EM MATCH

[deleted6669]

assuming one does well on the boards and on EM rotations, how many programs does an EM hopeful apply to via the match to be assured of at least 1 good placement option? I know this is a vague question, I am just wondering what most current students in this position do. thanks

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[Billie]

Hi,
This may not be exactly what you are asking for. I am going to do the internship year before the actual residency. But I was interested in some places that have an "EM emphasis" internship as well as the traditional rotating one.

Yet my board scores were NOT very good, but I do very well on clinical rotations, esp EM of course I also had some good recommendation letters from head of EM depts and such. But to maximize my chances, I applied to 10 places for internship (not all had EM residencies there). Here is a break down...

Out of the 10, I interviewed at 8 (out of the two I didn't interview at, one turned me down, I turned one down). Out of that 8, 5 had EM residency programs and 4 of those 5 had the "emphasis" internship.

Two of my top three choices have sent me notice that they are "interested" in me, so right now I am trying to weigh the pros and cons of each. I am having a time with this decision. I just want to make the right choice for myself. Sigh

Anyway, I didn't mean to drag on this long. But I hope it gives you some insight at least in how I approached this whole process.

Billie

 

[Freeeedom!]

Billie you are doing the osteopathic match?? That is what my impression is..or are you doing the allopathic 2-4 residency?

emedpa, I am a DO student doing the Allopathic EM match for PGY1-3 spots, of which there are roughly 89 programs.
I, and most of the people I spoke to applied to roughly 30-40 programs. I even had a friend(in an MD program) who applied to 55 programs.
I narrowed it down to 10 interviews, which seems to be the number most people are doing (anywhere from 10-15 interviews). If you are doing the allopathic match, I think 10 is a great number, and anything less than 5 is very risky. The allopathic EM match is EXTREMELY competitive with most programs getting from 300-500 applications for interviews each and doing approx 100 interviews per season.
Of course the top-notch programs get more applicants, but virtually all of the Allopathic programs are great. The RRC (residency review committee) assures that.

 

[Billie]

Yes I am doing the DO route as WV requires the osteopathic internship to be licensed. I have heard the stories about either getting your PGY-1 year approved by the AOA or petitioning the state board to grant you a license after all is said and done if you didn't do an internship year. But for me, that is just too much hassle to worry about or take my chances with and later "hope" that I can be licensed.

 

[deleted6669]

THANKS FOR THE INFO-E

 

[tonem]

EMEDPA have you checked out <a href="http://www.saem.org" target="_blank">www.saem.org</a>
they have a medical student section that might answer your question.

 

[DrQuinn]

Freeeedom,
I have a question. I currently am a MS3 at a DO program and am going to apply to MD EM programs next year (PGY1-4 and PGY1-3). I think I am not going to do an internship year, even though right now I live in FL.

Here's my question... I know I am going to sound like a pre-med or a first year on this, but since my EM rotation is in Jan I really haven't been able to talk to anyone about this. I did very well on COMLEX I and through my first two years and so far in my clinicals. I am sure I will be getting LORs from some ER dept heads and such... did you take the USMLE? I did not take step I, and don't plan on it but I don't want to be stuck without any interviews becasue I didn't take the USMLE. I'm not too picky about where I will be going since I know the residencies are so competitive now, but I don't want to be filtered out because of my lack of USMLE scores... some help would be appreciated! Thanks

 

[Freeeedom!]

Quinn, I sent you a personal reply...check your "my profile" box.

 

[EM hopeful]

What are some of the "easier" programs to get into? i.e. accept average board scores, etc.

 

[sig]

em hopeful... 'easier' not many.. ER is becoming very competitive. as i was told by a program director it is as competitive as radiology or even ortho......

 

[Freeeedom!]

You should think more in lines with "What are the most competative programs"

To look at that, you should examine Frieda and look at the applicants to interview then interview to spots ratios.
With that being said, a program with 750 applicants and 10 spots is more competative than a program with 300 applicants and 9 spots.

There is no formal U.S. News and World Report style top 20 list for EM. I can
say I've heard good things about these programs... I'm sure that it's not
nearly complete as it's just off the top of my head, is based upon reputation, and it definitely
follows no objective data.

: Cincinatti
: Hennepin (Minneapolis)
: Regions (St. Paul)
: Pittsburgh
: Maricopa (Phoenix)
: Medical College of Wisconsin (Milwuakee)
: Methodist (Indianapolis: Indiana University)
: Christ Hospital (Chicago)
: Harbor / UCLA
: Highland (Oakland)
: U.C. Davis
: UCSD
: Stony Brook (New York)
: Oregon Health
: Denver Health
: Jacobi (New York)

 

[sig]

there is a topic "aoa accredidation" that i put up, its refering to aoa accredidation of my PGY1 year in EM, can any help me out on that?
please....... <img src="confused.gif" border="0">

 

[deleted6669]

FREEEEDOM-what do you think of the programs at lac/usc in la and madigan/university of washington?I have heard these are both top notch as well.

 

[tonem]

Madigan/Udub only takes 2 civilians into their program each year along with 8 Army doctors.

