Matching in Internal Medicine

[Saxappeal1]

Hey guys,
So I am a bit panicked about my situation, and I was wondering if anyone here could help me out with some feedback. I want to match to internal medicine and my step scores are not high. high 190s/low 220s/Pass. I have what I speculate to be stellar LOR's and have passed all of my shelves, medical school tests, etc. Im in Florida and I'd like to stay within Florida if possible, but I'd like to know if my hopes for a career in internal medicine are DOA.
Thanks guys, I appreciate it.

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[VacheronConstantin]

IM is THE least competitive specialty - even less so than FM - due to sheer volume of positions.

If you apply to all community programs in FL - I guarantee you will match.

 

[Saxappeal1]

Do others agree? And thank you.

 

[DBV]

Yeah you're probably not going to get into UF or Miami but you'll get a community program or something. Just apply to like a smart 30 or like 50 including some reaches and do as many interviews as feasible

 

[ClinPathDO]

Hey guys,
So I am a bit panicked about my situation, and I was wondering if anyone here could help me out with some feedback. I want to match to internal medicine and my step scores are not high. high 190s/low 220s/Pass. I have what I speculate to be stellar LOR's and have passed all of my shelves, medical school tests, etc. Im in Florida and I'd like to stay within Florida if possible, but I'd like to know if my hopes for a career in internal medicine are DOA.
Thanks guys, I appreciate it.

Are you a USMD?

 

[W19]

Plenty programs in FL you can match into, but they might be community programs or at best university-affiliated programs

 

[Saxappeal1]

Thanks guys, yes I will be a US MD, and I am planning to apply to 41, and I'd be grateful for any internal medicine program close to Orlando. You guys think 41 is enough? Most are Florida but I have a few GA, AL, and SC.

 

[W19]

You should apply to 50-60...

 

[jac09]

You got this; I have no doubt in my mind. You WILL match.

 

[Angus Avagadro]

Shands isn't real close, I have an advisee there in IM. Check them out. Good luck and best wishes!

 

[Instatewaiter]

By charting outcomes a us senior with a 190 has a 90% chance of matching to IM.

Personally I think you need to send out applications all over. I would consider more applications than you are planning. You can always cancel interviews if you get too many.

if you don't apply to enough programs from the getgo and get enough interviews, you are going to be screwed. More importantly, if you don't match this year the likelihood of matching the second time around with your scores is going to go down. So set yourself up for the highest likelihood to match this year.

 

[Saxappeal1]

I applied to >60 programs now, and I have >6 interviews currently. I hope to get 12-15, I think Ill be fine 😀 thanks for the support!

 

[MedicineZ0Z]

IM is THE least competitive specialty - even less so than FM - due to sheer volume of positions.

If you apply to all community programs in FL - I guarantee you will match.

Is that true? Easier than FM even when you factor in IMGs/fmgs?

 

[jac09]

I applied to >60 programs now, and I have >6 interviews currently. I hope to get 12-15, I think Ill be fine 😀 thanks for the support!

Let us know how they go!

 

[aafisahar]

Is that true? Easier than FM even when you factor in IMGs/fmgs?

Depends on how you think. IM is more competitive by numbers (stats, AOA, pubs, advanced degrees, etc) than EM. That includes all the small time community programs that you need a thready pulse to match at. Despite that, IM still has good average stats.

On sheer spots, IM looks less competitive. The caliber of applicant is higher than FM but because there are so many programs, you can find a spot. The average FM applicant would be competitive for low tier university programs or community programs only. The average IM applicant would be competitive for essentially any FM program.

So it depends on your perspective. I personally think that spots open vs spots matched is a poor marker of competitiveness. It leads down wonky conclusions like rheum being more competitive than GI/cards. However, the caliber of rheum applicants would get very few interviews in GI/cards.

 

[VacheronConstantin]

Depends on how you think. IM is more competitive by numbers (stats, AOA, pubs, advanced degrees, etc) than EM. That includes all the small time community programs that you need a thready pulse to match at. Despite that, IM still has good average stats.

On sheer spots, IM looks less competitive. The caliber of applicant is higher than FM but because there are so many programs, you can find a spot. The average FM applicant would be competitive for low tier university programs or community programs only. The average IM applicant would be competitive for essentially any FM program.

So it depends on your perspective. I personally think that spots open vs spots matched is a poor marker of competitiveness. It leads down wonky conclusions like rheum being more competitive than GI/cards. However, the caliber of rheum applicants would get very few interviews in GI/cards.

Which is more competitive: IM or Neurology?

 

[Instatewaiter]

IM

 

[NYCdude]

When is a reasonable time to start panicking about lack of interviews? US MD at state school, Step 1: 210-215, Step 2: 230-235, red flags: repeated one pre-clinical course (pharm) and CP'd one clerkship. The rest of the clerkships include one H, two HP's, and the rest passes.

I applied to 60 programs, 6-8 community, the rest university. I have 3 interview invites so far but one of them is from my home institution lol. I feel like if I don't get at least 10 interviews I'm gonna be in a bad spot.

 

[VacheronConstantin]

When is a reasonable time to start panicking about lack of interviews? US MD at state school, Step 1: 210-215, Step 2: 230-235, red flags: repeated one pre-clinical course (pharm) and CP'd one clerkship. The rest of the clerkships include one H, two HP's, and the rest passes.

I applied to 60 programs, 6-8 community, the rest university. I have 3 interview invites so far but one of them is from my home institution lol. I feel like if I don't get at least 10 interviews I'm gonna be in a bad spot.

My school said clinical grades are pretty important - why did you low pass that one clerkship?

 

[NYCdude]

My school said clinical grades are pretty important - why did you low pass that one clerkship?

Failed the shelf. It was my first clerkship and I had no idea what I was doing lol.

 

[MSTP18]

IM is THE least competitive specialty - even less so than FM - due to sheer volume of positions.

If you apply to all community programs in FL - I guarantee you will match.

*ahem* pathology would like to have a word with you. We don't have the lowest percentage of spots filled by American grads for nothing!

And OP, I am confident you will match somewhere if you apply broadly.

 

[Oso]

When is a reasonable time to start panicking about lack of interviews? US MD at state school, Step 1: 210-215, Step 2: 230-235, red flags: repeated one pre-clinical course (pharm) and CP'd one clerkship. The rest of the clerkships include one H, two HP's, and the rest passes.

I applied to 60 programs, 6-8 community, the rest university. I have 3 interview invites so far but one of them is from my home institution lol. I feel like if I don't get at least 10 interviews I'm gonna be in a bad spot.

I would say just hang tight. It's only Oct 2nd ... if you had 3 interviews by mid/end of November, then I would be worried.

 

[BengaliBrat]

Keeping my fingers crossed. . . got two invitations to interview at the end of last month and now I'm hoping that a few other programs think that I might have some potential.

 

[Saxappeal1]

Update: I got 16 interviews so far. I feel so honored!!!