Need advice

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nd_dvc

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Dear fellow SDNers: I’m writing to you all because I need some constructive advice on a situation I’m facing. I’m interested in OB/GYN, have been since before med school. My experiences during my third year and an elective this summer rectified in me that this is what I want to do with my life. I started with the 2006 med class in my school but had to take a leave of absence in my second year. I acclimated myself very well with my new 2007 class. So I’ve spent two years with each class. During my third year, while I was a MSIII I participated in a student run free clinic that the students at my school organized. We ran a gynecology clinic, with students from the OBGYN interest group in my school. Basically, it was just myself and a then MSIV (I’ll call him XYZ for reference), along with some MSIIs running the clinic. No one else from the MSIV class, even those interested in OBGYN participated in the clinic. XYZ and myself were very disappointed that the other persons in his class who wanted OBGYN didn’t participate in the clinic or the interest group activities. He was very vocal about his disappointment. I agreed with him, but I was more cautious of who I spoke to about the subject since my qualifications are not as good as his, and my chances of matching in this specialty are not as great as his were. However, my performance during the clinical rotations in the department has been outstanding. I’ve gotten praise from all the attendings and residents I’ve worked with (even the ones I didn’t exactly get along with) and have been asked by most if not all the faculty if I’m planning on applying to their program (which I wholeheartedly want to).

So here is the dilemma. The other MSIVs who didn’t participate all matched in my school’s program. I’ve heard from several people (some who prefer anonymity, a reliable friend who heard it from a classmate of mine who is currently rotating through OBGYN with the new interns (my former classmates) that they, the interns, are very pissed at me, to the point where they have been bashing me to the other residents, because of the comments the MSIV who participated in the clinic said; things along the lines that I'm not a team player (which I am). I get the feeling they are trying their best for me not to match in the program. So, by association, I’m getting the backlash. I don’t know who XYZ said the comments to (Attendings?, the other residents?) so I don’t know how they learned of this.

I didn’t get to (still haven’t gotten to) work directly with the new interns (former classmates). From what XYZ told me of his experiences with them, they were/are ok students (except for one, she got praises from everyone she worked with), but basically most matched at my school because there were no better applicants. They were always jealous of his exceptional performance (XYZ had the nuts to back himself up) and we are sure that had he applied to the program, one of them wouldn’t have matched.

My problem is, I have to do my Sub-I with these interns, who already have it in for me, soon. After speaking with a trusted faculty advisor, she recommended I speak to each one individually before my Sub I. However, after this conversation, I spoke with XYZ and he told me that this was not a good idea since HE was the one who made the comments, not me; that I have nothing to “ask forgiveness” about since I didn’t do anything wrong. I really want to match in this program for personal and professional reasons. So, should I ask for forgiveness for something I didn’t do (fall on my own sword-by-association) or just ignore the matter, let them see (the interns and all the other residents) my performance during the Sub I and pray that their opinion doesn’t carry too much weight with the faculty when it comes time to evaluate students? If anyone has been through a similar situation and wants to share his/her experience, it will be greatly appreciated.

If you’ve read this far, thank you so much.
 
Do your Sub-I as an away rotation so you don't have to deal with 'em.
 
Do your Sub-I as an away rotation so you don't have to deal with 'em.
My school requires me to do the Sub-I at the school, not as an away rotation. And also I want to match in this program. Even if I could, I wouldn't do the Sub-I as an away.
 
Why do your residency there if a bunch of toolbags are going to be your upperlevels?
 
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