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[NYGasGirl]

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Hello all,
I'm an older DO student and just changed my mind about choosing the residency. I thought I was set on Internal Medicine for residency but fell in love with Anesthesiology during my rotation. I did poorly on COMLEX 1 (just passed) and never attempted to take USMLE because I thought I wouldn't need it for IM. I know it's too late to take USMLE Step 1 now and am applying for Anesthesiology programs with my COMLEX score.
Is it too late to apply now and do I stand any chance to match into Anesthesiology or am I just dreaming....also, what can I do now to improve my chances. I appreciate all comments/suggestions and good luck with your applications. 😕

 

[UTSouthwestern]

You always have a chance but you might have to write off some of the higher ranked programs. Get great letters of recommendation, apply to a large number of programs, and be flexible with your choices and you will get in some where. It just may not be where you would prefer to go. If you don't get in, do internal medicine (prelim) next year and reapply, hopefully with a killer USMLE behind you.

 

[wick215]

UTSouthwestern,

Where can I go to find out which programs are competitive and which programs are not so competitive?

 

[DOMD]

I would definitely check out this forum about which programs that are competitive. This is an excellent forum and there has been many postings about people's opinions about competitive programs. Also, what worked for me was to ask around. I had many gas residents who gave me their opinions. Word of mouth plays a big role. I would definitely find a gas resident in your program and ask him/her tons of questions.

DOMD

 

[UTSouthwestern]

Agree with DOMD. This forum is great and has a lot of posts regarding various programs.

Off the top of my head, the really competitive ones are UCSF, Hopkins, Emory, Yale, Harvard, i.e. all of the name schools.

I'd like to say my program is competitive as well but our chairman is a sucker for persuasive conversation. 😀

What state/region are you looking into?

 

[NYGasGirl]

Thanks, UTSouthwestern. Can you guys please tell me what programs I should apply to or might have a chance for interview. I really like to get into Anesthesiology Residency.
Thanks

 

[wick215]

Me too, I would really like to stay in Texas. Southwestern and UTHSC San Antonio are my top picks. Competitive or not?

 

[UTSouthwestern]

Both are competitive. We are probably a little more competitive with our location and the fact that our medical students are given a little extra consideration. Don't hesitate to give us a try though as we send out a lot of interview invitations and select as much on personality as academic accomplishment.

 

[NYGasGirl]

UTSouthwestern, can you tell me which programs I should select for my application with my low score? i have no geographic preference.
Thanks
😱

 

[UTSouthwestern]

If you are really concerned, you can add some of the lower profile programs to your list like LSU-Shreveport, Mississipi State, Arkansas, Texas Tech, Texas Tech - El Paso (you'll get in there if they still have the program there - they used to never fill that program), Tulane, etc. Some of these programs are up and coming but some have also had a lot of problems and have been on probation. Don't sell yourself short. Still apply to some good programs and get those letters of recommendation.

 

[euhsa]

NY gas girl

I too am a DO and am doing my internship at Union Hospital. My COMLEX scores were weak, but did all right on my USMLE. I am going to be at Westchester which is pretty middle of the pack due to problems in the past, but nevertheless was ranked high on my ROL because I wanted to stay close to home and did not care to be in Manhattan ($$) for the next three years.

The competitive students from my class (NYCOM 2003) got into Yale, CCF, Mount Sinai, UCONN and Montefiore. We also did well with Downstate, Maimonides, Stony Brook and St Barnabus in Livingston. For some strange reason, UMDNJ Newark and Robert Wood does not like DO's. Both programs had one DO on their staff when I rotated through their service. (The one at Robert Wood was a board certified internist.) Newark told me that I was the only DO that they ranked and interviewed last year. (I did a rotation there a few weeks before the match.)

Good luck to you

 

[NYGasGirl]

Thanks for all of your replies. Euhsa, did you apply with your USMLE or COMLEX scores? I didn't take USMLE and am planning to apply with just COMLEX score...but it's very weak!!!!!!

 

[abords]

Just as an aside...when did Yale become competitive for anesthesia. It was my impression that it was one of the weaker programs at an otherwise very strong institution. I also remember when I was applying that this program had several DOs therefore I would definitely encourage any DO to apply there.

 

[dimsum]

Yale gas is not a weak program. A casual look at the faculty, might change your mind. But maybe it is a second class citizen in comparison to UCSF , maybe harvard, and maaaybee Indiana or shands.
But other than these, i cant see it second to any other programs...

 

[ebaydove]

yale's got Barash, .. that's the second biggest name (after Miller)in gas people, who're still alive...
I've never heard of it as a weak program, so I'm quite shocked that it's referred to, as a weak program. It's not the most desirable location, in that new haven sucks, is crime ridden, and is possibly the worst location for a major university, in the country. . .
So, yes, there are reasons that people would choose to go elsewhere, but to say that anesthesia is weak at yale, wouldnt quite be accurate.

 

[euhsa]

Originally posted by NYGasGirl
Thanks for all of your replies. Euhsa, did you apply with your USMLE or COMLEX scores? I didn't take USMLE and am planning to apply with just COMLEX score...but it's very weak!!!!!!

I applied with both because I was afraid that programs may have thought that I may have failed the test if I did not submit the score. My best suggestion is to make sure that your letters of recommendation are strong and do a rotation at either downstate or maimonides. they are probably the easiest NY programs to get into.