Early bird gets the worm for competitive specialties?

[spicysoup55]

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For competitive specialities such as ENT or ortho, how advantageous is it to express interest to the department early? I've heard the earlier the better but does it really make that much of a difference as long as you express interest by the 3rd year?

 

[Slack3r]

Early is good for getting involved in research and making connections for potential LoRs.

It's nice to show up to your 3rd year clerkship in the specialty you're interested in and have the docs already know who you are.

 

[operaman]

What he said.

 

[Porfirio]

Sometimes these things all boil down to who you know, or who they know.

 

[NickNaylor]

I don't think it's necessary to go to the department on day 1 of medical school. That said, as mentioned the earlier the better - especially if you'd like to do research or something along those lines. I'd focus on successfully making the transition to medical first and then, and only then, work on the other CV-building aspect of your activities.

 

[Merely]

In other words, yes: early bird does get the worm. However, that does not mean the late bird CANT get the worm it just means that the early bird is more likely to get the worm since he has had more time to plan and connect with people to help him get that worm.

 

[Tired]

...

 

[PhillyMed777]

^^ yep, although your results may vary. My 1st yr friend went to our ortho dept. and they told him to go back and focus on grades/Step. Yes, they specified to focus on pre-clinical grades AND step 1.

My results were different. I gained a great mentor in a competitive field and a sweet research project.

 

[slopes23]

^^ yep, although your results may vary. My 1st yr friend went to our ortho dept. and they told him to go back and focus on grades/Step. Yes, they specified to focus on pre-clinical grades AND step 1.

My results were different. I gained a great mentor in a competitive field and a sweet research project.

That's because they know what this board often over looks. Crushing your preclinical a makes it more likely you will crush Step 1. The inverse is also true. So while they may actually not care about preclinical grades, they know it's a precursor to success come boards.

 

[spicysoup55]

Thanks guys for all the insight.

What did your involvement with your department look like during your preclinical years?
-If it was meeting to express interest and to have questions answered, did you meet with multiple attendings? Did you meet with the residents? Is it necessary to meet with the residency program director?
-If it was shadowing, how often did you do it?
-If it was research, did you just do it during the summers or during the school year too?

 

[PhillyMed777]

That's because they know what this board often over looks. Crushing your preclinical a makes it more likely you will crush Step 1. The inverse is also true. So while they may actually not care about preclinical grades, they know it's a precursor to success come boards.

nice try...i spoke with them too. they care about the actual grades.

 

[slopes23]

nice try...i spoke with them too. they care about the actual grades.

Lol. Ok. I guess they know better then the polling all the PD's give on priority given to selection factors for the match.

This guy.

 

[Merely]

nice try...i spoke with them too. they care about the actual grades.

No

 

[charmiedermie]

Lol. Ok. I guess they know better then the polling all the PD's give on priority given to selection factors for the match.

This guy.

If you haven't started medical school yet, why are you arguing with @Tri723's post of what his/her Ortho department told him/her?

 

[PhillyMed777]

Sorry dudes, there are programs that care about grades.
I am not currently highly interested in ortho, but this specific program specifically told us to do well on preclinical grades. Period. If i want a spot there, I will have to achieve that.

Edit - also with regards to your whole "polling of directors," the 2014 NRMP director survey for ortho shows consistency of grades is scored as 4/5 for importance, honors for basic sciences scored as 3.8/5 specifically, whereas Step 1 is scored as 4.2/5...so your polling idea is not so strong either.....

 

[jeghaber]

From my limited understanding, yes, the early bird gets the worm, but not if you're so anxious to get to the worm early that you accidentally roll your eggs out of the nest and stumble half-asleep into eagle territory. So consider if you can keep it together before you worry about being the earliest bird.

Edit: feel free to correct me if I'm off-base.

 

[colbgw02]

grades =/= preclinical grades