New Match year slowly creeping up

[demspawn]

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OK so here we areagain. Some of us still looking for it and some others already got it.

I know that this has been a thread before but since then quite a few have joined and simply put another match has been concluded and lots of people went on lots of interviews.

So here are the questions:
A. Which programs do YOU (personal opinion) consider poor (i.e malignant, poor reputation, unhappy alumni, bad interview experience etc.)
Please feel free to share and please refrain from being to critical. Not to censor anyone, but I want this thread to be a tool for applicants and not a site for turf-wars.

B. Which programs would you not even consider applying to (not even as a back-up).


Thank you all.

D

 

[rubensan]

I unserstand the point of your questions but they are hard to answer because I believe that programs put their best foot forward during the interview process.
I remember talking to other applicants on the interview trail and having people tell me that they could never imagine themselves going to USC or UC Davis, yet those were really high on my list. Everyone told me Wilmer and Stein were "malignant," I didn't get that impression. I will say that Dr. Doan initially scared me when i first interviewed with him at Iowa

Bottom line, there are not that many spots and we're lucky if we match at all. All ACGMEaccredited ophtho programs have to meet some pretty strict standards. Sure some are better than others, but I would encourage you to apply to many programs, go on a lot of interviews and see for yourself. If you absolutely can't see yourself excelling or being happy in that program, don't rank it, no matter how what people tell you. My bad program could be your top choice and vice versa.

Ruben

 

[Andrew_Doan]

I will say that Dr. Doan initially scared me when i first interviewed with him at Iowa

Being a BS'er myself, I can drive out the BS in any applicant! 😉

 

[golgi]

This is just my opinion based on what I heard (and experienced) on the interview trail... in no particular order



-Geisinger (sp?)
-Maryland General
-LSU
-Shreveport
-Tulane (probation)
- Northwestern (not very resident-friendly)
- St.Vincent's NY (spend 6 mo commuting to Staten Isle)
- SUNY Downstate (wasn't a big fan of its location)
- Kansas City
- UT Galveston (didn't like its location)

 

[demspawn]

Thank you to all for posts and comments.

MY problem is that I am an IMG and I cannot be picky.
On the other hand I also have to take into consideration places that are more IMG friendly (which tend some times to be on the "not-so-great" list) and at the same time I need to apply much more broadly then the rest of you.
Tha said I also do not want to apply to 100 programs (I do not even think I can, since the supplement list is from 60-80 at the CAS forms).

Thanx again

 

[rubensan]

ok, now I understand where you are coming from. Since you asked:

I would be careful with M.L. King/Drew Medical Center in L.A. Personally, I don't know much about their ophtho training program, but the hospital itself is always in the news re: closure of trauma center / threatened loss of JHACO accreditation, etc. If you apply there, I would try to talk to someone on the inside and make sure the hospital is going to stay open.

Lesser known programs that I heard "bad" things about, but that I liked when I got there include: Loyola in Chicago. The residents get to do a ton of surgeries because they have the Hines VA all to themself. Their program director trained there as an FMG. Were I you, I would also look into Texas Tech and Loma Linda (here in SoCal).

Hope this helps!

Ruben

 

[JR]

Believe it or not, but Loma Linda is pretty competitive ( that darn So Cal location ). I was not impressed with that program myself; when I interviewed they did not have a full-time pediatric or plastics person. However, I agree they tend to accept "less traditional" applicants then other So Cal programs.

In addition to what ruben already mentioned, be careful with Tulane ( I heard they are on probation ).

And just generally- you need to apply broadly, apply early, make sure you have good letters, and go to as many interviews as you possibly can (I can not overemphasize this point!). Several people who post here did not match last year simply because they didn't go to enough interviews or didn't rank enough programs.

Good luck!

 

[rubensan]

And just generally- you need to apply broadly, apply early, make sure you have good letters, and go to as many interviews as you possibly can (I can not overemphasize this point!).
Good luck!

Amen! 👍

 

[Oceandust]

Had a few questions about the 4th year scheduling....

1) When is a good time to take Step II? Happy w my step I score, took a research year between 3 and 4th yr, school's deadline for CK and CS is Dec 31.

2) I know most of the interviewing goes on Oct-Dec, what about for prelim or transitionals through NMRP? Is that Jan - Feb ... so essentially are you interviewing from Oct or Nov through Feb (5mo?)?

Appreciate your help...have to schedule my final clerkships in a couple days

 

[Redhawk]

Had a few questions about the 4th year scheduling....

