Looking for advice applying to Psychiatry for an average student

[Proactiv]

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Hey guys,

I just finished my psychiatry rotation and started to take interest in the speciality. I did some research and found that psychiatry is getting more competitive each year (only ~72% of DOs got placed into a psychiatry residency; and honestly, 72% does not make me confident that I will land a residency). I am looking for any advice to help make me more competitive during for residency (should I start volunteering in psychiatric hospitals? should I attend some psychiatry conferences? etc). My step 1 score is 225; I have zero research experience, some volunteering in peds, and just an average student. I may plan on doing away rotations throughout NY (in DO friendly residencies) since I'm from NY and currently doing rotations in NY. I appreciate any advice any one has for me. Thanks guys.

 

[Thelonious Chunk]

Hey guys,

I just finished my psychiatry rotation and started to take interest in the speciality. I did some research and found that psychiatry is getting more competitive each year (only ~72% of DOs got placed into a psychiatry residency; and honestly, 72% does not make me confident that I will land a residency). I am looking for any advice to help make me more competitive during for residency (should I start volunteering in psychiatric hospitals? should I attend some psychiatry conferences? etc). My step 1 score is 225; I have zero research experience, some volunteering in peds, and just an average student. I may plan on doing away rotations throughout NY (in DO friendly residencies) since I'm from NY and currently doing rotations in NY. I appreciate any advice any one has for me. Thanks guys.

I'm applying psychiatry in a couple of weeks. It is hard to predict the psychiatry landscape currently, and I try to pay close attention to what I hear from peers/attendings/sdn/reddit to get a feel. From what I've seen, It is a bit of a gamble for all DOs. DOs with 240s go unmatched, and DOs with a sub-500 comlex only application can match. 225 is solid and I assume it will get you past most screens outside of the tippy-top. To increase chances, I recommend:

- high step 2
- pass all boards before apps go in
- strong psych LORs, from auditions if possible
- no red flags
- honor whatever clerkships you can
- auditions in DO-friendly residencies that you want to go to
- be open to the rest of the country and apply broadly, and to more safeties than you think you need
- if research presents itself, it can help a little bit
- take some time with your PS to explain why you are suddenly interested in psychiatry

I've noticed some trends. The average to excellent applicant who didn't match 'overshot' for the moon and needed to interview/apply to more safety programs. The truly low-tier applicants who did match did auditions and matched at one of those places, or matched to brand new/regionally-tied programs. It is good to have a back-up specialty in place with such a low overall match rate.

TLDR: do the classics and improve all your grades, apply really broadly and without pride, interview everywhere you get invited, and have a back-up plan