UCSF/Fresno is supposed to be another good program in Southern Cal but it is a 4yr program. The "top" (by reputation) programs in California are definitely UC Davis and UCLA/Harbor.

Don't know much about USC/LA County but in general, super busy county hospitals aren't well known for their teaching. You do learn by sheer volume, but a lot of what you learn you learn by trial and error because attendings are so busy seeing their own patients they don't really have time to teach.

 

[Freeeedom!]

I second what tonem stated re: USC/lac...well that is at least what I have heard from applicants on the interview trail. Lots of scut there.

 

[hndrx1a]

How about Univ of Fla Hlth Science Ctr/Jacksonville?...reviews rave about program @ Scutwork.com

 

[sig]

i'm having the same problem as you QuinnNSU.... i'm a DO from NYCOM, and i'm not sure if i should do an intership.... most places i applied to are pgy1-3...
if i do'nt do my intership i can't work in fla, pn, wv and mich., regardless of that. i don't want to apply agian to EM during internship. to much stress. i'm stuck.. i want to finish soon and start making cash, and go to the best program out there.
i feel the aoa is shooting themselves by not letting DO work in certain states, because they didn't do an interhsip.

 

[sig]

hndrx1a
i applied, still havent heard from them though. ill be in fla and i'm going to ask to see hte hospital when i'm there... i'll get back to you in a month or so , if you want

 

[pags]

sig,
I hear there's a spot open in radiology at LIJ for you if you are interested... Then you could do your internship.

yer buddy...

 

[dwstranger]

Okay, this may be a somewhat lame question, but here goes: Unfortunately (?), two of the places I'd like to do my residency are Oakland (Highland) and UC Davis. How do you not sound like a dork when they ask you "so why do you want to come here?" I mean, for those two, a lot of the reason I want to go there is because I have family in the area, as well as the excellent reputation of the programs. But that sounds like it's probably what *everybody* says... and I don't want to sound like "everybody."

 

[tonem]

Hey dwstranger those are two of my top choices too and for pert near the same reasons From what I understand they are pretty legitimate reasons.

So much for not sounding like everyone else huh?

A good strategy is to find out as much as you can about those programs and use that information to your advantage. For instance when you tell the program director about how good you think his program is give specific examples about what sets them apart. It strokes his ego and it shows that you are truly interested. It also might be a good idea to do an away rotation at at least one of those places so that they get to know you. When they are reviewing the stack of 200 interviewees it helps if they can put a face and personality to your file. Good luck...maybe I'll see you there someday.

 

[sig]

pags
i think i do have a radio spot at LIJ, but diagnostic radiology doesn't seem to exciting, at first its cool, but then it looses the "umph" , kind of like anesthesiology

 

[NurseyK]

Freeedom..

I would have loved to hear your comment regarding taking the USMLE for DO's getting into EM.

The only advice that seems to be consistant is: call up the programs that you are interested in and check on it.....that means I need to start now. [sigh] I'd luv to get out of just ONE test.....

Kat

 

[sig]

nursyk
i guess it depends on the program, like you said...
i only took the comlex and am applying to, and got interviews at alot of MD places.

 

[Freeeedom!]

NK,

It is in your best interest to take the USMLE step 1. As I was told by one program "You took the USMLE and COMLEX, that tells us you are serious about getting into programs. You are willing to go the extra mile" The upper eschelon (sp?) programs may give you an interview if you get in the mid 90's in your COMLEX, but may not rank you as high.
It just depends on how bad you want an allopathic residency in EM...and I highly suggest going allopathic if you are going into em!

 

[tedsadoc2002]

Kat,

I agree with Freeedom's advice, take the USMLE! I have gotten interviews with the COMLEX but not as many as I think I would have had (had I taken the USMLE) . And if EM continues at this pace (increasing or even steady numbers of applicants) it will be imperative to take the test, so plan on it. Anyone hear from Jacksonville yet?

 

[Freeeedom!]

Tedsadoc,

I sent you private email, check your "my profile".

 

[tedsadoc2002]

Hey Freeeedom

your reply awaits!

 

[sig]

How do you know you would have gotten more/less interviews depending if you took usmle or not?
it depends on how you do....
i did fine..and they tell me that since i did good on my comlex, thats good enough for them...

 

[tedsadoc2002]

I didn't say that I knew this for a fact, I did say think. I know that I had similar COMLEX scores to some of my counterparts but they took the USMLE and got interviews (California)that I did not. I applaud the fact that you were able to get all that you wanted with COMLEX alone. I did get enough and I am satisfied but I am entitled to (and I strongly) believe that taking the USMLE will help. (when reading this, do not read with malice but with conviction )

 

[neal]

hi,
i am an img with average scores in USMLE. i am interested in em but have heard that it is too difficult for imgs to get into it. if i do a preliminary surgery in a community hospital can it help me to get into em? or if i do internal medicine categorical what are the chances of being able to switch? pls give ur opinions.
thanks.

 

[Leotigers]

No, this would not help you in obtaining a spot in EM.