FAQ: What are my chances?

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Hoping for some honest advice for a pretty mediocre applicant:

Firmly in the 2nd quartile at a mid-tier Southeast school. Mix of H/HP/P in preclinical years. 237 Step 1. So far, P in Pysch, HP in Ob/Gyn, P in Medicine. My evals are generally glowing, but my shelf scores have held me back. Planning for early Step 2s with early medicine AI.

Willing to apply broadly, but originally from CA and happy to go to community progs. Thinking of doing 2-3 aways out there (2 IR, 1 DR).

Do I have a shot at a reasonable program?

Also, thinking LORs from 2x radiology (1 home, 1 away), 1x medicine, 1x psych. Thoughts?
 
Not generally competitive for california (both community and university), but you should be able to find a position somewhere in the match. The best thing you can do for your application now is try to get honors in your remaining clinical rotations and apply broadly.
 
Step 1: Low 240's
Step 2: Taking in July
Research: Low-author on a Rad-Onc paper (it's going to come down to Rads-->IR vs. Rad Onc)Pub from summer research in student-only journal, that's it.
Grades: H in Family med, Peds, and Medicine. Surgery pending. Haven't got any others back yet
EC's: Meh
LOR's: FM & Medicine...maybe rads when I do it in August?

Targets:
UW (Reach, I know) or Seattle in general (V.M would be fine)
OHSU
Utah
Colorado
New Mexico
Cali...I could care less about. Maybe Davis? Meh.

Goal: Don't care where I go, as long as I have a good shot at IR and geographically within the above range. Does the Rad. Onc paper hurt more than help? I don't want to seem like rads is a backup.
 
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Washington is a major reach.

amakhosidlo said:
Step 1: Low 240's
Step 2: Taking in July
Research: Low-author on a Rad-Onc paper (it's going to come down to Rads-->IR vs. Rad Onc)Pub from summer research in student-only journal, that's it.
Grades: H in medicine/Family Med. Haven't got any others back yet
EC's: Meh
LOR's: FM & Medicine...maybe rads when I do it in August?

Targets:
UW (Reach, I know) or Seattle in general (V.M would be fine)
OHSU
Utah
Colorado
New Mexico
Cali...I could care less about. Maybe Davis? Meh.

Goal: Don't care where I go, as long as I have a good shot at IR and geographically within the above range. Does the Rad. Onc paper hurt more than help? I don't want to seem like rads is a backup.
Click to expand...
 
amakhosidlo said:
Step 1: Low 240's
Step 2: Taking in July
Research: Low-author on a Rad-Onc paper (it's going to come down to Rads-->IR vs. Rad Onc)Pub from summer research in student-only journal, that's it.
Grades: H in medicine/Family Med. Haven't got any others back yet
EC's: Meh
LOR's: FM & Medicine...maybe rads when I do it in August?

Targets:
UW (Reach, I know) or Seattle in general (V.M would be fine)
OHSU
Utah
Colorado
New Mexico
Cali...I could care less about. Maybe Davis? Meh.

Goal: Don't care where I go, as long as I have a good shot at IR and geographically within the above range. Does the Rad. Onc paper hurt more than help? I don't want to seem like rads is a backup.
Click to expand...

Utah is probably not the best place if you're set on IR.
 
amakhosidlo said:
Por que?
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I believe their IR division evaporated a couple years ago when several attendings packed up and left after losing a major turf war. They were very candid about it being the biggest weakness of their program.
 
what does it take to match at Columbia vs Mt. Sinai?

I'm thinking about doing an away at one of these places
 
Step 1: 218, no research..any chance at all? Don't care where 😕
 
sorry repeat post
 
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Does anyone know of radiology programs that are lower ranked/community/accept lower scores?

Can people/people you know of with Step 1 <220 matching into radiology share their stories?
 
amakhosidlo said:
Step 1: Low 240's
Step 2: Taking in July
Research: Low-author on a Rad-Onc paper (it's going to come down to Rads-->IR vs. Rad Onc)Pub from summer research in student-only journal, that's it.
Grades: H in Family med, Peds, and Medicine. Surgery pending. Haven't got any others back yet
EC's: Meh
LOR's: FM & Medicine...maybe rads when I do it in August?

