How to become competitive for Ortho or Plastics in three years?

[Tom B. Burner]

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Hi everyone, I am an MS1 who recently returned back to school after working in corporate America for a while.



Orthopedic and Plastic Surgery are two of the fields I’m most interested in. I currently go to a low ranked MD school.



I was very aware of how competitive residency would be, so I tried acquiring experiences ahead of time. What I currently have going for me:

• Three Nature/Cell/Science publications including one co-first authorship. This was the result of my work at one of the largest Biotechnology companies in the world.
• Another publication from my undergraduate research, as well as a poster presentation at the American College of Sports Medicine.
• A multimillion dollar grant that was awarded for my (PI’s) undergraduate research in another lab.
• Recently submitted a $250,000 grant with the Dean of the College of Medicine that I’m hoping will get approved.
• Experience using artificial intelligence to increase health equity and optimize speed.

Some more information:

• I was hoping to get more extracurriculars and experiences after my first semester or the summer between M1 and M2.
• I haven’t honored anything preclinical yet. I focused on simply just trying to pass this first semester and get acclimated again to school.
• Not that much of a fan of Wisconsin, so I would prefer to not attend my home institution for residency.

 

[pazzer2]

Is your school pass/fail? Or do they give grades? If so then strive for AOA.

Your research background looks stellar. In the upcoming years, focus on doing something applicable to ortho/plastics. Also spend time getting to know the attendings at your home programs.

 

[Tom B. Burner]

Is your school pass/fail? Or do they give grades? If so then strive for AOA.

Your research background looks stellar. In the upcoming years, focus on doing something applicable to ortho/plastics. Also spend time getting to know the attendings at your home programs.

School is Pass/Fail.

Thank you for the feedback.

 

[Doctoscope]

I'd reach out to other institutions that have a lot of ortho/plastics research going on. With your CV, I'm sure they'll be glad to have you onboard. You can then grow these connections and network.

 

[Tom B. Burner]

I'd reach out to other institutions that have a lot of ortho/plastics research going on. With your CV, I'm sure they'll be glad to have you onboard. You can then grow these connections and network.

Hi, yes, thank you for the feedback. I made a list of physicians at nearby institutions and will be reaching out to them on Monday!

 

[Saturday’s Child]

Speaking solely on ortho here, but some of these points probably apply to plastics too.

Relationships > skills > scores > everything else.

On average, you will be competing with > 500 people for roughly 50 interviews and 5 positions. Assume everyone else looks good to great on paper. Do not underestimate the value of relationships, as this is much more of a social game than anyone realizes. Quality is the most important, but don’t underestimate quantity. Prioritize developing deep connections with at least 2-3 attendings and a handful of residents, but also try to become a familiar face with as many extras as you can. In addition to the deep relationships you focus on, take the time to shadow as many people as possible, if only for a couple days each. Being known well and widely will make a huge difference when they’re making their rank list and trying to split hairs between the 50 people they just interviewed. Having good relationships also allows people to write great letters and advocate on your behalf to other programs, which again, is crucial.

Part of having good relationships is making a good impression, which should primarily come from your clinical performance. Research can be part of this too, but ultimately you’re not going for a PhD, and programs want to know that you’ll be able to function clinically as a resident—being able to review charts, crunch stats, and write papers pales in comparison to being able to see consults, prepare splints, suture well, etc.

Spend as much time in the OR and on call as you can early on. Learn how to be helpful, confident, and proactive in these settings. You will want to be able to hit the ground running and impress people when you start rotations, and especially once you do your away rotations. People notice when you know what you’re doing, and that does a long way in forming a positive impression. This ultimately matters more than anything else in my opinion.

Especially if you’re coming from a lower ranked school, gotta have the scores to prove yourself. Step 2 is obviously crucial. Aim for 250+. Like research though, a high step score won’t be the reason you match. It’s a box to check.

I’ve seen people match at fantastic programs with decent or even minimal research (eg no publications). View research now as a way to build relationships with attendings and residents. Having a couple projects is good, but there are diminishing returns, and research will not be the reason you match.

 

[MrBigglesworth]

You have to shadow both fields quickly and determine which one you want to put your eggs in. Personally, I would recommend Ortho > Plastics. You need to do research in that field over the summer and get contacts at your school. Additionally, you have to work HARD and do well in school. Nothing else really matters besides your grades and your understanding of the material. Maybe you can start research as a student, but I would recommend you wait until summer.

 

[Tom B. Burner]

Speaking solely on ortho here, but some of these points probably apply to plastics too.

Relationships > skills = scores > everything else.

On average, you will be competing with > 500 people for roughly 50 interviews and 5 positions. Assume everyone else looks good to great on paper. Do not underestimate the value of relationships, as this is much more of a social game than anyone realizes. Quality is the most important, but don’t underestimate quantity. Prioritize developing deep connections with at least 2-3 attendings and a handful of residents, but also try to become a familiar face with as many extras as you can. In addition to the deep relationships you focus on, take the time to shadow as many people as possible, if only for a couple days each. Being known well and widely will make a huge difference when they’re making their rank list and trying to split hairs between the 50 people they just interviewed. Having good relationships also allows people to write great letters and advocate on your behalf to other programs, which again, is crucial.

Part of having good relationships is making a good impression, which should primarily come from your clinical performance. Research can be part of this too, but ultimately you’re not going for a PhD, and programs want to know that you’ll be able to function clinically as a resident—being able to review charts, crunch stats, and write papers pales in comparison to being able to see consults, prepare splints, suture well, etc.

