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.
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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