IM in Boston

[medhearter]

Hello,

I'm interested in IM (most likely) and at programs in Boston (SO there)
The issue is that my step 1 score is below average (215)
Does anyone have any information on the average step 1 scores for the various IM programs in the Boston area?
The reason I ask is because I want to know which place I should apply for an acting internship in to maximize my chances of getting in.

Seems the IM residencies in Boston are affiliated with one of: Tufts, Harvard, or Boston U
Any idea if a 215 could cut it for any of these schools?
Any other tips?

(the next few posts on this thread are about my previous question about PM&R -- skip ahead)

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[Winged Scapula]

only two programs it seems according to FRIEDA: Tufts and Harvard

any others that anyone knows of?

Is it possible to get into either of these with say a 215 in step 1?
what would be the score I should reasonably be aiming for in ck, below which, i should probably forget about Boston PM&R?

What happened to Derm and IM/Peds? I see you have deleted those threads.

Are you asking because you will take any specialty as long as you can stay in Boston with your SO?

 

[medhearter]

yea pretty much
and i'm clearly very much in a state of flux about specialty choice
how would you suggest I go about this?
i like all of the following specialties:
Derm
PM&R
IM (Cardio or Gastro)

i dont know if i should be considering other specialties
like... preventative med or .... psychiatry or... family

i should probably make up my mind soon so i can focus my energies on away applications and research in that field...

 

[Winged Scapula]

yea pretty much
and i'm actually very much in a state of flux about specialty choice
so at least boston helps narrow down a little, but maybe a little too much since my step score probably isn't up there with the likes of harvard
what would you suggest?
i like all of the following specialties:
Derm
PM&R
IM (Cardio or Gastro)
had a thing for Peds earlier but I'm not sure about that one anymore

i dont know if i should be considering other specialties
like... preventative med or .... psychiatry or... family

i should probably make up my mind soon so i can focus my energies on away applications and research in that field...

I think you are unlikely to be competitive for Derm in a popular city like Boston with a Step 1 score of 215, below the national average.

PM&R is generally not very competitive, but I would imagine it would be at HMC. I cannot speak for Tufts.

IM would give you the most options in terms of sheer number of programs; keep in mind that Cards and Gastro are 2 of the most competitive IM fellowships to be found.

I suggest you decide what you are interested in and go from there. Being unhappy will not do you and your SO any favors.

 

[medhearter]

I think I'm leaning the most towards IM.

Please provide any feedback on the competitiveness of Boston IM residencies, and any tips on how to improve my application for them.

Thanks!

 

[duckie99]

I think I'm leaning the most towards IM.

Please provide any feedback on the competitiveness of Boston IM residencies, and any tips on how to improve my application for them.

Do research (even if you don't get a publication), get good grades on clinical rotations, do case reports, submit posters, get good LORs... it's all the standard stuff.

Boston may still be a stretch though. There are 7 programs total, 2 of which are super competitive (and you likely will not get interviews at), the others are probably more competitive than you may expect... 4 are university based (competitive), 1 is university affiliated... the reason they are competitive is because of location and affiliation and they are smaller programs. Lots of people only want to live in the NE. I think you can find a place in the NE but again boston may be tough.

No one knows how it can turn out unless you apply. Realize you can apply to multiple specialties if you are that absolutely intent are staying in boston.

If you are not married (and don't have any other very significant ties) you need to highly consider your career goals. There are TONS of people not married, who interview and rank based on their SO, and then break up. It sucks and you sacrifice a lot for a person you are not married to. Going to a low quality boston program will hurt your chances at fellowship.

 

[Winged Scapula]

Do research (even if you don't get a publication), get good grades on clinical rotations, do case reports, submit posters, get good LORs... it's all the standard stuff.

Boston may still be a stretch though. There are 7 programs total, 2 of which are super competitive (and you likely will not get interviews at), the others are probably more competitive than you may expect... 4 are university based (competitive), 1 is university affiliated... the reason they are competitive is because of location and affiliation and they are smaller programs. Lots of people only want to live in the NE. I think you can find a place in the NE but again boston may be tough.

No one knows how it can turn out unless you apply. Realize you can apply to multiple specialties if you are that absolutely intent are staying in boston.

If you are not married (and don't have any other very significant ties) you need to highly consider your career goals. There are TONS of people not married, who interview and rank based on their SO, and then break up. It sucks and you sacrifice a lot for a person you are not married to. Going to a low quality boston program will hurt your chances at fellowship.

That's an important point to consider since the OP is leaning toward Cards or GI.

 

[Live4Life]

With regards to your questions about a high step 2 score making up for a below average step 1 score, I do not think it can. I had an above average Step 1 but not stellar, and I destroyed step 2 and I only got love at 1 of the 3 big Boston programs. If you are willing to go elsewhere, then I think it can more than make up for it because I have received fantastic invites from other top programs.

 

[duckie99]

With regards to your questions about a high step 2 score making up for a below average step 1 score, I do not think it can. I had an above average Step 1 but not stellar, and I destroyed step 2 and I only got love at 1 of the 3 big Boston programs. If you are willing to go elsewhere, then I think it can more than make up for it because I have received fantastic invites from other top programs.

