How many pubs are average for the GS applicant?

[Lysinee]

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By the time I submit applications, I will have 2 surgery pubs (3rd author). I was very involved in the project throughout the process and even made posters to present at med school conferences, like AMA . I was wondering how many pubs are average for an allopathic GS applicant?

I looked at the match data and and the mean is 4.4, but they are grouped in the abstracts, presentations, and publications category. I am assuming pubs carry more weight than presentations and abstracts.

 

[Winged Scapula]

The best resource is going to be the NRMP data; as you note, it is surely skewed if you define publications as only printed journal articles rather than lumping together all types of presentations, etc. However, no one is going to be able to tell you what the average number of publications are unless the NRMP releases that specific data.

 

[Lysinee]

Thanks for the info, but I wasn't asking for the average numbers from the entire pool. I was hoping to hear from some residents and faculty members who are involved in the interviewing process who might give some general insight.

For example, I talked to PD who said that pubs are a definite plus in GS applications since it's not super research orientated like rad onc, etc.

 

[Winged Scapula]

Thanks for the info, but I wasn't asking for the average numbers from the entire pool. I was hoping to hear from some residents and faculty members who are involved in the interviewing process who might give some general insight.

For example, I talked to PD who said that pubs are a definite plus in GS applications since it's not super research orientated like rad onc, etc.

Gotcha.

The number is going to depend on the program. For example, I interview for 2 programs: one is much more academic and the applicants have more. I would venture that 3 or 4 publications is common. For the other, its closer to 0 if you don't count abstracts, posters, etc. Obviously more academic programs will have more students with more impressive CVs.

Research is not necessary for the majority of GS programs, even the academic ones. Whether its a "definite plus" will depend on the program but many (?most) applicants will not have any publications; its nowhere near Rad Onc in terms of active research amongst its applicants.