thanks! what it the UCSF rubric?
google "residency thank you note sample ucsf" it's the first hit
thanks! what it the UCSF rubric?
I just do not want to go through this process more than once, or enter my PGY-1 year without knowing where I'd be the following year. Any advice would be truly appreciated, and I'd be happy to drink a beer in your honor.
are you referring to getting an away rotation or matching? Hmmm...I'm thinking I should take a year off now."But, if you got a spot or didn't, I wouldn't be surprised."
Yeesh. This'll be tough. Also, one of the barriers to getting an away rotation is that my school is off a few weeks from other schools' schedules (i.e. most places start their rotations during the final week of my Sub-I.) My school already said they won't be flexible on the dates, and that leaves about 70% of the programs out there out of my reach. All the remaining top programs already have their August spots all claimed too (another downside of deciding later).
But when you say?
are you referring to getting an away rotation or matching? Hmmm...I'm thinking I should take a year off now.
But that may be something to consider in your choice if you have a particular geographic desire or hope for a certain type of program.
Yeesh. This'll be tough. Also, one of the barriers to getting an away rotation is that my school is off a few weeks from other schools' schedules (i.e. most places start their rotations during the final week of my Sub-I.) My school already said they won't be flexible on the dates, and that leaves about 70% of the programs out there out of my reach. All the remaining top programs already have their August spots all claimed too (another downside of deciding later).
But when you say?
are you referring to getting an away rotation or matching? Hmmm...I'm thinking I should take a year off now.
"A choice of program" is always a stretch in a competitive specialty like radiation oncology.
My advice is that you may not get the geographic location you desire even if you are the perfect candidate. I think a lot of program faculty don't understand how competitive this field has gotten, and can at times give incorrect advice regarding the competitiveness of their applicants. This may or may not actually pertain to your situation SJSM001, but in general...
I agree with SimulD's and medgator's advice.
This is a common scenario and schools usually have a work-around for it. It may involve filling a gap with a short elective or vacation time, but it can certainly be done.
This has been a major issue for me as well: One subset of schools is on one schedule, the other is on a different schedule offset by exactly one week. I have exactly two months for aways, with a required rotation following directly after. I could reschedule the required, but then I'd be running into October, and I'm not sure how useful aways would be at that point. Is this an issue that one can contact a clerkship director or their assistant directly about?
This has been a major issue for me as well: One subset of schools is on one schedule, the other is on a different schedule offset by exactly one week. I have exactly two months for aways, with a required rotation following directly after. I could reschedule the required, but then I'd be running into October, and I'm not sure how useful aways would be at that point. Is this an issue that one can contact a clerkship director or their assistant directly about?
My last away ends in the middle of October. Does anybody think this is problematic? I'm planning on getting a letter from it regardless. It's already scheduled, so I'm not backing out at this point but I hope it doesn't mess anything up.
Hey everybody,
Long-time-reader, first-time poster here, haha. I've been scouring the boards looking for people more like me to get a better idea of my chances and to help guide my decision making. Unfortunately, you are all (like most SDNers) amazing.
I've been interested in RadOnc since first year, but after step 1, I took myself out of the game, crossed my fingers and hoped that I would fall in love with something other than radonc during 3rd year.... didn't happen. Now, in starting my fourth year, I haven't found anything that I rather do more than radiation oncology. I thought that I'd throw my stats out there and ask you all your opinions on what I should do in order to stack the odds in my favor while playing the hand I've been dealt. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Step 1: 228...
Med school: Top 30 or so, US allopathic
Pre-clinical: All P (school is P/F)
Clinical: Honors in OB/Gyn and RadOnc AI (I have an interest in gyn and breast cancers) - Honored all clerkships clinically (not officially though because of shelf exams), except Peds.
Research: First author publication as a first year in PRO. Submitting second publication to Breast later this month. 2 radonc-related abstracts at ASCO breast cancer symposium. 4 radonc-related poster presentations. As an undergrad, 1 cancer-related publication (5th author, haha), 2 cancer-related abstracts and posters.
LoR: 1 from my program director (awesome guy, publishing-machine), 1 from my research mentor (junior faculty, but well known in the brachy world), and 1 hopefully from a big name/program director on my away rotation.
Aways: Did an AI at my home institution, planning 3 aways (I feel like they're all reaches based on my stats, but they're not at any of the top 10 programs, haha).
"Extras": I've been told that I work hard, I'm very easy and fun to work with, and patients love me
So, I guess my questions are: 1) Do I have a chance? 2) If so, should I apply this cycle? or take a year off? and 3) Any suggestions for beefing up my application (if at all possible) before applying?
Thanks for your help!
Hey everybody,
Long-time-reader, first-time poster here, haha. I've been scouring the boards looking for people more like me to get a better idea of my chances and to help guide my decision making. Unfortunately, you are all (like most SDNers) amazing.
