Navigating the DO EM match

[danzman]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Now that the DO match is done this year I would like to pose a few questions.

1.What are the best months for electives? When is it too late (Dec,Jan?)
2.What kind of board scores/grades make a solid applicant?
3.What resources can you recommend?
4.Any other info?

Thanks for the info, I know there are a bunch of students out there interested in it.

 

[MSmentor018]

Now that the DO match is done this year I would like to pose a few questions.

1.What are the best months for electives? When is it too late (Dec,Jan?)
2.What kind of board scores/grades make a solid applicant?
3.What resources can you recommend?
4.Any other info?

Thanks for the info, I know there are a bunch of students out there interested in it.

I am assuming you're talking about the DO match
1. jul-dec is the best time since the programs meet and figure things out in jan. the more rotations/exposure to EM, the better
2. obviously higher the better but boards aren't everything in EM. look at NRMP.com and it'll give you an idea of avg scores. usmle around 220, comlex 600's. this varies place to place. slam dunking your EM rotation at a place with an EM residency is important! a lot of applications I've seen didn't have this. it's always nice to see a PD's name that you recognize
3. join EMRA/ACEP and get a mentor from there. also make connections with residents. check out meetings, lectures...etc. I hate to say it but playing the networking game is key. I got offered an interview just for chatting it up at the recruiting booth at acep. don't bust out a ton of money buying books/studying them. the intro to clinical EM book is a good start that'll keep you busy and prepared for the shelf exams
4. ask plenty of questions on sdn, surf the threads, PM for questions
good luck, it's an awesome time to be in EM !

 

[Colbert]

Now that the DO match is done this year I would like to pose a few questions.

1.What are the best months for electives? When is it too late (Dec,Jan?)
2.What kind of board scores/grades make a solid applicant?
3.What resources can you recommend?
4.Any other info?

Thanks for the info, I know there are a bunch of students out there interested in it.

1. August - November. December is pretty late for an "audition elective" in the DO world. My personal advice is to save October for your top choice, that way you'll get a couple months of EM in so you'll be comfortable, plus you'll be the most fresh in their minds when they're interviewing and ranking.

2. Board scores aren't everything. I did an audition at a DO hospital and was told I was one of their top candidates before they even saw my scores. You can really get yourself into a program by going to it and doing really well there. Enthusiasm goes a long way. That being said, I had solid board scores and it undoubtedly helped, but I still don't think it went as far as my audition. DO programs want to know you want to be at their program specifically.

3. I like Emergency Medicine Secrets a lot. I highly recommend it. I also used the EMRA Antibiotic Guide (downloaded it to my iPhone).

4. There are a lot of threads on this already with reviews of programs, so look through those. Ask upperclassmen.