little tough love...

It sounds like you are not sure what you want to do and are wandering around. This deep into medical school, it’s time to make a decision. My advice would be figure out what you want to do, then put all your effort into that field/specialty with research/publications, developing relationships within the specialty, and the like.

If you keep wandering, you have very little chance at matching into a competitive specialty like ophthalmology. You are competing with many highly qualified applicants who have worked their butts off and are passionate about the field. With your step 1 score, you need publications within the field, meaningful connections to at least one or two well respected ophthalmologists who can write letters/make phone calls, and meaningful volunteer work/experience within the field. Actually, applicants need all that stuff even with a great step 1 score.

A year off is not a bad idea if you make good use of it. A year passes in a flash, so you would need to go into that year with a specific plan and well-defined goals.

It will take hard work and dedication. Matching into ophthalmology with your step 1 score is possible, but you have to kick things in gear now and realize you may not match even if you do everything right from here.

My 2 cents, and I wish you well.

cdh

Thank you, I have some time off earlier this year and I will try to shadow an ophthalmologist and then subsequently approach my surgical chair. I know that reality will be that I am climbing an uphill battle but I am willing to work my butt off and give this a chance so in the future I don't regret not trying.