How much does medical school choice matter in residency match? Worth reapplying?

[NarwhalBrigade]

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Hi everyone, long time lurker here. I have a few questions I hope someone can answer, starting with my title.

How much does medical school choice matter when applying for residencies? (Ivy/Private vs. State, US News Rankings, etc.)

I ask because I've been accepted to (and will likely be attending) my state school in the Fall, and waited til the last day possible to apply to basically every other school I had an interest in (many were non-rolling, so I thought that wouldn't hurt me) ((I think it did-1/13 on interviews.))

My stats were okay-3.7ish overall, 3.45 science. Now it's about a 3.69, 3.55. MCAT 34, B.S. in Psych and B.S. in Bio. Neuroscience research for 1 full year, Shadowing, Volunteering (1 new activity post-interviews).

My question is this-should I reapply with my better stats and more research + volunteer work to better schools if med school choice matters, especially if I think I want to enter a competitive specialty? I can fill the interim year with research, labwork or volunteering.

I don't want to come across as ungrateful for the opportunities I've been presented, but should I try for the best possible shot at a good residency at the expense of a year, or should I just put my nose to the grindstone and try to kill Step 1 dead immediately? Could reapplying be the worst decision of my life?

Sorry for the extended read, and thanks for your help!

 

[Zona Pellucida]

I definitely wouldn't reapply. You can pretty much go anywhere if you work hard. Obviously, big names can help, but it's not worth giving up an acceptance over. Just do well on clinicals and Step and you should be okay.

___

Disclaimer: I'm not speaking from personal experience, just from what I've heard. (also starting this fall)

 

[tremulousNeedle]

Residencies look at multiple factors when ranking applicants (just like getting into medical school). The med school you went to is one of them, but it is commonly reported as being not that important (great board scores plus other well rounded qualities can make up for the worst of medical schools).

This topic was discussed ad nauseam on this thread [http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=724428 ] as well as many others. This link might also be helpful; it is the results of a survey completed by residency program directors regarding their selection process [http://www.nrmp.org/data/programresultsbyspecialty.pdf ]. This data is probably the most objective you'll find.

-admissions committee interviewer / senior medical student (8 days left)

 

[RunningDiva]

This topic has been brought so many times. You can use the search function to pull up some past threads. Basic conclusions always argued over:

1) It matters more how well you do where ever you go than simply just where you go.

2) It matters to residency directors but not necessarily more than other factors. I will try to find the study that describes this.

And, of course, be thankful you were accepted at all. Throwing away an acceptance for no other reason that the school wasn't prestigious enough is basically a great way to not get accepted the second time around (unless you lie about having a fantastic reason for not seeking a deferral).

 

[TheRadiologist]

Just go to the state school and work hard. You should be fine.

It is possible that you may not get into your state school the second time around! Not worth the risk IMO. You may end up with nothing.

I have heard of people getting an interview one year and not getting an interview when reapplying the next year even with higher GPA, MCAT and more ECs. Do not take the opportunity that you have for granted.

 

[NarwhalBrigade]

Thank you all very much! I used the search function, but couldn't find anyone asking whether or not to deny acceptance to reapply.

Thanks for clearing my mind for the summer, haha.

 

[RunningDiva]

This topic has been brought so many times. You can use the search function to pull up some past threads. Basic conclusions always argued over:

1) It matters more how well you do where ever you go than simply just where you go.

2) It matters to residency directors but not necessarily more than other factors. I will try to find the study that describes this.

And, of course, be thankful you were accepted at all. Throwing away an acceptance for no other reason that the school wasn't prestigious enough is basically a great way to not get accepted the second time around (unless you lie about having a fantastic reason for not seeking a deferral).

Some interesting articles for your perusal:

Med students perceptions of what they think is important to residency directors article

Factors used by residency directors for selection article

The second article is a bit older but it is interesting to see areas of overlap and then disjunction. SEriously, a quick search of pubmed will bring residency selection criteria for Alot of different specialties.

 

[NarwhalBrigade]

Residencies look at multiple factors when ranking applicants (just like getting into medical school). The med school you went to is one of them, but it is commonly reported as being not that important (great board scores plus other well rounded qualities can make up for the worst of medical schools).

This topic was discussed ad nauseam on this thread [http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=724428] as well as many others. This link might also be helpful; it is the results of a survey completed by residency program directors regarding their selection process [http://www.nrmp.org/data/programresultsbyspecialty.pdf]. This data is probably the most objective you'll find.

-admissions committee interviewer / senior medical student (8 days left)

Thank you for the links and advice! Do you have a working second link by chance? For some reason, that one isn't coming up for me.

 

[drizzt3117]

Definitely don't reapply.

 

[RunningDiva]

Thank you for the links and advice! Do you have a working second link by chance? For some reason, that one isn't coming up for me.

I am pretty certain this is same as the second article I linked above. If not, well, then we have more info, which is good for us.

 

[tremulousNeedle]

I am pretty certain this is same as the second article I linked above. If not, well, then we have more info, which is good for us.

No, what I posted was different. My downfall was those stupid brackets that I decided to enclose the link in.

This should work.

http://www.nrmp.org/data/programresultsbyspecialty.pdf



I fixed my original post too.

 

[Wyclef]

Go to the state school! State schools are cheaper. Obama will soon slash reimbursement, so the less debt you have the better. You can get competitive specialties from state schools. You can get competitive specialties from any school for that matter, even Carrib and D.O. if you do high on USMLE Step 1. I have seen it.

 

[Simplify]

It's always sad to me to see people who actually entertain the idea of reapplying when they have an acceptance in hand. Gift horse -> Mouth = no no. Leave it alone.

 

[RunningDiva]

No, what I posted was different. My downfall was those stupid brackets that I decided to enclose the link in.

This should work.

http://www.nrmp.org/data/programresultsbyspecialty.pdf



I fixed my original post too.

That's awesome!! Besides, the other article is really out-of-date. Thanks!

 

[mfrizzo3]

Have you not looked at Harvard's Match List

Derm: 17
Ortho: 42
Rads: 22
Uro: 13
Optho: 19
Rad Onc: 12
ENT: 17

Damn Son......

 

[45408]

Hi everyone, long time lurker here. I have a few questions I hope someone can answer, starting with my title.

How much does medical school choice matter when applying for residencies? (Ivy/Private vs. State, US News Rankings, etc.)

This same thread is posted about once a week, honestly.

My question is this-should I reapply with my better stats and more research + volunteer work to better schools if med school choice matters, especially if I think I want to enter a competitive specialty? I can fill the interim year with research, labwork or volunteering.

No.

I don't want to come across as ungrateful for the opportunities I've been presented, but should I try for the best possible shot at a good residency at the expense of a year, or should I just put my nose to the grindstone and try to kill Step 1 dead immediately? Could reapplying be the worst decision of my life?

Take your acceptance and run with it. You may never get another one.

"Killing Step 1" is just like "rocking the MCAT," except the competition is much stiffer.