MS3 Looking to Improve CV for 2016 General Surgery Match

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Ceusina

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Hi All,

I'm trying to figure out how to prioritize the next 6-8 months to improve my residency application for general surgery. I'm essentially working with a "blank slate" and would really appreciate some guidance. A little about me:

1. Osteopathic medical student wanting to do ACGME surgery
2. Class rank: top 30% for pre-clinical years, not sure about current class rank, but I presume it's gone up
3. Clinical grades: All As/"honors," including 4 months of gen surg (2 out of 4 months were done at a hospital with an ACGME surgery residency) + very positive feedback from preceptors/residents
4. Step 1: national average
5. Comlex Level 1: 90th percentile
6. Research/publications/presentations: none
7. Volunteer hours: none (1,000+ during undergrad and after college graduation, nothing since starting medical school)
8. Work experience: none while in medical school, but worked in the medical field for 3 years between college and medical school
9. Extracurriculars/clubs and organizations/awards: none

For all intents and purposes, I was single mom to an infant/toddler during my first two years of medical school (husband lived 300+ miles away and was a 4th year medical student, then intern), thus accounting for my currently empty CV. Unfortunately, I don't think I can use this as an "excuse," especially not for general surgery...

Anyways, we're now (finally) living together and have figured out a system that works for us (with lots of hired help and an immensely helpful family). I have some flexibility in my schedule for the next couple of months and am desperately trying to find something... anything... to add to my application.

Doing really well on Step 2 (250+) to overcome an average Step 1 performance is my top priority, but is there anything else "high yield" I can add to my application? I have absolutely zero access to basic science research through my school. Also, I have zero guidance and no experience publishing something, even a case report, and I've never put together a poster presentation (pathetic, I know). All of these are things I'd like to pursue, but my school has no one to speak with regarding the logistics of any of these and I have NO IDEA where I'd even begin.

Any advice?

Side note: I will also apply for osteopathic surgery residencies, but I'm VERY much hoping to skip the DO match due to geographic preferences.
 
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