Official Eternal IM WAMC Thread

[pvz3456]

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Thank you for your response! I would be interested in matching into one of the top 20 programs (and switching them into my silver signals as you suggested), but would my step 2 score, tier of US MD school, stats and switch to IM (as a post graduate) be limiting factors in this case?

 

[flufighter]

Thank you kindly for your comments! I modified the list incorporating some of the suggestions you mentioned. I decided to only include programs within the geographic preferences, which are New England (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont), Middle Atlantic (New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania), East North Central (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin).

Here is the list of 40 programs with follow-up questions below the list:
A. Gold signal (3 programs):
- Boston University Medical Center Program
- Tufts Medical Center Program
- Brigham and Women’s Hospital
B. Silver signal (12 programs):
- Brown/Rhode Island Hospital
- Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University/TJUH Program
- UConn
- UMichigan
- UMass - Worcester
- Wayne State/DMC
- Dartmouth
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai
- Henry Ford Detroit
- Rutgers
- New York Presbyterian (Cornell Campus)
- University of Pittsburgh
C. No signal (25 programs):
- Maine Health
- Case Western Reserve University/University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center Program
- Cleveland Clinic Foundation Program
- Cooper Medical School of Rowan University/Cooper University Hospital Program
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (Morningside/West) Program
- Indiana University School of Medicine Program
- Loyola University Medical Center Program
- MGH
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
- Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science (Rochester) Program
- McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University Program
- NYU Grossman School of Medicine Program
- Penn State Milton S Hershey Medical Center Program
- Pennsylvania Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania Health System Program
- Rush University Medical Center Program
- UMass Chan Baystate
- University at Buffalo Program
- University of Chicago Program
- University of Cincinnati Medical Center/College of Medicine Program
- University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Program
- University of Pennsylvania Health System Program
- Yale-New Haven Medical Center Program
- Ohio State
- University of Rochester Medical Center Program
- University of Minnesota Program

Follow-up questions:
1. What is your opinion of this list?
2. For academic institutions outside of the geographic preferences that you alluded to, such as Iowa, WashU, JHU, Bayview, UNC, Duke, Vanderbilt, is it still worth applying to (these programs will see that I did not include their region as a geographic preference)?

I wouldn’t bother sending apps to most of those mid tier programs without signals. Speaking from experience I sent extra apps to test the waters and only really heard back from community programs without signals. Academic programs can choose to be picky w/ signals and really have no need to consider a non signal. Only apply to 30 and save yourself money.

Programs I scored interviews at without a signal include:
Mayo Rochester
CWRU Metro
CCF

Programs that I sent my app to without a signal and never heard back include:
Rochester
Cincy
Minnesota
UPenn (waitlist)
NYU
Northwestern
Loyola

 

[FrontalLobe123]

Med School: Well-regarded upper mid-tier USMD (ranked between 20-25)
M1-M2 grades: Pass/Fail, all pass
M3 grades: All honors
M4 grades: All honors including sub-I
Class rank: N/A
Step 1: Pass
Step 2: 280
AOA: Yes
GHHS: No
Demographics: White male
Research: 2 pubs (one second author, one mid-author), 4 more manuscripts submitted (likely will not be accepted prior to application), ~15 poster presentations.
Extracurriculars: Strong, tons of meaningful leadership and service
LORs: 1 Department letter, 1 sub-I letter, 1 research letter- all should be strong
Geographic Signaling: Northeast
Red flags: None

Interested in top 10 programs and academic GI. I understand that my stats are competitive; my main concern is lack of significant research for these programs. Hoping that my research mentor LoR will speak to my genuine interest in research. Planning on gold signaling Penn and Brigham. Not sure on the third. Also not sure what to do with regard to more mid-tier/"safety" programs. It feels not worth it to apply to them without signaling but I also don't want to go unmatched by aiming too high.

Thank you in advance!