1) When is a good time to take Step II? Happy w my step I score, took a research year between 3 and 4th yr, school's deadline for CK and CS is Dec 31.

2) I know most of the interviewing goes on Oct-Dec, what about for prelim or transitionals through NMRP? Is that Jan - Feb ... so essentially are you interviewing from Oct or Nov through Feb (5mo?)?

Appreciate your help...have to schedule my final clerkships in a couple days

Step 2 scores don't seem to be very important at all as most people won't have taken the test prior to interviews. If you have the time and energy and know you will do well, then you could take it early so you could cruise through the last half of your 4th year. However, if you did do well on step 1, you would be risking possibly scoring lower on step 2 which may (?) hurt you if it's released via your dean's letter. If you can wait, it would be safest to take it after interviewing. EDIT: Now I see you are apparently required to take it before December 31. That sucks. Wow, I guess you could take it in september (or earlier), but I couldn't imagine trying to take it during the height of the interview season. Plus you have to do that stupid CS thing.

From what I remember (it's been almost 2 years 🙂) most of my transitional interviews were mixed in with my ophtho interviews in November and December. It can be a very busy and tiring few months.

 

[demspawn]

Thanx to JR and Ruben...

D

 

[rubensan]

1) When is a good time to take Step II? Happy w my step I score, took a research year between 3 and 4th yr, school's deadline for CK and CS is Dec 31.

1st, CS is just pass or fail. I think U.S. grads are currently experiencing a 96% pass rate. Get a copy of 1st Aid and..I think you will be fine if you take it early. It is really not that difficult.

With respect to CK, since you have a deadline, how about late October/ early November? By that time you will have already forwarded your USMLE transcript to SF match (August/Septmeber) and your scores probably won't affect your application that much...Just a thought.

2) I know most of the interviewing goes on Oct-Dec, what about for prelim or transitionals through NMRP? Is that Jan - Feb ... so essentially are you interviewing from Oct or Nov through Feb (5mo?)?

Please see the following timeline in the FAQ index: you have to scroll down a bit http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=66427

Good luck!

 

[JR]

Had a few questions about the 4th year scheduling....

1) When is a good time to take Step II? Happy w my step I score, took a research year between 3 and 4th yr, school's deadline for CK and CS is Dec 31.

Oceandust, don't worry about Srep II. We had the same rule with Dec 31 being the deadline. My last ophtho interview was on 12/18; I studied for 11 days, took Step II on 12/30 and did just fine. However, I got lucky that my year's class did not have to take the CS portion 😀 .

 

[Oceandust]

"With respect to CK, since you have a deadline, how about late October/ early November? By that time you will have already forwarded your USMLE transcript to SF match (August/Septmeber) and your scores probably won't affect your application that much...Just a thought."

Thanks guys for all your replies!

I'll probably try to get the CS out of the way as early as I can.

Regarding step II CK, I would like to take it as early as possible w/o it playing a role in the Match. So that, just in case it doesn't turn out as well as step I (which it probably won't, since there's less time to study, and happy w that score). Have worked this hard to this point, I suppose why not be safe and conservative.

Say if I take it by Oct/Nov, the scores may reach the programs by Dec? And maybe, if i don't do so well, play a role in Jan shortly before the match? Or say if i took it in Oct, get scores by Nov or Dec, still wouldn't reach progs unless I specifically send it to them? How does that work?

Then again , i've been away from the wards for a yr doing research, so maybe cramming it in in 11 d before Dec 31 could be more dangerous than i thought.

 

[rubensan]

Say if I take it by Oct/Nov, the scores may reach the programs by Dec? And maybe, if i don't do so well, play a role in Jan shortly before the match? Or say if i took it in Oct, get scores by Nov or Dec, still wouldn't reach progs unless I specifically send it to them? How does that work?

The only place your scores will reach (if you take them in late oct/early november) is you. In August, you have to fill out a special form from the NBME and request an official USMLE transcript to be sent to you. You then include this transcript (and a copy of your USMLE score report if you have it) to SF match. If you take Step II in November, your scores may be ready by December, but programs will not receive an official score report unless you send it to them. I am taking step 2 now and only 1 program asked me why i had not taken it earlier.

Ruben

 

[demspawn]

Hate to be a party pooper but what about getting back on the subject and dropping the whole USMLE issue?

As much as I like the conversation it has really strayed from the original goal of the thread.

Thanx again

D