General Surgery Sub Is - How many MD vs former AOA?

[IcedCoffeeOnly]

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As a DO student applying general surgery next year, how many MD sub Is and former AOA auditions should I apply to? It is hard to tell without a step 2 score yet, so what is the general split between the 2.

Top 50%
Step 1, Level 1 Pass
HPs so far, but my school is top 10% H only
I have 3 posters as research but no published manuscripts

Is 2 academic MD for letters, 2 former AOA a good split?

 

[DOVinciRobot]

Depends completely on your competitiveness and goals. Some people don’t need any AOA, some need to only do AOA.

 

[IcedCoffeeOnly]

Depends completely on your competitiveness and goals. Some people don’t need any AOA, some need to only do AOA.

My fellowships of interest are bariatric and colorectal, maybe plastics if those fellowships are even still around by that point. No interest in an academic career. I would ideally like to go to a solid communiversity program.

Competitiveness wise, I'm taking step 2 in June so not sure yet. Only indicators I have is I was doing pretty well on my step 1 NBME exams (mid 80s) and I'm doing well on COMATs (high 110s, low 120s) so far... but idk how much that even means.

Should I just gamble on getting a good step 2 score (easier said than done) and just schedule 1 AOA and the rest MD aways?

 

[DOVinciRobot]

My fellowships of interest are bariatric and colorectal, maybe plastics if those fellowships are even still around by that point. No interest in an academic career. I would ideally like to go to a solid communiversity program.

Competitiveness wise, I'm taking step 2 in June so not sure yet. Only indicators I have is I was doing pretty well on my step 1 NBME exams (mid 80s) and I'm doing well on COMATs (high 110s, low 120s) so far... but idk how much that even means.

Should I just gamble on getting a good step 2 score (easier said than done) and just schedule 1 AOA and the rest MD aways?

Probably, but that’s up to you and your risk tolerance and how well you know yourself with test taking. The Step 2 will be the biggest delineator.

Colorectal is increasing in competitiveness and somewhat of an academic adjacent program will help you, plastics will still be around but the spots are few so you will want an academic program with a plastics department. Bari isn’t super competitive and is possible from most programs.