 

[Deecee2DO]

Med School: Well-regarded upper mid-tier USMD (ranked between 20-25)
M1-M2 grades: Pass/Fail, all pass
M3 grades: All honors
M4 grades: All honors including sub-I
Class rank: N/A
Step 1: Pass
Step 2: 280
AOA: Yes
GHHS: No
Demographics: White male
Research: 2 pubs (one second author, one mid-author), 4 more manuscripts submitted (likely will not be accepted prior to application), ~15 poster presentations.
Extracurriculars: Strong, tons of meaningful leadership and service
LORs: 1 Department letter, 1 sub-I letter, 1 research letter- all should be strong
Geographic Signaling: Northeast
Red flags: None

Interested in top 10 programs and academic GI. I understand that my stats are competitive; my main concern is lack of significant research for these programs. Hoping that my research mentor LoR will speak to my genuine interest in research. Planning on gold signaling Penn and Brigham. Not sure on the third. Also not sure what to do with regard to more mid-tier/"safety" programs. It feels not worth it to apply to them without signaling but I also don't want to go unmatched by aiming too high.

Thank you in advance!

lol dude youre good. Will match T10 I think likely will get big 4 interviews. I dont think youre research as a med student is “lacking” its good enough. Youre AOA, 280 Step T25 med school solid research all honors what else could they possibly want other than maybe being URM? I mean dang stellar app one of the best ive seen on here and I think you know that

 

[pseudopseudopseudo]

Hey all, got my Step 2 score back today and was hoping for some clarity while starting to cobble together a school list. Would really appreciate any insight or thoughts. For reference I'd especially like to match near NYC where my support system is, but I understand that programs there are very competitive.

Med School: USMD T25
M1-M2 grades: Pass/Fail, all passed
M3 grades: 5/7 honors including IM, 2 HP (FM, peds)
M4 grades: currently on second sub-I but heavily expect to honor both
Class rank: N/A
Step 1: Pass
Step 2: 252 (lower than I was hoping and has thrown me for a loop)
AOA: not offered
GHHS: not offered
Demographics: ORM
Research: 1 first-author in a short paper for an ophtho journal, 1 15th author (lmao) in a much bigger paper for a well-established oncology journal, 3 poster presentations (1 nationally), 1 poster award
Extracurriculars: Significant student government involvement. Lots of med-ed experience in M1 curriculum. Some decent volunteering (student-run free clinic, working with the local Asian elderly and local high school) but nothing extraordinary
LORs: 1 department letter from subI, 1 letter from IM division chief I worked with on subI, 2 IM letters from M3 (might replace one with another subI letter). Have been told by each that they will be very strong.
Geographic Signaling: Middle Atlantic, East North Central, Pacific
Red flags: None

Gold: Cornell, Mount Sinai, NYU
Silver: Columbia, BIDMC, UCLA, UPMC, Emory, USC, Brown, Northwestern, UChicago, Case Western, Georgetown, BU

Generally think this list is pretty top-heavy and am planning to apply to more safeties but unsure of which yet. Thanks!

 

[familymanMD]

Hi, I actually posted this on reddit but didn't get many responses. So here I am looking to get more thoughts.

I am mostly looking into getting into an academic IM program.

Here are some details of my application:

• School: Low to Mid-tier USMD
• Step 1: Pass
• Step 2: 249
• Red flags: None
• Clerkships: 3 High Passes and 3 Passes (no Honors). I received a Pass in IM. My evaluations were generally strong. Honors from most outpatient preceptors(including IM); inpatient feedback was solid but not outstanding. Shelf scores were average or slightly below average (low to mid-70s)
• Sub-I: I will be doing a home program rotation next month. It's Pass/Fail, so won't dramatically change my clerkship grade.
• Letters: Expected to be strong
• Research: 20+ research items. Two first-author manuscripts currently under review. Two publications where I was a 4th and 5th author. 5 abstracts, 11 oral/poster presentations (some at national conferences including ASCO and AAN). Research award for presenting a poster at a regional conference. 2 textbook chapters (non-peer reviewed).
• Other activities: IM Interest Group and Oncology Group president, international premed mentoring, and music teacher at church.