Targets:
UW (Reach, I know) or Seattle in general (V.M would be fine)
OHSU
Utah
Colorado
New Mexico
Cali...I could care less about. Maybe Davis? Meh.

Goal: Don't care where I go, as long as I have a good shot at IR and geographically within the above range. Does the Rad. Onc paper hurt more than help? I don't want to seem like rads is a backup.
Click to expand...
I had the same scores and very little research and got interviews at all the programs you listed. I also just matched at one of them. PM me if you want more details. The paper definitely helps!
 
I disagree. If you apply everywhere and don't mind going to a low tier program your chances of matching are good. Look for the new charting outcomes to come out soon.
 
MS3 going to apply radiology this up coming application cycle.

Very strong ties to TX (Dallas/Houston)/OK/midwest
School: Top 20
Grades: solidly second quartile
Step 1: 250-255
Step 2: not taken (august/sep/oct)
3rd year: Mostly excellent evals no bad ones, the way grade are calculated with the shelf is killing me though
Unknown surg (prop B+) IM: B+, OB: A, Psych: B+
Research: non-rads, 2 oral presentations, 2 awards, 1abstract +1 in medical student journal thing, 2 summers research in med school + a couple in undergrad with a presentation and abstract there. Just cant get a pub for whatever reason. =/
ECs: Not sure whats considered an EC and what isn't. Mostly sport related(successfully) + family some volunteer.

Look for chances at top tx/midwest programs. Not sure about academic vs community setting yet.

Thanks.
 
MS3 applying in Sept, not AOA

School: US news #16
Step 1: 268
Step 2: not taken
Grades: H in medicine & ob/gyn, HP in everything else
Research: 3 rads abstracts: 1st author on 1, 2nd author on 2
ECs: light volunteering

Did undergrad in TX. Couples matching w/ spousal ties in southern CA.
Decent shot at big-name places like UWash, UTSW, UCLA, UCSD?
Or shoot for lower tier?

Thanks!
 
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qwertyboard said:
MS3 applying in Sept, not AOA

School: US news #16
Step 1: 268
Step 2: not taken
Grades: H in medicine & ob/gyn, HP in everything else
Research: 3 rads abstracts: 1st author on 1, 2nd author on 2
ECs: light volunteering

Did undergrad in TX. Couples matching w/ spousal ties in southern CA.
Decent shot at big-name places like UWash, UTSW, UCLA, UCSD?
Or shoot for lower tier?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Apply to 1/3 top tier 1/3 mid tier in locations you desire and 1/3 at places you think you'd be able to tolerate.
 
MS3 applying in September. I'm not AOA. worked as a mechanical engineer (for one year then went back to school).

School: mid-tier northeast school
Step 1: 249
Step 2: July
Grades: 1st and 2nd year were brutal. everything was P except HP in Neuro and pharm. 3rd year: Ob/Gyn HP, psych H, Medicine H, Neuro H, fam med HP, peds and surg pending
Research: nothing. I know I need to get moving on this if I actually decide to go for Rads
ECs: very weak. Blood drive committee and volunteered at the student run clinic in an underserved area 1st year

strong ties to northeast. Ideally I want to stay in NYC but not sure what kind of programs around NYC I have a shot at

Thanks for your help
 
I don't understand how people know what they've honored as soon as the clerkship is over. We have to wait until the end of the year to find out how we finished compared to our peers.
 
We just have evals and exam score cutoffs. Usually know pretty quick. Many of my attendings told me they were giving me honors evals.
 
I think all applicants should have their step 1 score tattooed in red to their forehead. Permanently. 😉

The sequel to the Scarlet Letter is the Scarlet Number.
 
