Is a ROAD specialty still possible?

[doctor15]

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Due to extenuating circumstances, my resume is as follows:

T50 USMD
URM
Passed all classes M1/M2
One withdraw (medical leave)
Only passed all clerkships; didn't get the hang of shelf exams till after a while
285 Step 2
1 pub from undergrad; 2 poster presentations otherwise
No real EC's; UG I had significant URM involvement

Is a ROAD specialty still possible? I'm not saying it's likely--I understand the odds are slim. But with a gap year for research in the specific specialty?

I take a while to adjust to things but my S2 shows I do end up mastering things; I just need some adjustment time. My clerkship comments talk about me being a hardworker so it's not hopefully going to be giving the impression that I slacked till S2.

 

[RockClimberMed]

I would think so...I have a similar step score and not the best research profile but have gotten good feedback from mentors about my odds at a certain competitive specialty. It does seem to be the case tho that after like a 274 there are diminishing returns for high scores...no one cares about a 278 vs 285 unfortunately but a 265 vs 275 can open a lot of doors. If you have mentors and good letters Id say try it without the research year..albeit youll have to pick programs very strategically

 

[eyeeye_captain]

Which specialty? O and D are the only 2 that practice somewhat similarly. All can be procedural, but O is the only surgical.

O and D are also smaller, more competitive fields where connections go further.

Medical leave is fine. Grades are mostly mitigated by that Step 2. You’re a little light on research. You should be looking for projects now, even before a possible gap year, since you’ll only have a few months of productivity in said year before you apply. Use that to network as well. Show up at grand rounds.

Your Step score may actually make things a little tougher as programs may yield protect (like the adcoms on here like to talk about for med school), meaning that lower tier programs get scared off and say “that person isn’t coming here.” (I legitimately had a program director tell me thanks for showing up, I know you’ll be elsewhere next year.)

You’re competitive enough to match somewhere on paper if you have strong LORs (still no guarantees), though more so R or A at the moment. Talk to people and be productive. Put together something interesting for your personal statement.

 

[operaman]

Yeah your app isn’t bad. Ideally the medical leave was something non mental or substance related and non relapsing. The all passes hurt a bit. Clinical grades basically tell how well you got along with people, and all passes suggest you didn’t quite gel with anyone. If it was purely shelf related then you may be able to redeem yourself with sub I rotations/aways.

As always, your strongest chances will be home programs. Your biggest weakness right now is that you don’t know which field you want. You have some courting to do and that’s infinitely easier when you decide which one you want. Agree with the above that of the road fields, gas and rads are your best bets at this point. Ophtho and derm are long shots unless your home program adores you, and quite possible they’ve already been courted by your classmates for the past few years.

 

[AJS59]

I think you'd have a great shot at gas and rads especially as those are specialties where research is not as important

 

[IlDestriero]

The ROAD ain’t what it used to be. I’d never recommend radiology to anyone. Many practices were eaten up by corporate overloads funded with private equity money. It’s also the field most at risk from AI. Are we there now? Some say maybe. Will we be there in 20 years when you’re getting into the meat of your career? Oh yes.
Anesthesia was always ROAD adjacent. The pay is great, there no clinic, when you’re done you’re done, but you’re not really in control of your career and are a cog in the wheel. PE backed management companies tried to dismantle the specialty, but they were so greedy and inept, they screwed the pooch.
Take a look at Urology.
Get rid of the ROAD and look at OUD. It ain’t just fancy smelling wood resin.

 

[hopefulraddaddypls]

The ROAD ain’t what it used to be. I’d never recommend radiology to anyone. Many practices were eaten up by corporate overloads funded with private equity money. It’s also the field most at risk from AI. Are we there now? Some say maybe. Will we be there in 20 years when you’re getting into the meat of your career? Oh yes.
Anesthesia was always ROAD adjacent. The pay is great, there no clinic, when you’re done you’re done, but you’re not really in control of your career and are a cog in the wheel. PE backed management companies tried to dismantle the specialty, but they were so greedy and inept, they screwed the pooch.
Take a look at Urology.
Get rid of the ROAD and look at OUD. It ain’t just fancy smelling wood resin.

Its interesting how non radiologists are so sure of the field. Id recommend rads, and if I was applying again as an m4, id still apply rads

 

[mistafab]

Your app is good. Just need to get focused on which exact specialty you are gunning for, and start prepping your resume for that specialty. You need great clinical LORs and good clinical grades and you should be fine somewhere. If you're gunning for derm however you may need to beef up derm specific research now.

 

[RockClimberMed]

Your app is good. Just need to get focused on which exact specialty you are gunning for, and start prepping your resume for that specialty. You need great clinical LORs and good clinical grades and you should be fine somewhere. If you're gunning for derm however you may need to beef up derm specific research now.

Apps are in a week...no time for all at.