MS2 curious about Rads

[WolverineMD]

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Any recently matched applicants have advice on matching into programs like Brown, UVA, NYU. Basically solid academic programs not in the top ten. It seems like the competition is changing a bit and I'd like a feel for things.

 

[deleted564680]

In order to match at such programs (although UVA and NYU are considered much more highly than Brown) you would need to be:
1. An MD
2. From the NE or ties to the NE
3. USMLE range 235-245 these days
4. Good luck because it's still "the match"

I'd add more...like research and such by right now rads isn't as competitive as it once was. I think you'd be fine with those things - for Brown especially. NYU is a different story as people get priapism over New York for some reason.

 

[MadRadLad]

In order to match at such programs (although UVA and NYU are considered much more highly than Brown) you would need to be:
1. An MD
2. From the NE or ties to the NE
3. USMLE range 235-245 these days
4. Good luck because it's still "the match"

I'd add more...like research and such by right now rads isn't as competitive as it once was. I think you'd be fine with those things - for Brown especially. NYU is a different story as people get priapism over New York for some reason.

Is it really hard to match at programs if you're not from the NE or have no ties to the NE (or whichever location you apply for...e.g. applying to Cali residencies from the East Coast)?

 

[deleted564680]

Institutions definitely screen applicants based on regions. You may not even get an interview if you aren't from their region. Some places are worse than others.

 

[Gadofosveset]

NYU is a different story as people get priapism over New York for some reason.

Ha. Very true. And the hardness of the priapism is directly proportional to indices of self-importance.

UVA is not biased against applicants from the S and SE.

 

[Lafakads]

What do residencies think if I'm from the SE but go to school in the NE?

 

[qwerty89]

What do residencies think if I'm from the SE but go to school in the NE?

That you are an orphan and nobody loves you

 

[WolverineMD]

thanks for the replies. I'm in the NE right now and want to stay in the NE. Aiming for 240 but not willing to kill myself over it especially with the new test changes.

 

[LoveIR]

As a recently matched applicant I'll weigh in. There is no competition at the bottom and not much at the middle but things are still pretty competitive at the top.

NYU is arguably the best program in NYC, making it one of the most competitive overall. Based on people I know who got interviews there, they are looking for mostly honors 3rd year, >250, and some published research. The difference is that 5-10 years ago it was nearly all honors, AOA, 260, and lots of published research. UVA and Brown are slightly less competitive and probably expect more like half Honors, 240s, dabble in research.

Regional bias is mainly a factor in getting interviews on the West Coast, but probably factors in a little bit everywhere.

thanks for the replies. I'm in the NE right now and want to stay in the NE. Aiming for 240 but not willing to kill myself over it especially with the new test changes.

Figure out how much effort would actually kill you, then do slightly less than that. =) Step 1 is still the biggest factor in where you get interviews, and 250 will open a lot more doors than 240.

 

[WolverineMD]

Would love a 250 but our dean just informed us that there have been changes made to the usmle step 1 2015 to make it harder, lack of buzz words and targeting of material that is not in FA. It will be interesting to see if this will stop the average from increasing. Still aiming high just prepared for the worst.

 

[PL198]

Would love a 250 but our dean just informed us that there have been changes made to the usmle step 1 2015 to make it harder, lack of buzz words and targeting of material that is not in FA. It will be interesting to see if this will stop the average from increasing. Still aiming high just prepared for the worst.

it's a standardized exam... making it "harder" does nothing for your relative score on the exam... everyone is in the same boat. if they magically make it 2x as hard, there won't be an avg of 210, it will just be curved different. listening to anything your dean says is basically a recipe for failure anyway. disillusioned, illogical academics FTW

or if they changed the curving so the new avg was 220, PDs would be aware of this and obviously factor it into their decisions... be logical.