dog days

[GeddyLee]

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With all this anxious waiting for interview invitations, I must say I'm feeling a little crazy. Checking email every hour, checking voice mail, looking to the daily mail check with nervous impatience, all of this is now the norm. The question is, is it too early to even be anxious? I've gotten interview requests from
UT-galveston, Summa Health- Akron, and UF-Gainesville. But I haven't heard a word from Baylor, Wilmer, Emory, etc.

So here I am feeling the doomsday epitome of pessimistic anxiety as I await word from the programs to which I applied. If interview requests come late, does it mean you are a second or third choice candidate? Should I take my paucity of interview offers at this early stage as a sign that I should consider a backup plan to ophthalmology? Reading this board and seeing the reports of interview invitations extended to places which I applied, but have not heard from, I'm left wondering which way things may go for me.

I also feel the tension in reading other posts which ask when is it time to worry, and is the game up already. I guess the purpose of this post is not only to receive insight into my questions, but also to give us a place to vent. This is going to be one stressful ordeal, to which I can't hardly wait the conclusion in January. May God go with us all.

Geddy
Call out for direction
And there's no one there to steer
Shout out for salvation
But there's no one there to hear
Cry out supplication
For the maelstrom is near
Scream out desperation
But no one cares to hear

 

[idoc]

We're all in the same boat!

I've gotten a few ophtho interviews so far, but I haven't heard from the 36 other programs I applied to. So, I guess we all are just waiting...together. I know that a lot of schools haven't even met to review the applications, so there is no need to stress. I called Duke on friday, and they don't even send out their first batch of interview invites until Nov. 7th. So my take on it is that the upper tier programs (wills, wilmer, duke, emory, etc.) probably wait until they get all the apps. and then make a hoity toity list of who they want to interview. They can afford to do this late, whereas some of the other programs need to snag quality candidates early. This is just my take and what I tell myself so that I can sleep at night. just kidding. Hope this helps. And yes, I check my email voicemail snailmail, and this forum compulsively too.

 

[JR]

It's amazing how we all are going through the same thing. I am sure we all applied broadly, and it seem that most (at least people who post) already got 3-4 interviews (I am in the same boat- MCW, UT-Southwestern, LSU). When I read other peoples posts I can't help but wonder- what makes a particular program invite this particular applicant this early in the game: is it the med school they are coming from, their boards, research, etc., etc.

Anyways, back to compulsive e-mail checking...

J

 

[nyeyes]

everyone needs to chill. It is still so early in the game. I know that most nyc programs begin to invite in Nov, & I'm guessing that's what happens elsewhere. So, if u have 1 interview & it's late Nov. then u have reason to be concerned.. In the meantime, it's 4th yr - enjoy..

 

[DO for ophtho]

So far just one interview here 🙁 Anyone else out there had similar trouble?

 

[jonnyboy]

hey DO for ophtho, i wouldn't count yourself out so soon. if you take a closer look at who has offered interviews, you'll notice that it looks like less than half of the programs have even sent out invites. hang in there buddy. i know it's frustrating, but i think you have more hope than you're giving yourself credit.

 

[GeddyLee]

I applied to 46 programs, mostly "middle tier" and a few top programs and so far have gotten 5 interviews. This seems like too few for mid October.

I've told NO by Boston MC, Baylor, Vanderbilt, but heard nothing from most of the programs. Do you guys think it's a bad sign that I've only gotten 5? I'm wondering if I need to come up with a back up plan.

Geddy

 

[Redhawk]

Wasn't the average about 7 last year for people who matched? You still have half of October and all of November. I would be surprised if your total didn't at least double. From what I know, it doesn't sound like you're in that bad of shape. The next 4 weeks will be big.

 

[yagmd]

Guys (and gals),

Chill out, it's way to early to start panicking about interviews. Many programs still have not begun inviting people for interviews. Keep in mind that people who have received interviews are more likely to post than those who haven't. I have been told by many people that mid October is the peak season for interview offers.

Moreover, you have to check the status of the places you actually applied to. It may be that the majority of the places you applied to haven't started inviting people. As far as I know, only 4 of the 24 places I applied to have invited anyone yet. As has been mentioned on previous posts, different programs invite earlier or later depending on their preferences, the strength of the program, geography, etc.