I'll add that I have a similar story with IM this year. Difference is that I got an above average step 1 and then destroyed step 2. Coming from a strong medical school with research experience I did not get interviews at 3 of 5 top tier programs I applied to. This is also considering that the "top tier" programs I applied to are still below the top 2 boston programs... I also wouldn't be surprised if some of the top 20 I interviewed with are less competitive than boston either. I did get tons of other great interviews though.

Look OP the point is that your step 1 score will close lots of doors. Your application will simply be screened out. Perhaps applying to multiple fields will increase you chances (it's a lot more work though and a gamble if you can't sell to people like your LOR writers and also that these programs are in the same hospitals and they may see you interviewing multiple times... which is bad). I think you need to have more latitude in your decision process or you risk end up going unmatched.

 

[DreamingTheLive]

Agree with several of posts above. You seem to have a lot of variables in play. It sounds like you want IM, but you also state that you're basically willing to pursue anything to be with your SO. Is this correct? Are you married? No offense, but it sounds like you need to do some soul searching. Wanting to pursue an uber-competitive GI fellowship where you literally have to bust your ***** for the next 4 years impressing and wanting to do psych or FM because they're close to boyfriend are completely opposite ends of spectrum.

You still have plenty of time, what EXACTLY do you think you want to spend the next 30+ of your life doing? This is what you need to figure out. THEN you can start putting rest of puzzle together.

Also, a 240 on step 2 is a smidgen above average. You need to be thinking 260+ territory if you want to impress. That and you need to become a superstar on other parts of your application and if you're leaning IM I'd start with research. Lots of it. Otherwise, your step 1 score, unfairly perhaps, paints you as a below average applicant.

My .02

 

[fahimaz7]

I thought you needed a 250 or something to have a good shake at BID or MGH/BWH. I thought BMC and Tufts were like 240? Boston is tough for sure...

 

[235009]

Hello,

I'm interested in IM (most likely) and at programs in Boston (SO there)
The issue is that my step 1 score is below average (215)
Does anyone have any information on the average step 1 scores for the various IM programs in the Boston area?
The reason I ask is because I want to know which place I should apply for an acting internship in to maximize my chances of getting in.

Seems the IM residencies in Boston are affiliated with one of: Tufts, Harvard, or Boston U
Any idea if a 215 could cut it for any of these schools?
Any other tips?

(the next few posts on this thread are about my previous question about PM&R -- skip ahead)

it's not all about step 1 score. how are your 3rd year grades? class rank (typically includes preclinical grades)? are you in the running for AOA? also a strong step 2 score can definitely make up for a below average step 1 score though as someone mentioned earlier you have to be aware that the average for step 2 is about 10 points higher than for step 1.

overall i think unless you are top of your class, all H in 3rd year, +/- AOA, and you destroy step 2 (270+)...basically demonstrating that step 1 was a horrible fluke....you won't get any love from the top 3 programs (MGH, BID, B&W). if you get a solid step 2 score (250+) and honor most of your clerkships you might get some love from BU or Tufts. I dont know anything about the community programs in or around boston but i would suggest you don't sacrifice your career at this point by going to one of those programs but everyone's priorities are different.

 

[Brachyury]

Have you considered community programs? There are quite a few in Boston and the region (from FREIDA):
Steward Carney Hospital
St. Elizabeth's (has a cards fellowship)
Lahey Clinic (has a cards and GI fellowship)
Cambridge Medical Health Alliance
Mount Auburn
Salem Hospital

 

[Live4Life]

I thought you needed a 250 or something to have a good shake at BID or MGH/BWH. I thought BMC and Tufts were like 240? Boston is tough for sure...

Definitely don't need 250 for BID/BWH/MGH. I have friends with high 230s and 240s who got interviews at all three, although that doesn't mean they will match a those programs. I got an interview at one of those with a score in the 230s on step 1 so it is possible, but the other two showed me no love.

 

[235009]

Definitely don't need 250 for BID/BWH/MGH. I have friends with high 230s and 240s who got interviews at all three, although that doesn't mean they will match a those programs. I got an interview at one of those with a score in the 230s on step 1 so it is possible, but the other two showed me no love.

i'd be very careful with "advice" like this. no one is telling OP not to apply but you can't bank on a few exceptions. to get interviews at these places it seems like the rule is you need to have good grades/class rank with above average step 1 score.

 

[medhearter]

Have you considered community programs? There are quite a few in Boston and the region (from FREIDA):
Steward Carney Hospital
St. Elizabeth's (has a cards fellowship)
Lahey Clinic (has a cards and GI fellowship)
Cambridge Medical Health Alliance
Mount Auburn
Salem Hospital

Hi everyone, thanks so much for all your feedback.
I'm definitely ok with community programs, but it seems like these community programs are mostly affiliated with Harvard or Tufts of Boston, so.... I'm guessing that makes them more competitive than the average community program in a popular city...

So I get that I need to score somewhere above 260.... I'll have to see how I can go about accomplishing that in the next 6-7 months... probably won't have much time for research while I'm doing that. And then I'll just have to apply very very broadly, maybe in nearby New England locations as well, and hopefully match somewhere and take it from there, focus on doing well in Step 3 as well and that should help with fellowships.. right? (And ofcourse I'll also apply to other locations for the chance that the thing with the SO isn't worth it and if we somehow no longer want to settle down together, don't worry about that. Just tell me about Boston for now! Oh and actually I wouldn't need to be in Boston for fellowship, because by that time he'll be done with his residency)

Thanks again!