Stop being a *****, post your step 1 score! 😛
 
ijn said:
Stop being a *****, post your step 1 score! 😛
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haha, I would but there aren't many people in the 265+ bin and it's better to keep a little anonymity... it's not any better than yours. Beyond a certain point, it's all the same in my opinion.
 
What kind of stats do you need for MIR?
Will 246 step 1 with 3/6 honors in clerkship suffice?
 
Ernny said:
Will away elective help or count as ties?
How big of a reach would that be?
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Away elective won't hurt and might get you a courtesy interview.

Still a reach, but a good letter of rec from a bigwig there would help with other places too and might give you a shot.
 
Ernny said:
What kind of stats do you need for MIR?
Will 246 step 1 with 3/6 honors in clerkship suffice?
Click to expand...
Step 1 in 250s and M3 grades all or mostly honors. Research isn't required but always helps. While they have a giant class of 18 residents a year, they are able to pull top students from across the country. It isn't as competitive as say MGH/UCSF due to location reasons, but from strictly a program quality standpoint, it is right on par with MGH/UCSF.
 
Hi all,

So I am open to any help or advice I can get regarding my numbers...I am realistic in that I am not a competitive applicant:

Step 1: 214
Step 2: not taken yet (will take by the time applications are due)

Grades:
Family Medicine: HP
Surgery: HP
Ob/Gyn: P
Surgical Subspecialty: H
Neuro: P
Psych: HP
Medicine: HP
Pediatrics: H

Took time off between 3rd and 4th year: research with 3 abstracts, 1 paper--topics somewhat related to radiology (required reading films to interpret data, etc).

I know I am not a stellar/outstanding applicant...but I would appreciate anyone's advice and feedback regarding my application for radiology this upcoming ERAS cycle.
 
wantRads said:
Hi all,

So I am open to any help or advice I can get regarding my numbers...I am realistic in that I am not a competitive applicant:

Step 1: 214
Step 2: not taken yet (will take by the time applications are due)

Grades:
Family Medicine: HP
Surgery: HP
Ob/Gyn: P
Surgical Subspecialty: H
Neuro: P
Psych: HP
Medicine: HP
Pediatrics: H

Took time off between 3rd and 4th year: research with 3 abstracts, 1 paper--topics somewhat related to radiology (required reading films to interpret data, etc).

I know I am not a stellar/outstanding applicant...but I would appreciate anyone's advice and feedback regarding my application for radiology this upcoming ERAS cycle.
Click to expand...

You could get in somewhere. Not any place you'd necessarily want to go, but there are programs that would take you with those stats (assuming you are a US citizen).

Take Step 2 CK early and ace it. Only shot at a decent community program or mediocre academic.
 
Straightforward assessments sought for an MS3 that just decided on Radiology.

255
Top 25 ish school
2nd quartile
All A (honors) 3rd year
Mediocre ECs by my assessment
No research in med school

So...any idea if I'm competitive at top programs, such as MIR? Should I scramble to do research or just leave it be?

Also...what do you do if you interview and they grill you about a lack of research?

Thanks. You are all awesome.
 
KobesAchilles said:
Straightforward assessments sought for an MS3 that just decided on Radiology.

255
Top 25 ish school
2nd quartile
All A (honors) 3rd year
Mediocre ECs by my assessment
No research in med school

So...any idea if I'm competitive at top programs, such as MIR? Should I scramble to do research or just leave it be?

Also...what do you do if you interview and they grill you about a lack of research?

Thanks. You are all awesome.
Click to expand...

You will be fine.

Step + clinical > research (assuming no major publications).
 
KobesAchilles said:
Straightforward assessments sought for an MS3 that just decided on Radiology.

255
Top 25 ish school
2nd quartile
All A (honors) 3rd year
Mediocre ECs by my assessment
No research in med school

So...any idea if I'm competitive at top programs, such as MIR? Should I scramble to do research or just leave it be?

Also...what do you do if you interview and they grill you about a lack of research?

Thanks. You are all awesome.
Click to expand...
You are competitive for top programs. Just apply wherever and hope for some luck in snagging interviews at the places you want.
 