Spend as much time in the OR and on call as you can early on. Learn how to be helpful, confident, and proactive in these settings. You will want to be able to hit the ground running and impress people when you start rotations, and especially once you do your away rotations. People notice when you know what you’re doing, and that does a long way in forming a positive impression. This ultimately matters more than anything else in my opinion.

Especially if you’re coming from a lower ranked school, gotta have the scores to prove yourself. Step 2 is obviously crucial. Aim for 250+. Like research though, a high step score won’t be the reason you match. It’s a box to check.

I’ve seen people match at fantastic programs with decent or even minimal research (eg no publications). View research now as a way to build relationships with attendings and residents. Having a couple projects is good, but there are diminishing returns, and research will not be the reason you match.

You have to shadow both fields quickly and determine which one you want to put your eggs in. Personally, I would recommend Ortho > Plastics. You need to do research in that field over the summer and get contacts at your school. Additionally, you have to work HARD and do well in school. Nothing else really matters besides your grades and your understanding of the material. Maybe you can start research as a student, but I would recommend you wait until summer.

Thank you for your advice, forgot to respond, but please know that I have been slowly implementing it since! 🙂

 

[farmjaklnkrek21]

Speaking solely on ortho here, but some of these points probably apply to plastics too.

Relationships > skills = scores > everything else.

On average, you will be competing with > 500 people for roughly 50 interviews and 5 positions. Assume everyone else looks good to great on paper. Do not underestimate the value of relationships, as this is much more of a social game than anyone realizes. Quality is the most important, but don’t underestimate quantity. Prioritize developing deep connections with at least 2-3 attendings and a handful of residents, but also try to become a familiar face with as many extras as you can. In addition to the deep relationships you focus on, take the time to shadow as many people as possible, if only for a couple days each. Being known well and widely will make a huge difference when they’re making their rank list and trying to split hairs between the 50 people they just interviewed. Having good relationships also allows people to write great letters and advocate on your behalf to other programs, which again, is crucial.

Part of having good relationships is making a good impression, which should primarily come from your clinical performance. Research can be part of this too, but ultimately you’re not going for a PhD, and programs want to know that you’ll be able to function clinically as a resident—being able to review charts, crunch stats, and write papers pales in comparison to being able to see consults, prepare splints, suture well, etc.

Spend as much time in the OR and on call as you can early on. Learn how to be helpful, confident, and proactive in these settings. You will want to be able to hit the ground running and impress people when you start rotations, and especially once you do your away rotations. People notice when you know what you’re doing, and that does a long way in forming a positive impression. This ultimately matters more than anything else in my opinion.

Especially if you’re coming from a lower ranked school, gotta have the scores to prove yourself. Step 2 is obviously crucial. Aim for 250+. Like research though, a high step score won’t be the reason you match. It’s a box to check.

I’ve seen people match at fantastic programs with decent or even minimal research (eg no publications). View research now as a way to build relationships with attendings and residents. Having a couple projects is good, but there are diminishing returns, and research will not be the reason you match.

Can you provide some good advice on how to make deep connections with attendings at other institutions? Should I ask to participate in research or shadow them / do a summer at their institution?

 

[Goro]

Hi everyone, I am an MS1 who recently returned back to school after working in corporate America for a while.



Orthopedic and Plastic Surgery are two of the fields I’m most interested in. I currently go to a low ranked MD school.



I was very aware of how competitive residency would be, so I tried acquiring experiences ahead of time. What I currently have going for me:

• Three Nature/Cell/Science publications including one co-first authorship. This was the result of my work at one of the largest Biotechnology companies in the world.
• Another publication from my undergraduate research, as well as a poster presentation at the American College of Sports Medicine.
• A multimillion dollar grant that was awarded for my (PI’s) undergraduate research in another lab.
• Recently submitted a $250,000 grant with the Dean of the College of Medicine that I’m hoping will get approved.
• Experience using artificial intelligence to increase health equity and optimize speed.

Some more information:

• I was hoping to get more extracurriculars and experiences after my first semester or the summer between M1 and M2.
• I haven’t honored anything preclinical yet. I focused on simply just trying to pass this first semester and get acclimated again to school.
• Not that much of a fan of Wisconsin, so I would prefer to not attend my home institution for residency.

Network, network, network

 

[Dr. Robb Bassett]

Hey — welcome back to med school. It takes guts to pivot from a corporate career into something as intense as medicine, and it’s clear you’re not here to waste time.

Your background is genuinely impressive. High-impact publications, major grant work, and practical experience with AI and health equity? That’s not just resume padding — that’s strategic, differentiated, and exactly the kind of value many residency programs are looking for. Especially in ortho and plastics, where research pedigree and innovation can really set you apart.

Don’t stress about not honoring anything yet. The first semester is often about finding your footing, especially when coming in from a non-traditional path. You’ve already proven you know how to perform at a high level — that foundation will serve you well once clinicals start.

A few things to consider as you look ahead:

Strategic exposure this summer: If you’re serious about ortho or plastics, now is a perfect window to lock in shadowing, research, or skills-based projects with faculty in those fields — ideally outside your home institution if you're already thinking of moving on after med school.

Network intentionally: Your goal isn’t just more “stuff” on your CV — it’s strategic relationships. That means mentors who can vouch for you and open doors to sub-I’s or letters when it counts.

Play the long game: Competitive fields like ortho and plastics are as much about relationships, storytelling, and persistence as raw stats. You’ve got a compelling narrative already. Keep refining it as you go.

It’s clear you’re thinking several moves ahead, and that mindset — paired with your experience — puts you in a strong position. Looking forward to seeing how it unfolds.