enough anesthesia interviews?

[catlady86]

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I'm a DO student that did NOT take the USMLE as I decided late that I wanted an ACGME anesthesiology residency. I got >60th percentile on my COMLEX 1 and >90th percentile on COMLEX 2. I applied to only ~30 programs (I assume it's too late to apply to more) and have only 8 interviews. Is this enough to match or am I setting myself up for disaster?

I had 3 interviews so far, and had good feedback (one interviewer said he thought I was so impressive he was going to fight for me and wanted me at that program) and others have all said I have an extremely interesting background (speak Spanish, studied abroad, did a medical mission in Peru, lived in London, worked for Ernst&Young financial firm, etc, etc.)... I'm very personable and outgoing, and think I do well in interviews, although I know I'm quite nervous (because I know I'm fighting an uphill battle here).

Basically, are my chances of matching so poor that I should be searching for a prelim year to scramble into? I am so nervous. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[El Dooderino]

I'm a DO student that did NOT take the USMLE as I decided late that I wanted an ACGME anesthesiology residency. I got >60th percentile on my COMLEX 1 and >90th percentile on COMLEX 2. I applied to only ~30 programs (I assume it's too late to apply to more) and have only 8 interviews. Is this enough to match or am I setting myself up for disaster?

I had 3 interviews so far, and had good feedback (one interviewer said he thought I was so impressive he was going to fight for me and wanted me at that program) and others have all said I have an extremely interesting background (speak Spanish, studied abroad, did a medical mission in Peru, lived in London, worked for Ernst&Young financial firm, etc, etc.)... I'm very personable and outgoing, and think I do well in interviews, although I know I'm quite nervous (because I know I'm fighting an uphill battle here).

Basically, are my chances of matching so poor that I should be searching for a prelim year to scramble into? I am so nervous. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

I certainly wouldn't feel good about it. Also depends on which 30 you applied to, big difference between going 8/30 with the thirty best programs compared to the 30 worst programs

 

[crash2500]

8 interviews seems to be enough. You should have a decent to good chance to match. the people on SDN aren't a good representation since they all go on 15+. Ideally you'd prob want about 10 but if you are as good an interviewer as you said you should have a good chance to match somewhere.

 

[Per4mer8]

I don't recall the exact numbers (but you can check the charting the outcomes 2011 yourself) but something like 76 out of 400+ DO applicants matched allo anesthesia last year.........

You likely have an uphill battle but it sounds like you have a lot of other things going for you but no USMLE hurts you. Hope you applied to the right programs (ones that take a decent amount of DOs.)

 

[NotAMD]

id give you a 50/50 chance of getting in.. not having USMLE is probably hurting you more than you think even if it was just a reasonable score (ie > 30 %ile) .. no one cares about comlex its apples to oranges

 

[kazuma]

Out of the 9 DO's I know that matched into ACGME gas last year (7 were from my own school), I only know of one that matched lower than his/her 1st or 2nd choice on their ROL. This guy matched at his #5 but that's nothing to scoff over because he's at a great program. This individual did not take USMLE, but he was at the top of my class and scored 99 (two digit) on Comlex1/2. I have no idea what percentiles translate to 3 digit scores, but from what I have seen, 575+ on Comlex seems to put you in the running for gas if you don't have a USMLE to pad your app.

Will you match based on 8 interviews? Sure based on the n=9 anecdotal evidence I have from last years match. That question can't be answered accurately without knowing more info about the programs you applied/interviewed at etc. But I'd be willing to bet that you have a pretty good shot at matching.

 

[PMPMD]

8 interviews seems to be enough. You should have a decent to good chance to match. the people on SDN aren't a good representation since they all go on 15+. Ideally you'd prob want about 10 but if you are as good an interviewer as you said you should have a good chance to match somewhere.

The NRMP's charting outcomes shows a ~95% chance of matching with 8 ranks for US allopathic seniors, and ~65% for "independent applicants" with 8 ranks. I believe DO's are counted as independents, which also includes re-applicants and IMGs. I would argue that osteopathic seniors would match much better than IMGs, so I think your chances are good.

https://www.aamc.org/students/download/62400/data/chartingoutcomes.pdf

 

[soon2b]

I certainly wouldn't feel good about it. Also depends on which 30 you applied to, big difference between going 8/30 with the thirty best programs compared to the 30 worst programs

Despite this guy's stellar advice I wouldn't get all jacked up about having "only" 8 interviews. The odds say you have a good chance. I feel people place more weight on board scores than they do the interview. If a program invites you they are okay with the board scores you have. They want to make sure you're a good fit. If you are as personable as you say and do well on interviews then I have confidence that you will match. Also it's still possible more interviews will come as people cancel.

 

[karizma098]

it's pretty amazing you have 8 interviews out of 30 programs based on only comlex. i've got around 12-13 interviews with a 220+ step 1 and i applied to about 3X as many programs as you and have no red flags on my file. 8 will more than likely be fine if you are a good interviewer.

 

[Doctor4Life1769]

it's pretty amazing you have 8 interviews out of 30 programs based on only comlex. i've got around 12-13 interviews with a 220+ step 1 and i applied to about 3X as many programs as you and have no red flags on my file. 8 will more than likely be fine if you are a good interviewer.

Yeah, I'm rather surprised too. I'm sure you'll match, OP.

 

[catlady86]

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORDS!

I received my 9th interview invitation today! Also, I rechecked....I applied to 38 programs (not 30), so that does make a little difference.

Again, thanks for replying to my post. I'm still nervous that they will rank me low even if they like me because I haven't demonstrated my test-taking performance success via the USMLE.

I'm out on a limb, but I can't turn back.

Good luck to everyone

 

[karizma098]

please don't be offended, but i'm thoroughly shocked you have that number of invites. You have a fairly average comlex score and good comlex 2 score but no usmle. I have classmates with scores higher than yours who applied to 50+ programs with 1 or 2 invites at this point. It's a fierce year for DO candidates and it's surprising someone without a USMLE has netted 9 interviews ( from the allo match alone? )

Again, amongst the DO's with the 220-230 usmle scores, many don't have 9 interviews. your luck must be good.

 

[crash2500]

karizma, its not all about scores. A lot of programs look at the whole application without screening a candidate out. Obviously if the OP has avg scores and still has 9 interviews, her application is standing out without stellar scores. Please get off your high horse. 9 interviews isnt luck.

 

[karizma098]

It's not a high horse. It's facts. Most programs screen based on usmle and comlex, and not having a usmle and netting 9/38 interviews from Allo programs in this years cycle is unheard of and a seriously unlikely situation. Ask just about any DO applying this year.

 

[crash2500]

It's very condescending to say the result of someone else's hard work is 'luck.'

 

[DrAwsome]

Hoping for some thoughts. Is it too late to apply for anesthesia at this point? I would be applying for a pgy 2 position, which seems like would be easier than pgy 1 position. Any ideas as to whether all the spots/IVs are given out or is it possible to score some IVs still?

I'm an american grad, completed pgy -1.

 

[crash2500]

I would say your best bet is to find out which programs have a pgy2 spot open and contact the PD's directly.