Bigeminy said:
MS3 applying in September. I'm not AOA. worked as a mechanical engineer (for one year then went back to school).

School: mid-tier northeast school
Step 1: 249
Step 2: July
Grades: 1st and 2nd year were brutal. everything was P except HP in Neuro and pharm. 3rd year: Ob/Gyn HP, psych H, Medicine H, Neuro H, fam med HP, peds and surg pending
Research: nothing. I know I need to get moving on this if I actually decide to go for Rads
ECs: very weak. Blood drive committee and volunteered at the student run clinic in an underserved area 1st year

strong ties to northeast. Ideally I want to stay in NYC but not sure what kind of programs around NYC I have a shot at

Thanks for your help
Click to expand...

Any thoughts on this post? I'm curious if i have a shot at mid-tier NYC programs.
 
Bigeminy said:
Any thoughts on this post? I'm curious if i have a shot at mid-tier NYC programs.
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Define mid-tier.

Unlikely: NYU/Cornell

Reach: Columbia/Sinai/Montefiore

Decent: NSLIJ/NYMC/UMDNJ/Beth Israel/St Luke's Roosevelt

Other community programs could probably be safeties.

It all depends on how competitive the environment is your year.
 
doctah123 said:
More than a little worried...

Step 1: 255+
Top 20 School
3rd year grades: evals are good and sometimes glowing, but I have not had any luck with grades partly because of shelves....P in medicine, surg, peds (this is on a P/HP/H scale)...and H in all electives including radiology. All I can do now is keep working hard for the rest of the grades.
No research, in the process of getting set up with a project but it may not happen in time.

I'm willing to apply broadly and don't have any geographic restrictions, but I am wondering if I am just kidding myself. Will any university programs interview me with these grades, or should I be focusing mainly on community programs? I realize the vast majority of applicants aren't AOA, but how many have grades like mine, and do they fare well?
Click to expand...

Any thoughts appreciated!
 
If you are shooting for a top ten program or California you may be in trouble. I think a good university program is within your reach. Your step score looks great ad you come from a top school. These could make up fr mediocre clinical grades if your comments on the evals are good.
 
Most rad PDs only really care about your medicine and surgery clinical grades (and radiology of course), so those P's will hurt you at many programs.

You have a decent Step 1 though so you will still get interviews.

I would apply very broadly, there's always a chance a PD at a good program would overlook your grades for the rest of your application.

Don't count on any CA academic programs though.
 
How many schools should I apply to? Where can I expect to match? Can I do anything to improve my application?
Would taking a year of to do more research (with a possible pub) help improve my shot at a Cali school?

Top 10- 20 medical school
No AOA, I''m around the 50th percentile

Preclinical grades: Mix of H and HP.

Clinical grades: Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine: Pass
Radiology and Neuro: High Pass
Surgery, Internal Medicine, Psychiatry, OBGYN, Family Medicine: All Honors

Research: 1 poster publication in basic science research, 1 pub from undergrad.

Volunteer: Reasonable amount of community service. No leadership activities.

Step 1 : 240
Step 2: Haven't taken yet, hoping to have a 250 ish.

I am deciding between IM and radiology. I enjoy Radiology much more then IM and think that I have a reasonable chance of matching, but am worried that if I don't match in a good enough program that I may not be able to find employment in a couple of years.

Thank you in advice for any advice.
 
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talkingcheese said:
MS3 in low ranking midwest school, family in the midwest.

Step 1: 249
MS3 grades: Surg/Psych NH, Peds/Neuro P... some of these might be bumped up but not holding my breath. Currently in IM. No red flags or anything, just haven't mastered the art of getting good evals and a good shelf grade at the same time.
Have 1 poster/presentation from basic science research, average ECs.

What are my chances of getting interviews at schools in Chicago/Texas? I don't really have any geographical limitations though. Currently planning on doing a couple aways in Chicago schools and taking step 2 late (October).. good plan? I will be applying broadly as possible regardless, not one to take chances. Thanks.
Click to expand...

Any thoughts?
 
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