I’m interested in pursuing a heme/onc fellowship after residency.

My geographic ties are all over the place. Went to high school in Mountain West region(e.g., UT, CO, AZ), college in West North Central(e.g., MN, IA, MO), and med school in Pacific West (e.g., OR, CA, HI). Also looking into programs at the east coast (i.e.Boston and NY) due to great school districts for my kids. Would it be better to say no geographic preference or choose those 3 based on my ties?

Here is my list so far:

OHSU(likely gold), Colorado (likely gold), Boston U, Iowa, Georgetown, Tufts, WashU(applying due to my regional tie), Utah, Hawaii, U of Washington, Ohio, U of Michigan, UC Irvine, UNC, UVA.

Any thoughts? I wasn't sure about programs in New York but will be adding a few into my list.

FYI: I am an international student who will be graduating from a USMD school. I also have kids and prefer places that are family-friendly. But feel free to disregard these two facts because they can skew things when coming up with a school list.

Thank you!

 

[DrMetal]

You're fine, you have a good rap sheet. Rank them in whatever order you wish, and apply. Not that complicated.

If your wife has somewhat of a geographic preference, take that into account. Happy wife means happy wife.

 

[TriadTachycardia]

Hey all! I switched from ENT to IM, planning to pursue GI. Would appreciate help with signals and figuring out competitiveness. I want to set myself up for matching academic GI and I enjoy the south/southeast but am open to anything. I’m unsure about geographic signaling too, as I’m equally interested in a couple places in the northeast and west south central (UPenn and Pitt vs Vandy and UAB). Also love Texas but don’t have ties to it besides friends living there, strong ties to the other regions though.

Med School: Mid-tier USMD
M1-M2 grades: All H
M3 grades: 4/7 H including IM, rest HP.
M4 grades: TBD
Class rank: 2nd quartile
Step 1: Pass
Step 2: 262
AOA: No
GHHS: No
Demographics: Asian male
Research: 30+ research items, 7 high IF pubs and several in submission with the rest being peer-reviewed national/international conference abstracts. All ENT-related, only a few first author because they were basically all multi-institutional studies. Couple research awards.
Extracurriculars: Average
LORs: 2 letters from IM sub-I, ENT research PI, and chair (they’ll acknowledge me switching to IM)
Geographic Signaling: South Atlantic, West South Central, East South Central
Red flags: None
Reach: Duke (S), U Penn (S), UTSW (S), Vanderbilt (G), Emory (S), UNC (S)
Target: Baylor (S), UAB (G), UVA (G), U Miami (S), UPMC (S)
Safety: UF (S), Wake Forest (S), USF (S), Tulane (S)

Would appreciate any recommendations or advice, thanks!

 

[Señor S]

Hey all! I switched from ENT to IM, planning to pursue GI. Would appreciate help with signals and figuring out competitiveness. I want to set myself up for matching academic GI and I enjoy the south/southeast but am open to anything. I’m unsure about geographic signaling too, as I’m equally interested in a couple places in the northeast and west south central (UPenn and Pitt vs Vandy and UAB). Also love Texas but don’t have ties to it besides friends living there, strong ties to the other regions though.

Med School: Mid-tier USMD
M1-M2 grades: All H
M3 grades: 4/7 H including IM, rest HP.
M4 grades: TBD
Class rank: 2nd quartile
Step 1: Pass
Step 2: 262
AOA: No
GHHS: No
Demographics: Asian male
Research: 30+ research items, 7 high IF pubs and several in submission with the rest being peer-reviewed national/international conference abstracts. All ENT-related, only a few first author because they were basically all multi-institutional studies. Couple research awards.
Extracurriculars: Average
LORs: 2 letters from IM sub-I, ENT research PI, and chair (they’ll acknowledge me switching to IM)
Geographic Signaling: South Atlantic, West South Central, East South Central
Red flags: None
Reach: Duke (S), U Penn (S), UTSW (S), Vanderbilt (G), Emory (S), UNC (S)
Target: Baylor (S), UAB (G), UVA (G), U Miami (S), UPMC (S)
Safety: UF (S), Wake Forest (S), USF (S), Tulane (S)

Would appreciate any recommendations or advice, thanks!

