How much does a research year help in matching to a top program?

[kwel]

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I think I'd be a solid applicant for the match.
however I'm interested in going to a top program (like top 5 if possible) but I never see stats for those programs specifically. I suspect my app as is would not cut it. I was debating taking a research year, but the only thing that would do is improve the research aspect of my app. Is that worth it? I already have a couple 1st author ophtho pubs. Would 1 or 2 more make that much of a difference for these places? Thanks 🙂

 

[wakeringer]

How are your clerkship grades?

You will get top 10 interviews for sure if you have good grades. Matching to a top 10 is another story...it's really tough.

I think a year off would be a big sacrifice for someone with a resume as impressive as yours.

 

[EyesKnowIt]

I believe a lot depends on what you accomplish during that research year. If you publish in high end Ophthalmology journals, possibly as a first author, it can help a lot. Especially if you're aiming for the top programs in the country. IMO grades and steps are just the beginning.

 

[Corn Dog]

I believe a lot depends on what you accomplish during that research year. If you publish in high end Ophthalmology journals, possibly as a first author, it can help a lot. Especially if you're aiming for the top programs in the country. IMO grades and steps are just the beginning.

Just wondering... What ophthalmology journals would you consider to be "high end"?

The ones that stand out are AJO and Ophthalmology, but would you consider journals like Archives of Ophthalmology or even British Journal of Ophthalmology to be "high end" ophthalmology journals?

 

[dantt]

Many would consider archives more.prestigious

 

[razkui]

What about IOVS? Isn't that "top" as we'll? Or less so now?

 

[Corn Dog]

What about IOVS? Isn't that "top" as we'll? Or less so now?

IOVS is a bit different. It's not a clinical journal like the ones mentioned above, but more of a lab research journal. It's a good journal, but as far as basic science research journals are concerned, IOVS is NOT even close to the top. Publishing in IOVS is good, but I highly doubt that it'll turn heads.

 

[razkui]

IOVS is a bit different. It's not a clinical journal like the ones mentioned above, but more of a lab research journal. It's a good journal, but as far as basic science research journals are concerned, IOVS is NOT even close to the top. Publishing in IOVS is good, but I highly doubt that it'll turn heads.

Even with regards to basic science ophthalmology?? I thought it was regarded as a top journal, especially cause its by ARVO? Anyone else know?

 

[alleyez2011]

IOVS is the top basic science ophthalmology journal, and is well respected within the field. Obviously, Nature, Science, Cell etc are tiers above, but if we are strictly speaking about ophthalmology journals, IOVS is without a doubt the top basic science one.

 

[RestoreSight]

IOVS is a bit different. It's not a clinical journal like the ones mentioned above, but more of a lab research journal. It's a good journal, but as far as basic science research journals are concerned, IOVS is NOT even close to the top. Publishing in IOVS is good, but I highly doubt that it'll turn heads.

Sorry but I disagree. IOVS is certainly a top journal and will turn heads if you publish in it. Here is a link to the impact factors. Other than Prog Retin Eye Res which is a review journal IOVS is top 5 and the top basic science journal in ophtho out there

http://impactfactor.weebly.com/ophthalmology.html

None of the ophtho journals have impact factors like nature or science or cell but if you want to match in ophtho publishing in any of the top 10 journals will go a long way. They are all highly respected in the field

 

[Corn Dog]

Sorry but I disagree. IOVS is certainly a top journal and will turn heads if you publish in it. Here is a link to the impact factors. Other than Prog Retin Eye Res which is a review journal IOVS is top 5 and the top basic science journal in ophtho out there

http://impactfactor.weebly.com/ophthalmology.html

None of the ophtho journals have impact factors like nature or science or cell but if you want to match in ophtho publishing in any of the top 10 journals will go a long way. They are all highly respected in the field

Your point is well-taken. I see how publishing in IOVS as a medical student could potentially turn heads. I guess my point was coming from a basic scientist's point of view. I do vision research in a wet lab, and the "top-tier" journals that we consider (other than Cell, Science, and Nature) are the likes of PLoS Biology, PNAS, and Current Biology. Next there are several "second-tier" journals that we consider, and then we consider vision-specialty journals like IOVS.

Again, vision-specialty journals are good and not easy to publish in them (esp for a medical student not doing full-time research in a wet lab), but in the world of basic science, IOVS is without a doubt lower in the totem pole. My 2 cents. 🙂

 

[EyesKnowIt]

I second that IOVS is a very well respected journal within the world of Ophthalmology. It is difficult to publish there. Publishing in IOVS as a medical student will definitely turn heads.

 

[Aclamity]

does 1st author vs. non-first author matter a lot or not so much?

Also what is the typical "research resume" for someone matching into a top 10 program?

 

[yamaha89]

Hi I'm new to the ophtho forum. I was wondering how does the British Journal of Ophthalmology compare to IOVS? I know IOVS is considered the top basic science journal but how much more impressive would it really be to get a first author in IOVS compared to BJO? I'm currently doing a basic science research year in ophtho and want to submit my paper to one of these two journals. We have reasons to want to submit to BJO but I was just wondering whether it is worth it to try IOVS first.

Thanks. Really appreciate the input.

 

[RestoreSight]

Hi I'm new to the ophtho forum. I was wondering how does the British Journal of Ophthalmology compare to IOVS? I know IOVS is considered the top basic science journal but how much more impressive would it really be to get a first author in IOVS compared to BJO? I'm currently doing a basic science research year in ophtho and want to submit my paper to one of these two journals. We have reasons to want to submit to BJO but I was just wondering whether it is worth it to try IOVS first.

Thanks. Really appreciate the input.

BJO is solid. Its probably the top european ophtho journal along with Archives. I prefer BJO over archives because it has an easier submission process. Between IOVS and BJO I would choose IOVS for basic science. Its also a US journal so you dont have to worry about funny British spellings (eg edema vs. oedema). Overall their both solid

 

[yamaha89]

Hey, thanks for the input about BJO vs IOVS. That really helped a lot!