How to match at a top residency for a IM specialty?

[IntoTheNight]

I'm an M2 at a low—to mid-tier state school. For the last year or so, my focus has been on grades. I'm on one research project but otherwise I haven't been as involved in EC's as I was in undergrad.

What would it take to match at a top residency? I'm looking to match into a field like pulmonology/GI/nephrology etc.

Thank you in advance

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[DOVinciRobot]

To match a top residency you need to be a top student… that means you should have top grades, have high board scores, have excellent LORs from academic physicians (preferably people with pedigree as IM loves prestige), have quality research (read: publications on pubmed)

And have a little bit of luck

 

[eteshoe]

The only pushback I'd give on AOA is some schools just don't have chapters. Try to max out that step 2 score - it pays dividends for top programs (minus the big 4 where it's a bit of a crapshoot).

Have a compelling reason you can articulate as to why IM, why x subspecialty. Do an away (preferably at a big name institution) if needed and crush it

 

[SurfingDoctor]

I'm always slightly confused why people think this matters. I've seen people at top-tier schools/programs become utter duds and seen some random school/program people become superstars. Even the most top tier programs have people who are complete dolts (See Simone's Maxims).

Essentially, your career path is what you make of it.

But also, yes... luck. And persistence.

 

[Redpancreas]

AOA at a lower tier school
Solid performance at an upper tier school

 

[GoSpursGo]

Just to expound... you don't need to be at a "top" IM program by any means to match any subspecialty. Many solid academic programs will set you up just fine for a fellowship application. Pulm and GI would both be more competitive than nephrology, but even so just having a decent project or two from med school plus a project or two in residency will likely set you up well for your fellowship match.

If you are the odd duck that wants to have an academic career and spend your life doing research/education, then there may be marginal value to getting to a "top" residency so you can get a "top" fellowship, as having that name brand training can help impress other academics who care about things like that. But assuming you just want to practice once you're done with training then it likely will not pay large dividends to wind up a at a top 20 IM program as opposed to a top 80 program.

 

[voxveritatisetlucis]

AOA at a lower tier school
Solid performance at an upper tier school

At upper tier schools it barely even matters. Most of their clerkship are pass/fail and they hide bad things on the MSPE (ie no adjectives). That’s why top schools were the biggest proponents of pass fail step 1. The people at top schools who don’t match top 20 IM are probably doing it intentionally for family reasons or whatever

 

[Obnoxious Dad]

I'm an M2 at a low—to mid-tier state school. For the last year or so, my focus has been on grades. I'm on one research project but otherwise I haven't been as involved in EC's as I was in undergrad.

What would it take to match at a top residency? I'm looking to match into a field like pulmonology/GI/nephrology etc.

Thank you in advance

Before you start aiming for a nephrology fellowship, I'd suggest that you peruse the nephrology forum. It's nothing but doom and gloom.

 

[SweetBurger]

Before you start aiming for a nephrology fellowship, I'd suggest that you peruse the nephrology forum. It's nothing but doom and gloom.

dude peruse literally any subspecialty or any non-IM field forum lmao. It's literally ALL doom & gloom this aint unique

 

[notabot81]

Coming from a low-tier school, do you try to find pedigreed letter writers on away rotations ?

 

[GoSpursGo]

dude peruse literally any subspecialty or any non-IM field forum lmao. It's literally ALL doom & gloom this aint unique

Nephro is actually a special brand of doom and gloom. Rad onc and EM too. There is a difference between "we're making way less money than we hoped for" or "AI/APPs are going to take out jerbs," and "there are literally no jobs right now."

 

[voxveritatisetlucis]

Coming from a low-tier school, do you try to find pedigreed letter writers on away rotations ?

It’s just extremely hard coming from a no name school no matter what you do

Literally more than half of MGH residents come from top 10 schools. The others are probably kids of faculty

 

[Nontrad_FL_LGBT]

It’s just extremely hard coming from a no name school no matter what you do

Literally more than half of MGH residents come from top 10 schools. The others are probably kids of faculty

My low-mid school routinely has had 5-10ish MGH matches a year for the last several matches. It's on you to match. 🤷‍♂️

 

[voxveritatisetlucis]

My low-mid school routinely has had 5-10ish MGH matches a year for the last several matches. It's on you to match. 🤷‍♂️

For IM? It’s probably not a low tier school then. Schools like BU and tufts aren’t low tier

If you look at the list, there aren’t any “low tier” schools with more than 1-2 students

 

[Augustoweiner]

My low-mid school routinely has had 5-10ish MGH matches a year for the last several matches. It's on you to match. 🤷‍♂️

You go to HMS?