Matching into EM

[pandoraone]

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Hi all,

It seems life will be taking me to Boston! Recently got engaged and we plan on trying to go to Boston (family) for residency.

Of the Boston hospitals, I really want to match at Mass Gen for EM. What can I do to make myself the strongest candidate possible? I have a handful of publications (think 4 [all review papers]), some poster presentations and such. Taking Step 1 soon.

What kind of Step 1 score should I shoot for so I can get as close to writing my own ticket as possible?

Should I jump on some EM research to try and get there as well?

Thanks all!

 

[BoardingDoc]

You just need to do as well as possible, as it will depend not only on your step scores, but also on whether you're AOA and how much research/extracurriculars you've done. I say this with some confidence as I know one person with 240s, AOA and a lot of research and weird experiences who got an interview, and I know someone with good grades and a 260+ who didn't get an interview.

 

[iish]

Why Mass Gen out of curiosity? It's a good program, but some would argue that BMC is truly the best program in Boston. Also if you are even pre-step 1 how are you certain what clinical field you want to go into and exactly what program you want to match into? I would highly suggest keeping an open mind

 

[QuackaDO]

I never understand why people ask what Step 1 score they should shoot for. If someone said "225" would you prepare to get a 225 and then stop and go take the test? No... so what difference does it make. The answer is "the highest possible score YOU can actually get". As for what else you can do, don't get your heart set or plan to be anywhere before you've even taken Step 1. Some places are pretty much off limits to those that don't score very well (Boston, some CA and NYC programs if you're not from CA or NYC) so saying life is taking you to anywhere is probably just a hope (like most students) more than it is a reality. In reality, the Boston area programs are some of the most/more competitive in the country so you'd be best served keeping your options open until you actually have some firm evidence that you are competitive for that market (board scores, audition rotations, letters). You just have too many variables in play still and are really not much different than any other candidate out there right now. Research won't hurt if you can get it and may or may not help (depends on the program) so if you have the ability to do it and you won't compensate study time for Step 1 then do it.

 

[Cooperd0g]

And if you aren't stellar enough for Boston you could try to be close by at UMass in Worcester or Baystate in Springfield. I think Baystate actually has the largest single hospital ED volume in New England.

 

[Odo ti Aye]

@ BoardingDoc - Why does it seem like a lot of your comments portray EM as a very risky field to try match into? Once you mentioned that someone with decent numbers applied to 42 programs and only got 7 interviews, and now you're saying someone with good grades and 260+ didn't not get into EM? This isn't ophthalmology my friend, and your comments don't represent the real world. Either these people you refer to have the personalities of a doorknob, or you are a gunner troll.

 

[BoardingDoc]

Neither of your specific comments about my posting history are true.

Once you mentioned that someone with decent numbers applied to 42 programs and only got 7 interviews

No idea where you're getting this from, as I have never posted anything to this effect.

now you're saying someone with good grades and 260+ didn't not get into EM?

I never said that either. In this thread, I mentioned that someone I know with good grades and a 260+ step 1 score didn't get an invite at MGH.

I suggest you work on your reading comprehension.

 

[Odo ti Aye]

That's my bad, I confused you with Dave86 and read your post too quickly. I'm just having a bad day...getting weary of all the hoops and rites of passage we have to jump through to ultimately serve the public. Anyway, apologies.

 

[BoardingDoc]

No worries. I know the feeling.

 

[TallScrubs]

I never understand why people ask what Step 1 score they should shoot for. .

I just think it's more of a, 'what kind of step 1 do people who match at [hospital x] typically have?'