Decent list; a few others to consider would be MUSC, Maryland, Georgetown, Temple and VCU.

 

[Señor S]

Med School: USMD T15
M1-M2 grades: Pass/Fail, one remediation all rest past
M3 grades: 5/7 honors including IM, 2 HP (FM, Gyn)
M4 grades: currently on IM SubI Away
Class rank: N/A
Step 1: Pass
Step 2: 257
AOA: not offered
GHHS: not offered
Demographics: ORM
Research: 6 manuscripts, 3 first author 2 second author; 8 assorted posters and abstracts - grab bag of specialties including neuro, surgery, heme, cards
Extracurriculars: IM IG president 2nd year; student run free clinic volunteering; Med school newspaper writer and editor; volunteer for admissions support. Biggest ec is I spent most of med school doing MCAT tutoring
LORs: Pretty strong I think, one from PI, one from APD at home program, one from IM dept chair; currently working on more
Geographic Signaling: The two Midwest ones and south Atlantic
Red flags: The preclinical fail

Gold: Mayo, Wisconsin, UChicago
Silver: Minnesota, Kansas, Mayo FL, UVA, UNC, Loyola, rush, UIC, Iowa, others

Main concern is how the preclinical fail effects match prospects. Step 2 is alright, but I feel that it doesn't full cover the hole that the fail made.

Having reviewed applications I can say that the fail is the type of thing that could easily get missed; these application packet are looooooong and the school transcripts are non-standardized, often really wordy and imo not that helpful. I'm sure some people will ask about it but I doubt everybody will. You benefit from the fact that IM programs tend to be really large and thus have to interview hundreds of applicants, so the interview/not interview decision is often very algorithmic based on Step scores and things like that (I don't think there's any way to filter based on a pre-clinical fail, unless it's some box you had to check on your ERAS?). The actual rank list can be very algorithmic as well. Key is if you're asked about it to take ownership (i.e., don't blame the professor or the school) and talk about how you learned and grew as a result.

UChicago and Mayo are going to be reaches for you but still worth a shot. Places I would consider adding, based on your geography: Indiana, Case Western, MUSC, Maryland. FWIW I think a lot of your programs would be interested in you based on your med school, as they don't tend to get many matches from that caliber of place. I think you'd match with your current list but would consider adding the places I mentioned and maybe 5-10 additional, less competitive programs just in case, but as long as you get 10-12 interviews you can decline the invites. Good luck.

 

[Señor S]

Thanks for the input! A related question- in my current PS iteration, I just call out the fail directly and talk about how I learned from it in a body paragraph. (It isn't all about it). What are your thoughts on that? I figured it's best to put it out in the open so no one thinks I'm trying to bury it

Tough call. Personally I'd lean towards not addressing it in the PS; based on your overall academic record it seems like an aberration, it doesn't represent a moral failing and I do genuinely think it's the type of thing a lot of people wouldn't notice. IIRC there's a section of the application where you talk about overcoming adversity, or something to that effect? That might be a better place to address it imo.

 

[TriadTachycardia]

Decent list; a few others to consider would be MUSC, Maryland, Georgetown, Temple and VCU.

Thanks! Do you think Duke, UPenn, and UTSW are too far of reaches and it would be smarter to replace with some of the programs you suggested?

