Getting into Baylor COM residency for pediatrics

[PediatricsRocks]

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What did the residency applications of some of the pediatrics residents at Baylor look like? I haven't done research yet and I'm about to enter second year, but my grades are just average so far. Do you think I can get in there? With the way things are going, would you recommend I do research?

 

[TexasRose]

What did the residency applications of some of the pediatrics residents at Baylor look like? I haven't done research yet and I'm about to enter second year, but my grades are just average so far. Do you think I can get in there? With the way things are going, would you recommend I do research?

It's not necessary to have research in order to get into a top-tier peds program with a very few exceptions. Good grades and strong USMLE scores will help you a great deal. As with all Pedi programs, excellent letters of recommendation from people who know you well are key. You will get those from your clinical rotations.

Why the focus on BCM?

 

[generic]

I think quite a few people at BCM's residency don't have much research experience, so it won't be a total red flag. But since you're still early-ish in med school, you could certainly try to tack on a small project so you can say you got the taste of research and you might like to try getting published while in residency.

Also, I think a lot of people have done other "standout" things. You can travel to faraway places for a rotation or medical mission, you could set up some kind of child advocacy project in your city, you could work on medical quality improvement and measurement in an area that you find lacking.

Those are things I hear attendings talk about quite often around these parts...

 

[Bitsy]

I think there are very few things that could count you out of any pediatric residency program (or pretty much any residency except really really competitive specialities) just out of your 1st year of medical school except failing the year or worse yet, some sort of professionalism mark on your record. I would worry about learning your second material really well so you can rock the USMLE at the end of the year. If you are really interested in peds, get involved in your peds club at school or volunteering with kids.

P.S. I'm not at Baylor, but a 4th year medical student applying for the match now fyi

 

[marcus8]

Peds also tend to look more at your clinical year grades than anything else. I am applying now and that's what the PD at my home program says.