Less-competitive residency in a competitive location

[UT_mikie]

---

Members don't see this ad.

MS I here. After 8 weeks of school I've realized that I'm not going to be at the top of my class but I won't be at the bottom either. I am not really gungho about doing derm or ortho or any of those residencies its just not worth killing myself to get. But I was wondering is it just as hard to get an Ortho surgery residency in West Virginia as getting a internal medicine residency in say Cali or NY? Just generally speaking do I need to be at the top of my class to get any residency in a "diserable" location? Any comments would be appreciated

 

[TruTrooper]

MS I here. After 8 weeks of school I've realized that I'm not going to be at the top of my class but I won't be at the bottom either. I am not really gungho about doing derm or ortho or any of those residencies its just not worth killing myself to get. But I was wondering is it just as hard to get an Ortho surgery residency in West Virginia as getting a internal medicine residency in say Cali or NY? Just generally speaking do I need to be at the top of my class to get any residency in a "diserable" location? Any comments would be appreciated

People who apply to competitive residency spots tend to apply everywhere they can get in, even the least desirable places. One of the workers in our records and registration told me that quite a few people applying to competitive positions spends thousands of dollars applying to as many as 50 residency programs.

Last year, a fellow student at my school applied to West Virginia for Neurosurgery, got accepted there and is happy to be there. To put is simply, there seems to be no such thing as "undesrable" locations to these applicants.

 

[ny skindoc]

MS I here. After 8 weeks of school I've realized that I'm not going to be at the top of my class but I won't be at the bottom either. I am not really gungho about doing derm or ortho or any of those residencies its just not worth killing myself to get. But I was wondering is it just as hard to get an Ortho surgery residency in West Virginia as getting a internal medicine residency in say Cali or NY? Just generally speaking do I need to be at the top of my class to get any residency in a "diserable" location? Any comments would be appreciated

Competition has a significant geographic componant.A typical US grad will find getting into a good EM or radiology residency easier in the midwest than on than on the coasts.In CA,Boston peds,IM can be very competitive.
In general those who can apply to a wide spectrum of localities will have a better shot at higher level university programs and tough fields.Ortho,Derm Neurosurgery etc have very few spots nationally compared to primary care so its still going to be competitive wherever you look..

 

[Napoleon1801]

I've only heard about the match in passing and have only a general idea of what it is. How many programs do most people apply to ensure a match?

 

[Iwy Em Hotep]

MS I here. After 8 weeks of school I've realized that I'm not going to be at the top of my class but I won't be at the bottom either. I am not really gungho about doing derm or ortho or any of those residencies its just not worth killing myself to get. But I was wondering is it just as hard to get an Ortho surgery residency in West Virginia as getting a internal medicine residency in say Cali or NY? Just generally speaking do I need to be at the top of my class to get any residency in a "diserable" location? Any comments would be appreciated

A lot can change over three years. Don't sell yourself short after only two months of the first year, which really is not indicative of the preclinical years, let alone the clinical ones.

 

[getunconcsious]

Competition has a significant geographic componant.A typical US grad will find getting into a good EM or radiology residency easier in the midwest than on than on the coasts.In CA,Boston peds,IM can be very competitive.
In general those who can apply to a wide spectrum of localities will have a better shot at higher level university programs and tough fields.Ortho,Derm Neurosurgery etc have very few spots nationally compared to primary care so its still going to be competitive wherever you look..

Oh barf. Looks like you're going to be stuck in Houston for life Mike! I prolly will be too though 🙄

Seriously, is there ANY aspect of this profession that is NOT 'competetive' in some way or another? It's just getting old...

 

[UT_mikie]

Naw, getunconcious if I'm confident about anyone I'm sure you'll make it out of houston in stellar style.

Seriously, houston is not that bad, but I just miss Austin, and I wouldn't mind spending a few years on either of the coasts either. Who knows, I'll probably end up out of texas but in Minnesota or some other in heartland state. If its not cali, washington, DC, NY, or Oregon than I wouldn't mind sticking around in Texas.