 

[ga449]

Hi, I am wondering how the application will fare with top programs in the Chicago and NE regions.
Med School: Unranked MD
M1-M2 grades: Pass/Fail
M3 grades: All passes. No HP at my school
M4 grades: P/F Sub-I
Class rank: N/A
Step 1: Pass
Step 2: 266
AOA: not offered
GHHS: not offered
Demographics: ORM, first gen
Research: 5 First author manuscripts, 7 poster/abstracts
Extracurriculars: Unique extracurriculars
LORs: 3 Sub-I IM Letters, and 1 Chair letter
Geographic Signaling: Mid-Atlantic and East North Central
Red flags: All passes

Gold: SKMC, Rush, Mt Sinai
Silver: UPenn, NYU, Cornell, UChicago, or Northwestern, others are targets/safeties (UIC etc)

are these programs too top heavy, given my school rank and clerkship grades?

 

[Señor S]

Thanks! Do you think Duke, UPenn, and UTSW are too far of reaches and it would be smarter to replace with some of the programs you suggested?

In the old days I'd have told you they're all definitely worth the application fee, but this signaling stuff I admit I have no feel for. My general sense is that UTSW is a little less competitive than the other two, and thus it's the one most in your wheelhouse. UPenn might be a stretch from a mid-tier school without AOA.

 

[OncOncOnc]

Hi, I am wondering how the application will fare with top programs in the Chicago and NE regions.
Med School: Unranked MD
M1-M2 grades: Pass/Fail
M3 grades: All passes. No HP at my school
M4 grades: P/F Sub-I
Class rank: N/A
Step 1: Pass
Step 2: 266
AOA: not offered
GHHS: not offered
Demographics: ORM, first gen
Research: 5 First author manuscripts, 7 poster/abstracts
Extracurriculars: Unique extracurriculars
LORs: 3 Sub-I IM Letters, and 1 Chair letter
Geographic Signaling: Mid-Atlantic and East North Central
Red flags: All passes

Gold: SKMC, Rush, Mt Sinai
Silver: UPenn, NYU, Cornell, UChicago, or Northwestern, others are targets/safeties (UIC etc)

are these programs too top heavy, given my school rank and clerkship grades?

Honestly, yes. I think the silver programs that you named are probably wasted signals.

 

[FakeHegel]

USMD at Lower Mid(per IM ranksheet) "West North Central"(such a vague geographic description) School

I have like 60 schools on my preliminary application list and have absolutely no idea how competitive I am because my school has given absolutely no advice on drafting this list.

Stats:
Step 1: Pass(1st time)
Step 2: 261
My school does clinical grades and shelf grades for core rotations:
Shelfwise: 2H, 1P, and rest NH(got NH[Near honors, probably equivilent to high pass] in IM but it was my first clinical rotation)
Clinical grade: Even NH(got NH in IM) and P, no honors
AOA is calculated mostly from clinical grades, so no AOA or Gold humanism
3rd quartile(based on AOA calculations)

Research: 20 Pubs in ERAS but only 1 is published abstract, rest are mostly 5 posters presented multiple times, and some philosophy/ethics work related to medicine I added for giggles

Extracurriculars: Strong volunteering, as I do a lot of tutoring with refugees, some research that I did not get any projects out of(Due to institution cutting off funding for one, one is at Top10 school in area but any pubs of mine are pending), am the member of 2 hospital ethics committees, miscellaneous community involvement for the rest

LOR: I have one writer from my ethics background, 2 of my writers love me but are more community physicians than academics(1 from VA, 1 from PCP). The attending from my ICU sub-I who promised me a letter has ghosted me despite me asking him in person for it again last week.

Honors:
Some philosophy and DEI stuff from college. I did get an ethics commendation from my school by finishing some courses and research

Connections: None, but I did do an away at a Top 10 so I could travel and see a new healthcare organization and I felt like they liked me

Hobbies: Cooking, writing, intermural sports(champion), and reading(you guessed it) philosophy
Extra circumstances: I did have a mass requiring topical chemotherapy and excision during my M3 year and Step 2 but it was kind of minor. I mentioned it on the circumstances section but I'm not sure if I should mention it.


