MD EM - how competitive do I have to be?

[deleted966164]

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I think the title says it all. I would like to pursue a career in EM. How competitive do I have to be? Top of class? Above average?

 

[aaronrodgers]

about tree fiddy

 

[aaronrodgers]

I think the title says it all. I would like to pursue a career in EM. How competitive do I have to be? Top of class? Above average?

moderately competitive. If you are average, you will match somewhere. There's a lot of new residencies popping up these days too

 

[Goro]

Wise @Tenk? What say you?

 

[Tenk]

Average to above average depending on your personality and SLOEs. Definitely not top of the class like derm, NS or plastics level.

 

[Dr.Bruh]

Average to above average depending on your personality and SLOEs. Definitely not top of the class like derm, NS or plastics level.

I feel like personality is so huge in EM. 220 with a George Clooney charisma on rotations will match solidly. 220 but you’re a weirdo or maybe just socially awkward you’re at risk.

 

[Tenk]

I feel like personality is so huge in EM. 220 with a George Clooney charisma on rotations will match solidly. 220 but you’re a weirdo or maybe just socially awkward you’re at risk.

George Clooney had such charisma he didn't even have to take Step 1 and he matched EM.

 

[Goro]

George Clooney had such charisma he didn't even have to take Step 1 and he matched EM.

😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆

 

[BeachBaby]

you can be average! there is a new program in Bay Shore, New York at South Shore University Hospital. There's an info meeting (with many residents on the panel) this thursday at 1900. Here is the link for the event:
program: Bay Shore Emergency Medicine Residency, Northwell Health, Southside Hospital

 

[skougess]

To all those applying, the post above mine is a big reason that the specialty current is in a massive job shortage. Low quality residency programs popping up left and right have caused a glut of EM grads, exacerbated by COVID. Go to the EM specialty board to get a sense of how bad the EM job market is.

 

[BeachBaby]

To all those applying, the post above mine is a big reason that the specialty current is in a massive job shortage. Low quality residency programs popping up left and right have caused a glut of EM grads, exacerbated by COVID. Go to the EM specialty board to get a sense of how bad the EM job market is.

This is not a low quality program. What is your evidence for this?

 

[odyssey2]

LORs, aways, and general overall personality and "fit" are more important for EM than other specialties. Mediocre Step scores or third year grades won't prevent you from matching.

 

[skougess]

This is not a low quality program. What is your evidence for this?

I’m not going to get into a discussion about it because you won’t be discussing in good faith. I will say that the very fact that this program has opened in the current job market shows a 100% complete disregard for its future residents, and the field of emergency medicine, and thus, is a low quality program by definition.

 

[aaronrodgers]

Anecdotally, a graduating resident I worked with in EM had trouble looking for jobs in the bay area and went as far as looking in Hawaii

 

[odyssey2]

Anecdotally, a graduating resident I worked with in EM had trouble looking for jobs in the bay area and went as far as looking in Hawaii

I mean, not the worst fate in the world..

 

[skougess]

I mean, not the worst fate in the world..

I would argue not being able to find any job in a large metropolitan area after going through undergrad, medical school, and then residency is a big deal, especially as it’s only going to get worse.

 

[Frazier]

Similar recipe for competitiveness to most fields: STEPs, clinical grades, LOR's (read: SLOEs).
There are enough programs out there now that "below average" applicants will not likely have significant problems with matching somewhere.

That said during chief year, I was able to be quite involved with interviewing/ranking -- interview days themselves are quite important!
"Below average" Individuals on paper can climb the ranks with a good showing for the day and superstars can plummet just as easily.

 

[redpointmd]

I would say EM is fairly similar to anesthesia in terms of matching competitiveness. Most medical students at most schools could match into an EM program, but if you want to match into a top EM program you'll need to have good clinical grades, high step scores and most importantly great LORs (SLOE if you know what that is). EM is a fairly unique specialty in how much emphasis it places on being easy to work with, work ethic and 'fit' all of which are assessed in a standardized letter of rec (SLOE), so as long as you're into it on your rotation, work hard and are generally easy to get along with you'll likely do well.

The jobs issue is another discussion, but I don't think that's appropriate for this thread.