Not one top 10 interview!!!

[GeddyLee]

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Dang i'm miffed. I applied to most of the usual suspects when it comes to top 10...Emory, Bascom, Wilmer, Wills, MEEI...etc.

Not a single interview at one!! My step 1 was pretty killer I thought, with decent grades and research...so what gives? Man. Anyway, I just hope I land a spot someplace. I hope all the top 10 places interview the same 60 or so people...if not...I'm TOAST!

What do you guys think? If you don't get interviews at the top 10, does that give you a clue that you might have trouble matching at middle tier programs?

Anyway....I'm curious to how many applicants there are this year, and if things are more competetive out there this year.

Anyone else got the top 10 blues?

Oh well...tah-tah for now

Ged

 

[yagmd]

If you haven't gotten interviews at Top 10 programs, I wouldn't take it as a personal slight. Top programs, which are all heavily academic, research-oriented programs (perhaps with the exception of Wills) look for different things than middle tier programs. Many of these programs are looking to create the next generation of leaders in academic ophthalmology. Other programs are just looking to create private practice ophthalmologists with solid clinical skills. The different goals are reflected by different priorities in residency selection.

If your Step 1 scores are strong, you have good letters, meaningful research, decent grades, interview well, and applied broadly, you shouldn't have a problem matching at a good program.

Also, keep in mind that Emory and Wills haven't offered interviews yet. Plus, a few additional spots at some of the top 10 places may open up as people have to cancel/reschedule. If you're really interested in a particular program, call them up and beg for an interview, or better yet have your ophthalmology mentor/advisor call them up.

Good luck!

 

[rjp202]

this is purely speculation, but maybe you had a bad letter. i hate using anecdotal evidence, but there was this crazy wanna-be ophthalmologist in my class who is great on paper--grades, boards, research, activities, etc., but was absolutely HATED during his ophtho rotation. the program is pretty chill and the residents thought his gung-ho attitude was obnoxious (showing up at every surgery, dropping by clinic too often, presenting cases during resident conference). nobody wanted to work with him and i was told he would be black-balled from the program. more importantly, the residents are involved a great deal with the evaluation process and it is likely his LOR suffered greatly. he's currently applying so we'll see how things pan out in a couple months.

 

[chef]

dont give any hopes up yet!

but i wanna say that 1 phone call from a biggun can do soooooooooo much more than step1, grades, aoa, papers... esp in a small field like ophtho.

good luck!!