Geographic preferences(have never left my hometown which is the location of my current school): Mid Atlantic, South Atlantic, Pacific(might switch this because I only like 2 schools in the area)

Location pref: Urban but idrk

Basically, I have no idea how competitive I am and really need to find safety schools(preferably with decent ethics opportunities). My only motivation in apps besides this is getting away from my hometown because while I love it, I need change to grow. I also have no idea how to signal but I will list the programs I have currently signaled below to help guide.

Gold signaling: Columbia(did away), UWashington, UChicago
Silver signaling: Tulane, WashUinSTL, Emory, Duke, Icahn Mt. Sinai, Georgetown, Cornell, Brown, Hawaii, Tufts, Miami

Non-signaled schools are everywhere in the country including some UCalis, all academic chicago programs, and my home program.

So after all this information, I have a gut feeling I am overshooting a decent amount. Can someone please advise me in picking better safety and target schools, as well as an appropriate signaling strategy please??? Thank you in advance kind strangers

 

[midnitetots12]

Background: I switched late into IM from a surgical subspeciality and unfortunately do not have the advantage of getting letters early on (sub-I will be finished before interview season starts, but unfortunately no letters from them), etc since I didn't know I'd pursue IM so late. I'll make it evident I am not dual applying including my surgical subspeciality letters vouching for me in IM.

Med School: Mid Tier USMD (top 40)
M1-M2 grades: Pass/Fail; all pass
M3 grades: 4/7 honors (including IM), 1 high pass (surgery), 1 pass (psych)
M4 grades: N/A, all p/f
Step 1: Pass
Step 2: 265
AOA: Yes
GHHS: No
Demographics: ORM, first generation college, low-income, somewhat compelling story related to why I pursued the previous speciality but had a change of heart
Research: 40 pubs (about half are 1st/2nd author), 80 research items --- primarily in previously intended speciality, but a few other random topics. Several small research awards including NIH award.
Extracurriculars: A lot of service/volunteering for underserved patients and involvement in school committees, etc
LORs: IM MS3 rotation attending (latter half of year), IM sub-speciality letter (rotation in the past month), letter from previous speciality PI, family med letter from someone whose known me for years and worked with on rotation as well (4 total)
Geographic Signaling: Mid-atlantic, New England, South
Red flags: None
Golds: BIDM, Cornell, Duke
Silvers: 3 state schools (all ~ rank 50 +/-10) including my home institution who strongly takes its own students, Vanderbilt, Emory, UAB, UNC, BWH, NYU, Icahn, Columbia, Baylor, UCLA (undergrad)

I know list is pretty top heavy. My advisor told me that the 3 state schools would be a highly likely match if I signaled them due to my geographical ties and their rank being 40-60 making me a strong applicant for them if all else fails. This was the only reason my other signals were highly top heavy since I assumed if they all fail the other 3 schools, including my own would be likely to rank me.

I was told by my advisor whose had a lot of experience in the residency process at our school that my application would still be perceived as really strong despite my late switch if it's made clear that I am not dual applying. Overall, I'd like to make it to a top program since my aspirations would involve academic medicine and hopefully a big research emphasis. Please let me know how I can adjust my signal list, if I'm delusional, and any tips for conveying my story!

 

[Unrelenting_Premed]

Med School: Low-tier MD (rank ~80 USNWR)
M1-M2 grades: P/F, all P
M3 grades: 5H (IM and Surgery), 3 HS
M4 grades: H IM SubI
Class rank: N/A
Step 1: Pass
Step 2: 268
AOA: No
GHHS: No
Demographics: ORM
Research: 7 pubs (6 basic science in high IF journals, no 1st author, mostly 2nd author), 1 abstract, 7 poster presentations
Extracurriculars: Solid leadership, lacking in volunteering
LORs: 1 Chair letter, 1 Sub-I letter, 1 3rd year letter, 1 Sub-specialist letter
Red flags: None
Golds: BIDMC, Cornell, UPMC
Silvers: 2 state schools, JKMC, Temple, Tufts, BU, UVA, Yale, Emory, Upenn, Sinai, NYU

I was wondering what are my chances at matching T20 - T30 given that I come from a low-tiered MD program without AOA and GHHS; I want to make sure I'm not wasting signals for gold and silvers. Thanks in advance, I appreciate you!

