I know it's a tad early but ...

[Doctor4Life1769]

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OK, so I'm rounding down my interviews - 1 more left.
I'm a DO student, going into the MD match.
Passed COMLEX 1 and 2 on first go around
Passed USMLE Step 2 in the 220s (but, took it late, not as satisfied with it but from what I hear from PDs and friends, it is a solid score, supposedly)
Did not take Step 1

Ended up with 7 interviews thus far, don't know if I will land any more or not. I'm counting on not, but working the phone lines nonetheless.

Let's give a hypothetical, "I don't match" scenario.
What should I consider doing?

1. Research year at a program I want to do residency, and along that time, take USMLE Step 1, re-apply
2. Prelim surg year, re-apply
3. Osteopathic TRI, re-apply

I didn't apply to Prelim IM programs (likely a dumb move, wish I had, but I wanted to have OR time, exposure to procedures, SICU, etc). Anyways, what are your thoughts?

Also, when re-applying, how does one get everything together (i.e. transcript, LOR, Dean's letter, ERAS, etc?)

Again, I know this is early, and I may still end up matching (I've been told I have a good chance at certain programs, but I want to prepare for what could be ahead of me and not be totally "shell-shocked") ...

Thanks!

 

[scudrunner]

OK, so I'm rounding down my interviews - 1 more left.
I'm a DO student, going into the MD match.
Passed COMLEX 1 and 2 on first go around
Passed USMLE Step 2 in the 220s (but, took it late, not as satisfied with it but from what I hear from PDs and friends, it is a solid score, supposedly)
Did not take Step 1

Ended up with 7 interviews thus far, don't know if I will land any more or not. I'm counting on not, but working the phone lines nonetheless.

Let's give a hypothetical, "I don't match" scenario.
What should I consider doing?

1. Research year at a program I want to do residency, and along that time, take USMLE Step 1, re-apply
2. Prelim surg year, re-apply
3. Osteopathic TRI, re-apply

I didn't apply to Prelim IM programs (likely a dumb move, wish I had, but I wanted to have OR time, exposure to procedures, SICU, etc). Anyways, what are your thoughts?

Also, when re-applying, how does one get everything together (i.e. transcript, LOR, Dean's letter, ERAS, etc?)

Again, I know this is early, and I may still end up matching (I've been told I have a good chance at certain programs, but I want to prepare for what could be ahead of me and not be totally "shell-shocked") ...

Thanks!

Well I'm only a second year student but I think you should match somewhere with 7 interviews. Second, do you live in, intend on living in, or think it is remotely possible to end up in one of the few states that require a TRI for licensure? If so, and if I were you, I'd do one and apply to any open advanced spots that may exist as well as reapply in the match. That's what I'd do... Can't comment on the other stuff. Good luck!

 

[BobBarker]

Its hard to really know where you stand with the 7 interviews.. Did you do aways at some of the programs, and did they go well? Maybe the best thing to do if you don't match, is to do the surgical prelim, but make sure you do it at a place that annually has out of match CA1 positions. I know UTMB has 4 of these positions, and UTSW has 5. These are just from my limited knowledge of places I interviewed at, so there are probably several more programs who do the same thing.

 

[Doctor4Life1769]

I did rotate at 2 programs. Received great letters and the residents really did like me as they all remembered me and had positive things to say. It's just hard to tell where the pd will rank me. I have 1 left. I didn't apply to those programs you mentioned, would that put me out of contention? What are your thoughts on both counts? Btw to the other poster I have no real reason to consider those 5 states so the osteo tri isn't a big issue.

 

[Arch Guillotti]

Hard to say.

I am not sure what the USMLE II does to help your application without having taken Step I.

What prelim surgical program gives you OR time? I always thought prelim surg positions were all scut and floorwork.

 

[Doctor4Life1769]

There are several smaller programs that provide OR time. There are also several university programs that provide OR time.

I took Step 2 because numerous PDs and also members on here advocated taking it, and that it did not matter Step 1 or 2 because they really want to see if you can pass the licensure exam, as proof that one is able to pass the anesthesiology board exam. That's what some PDs told me. Otherwise, they were fine with my COMLEX scores. I took it to provide them with confidence that I am able to do well on USMLE and have the capability to do well on the specialty boards.

I'm just unsure if I should just do a research year, or if that will add nothing to my CV and application. I currently have 2 published articles. Of course, in the time off, I would be taking Step 1.

Hopefully, I can look back at this thread in 3 months with a huge sigh of relief, because then I will have matched.

 

[El Dooderino]

There are several smaller programs that provide OR time. There are also several university programs that provide OR time.

I took Step 2 because numerous PDs and also members on here advocated taking it, and that it did not matter Step 1 or 2 because they really want to see if you can pass the licensure exam, as proof that one is able to pass the anesthesiology board exam. That's what some PDs told me. Otherwise, they were fine with my COMLEX scores. I took it to provide them with confidence that I am able to do well on USMLE and have the capability to do well on the specialty boards.

I'm just unsure if I should just do a research year, or if that will add nothing to my CV and application. I currently have 2 published articles. Of course, in the time off, I would be taking Step 1.

Hopefully, I can look back at this thread in 3 months with a huge sigh of relief, because then I will have matched.

Did someone really tell you it didn't matter if it was step 1 or 2? There's no way that's true, they care about step 1 so much more

 

[SukaNeNauka]

I think that with 7 interviews you have a pretty good shot at matching. Here is what I ve learned from my match process in the allopathic world a year ago:
1. Usmle Step 1 is much more important than Usmle Step 2
2. Letters of Rec from important people are very important
3. Research helps, but do it only if you are interested in research
4. Do a surgical prelim year if you like surgery. There are surgery programs that provide a good amount of OR time for prelims

 

[Doctor4Life1769]

I know step 1 is more important but at this point step 2 material was fresher.
Bob barker do you have any further recommendations?
Do their prelims not fill? Is it too late to apply to more prelims?
I do like surgery and I like research so I could go either. Also does there tend to be open preliminary med positions?

 

[IveGotTwins]

To be honest, I've never been asked about my Step 2 score in an interview but nearly everyone comments on my Step 1 score. I'm an MD so I don't have any experience with the COMLEX.

Another thing to think about is that while any prelim will give you experience in managing patients and probably make you a better doctor in the end, a year of research will probably involve ~40 hrs per week of work compared to any prelim at ~80 hrs per week. This extra time will afford you the opportunity to possibly do unpaid research in anesthesiology if your paying gig is not, network in your area by shadowing, and you will have a much easier time scheduling and actually going on interviews because of the decreased work hours. I'm currently doing a year of research and have received 9 interview offers.

 

[Arch Guillotti]

I know step 1 is more important but at this point step 2 material was fresher.
Bob barker do you have any further recommendations?
Do their prelims not fill? Is it too late to apply to more prelims?
I do like surgery and I like research so I could go either. Also does there tend to be open preliminary med positions?

Don't take this the wrong way but I think you need to take your panties out of a bunch. You have a fair amount of interviews and the match is months away. If you don't match scramble like crazy. There will always be DO spots left over.

 

[BobBarker]

Like arch said, relax. Its probably too late to apply to more prelims/programs, and its much too late to worry about step 1.