I've been interested in RadOnc since first year, but after step 1, I took myself out of the game, crossed my fingers and hoped that I would fall in love with something other than radonc during 3rd year.... didn't happen. Now, in starting my fourth year, I haven't found anything that I rather do more than radiation oncology. I thought that I'd throw my stats out there and ask you all your opinions on what I should do in order to stack the odds in my favor while playing the hand I've been dealt. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Step 1: 228...
Med school: Top 30 or so, US allopathic
Pre-clinical: All P (school is P/F)
Clinical: Honors in OB/Gyn and RadOnc AI (I have an interest in gyn and breast cancers) - Honored all clerkships clinically (not officially though because of shelf exams), except Peds.
Research: First author publication as a first year in PRO. Submitting second publication to Breast later this month. 2 radonc-related abstracts at ASCO breast cancer symposium. 4 radonc-related poster presentations. As an undergrad, 1 cancer-related publication (5th author, haha), 2 cancer-related abstracts and posters.
LoR: 1 from my program director (awesome guy, publishing-machine), 1 from my research mentor (junior faculty, but well known in the brachy world), and 1 hopefully from a big name/program director on my away rotation.
Aways: Did an AI at my home institution, planning 3 aways (I feel like they're all reaches based on my stats, but they're not at any of the top 10 programs, haha).
"Extras": I've been told that I work hard, I'm very easy and fun to work with, and patients love me
So, I guess my questions are: 1) Do I have a chance? 2) If so, should I apply this cycle? or take a year off? and 3) Any suggestions for beefing up my application (if at all possible) before applying?
Thanks for your help!
I've never understood the preemptive year off. I've seen a couple people burn themselves with that. If you're ok with a year off but would rather match, toss your hat in the ring with no backup specialty. If you don't match, there's your year off.
I think with your strong research and above average step 1 you'll likely get ~8-10 interviews. Magic number for most is 7. Apply everywhere and be personable. You're more than likely to get a spot.
Hey everyone...I just wanted to share my stats and see if some of you veterans could provide some insight as far as if you think I'm a good candidate, how many interviews do you think I could get if I apply broadly, and what tier of schools would potentially be interested in me. I feel like my score will work in my favor, but I just don't know what to expect come interview time...especially cuz I don't have the high publication numbers that other applicants seem to have. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!
Step 1: 252
Med school: US, allopathic, ~Top 50-60 probably
Pre-clinical: 4-5 H's sprinkled in with the rest P's
Clinical: Honors in Medicine; high averages with good evals in all the others but didn't Honor because of shelf exams
AOA: Not AOA
Research: First author journal publication case report, working on 2 projects in the department right now, submitted an abstract to the breast cancer symposium, participated in a summer research program for med students at Sloan Kettering after 1st year
LoR: 1 from dept chair who is fairly big name, 1 from my research mentor at Sloan Kettering (I only worked with him for a summer but I figured having a letter from that institution would be good...right?), 1 from a jr faculty member who I've worked on most of my research with, 1 from either my home program director or 1 from an away
Aways: Planning 2. One scheduled at a mid tier place in a popular city. Waiting to hear back on another one from an upper/mid tier place in another big city.
THANKS!!!
Yeah, I just feel like I'm in a weird transition zone in that, I don't know if I'll be able to have a wide selection of places that are interested in me (especially top tier places), or if I should set my sights on the middle tier types. I'm more interested in small, clinically based programs anyway, but I'd love to have some choices!
Yet another uncertain soon-to-be applicant. Any insight would be appreciated.
Step 1: 243
Med school: ~Top 50 or so
Pre-clinical: Mostly H's, 4 HP's
Clinical: Honors in everything (still waiting on medicine, but I expect an H based on my shelf score and evaluations)
AOA: Probably senior AOA (but it could go either way)
Research: PhD in cancer biology with 1 high-profile 1st author publication related to DNA repair, several co-author (2nd-3rd author) publications submitted, several first author reviews and book chapters, and should have two 1st author radonc specific papers (one clinical/outcomes, one physics/dosimetry) submitted within the next month. Presenting the clinical study at ASTRO. 4-5 other published abstracts at ASCO, SABCS, AACR. I also got a pre-doctoral breast cancer research fellowship from the Department of Defense.
LoR: Planning on one from my PhD mentor (pathologist, and director of our Cancer Center), one from a medical oncologist who gave me a superb review, one from the attending with whom I have done my clinical radonc research (and who did her fellowship at the place I would like to match), and one (hopefully) from a big name at one of my upcoming aways.
Aways: Two scheduled. One at a top tier program (where I would like to go), and one at a mid-upper tier program.
