Getting into a top tier peds residency

[DWB]

Hi everyone. I was wondering how hard it is to get into a top tier peds residency program. (Boston children's, CHOP, Seattle, Hopkins, etc...)
I am starting my third year this month and honestly not even certain how my clinical grades would turn out.
Luckily, I managed to score in the low 240s on Step I. I have couple of publications from undergrad but no significant research in med school. I know my step score is above the average score for peds, but I know every top program is still competitive.
Ultimately I think I would like to do a fellowship in peds (prob in ID, heme/onc, or cardio) and pursue a career in academic medicine. What are some of the things I need to focus on until I start applying for residency and what are my chances?

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[Stellar Clouds]

Honor the heck out of your 3rd year rotations and make AOA.

Apply for away rotations at one or more of these places for the beginning of 4th year.

 

[oldbearprofessor]

Hi everyone. I was wondering how hard it is to get into a top tier peds residency program. (Boston children's, CHOP, Seattle, Hopkins, etc...)
I am starting my third year this month and honestly not even certain how my clinical grades would turn out.
Luckily, I managed to score in the low 240s on Step I. I have couple of publications from undergrad but no significant research in med school. I know my step score is above the average score for peds, but I know every top program is still competitive.
Ultimately I think I would like to do a fellowship in peds (prob in ID, heme/onc, or cardio) and pursue a career in academic medicine. What are some of the things I need to focus on until I start applying for residency and what are my chances?

This would be better in the pedi forum, but I'll answer it here. If you'd like it moved, PM one of the allo mods.

The very most competitive handful of pedi programs have STEP 1 averages in the 240 range. Therefore you are competitive for these programs if the rest of your application is solid. In general, pediatric residencies are less focused on the numbers and more on letters of rec so be sure you make good contacts during your pedi core and elective rotations.

Pediatric fellowships are much less competitive than some of the most competitive ones in adult medicine, but some, including cardio are moderately competitive. You do not need to go to a top 10 residency (whichever ones they are, I never can figure it out.🙄) to get any fellowship in pediatrics.

Go to an academic program that you'll be happy at. There's more to picking a residency, especially in pedi, than aiming for Longwood avenue or CHOP, regardless of your future fellowship goals. Want to do pedi cards? There are at least 50 residencies where you'll get plenty of experience in it to feel ready to apply and get the support you need. That's a low end guess.

 

[michigangirl]

You're already ahead of the game with a strong step 1 score. Do well in your 3rd year clerkships, think about who would write you a strong letter based on your experiences, and ask for the letters early, while you are fresh in their mind. That's all you need to do. If you honor most of your clerkships you likely will get an interview at all of these places, and then the interview will be the next step. Don't worry about anything else this year other than a strong performance in the clerkships.

Good luck!

 

[owlegrad]

Hi everyone. I was wondering how hard it is to get into a top tier peds residency program. (Boston children's, CHOP, Seattle, Hopkins, etc...)
I am starting my third year this month and honestly not even certain how my clinical grades would turn out.
Luckily, I managed to score in the low 240s on Step I. I have couple of publications from undergrad but no significant research in med school. I know my step score is above the average score for peds, but I know every top program is still competitive.
Ultimately I think I would like to do a fellowship in peds (prob in ID, heme/onc, or cardio) and pursue a career in academic medicine. What are some of the things I need to focus on until I start applying for residency and what are my chances?

Honor the heck out of your 3rd year rotations and make AOA.

Apply for away rotations at one or more of these places for the beginning of 4th year.

This would be better in the pedi forum, but I'll answer it here. If you'd like it moved, PM one of the allo mods.

The very most competitive handful of pedi programs have STEP 1 averages in the 240 range. Therefore you are competitive for these programs if the rest of your application is solid. In general, pediatric residencies are less focused on the numbers and more on letters of rec so be sure you make good contacts during your pedi core and elective rotations.

Pediatric fellowships are much less competitive than some of the most competitive ones in adult medicine, but some, including cardio are moderately competitive. You do not need to go to a top 10 residency (whichever ones they are, I never can figure it out.🙄) to get any fellowship in pediatrics.

Go to an academic program that you'll be happy at. There's more to picking a residency, especially in pedi, than aiming for Longwood avenue or CHOP, regardless of your future fellowship goals. Want to do pedi cards? There are at least 50 residencies where you'll get plenty of experience in it to feel ready to apply and get the support you need. That's a low end guess.

Merging with identical thread. 🙂

 

[hurryupnwait]

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[oldbearprofessor]

Reviving the thread with my own question...

I have a 252 Step 1 but very mediocre core clerkship grades (mostly HP, including peds, with a couple of Hs) that places me in the 3rd quintile of my class. I'm interested in peds cardiology and have several abstracts/posters in the cardiovascular arena. Nothing impressive though, and no manuscripts yet.

For family reasons, I'd like to eventually do my cards fellowship in a certain geographic area in what happens to be one of the top 5 cardiology programs. I can be more flexible about residency though, and would love to train at a strong program to strengthen my fellowship application. I know my class rank and clerkship grades are weak, but can good letters and strong 4th year performances in peds sub-I/electives rescue my application?

Yes. You might be a bit of a long shot for the highest ranked 3-5 pedi programs, but not impossible if you're a person they want to have otherwise. Otherwise, every other program which includes plenty of outstanding ones that can get you into a solid cardiology program are very available. Work on getting strong letters from one or two 4th year rotations/sub-I.

 

[dextor2003]

Don't mean to hijack the thread, but any idea on how competitive Texas Children's and CHOA are? What would be a good step 1 score to have for those places? Do they also not really care for extracurriculars like other specialties?