 

[RedDragon14]

Med School: Mid-tier USMD
M1-M2 grades: All Honors
M3 grades: All honors, except HP in IM
M4 grades: Honor sub-I in IM
Class rank: Top quartile
Step 1: Pass
Step 2: 256
AOA: Yes
GHHS: No
Demographics: White male
Research: 5 pubs (one first author, the rest mid-author) 2 poster presentations (local)
Extracurriculars: average with some leadership
LORs: 1 Department letter, 2 IM letters (average), 1 Peds letter
Geographic Signaling: South
Red flags: None

Reach:

• Vanderbilt
• Emory
• Wake Forest
• Baylor

Target:

• UAB
• UNC
• UF Gainesville
• U Miami
• USF Tampa
• UT Houston
• UT Galveston
• UT San Antonio

Safety:

• UF Jacksonville
• Jackson Mississippi
• Orland Health
• Bay Health St. Petersburg

I am worried because of my non honors in IM and lack of research presentations. My dream program is to attend Emory. I am not sure how competitive I am after seeing all the posts on here. How can I improve my list?

 

[jstargirl17]

Hello,

I saw that you are interested in doing IM primary care. I’m a 4th year student currently working on my ERAS application and doing my IM sub-I (yes it’s been a lot )

I was wondering how many IM programs to apply to and what are good things to look for in an IM program? I really like the patients on IM but handling all of the dispo, placement, social work, discharges, consults, etc is a lot… not sure if I want to further subspecialize yet but want to keep the door open

My current list of IM programs are (most are primary care tracks):
1. OSU primary care track
2. University of WA primary care track/women’s health track
3. Univ of Pittsburgh
4. Northwestern
5. Brown
6. Brigham and Women’s
7. George Washington primary care track University
8. Univ of Miami
9. Johns Hopkins urban health primary care track
10. Emory
11. Cambridge Health Alliance
12. Cleveland Clinic Foundation


As background, I am a U.S. MD student, passed step 1 on the first attempt and passed step 2 on the first attempt but with a low pass score (which has been stressing me out/worrying me..)

Any guidance or tips would be greatly appreciated!

 

[eleanorroosevelt]

Med school: Top 20 USMD
M1-M2 grades: All pass (P/F)
M3 grades: All honors (H/HP/P/F)
M4 grades: All pass (P/F including sub-i)
Class rank: No specific language is used
Step 1: Pass
Step 2: 270-275
AOA: Yes
GHHS: No
Demographics: First-generation college; from Florida, med school in mid-Atlantic region
Research: 1 first-author paper accepted/in production, 1 3rd author paper published in low impact journal, 2 3rd author abstracts published, 7 posters in local conferences, 1 poster accepted for national conference later this fall; few other projects without tangibles
Extracurriculars: Clinical director of student-run clinic, admissions, mentoring, tutoring, medical assistant before med school
LORs: Department letter, sub-I, IM subspecialty, research letter - all I believe are strong
Geographic signaling: South Atlantic, Middle Atlantic, New England
Red flags: None
Goals: Academia, perhaps primary care vs ID/HIV vs addiction; think I'd like to stay close to the East Coast. Will be applying primary care and categorical.

Gold: Cornell, Brigham, UPenn
Silver: NYU, Columbia, Mt Sinai, BUMC, BIDMC, Mayo-MN, Yale, Jefferson, Emory
No signal: MGH (not offered), UF

Debating: Mayo-FL, UAB, Montefiore, Vanderbilt, Duke, UVA, Temple, UPMC, UChicago, Northwestern, Brown, WashU, JHH, UCSF

I worry my list is top heavy. I would really appreciate any insight on how to finish out my silver signals. Thanks!