That being said, let's keep each other posted on what places have offered interviews so that we can gauge our progress.

Hang in there...

 

[tenon]

I agree with Yagmd. It's way too early to be getting nervous. Geddy, you're in great shape right now. OD, the game's not over yet. If you look at the average last year of 7.7 interviews per matched applicant, 3-5 at this time is great.

 

[DO for ophtho]

I applied to 25 programs. I contacted about 50, however, only about half of those would accept my DO board scores. Unfortunately, during the time Step 1 of USMLE was being offered, I did not know that I was going to be pursuing such a competitive field and that taking the USMLE would be so crucial. Because it is mid Oct and I have just one interview so far, I can't help but think of what my back up plan should be. My thoughts so far are to try to do a year of research at a high profile institute, work hard, get good letters, probably take USMLE step 1 and reapply. Any thoughts on this strategy?? My other option is to do a transitional year and reapply. I appreciate the support on this forum. This process is stressful for all of us, and I appreciate the advice and support I have received so far. Thanks 🙂

 

[DO for ophtho]

No I am not going to give up that easily.

 

[jonnyboy]

atta boy DO, don't let Icewoman's chilling comments get to you! We still have some time before you need to start looking into next year, let alone another career. Even if worse comes to worse, it looks like you have a good plan. It's a rough time and it's hard not to get obsessively worried about the whole process. Hang in there.

 

[Redhawk]

Yeah, keep your head up. Just in case you didn't know, the program director for OSU is a DO, though I don't think he went to OU. So worst case scenario perhaps you could contact him and ask his advice, or maybe even do something there next year. You still have quite a time to get interviews though, so here's hoping that won't be necessary. Good luck.

 

[n.e.r.d.]

D.O. I totally know how you feel. i too only have one invitation so far, but if you know that this is what you want to do, just stick with it. this might be an uphill climb, but somehow, things will work out. worse case scenario would be to not match, but then you will just re-apply. and i wouldn't take icewoman's remark very seriously. i know for a fact that wilmer just began reviewing applications so i'd be hard pressed to believe that she really heard from wilmer on 9/15. at least you're honest...

 

[grafnburgz]

Ophtho is tough enough for anyone out there trying to apply. We're all in the same boat. The fact is, many, if not most, people at my school chose the D.O. path over an MD acceptance. Yes, we all know there's still some resistence to D.O.'s in surgical subspecialties, but anyone that went D.O. already has a pattern of taking the road less taken, and they should already be used to climbing uphill. Now is the time for everyone to encourage each other and support each other... not dismantle our efforts.

PS... my buddy last year from the class ahead of me matched to an allopathic derm..... without research, without kissing up to anyone... just pure hard work and good grades. Anything is possible... It just takes one place to accept you.

Good luck everyone

 

[idoc]

We all need to keep a level head, and think practically about this issue. First of all, it will be hard for anyone to match in ophthalmology who hasn't taken the USMLE. That is just reality. Even if a DO had done great on step 1, I think they are still discriminated against unfairly. That is also a reality. A myth is to think that the majority of people choose DO over MD. I'm not saying that MD's are better doctors, but I would say they tend to have better pre-med credentials and thus can get in to MD schools. I also think everyone needs to get off Icewoman's back. She merely interjected a dose of reality therapy. I would be happy in many fields of medicine, and it is important not to get fixated on the idea of something without adequately exploring all options. That being said, I encourage anyone to pursue their dreams and not let anyone or anything deter them from getting want they want. Just as an aside, the retina fellow and a chief resident in ophtho at my (allopathic) school are both DO's. Good Luck DO.

 

[DO for ophtho]

I can see where Ice Woman is coming from. It is not going to be easy for me to break into such a competitive allopathic residency, but the fact is, DO's do manage to get in here and there. I am going to give it my best shot.......take a year to do research, take USMLE, and try again. If at that point, I still have not made it, then I may have to start exploring other career choices in medicine, but until then, I am going to try to work as hard as I can to achieve my goal. Thanks for the support out there, it really is appreciated.

 

[DO for ophtho]

I do not have any unrealistic hopes. I am well aware of what I am up against and the up-hill battle that I am facing. This is what I want to do, and I am going to make every effort to make that happen. Who are you to tell me its impossible? DOs are not second class citizens, and it is ignorant and short sighted people like you that contribute to the unnecessary bias out there. When its all said and done, we will both be doctors doing the same surgeries and prescribing the same medications. I would expect more maturity out of someone who touts her double digit interviews. Just a thought.

