Making a third year comeback???

[ideas]

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Unfortunately, my step 1 score was slightly below average, so I know I have an uphill battle for rad-onc. . . so far though I've been performing well in third year (honoring 2 of my first 3 rotations). While I know step 1 is probably the largest factor, how do you think my clinical performance will affect my application if I continue to do well? Or will my step 1 continue to be my achilles heel during the process.

 

[radiodog]

Sure solid grades and board scores are nice but I really believe there are more important things on your application. From my personal experience, research and great LORs carry a lot of weight (as does the interview). The top programs are most interested in people who have shown dedication to the field and to an academic career. Also, this field is small so a great LOR can go a long way. If you have time I would start working on some projects within your home department and even consider a year of research if you are really interested. In addition to the valuable experience you will gain from this, research will help you know the people in your department which helps with LORs and give you something to talk about on your interviews. This field is not easy to match into but by no means impossible. Most of the candidates are very qualified. The ones who seem to do well in terms of recieving interview offers have something that stands out.

 

[stephew]

radiod is correct. while board scores count they are the "most important" feature nor do (relatively) weak scores count you out by any means.

 

[ideas]

radiod is correct. while board scores count they are the "most important" feature nor do (relatively) weak scores count you out by any means.

That's good to hear. I am going to do my best to obtain strong letters of rec from members of the field, however, I am one of those students that come from a school without a home program. Most of my work has been with a local rad-onc physician. I'll be abe to get a letter from him and hopefully I'll do a great job on my away rotation in August so that I can at least have 2 LORs from members in the field. The other two will probably come from a radiologist at my home institution and then one from the director of a clerkship that I honored, just because that will be a strong letter. . . .
In terms of research, I am currently involved with research (althought its not bench research) and I'm writing a case study on a patient in the rad-onc clinic that I shadow in, along with writing an entry for the encyclopedia of cancer. . . I know this probably won't make me a *rockstar* in terms of applying for the field, but I'm trying to do the best that I can with what's available to me. . .

 

[stephew]

that's all we can do.