Neurology Chances?

[TUGM]

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I am a 4th year medical student in the midwest, and will be applying for residency this coming September (yikes!). I've been ping-ponging back and forth between radiology and neurology, which are my two passions - I would one day like to combine these two passions and be a neurointerventionalist... (let's not get into debates about the future or neuro-interventional).

My stats:

Step 1: 218
Step 2: not taken yet, but will be taking soon, prior to applying.
non-AOA, middle 50% of my class

Honors: Neurology, Plastic Surgery, Internal Medicine
High Pass: Psych, OB/Gyn, Neuroradiology/NIR
Pass: Everything else

Research: working on SWIFT prime, and an IMS-III criticism paper; hopefully a couple of publications from those; some nuc-med neuroimaging research, possible publication; a couple of abstracts about MS and dural AVFs.; (no publications yet...)

My clinical evaluations all speak pretty highly of me, and this will reflect on my MSPE; in brief, I'm not a doucher and get along with everyone pretty well, and I work hard. My passion for neuroscience, radiology, and intervention is blatant.

I know I have a pretty decent chance of matching with these stats into Neurology. My question is what programs should I be looking at applying to with these stats that would provide me with strong neuro-critical care training, stroke neurology training, interventional opportunities, and/or time with neurosurgery?

Pretty loaded question, I know, but I would appreciate some advice and help. Thanks everyone!

 

[typhoonegator]

Sounds pretty much fine to me. Maybe do a little better on Step 2. Don't think anything there would exclude you from essentially any program. I'd apply broadly but you'll at least get some looks from well-regarded programs.

 

[QuacksterVu]

I am a 4th year medical student in the midwest, and will be applying for residency this coming September (yikes!). I've been ping-ponging back and forth between radiology and neurology, which are my two passions - I would one day like to combine these two passions and be a neurointerventionalist... (let's not get into debates about the future or neuro-interventional).

My stats:

Step 1: 218
Step 2: not taken yet, but will be taking soon, prior to applying.
non-AOA, middle 50% of my class

Honors: Neurology, Plastic Surgery, Internal Medicine
High Pass: Psych, OB/Gyn, Neuroradiology/NIR
Pass: Everything else

Research: working on SWIFT prime, and an IMS-III criticism paper; hopefully a couple of publications from those; some nuc-med neuroimaging research, possible publication; a couple of abstracts about MS and dural AVFs.; (no publications yet...)

My clinical evaluations all speak pretty highly of me, and this will reflect on my MSPE; in brief, I'm not a doucher and get along with everyone pretty well, and I work hard. My passion for neuroscience, radiology, and intervention is blatant.

I know I have a pretty decent chance of matching with these stats into Neurology. My question is what programs should I be looking at applying to with these stats that would provide me with strong neuro-critical care training, stroke neurology training, interventional opportunities, and/or time with neurosurgery?

Pretty loaded question, I know, but I would appreciate some advice and help. Thanks everyone!

You should be okay with these stats (I got accepted with similar ones). That said, I would recommend applying broadly and also to only programs that you know you would be happy at. In other words, don't apply to places that you know you would be unhappy at... you'll be stuck there and be miserable.

 

[TUGM]

You should be okay with these stats (I got accepted with similar ones). That said, I would recommend applying broadly and also to only programs that you know you would be happy at. In other words, don't apply to places that you know you would be unhappy at... you'll be stuck there and be miserable.

First of all, thanks for taking the time to respond. I find any encouragement or advice extremely helpful, as we all know applying for residency is a stressful time, no matter how "uncompetitive" the specialty.

I plan on definitely following the "1/3 rule" when applying - reaches, probable interviews, and safeties.

My reaches include the following - Partners, UPitt, Columbia Presbyterian, UCSF, Hopkins, Cedars-Sinai, UWash, WUSTL, Cleveland Clinic and UMiami/JMH. These are all programs with excellent stroke and NCC with strong NIR departments as well. I figured, what the heck, gotta give it a shot!

Probable interviews - Iowa, UMn, UT system (SW, Austin, Houston), Louisville, UCinci, Case Western, MUSC, UNC, UCDenver, MCW, and maybe a couple more in the midwest or east-coast-ish area.

Safeties - KU, MU, and other state schools in the midwest.

Does this seem like a reasonable list? I know with my reaches, I'm setting the bar high, but I've had people at my school interview at these places with similar stats in the previous years, and maybe I'll get lucky. I would love to end up at Miami, but any school with a foothold into Stroke/NCC/NIR will be wonderful for me. Any other schools I should be looking at?

Edit*** And I do planning on ROCKING step 2... hopefully 240+, been studying super hard. *Fingers crossed, knock on wood*