How difficult to go into Ortho?

[isupsych253]

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At your school, how well do you have to do to go into orthopedic surgery? This is something I'm really interested in, but I've heard it is pretty competitive. Is it near impossible?

(I'm still pre-med)

 

[searun]

Ortho is definitely competitive but there are other residencies that are more competitive, dermatology, plastics, and ENT for example. You should bear in mind that your interests will probably change while you are in medical school. My med school class had alot of aspiring surgeons during the first year but many of these folks decided to pursue non-surgical residencies in their fourth year. Keep an open mind and do your best- things usually work out if you follow this path.

 

[2012mdc]

At your school, how well do you have to do to go into orthopedic surgery? This is something I'm really interested in, but I've heard it is pretty competitive. Is it near impossible?

(I'm still pre-med)

It's competitive but not crazy competitive like Derm or plastics. Work hard and impress on aways and you can match.

I go to a school outside the top 40 and we have people who match Ortho w/o AOA and Step 1's in the 230's

 

[cincincyreds]

Ortho is tough to match into. A few people in my class who were pretty competitve didn't match into it. I felt these people were pretty top notch candidates.

 

[phenylacetone]

At your school, how well do you have to do to go into orthopedic surgery? This is something I'm really interested in, but I've heard it is pretty competitive. Is it near impossible?

Ask again in July of your M3 year.

 

[officedepot]

at my school they have a minimum step 1 of 236 to even look at your application if you are an outside student. So it's pretty competitive. Apply broadly and you give yourself a good shot regardless.

 

[fahimaz7]

So a 4.0/260 won't do it? Damn..



























jk. I love posts like this.

 

[SlickNickMD]

So a 4.0/260 won't do it? Damn..



jk. I love posts like this.

I'm considering ortho with the mindset that a 260 won't cut it If I don't get a 270 on step 2 and AOA I'm not going to bother applying


half kidding

 

[Jack is Back]

Pre-meds need not even think about competitiveness of specialties. When you get to med school look @ NRMP data. Shadow whoever you want before med school.

 

[2012mdc]

I'm considering ortho with the mindset that a 260 won't cut it If I don't get a 270 on step 2 and AOA I'm not going to bother applying


half kidding

That mindset has gotten me through med school. Even convinced myself I was gonna do derm for a little bit just to get that extra push

 

[Jack is Back]

That mindset has gotten me through med school. Even convinced myself I was gonna do derm for a little bit just to get that extra push

Damn, maybe I should have adapted this mindset earlier.

 

[2012mdc]

Damn, maybe I should have adapted this mindset earlier.

It worked but it pretty much turned me into a-hole around test time 😎. 1st year I put too much pressure on myself at 1st but figured it out and had the right balance 2nd and 3rd year