my chances?

[rina33]

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I have a very late interest in child psych-- what are my chances of matching if I did not do a psych sub-I (already graduated too, so no chance of doing one now), I did not honor in psych during 3rd yr but did honor in everything else and am AOA (I know, ironic that I am interested in psch but honored in everything but). I could get a letter from my 3rd yr attending, and maybe one from the clerkship director. Would two psych letters in this situation suffice? Or because I did not do a sub-I or honor are my chances slim to none anyway?
Thanks for the advice.

 

[billypilgrim37]

My school doesn't even have psych sub-i's. And my letters are from two psychiatrists, an ID doc, and a behavioral pediatrician.

If you've got a compelling reason for wanting to pursue psych at this point (and for why you might have graduated but not matched last year), and you are AOA, you may still be in a great situation. At my school, only 15-20% of kids get Honors in any given 3rd year rotation, 25-30% get high pass, and 50-60% get pass. If your school is similar, you can not get an Honors in a rotation and still have done a great job, and if that's reflected in your dean's letter and your LOR, you could still be fine.

You're in a special situation, and you'll have a lot of explaining to do. But your current LOR situation, no sub-i situation, and grade situation shouldn't get in the way of a reasonable match.

 

[whopper]

I didn't do a sub-I in psyche.

Some program directors told me they'd prefer residents who fill their elective time with nonpsyche rotations because you're going to spend 4 years doing psyche. Several other fields of medicine are important in psyche such as neurology & endocrinology. They told me that adding a psyche sub-I often will in the end not make you a better psychiatrist, but may help you get another letter of reccomendation from a psychiatrist.