I know I'm good on research, but how much will a 243 on Step I hurt me? Step 2 is a week from today, and I understand that even a stellar score on that won't necessarily change my prospects. I'm shooting for a top tier program, and want to know if I even have a chance.
Thanks.
If you want to improve your chances, take a year (or two) off and get more pubs.
LOL. Yes, BRCA1, he's kidding...I hope
I think you definitely have a chance. I'd apply this year, worst case you do a prelim year and reapply (Met at least a few people doing that this last year on the trail.)
As far as beefing up your app, like thesauce said, you've done everything right up to this point. All you really have left that you can effectively change are LORs and your away rotations. Its hard to give input on your away selection without knowing which schools you are considering, but its probably a good idea not to try for a "top 10." If you get some geographically diverse, appropriately competitive aways you should do well!
I think you'll match, but where would be kind of a question mark.
I chose to only do aways at programs that I would LOVE to go to. All 3 of them are easily top-mid tier, have several well-known faculty and are in locations where I have ties (2 west coast and 1 Midwest). I am hoping to get a letter from a big name from my first away rotation, but if that isn't possible, hopefully I will have a chance at either of the next 2. My only real concern with my away selection is that I didn't rotate at any "safety" programs... mainly because I don't feel like I would be "safe" applying to any programs with my stats.
I definitely don't want to limit myself geographically and would be extremely grateful and ecstatic to get into the field at all, but given the choice, would prefer to stay on the west coast or midwest area. Any chance of this happening? Or, should I stay the course, apply broadly and continue to hope for the best?
Thanks again for all of your help and advice!
Hey Everyone!
I was wondering what your thoughts were on my chances.
Grades: All pass in first year (P/F)
Clinicals: No grades yet.
Step 1: 224
Step 2: hopefully will do significantly better
Medical school: Not top 50
I have some rad-onc related research, 1 ASTRO abstract (will turn into a paper), a couple of papers in unrelated medicine topics. I have been involved in the oncology club and built a relationship with rad-oncs in the area. I tend to get along with most people. I'm also a white female (which from what I've seen, is a minority in the field).
Essentially, I think that rad/onc is where I should be. WAMC for a low to mid tier program? Also, which programs would be considered low-tier to mid-tier for rad/onc (given that all are obviously competitive)?
I appreciate your input!
Your chances are 36.2% (the 95% CI is 0-100). Seriously though just apply, have a backup in mind because your stats are below average.
For that joke you could have picked 70% chance, now they are just going to freak out that you picked such a low number
Hey everyone, I'd really appreciate any feedback.
D.O. student, early MS3
USMLE Step 1 = 261
Clinical: A's on the few rotations I've had so far (A/B/C/Fail system), grading seems generous enough to have mostly A's and some B's
Research:
-Non-Rad/Onc: 2nd author on abstract + presentation on one project, and one other project involving software analysis that didn't amount to anything
-Rad/Onc: Likely scenario is to end up with about 2 abstracts or case reports, likely none 1st author and none full articles
AOA: Yes-ish (SSP, D.O. equivalent)
ECs: Mild-moderate volunteering including founding+president of a non-Rad/Onc club. Worked library and freelanced Step 1 prep during school.
LoRs: No home institution. My non-Rad/Onc research mentor will write glowing, golden prose, and I'll get a great LOR from a Rad/Onc senior doc. All other LOR's are up in the air still, but I plan to do 3 Rad/Onc rotations total.
Extra: Worked a couple jobs before med school, really into teaching (heavy history of tutoring/teaching, especially math). My age may bring my maturity into question, as it did when applying to medical school.
I'm worried my weak research and D.O status will necessitate a backup specialty -- I was thinking about applying to Rads too. I'm also looking to go to California, as hopeless as that may sound...what do you guys say?
I think your research is fine. The problem with your app is the D.O. Try to do as many externships as you can.
Ah, so good to be back in this thread on the other side of the application process. To everyone reading this: take a deep breath -- you'll be fine.
I'm not a DO, but I had the pleasure of running into a handful of DO students on the interview trail last year. Many of last year's applicants submitted their match info to a shared Google Doc (which you can find here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...UFl6anRWdWVmQ2N4WkhtZl85RUE&usp=sharing#gid=6). Just glancing at the places where people matched, I see that 3 students from osteopathic medical schools matched.
Now I wouldn't be surprised if there is *some* bias in favor of MD applicants but if this is what you want to do, go for it! You've got phenomenal board scores and grades. Just work on the research and picking up those oh-so-important letters of recommendation and you should be set.
Best of luck!
My research focuses on the image-guided targeting of areas deep in the body for therapeutic delivery.
I would need to know some specifics about the research you're describing to determine its relevance to rad onc. What type of imaging and what treatment modality (radiation? chemo? surgery?).