MS3 needs advice - please help

[ArielStar]

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Hi -
I'm halfway through my 3rd year rotations and so far, I haven't received any Honors. I received High Pass in Family Med, OB/GYN and Peds. I've completed psych but don't know my grade yet. Now I'm on surgery and I finish the year with IM. I'm really concerned that my clinical grades aren't competitive enough for rad onc, but I'm really interested in the field and believe it would be a good fit. My step 1 score is 240 and I did a year of research in cancer immunotherapy at my school.

With only average 3rd year grades, do I have any chance of matching in rad onc? Should I still apply to this field? Is there anything I can do (year of rad onc research, masters in medical physics, etc.) that would increase my chances of matching?

Thank you so much for any input.

 

[Gfunk6]

Yes you have a chance. Yes you should apply. You've already done one year of research which is more than what most applicants have done. Apply broadly, rotate @ your home program and do 1-2 away rotations. Start the ball rolling early. Start getting LORs together in July-August. Apply to ERAS on the first day.

 

[napoleondynamite]

I don't think that there is any SINGLE variable (other than a terrible personality perhaps!) that can keep you out of radonc. You still have half the year to try to get an honor or two out of 3rd year. Even if you get zero, matching is not impossible. You have many other attractive factors--most notably (as Gfunk6 mentioned) your research year will probably mean a lot..assuming you have something to show for it (if not, it may actually hurt you IMO). Your board score is great. I would also recommend cuddlying up with your home dept, and considering doing one or more away rotations. Good luck, and don't be so easy to give up based on one blemish on your application. ND.

 

[deleted4401]

Grades are just sort of important ... did you get a publication out of your year of research? If you did, you are golden. I was in a similar situation as you, but had no research ... went unmatched. Got a publication and an abstract and matched. No other changes on the application. I'd suggest working towards that, and you'll be in decent shape. If not, it will significantly harder. You'll get there; something like 80% of US Senior MD students that apply match.

-S

 

[radiodog]

Don't worry about grades. I did not do well in surgery and only had one honor all 3rd year and still managed to get interviews at most of the programs I applied to. If you are strong in other parts of your application it can make up for it easily. Make sure you get great letters and try to do well during fourth year. This forum makes it seem impossible to match, its not.

 

[ArielStar]

Thanks for everyone's suggestions and encouragement.

Regarding publications, I'm second author on a couple abstracts and maybe a paper that came from my year off research. I'm also 4th author on another paper from the same lab. I also worked on a couple other papers on different topics (a literature review and case report). No first author paper, just lots of research experience in undergrad engineering and med school.

I will definately get in touch with my home dept and see about working on some radonc research as an elective this summer. I don't think my home dept is all that "big name" - would it be better to look for a project at another school?