 

[DO for ophtho]

"Most of the DO's that I have ever run across are scrappy people practicing in the crappy parts of town -- positions where no MD in his right mind (beside FMGs) would want to practice in."

Having written that in a different forum, gee, I wonder why I think you are ignorant and short-sighted? As far as I know, there isn't a medication a MD can prescribe that a DO can't or a surgery that a MD can perform but a DO can't. There may not be as many DO's who specialize, but there are DOs in every specialty out there.....even ophthalmology....the program director at Ohio State for one, not to mention the DO student from Michigan they accepted last year. Your bias is offensive and alarming. Your education at a top 10 school didn't do much to foster any maturity. Are you going to look down your nose at patients as well?

 

[GeddyLee]

Well this thread has certainly gotten out of hand.

 

[OphthoBean]

Icewoman, you are transparent. You treat people rudely and then try to brush it aside like you are a poor little innocent "just" trying to make neutral little points.

The fact is that you specifically targeted DO for ophtho to change his career plans and implied that if he does match it would be by mere luck while you and other MDs would match on merit. It is apparent by your comments here and in the osteopathic boards (where you are a troll) that you have a problem with DOs and esp the thought of DOs in ophtho.

The fact is that there are MD applicants facing few or no interview invitations yet you are not telling them to not let the door hit them on the way out. No one wants to raise false hopes, yet there is no need for your rude tone.

You called for facts...on how many DOs are ophtho residents. The fact is there are not very many, but who cares? The fact is that most DOs are interested in primary care fields or emergency medicine. The fact is that in most of the 20 DO schools there may be zero to 2 students interested in ophtho. In schools affiliated with an ophtho program maybe there could be up to 5 per year...no where near the 10 or so in each of the 100-something MD schools. The fact is that most of these DOs go into one of the 8 DO residency programs so the number of DO applicants in the SF Match is extremely, extremely low.

The fact is that you could probably count the number of DO applicants on one hand, yet, every year a good percentage of these rare applicants are successful not because of luck, but because they are good candidates. Those that are unsuccessful may have made simple mistakes like failing to take the USMLE. Stop and think, SF Match requires submission of pre-med transcripts. Contrary to what you might think, these transcripts are not riddled with C-minuses. It is ridiculous for you to assume that the DOs that are applying for ophtho or any competitive field are stupid MD school rejects. Some of us, gasp, actually went to elite colleges, got good grades, yet decided to apply to DO school only...like me, who applied to only one school.

I know it bugs you to have worked so hard in your top 10 school only to see DOs from their no-name DO schools match at top places like Doheny. You wish they would just go away, but they won't. And when we are done with residency, you will run into us in fellowship positions at top places (you won't be tripping over us, most of us do general ophtho). And when we are really done, you will see us in town and at ophtho meetings...we don't all practice in back alleyways in the slums...though I see nothing wrong with working in "crappy" places as persons of limited means have eyes too and deserve to be cared for.

So now I am off my soapbox and want to congratulate all of you for applying to the best field in medicine and send all of you my warmest wishes (well, maybe all minus one exception)

 

[DO for ophtho]

Sorry everyone for getting out of hand.....I do want to encourage and support everyone out there. It's a stressful time for all of us, and I appreciate the support I have gotten, thanks!

 

[oscarshi]

I agree with Icewoman. Truth hurts, and some just dont want to hear it and are in complete denial. Most programs just dont take DO's.

 

[nystagmus]

"DO," I think you shouldn't let all this negativism keep you from doing what you love. True, statistics may not be in your favor, but there are DO's that do make it into the field. You should be given credit for your efforts and persistance.

There's nothing wrong with having a dream and pursuing it. Similarly for the rest of us, we may all want Wilmer or Bascom, even though realistically the chances are very small. It would be easy to say "it's impossible, so might as well give up"....yet we all keep trying...because indeed, there are a lucky few us who will eventually get in.

 

[eye3md]

You all need to open your eyes and quit worrying about the freaking "name" places like Bascom, Emory, etc. FInd a place that will actually let you operate and get good clinical experience. See my posting under the Univ. of Kentucky discussion site.