Help.... Should I apply?

[YanCanCook]

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Hi guys, I know nobody likes the endless threads posted about chances and matching, but I honestly have no idea how I will fare.

I am looking at applying this upcoming season, but I am very wary of how things will end up. I was wondering if you guys had any suggestions on how best to boost my application in these upcoming months.

Step I: 250, Step 2 not taken
School: Top 25-30 state school in the Mid-Atlantic/South, Have a home residency program
AOA: nope
Grades: Honors in Medicine, Psych, Family Med, High Pass in the rest
Research: 1 Abstract for ophthalmology, 4-5 poster presentations, Took 1 year off to do HHMI fellowship at NIH to do basic science oncology (not rad onc specific); hoping to have publication submitted by application time/end of summer.
Schedule: 4-week home rotation in June, Applied for aways at 4 places, 1 scheduled in September at Emory
Other CV filler stuff: the usual community service etc.

I was hoping to see if you guys had any thoughts on other away places I should try to get or what tier levels I should focus on as I've been getting mixed signals from recently matched applicants and advisors.

 

[hot sauce]

I think you have a strong application. 1 year of basic science onc research at NIH with a publication coming should serve you well very well. Your step I is good. Your grades are good.

If you can do a rad onc specific research project it would help. And of course the usual stuff like good letters.

For aways, try to find places where you can get a good letter from someone well known in rad onc.

Not sure what "tier" to focus on just apply very broadly. I'd think you have a decent shot at top programs but that kind of thing is hard to predict.