Oh yea, getunconcious, does your life suck too right now? I can't wait for this damn semester to be over. I've pretty much given up on gross and am gunning for everything else. Anyway, see you in lab... because god knows I haven't been to class in a while.

 

[njbmd]

MS I here. After 8 weeks of school I've realized that I'm not going to be at the top of my class but I won't be at the bottom either. I am not really gungho about doing derm or ortho or any of those residencies its just not worth killing myself to get. But I was wondering is it just as hard to get an Ortho surgery residency in West Virginia as getting a internal medicine residency in say Cali or NY? Just generally speaking do I need to be at the top of my class to get any residency in a "diserable" location? Any comments would be appreciated

Hi there,
There are plenty of people who are not at the top of their class that are doing residencies in NY or California. When the time comes for you to start your residency applications, you will find that applications for residency are far different than application for medical school. The first major difference is that application for residency is application for a job.

Orthopedic surgery is going to be difficult in West Virginia and South Dakota. There are not that many spots and far more people with good grades that want them. If you want a competitive residency like Ortho, Neurosurgery etc, then you need to ratchet your performance up a notch or two.

Peds, IM, Family Practice an Psych have far more positions than applicants so you stand a better chance of getting one of these slots especially if you are an American grad. Does this mean that you can be at the bottom of your class and walk into Hopkins? No, but you can easily get into an IM slot in NY or California.

njbmd 🙂

 

[YouDontKnowJack]

in the end, it's no big deal right?

after residency, you will have job offers all over the country.

 

[UT_mikie]

Hi there,
There are plenty of people who are not at the top of their class that are doing residencies in NY or California. When the time comes for you to start your residency applications, you will find that applications for residency are far different than application for medical school. The first major difference is that application for residency is application for a job.

Orthopedic surgery is going to be difficult in West Virginia and South Dakota. There are not that many spots and far more people with good grades that want them. If you want a competitive residency like Ortho, Neurosurgery etc, then you need to ratchet your performance up a notch or two.

Peds, IM, Family Practice an Psych have far more positions than applicants so you stand a better chance of getting one of these slots especially if you are an American grad. Does this mean that you can be at the bottom of your class and walk into Hopkins? No, but you can easily get into an IM slot in NY or California.

njbmd 🙂

njbmd, I've read alot of your posts and you seem to always have good advice. Thanks, makes me feel a little better. I've only been gone through one block but I had some issues I had to deal with for this block so I don't think I'll be honoring everything.

 

[OddNath]

njbmd, I've read alot of your posts and you seem to always have good advice. Thanks, makes me feel a little better. I've only been gone through one block but I had some issues I had to deal with for this block so I don't think I'll be honoring everything.

Hang in there, Mikie! This block is shorter, = less material, = you'll be fine! Same for you, getunconscious. And both of you have hip haircuts, that's gotta help~

And thank you, njbmd, for the advice. I'm kind of in the same boat.

 

[getunconcsious]

Naw, getunconcious if I'm confident about anyone I'm sure you'll make it out of houston in stellar style.

Seriously, houston is not that bad, but I just miss Austin, and I wouldn't mind spending a few years on either of the coasts either. Who knows, I'll probably end up out of texas but in Minnesota or some other in heartland state. If its not cali, washington, DC, NY, or Oregon than I wouldn't mind sticking around in Texas.

Oh yea, getunconcious, does your life suck too right now? I can't wait for this damn semester to be over. I've pretty much given up on gross and am gunning for everything else. Anyway, see you in lab... because god knows I haven't been to class in a while.

Thanks bro, I hope you're right! It's not that Houston sucks it's just that I'm not from Texas and my family's ALWAYS after me to move back to the west coast.

And yes, my life sucks. Of course it sucks! Anyone in our class who claims that their life does NOT suck after block 2 was condensed by hurricane Rita is either superhuman or lying. Or a god-awful masochist with an after-school life involving whips, chains, and handcuffs. But I wouldn't worry too much, I've heard that grades in the pre-clinical years are really not that important. The main thing supposedly is your grades on the rotations. But who really knows.

And thanks Odd, I try to keep a cool haircut. Maybe I'll dye it blue again like in undergrad