 

[whoknows2012]

Med school: Top 20 USMD
M1-M2 grades: All pass (P/F)
M3 grades: All honors (H/HP/P/F)
M4 grades: All pass (P/F including sub-i)
Class rank: No specific language is used
Step 1: Pass
Step 2: 270-275
AOA: Yes
GHHS: No
Demographics: First-generation college; from Florida, med school in mid-Atlantic region
Research: 1 first-author paper accepted/in production, 1 3rd author paper published in low impact journal, 2 3rd author abstracts published, 7 posters in local conferences, 1 poster accepted for national conference later this fall; few other projects without tangibles
Extracurriculars: Clinical director of student-run clinic, admissions, mentoring, tutoring, medical assistant before med school
LORs: Department letter, sub-I, IM subspecialty, research letter - all I believe are strong
Geographic signaling: South Atlantic, Middle Atlantic, New England
Red flags: None
Goals: Academia, perhaps primary care vs ID/HIV vs addiction; think I'd like to stay close to the East Coast. Will be applying primary care and categorical.

Gold: Cornell, Brigham, UPenn
Silver: NYU, Columbia, Mt Sinai, BUMC, BIDMC, Mayo-MN, Yale, Jefferson, Emory
No signal: MGH (not offered), UF

Debating: Mayo-FL, UAB, Montefiore, Vanderbilt, Duke, UVA, Temple, UPMC, UChicago, Northwestern, Brown, WashU, JHH, UCSF

I worry my list is top heavy. I would really appreciate any insight on how to finish out my silver signals. Thanks!

Great list. You’ll almost certainly match at one of your gold/silvers.

On your debating list-the odd man out is Mayo-Fl. It does not belong

 

[JXC_600]

Applying IM, preferably academic programs region does not matter as much as program

School: lower tier midwest MD

Step 1: P
Step 2: 277
Pre-clerkship grades: All passed (preclinical is p/f)
Clerkship grades: 7/7 H, AOA, top quartile of class

Research: 1 first author and 2 co-author pubs, 1 case reports under review, 10 poster presentations, 2 oral presentations
ECs: 4 volunteering (longitudinal), 3 research, 2 teaching/mentor, 1 assistant track and field coach

Awards: Community service volunteer award, academic excellence scholarship, $5,000 research grant funding, three grants totaling ~$40,000 towards running local free clinic

Geographic signals: East North Central, Middle Atlantic, South Atlantic

Gold: Michigan, Ohio State, Hopkins

Silver: Cleveland Clinic, Duke, University of Pennsylvania, UChicago, Northwestern, Icahn at Mount Sinai, Brigham and Women's, Emory, Vanderbilt, WashU Barnes-Jewish, UPMC, Columbia

Applying but not signaling: MGH, UCSF, Mayo Clinic (Rochester), NYU Grossman, University of Washington, Mayo Clinic (Arizona), University of Alabama Birmingham, UTSW, Stanford, UCLA, Beth Israel, Yale, UVA, UNC, University of Colorado, Baylor

Not sure of swapping around gold/silver/not signaling but any suggestions or critiques is much appreciated!

 

[Señor S]

Applying IM, preferably academic programs region does not matter as much as program

School: lower tier midwest MD

Step 1: P
Step 2: 277
Pre-clerkship grades: All passed (preclinical is p/f)
Clerkship grades: 7/7 H, AOA, top quartile of class

Research: 1 first author and 2 co-author pubs, 1 case reports under review, 10 poster presentations, 2 oral presentations
ECs: 4 volunteering (longitudinal), 3 research, 2 teaching/mentor, 1 assistant track and field coach

Awards: Community service volunteer award, academic excellence scholarship, $5,000 research grant funding, three grants totaling ~$40,000 towards running local free clinic

Geographic signals: East North Central, Middle Atlantic, South Atlantic

Gold: Michigan, Ohio State, Hopkins

Silver: Cleveland Clinic, Duke, University of Pennsylvania, UChicago, Northwestern, Icahn at Mount Sinai, Brigham and Women's, Emory, Vanderbilt, WashU Barnes-Jewish, UPMC, Columbia

Applying but not signaling: MGH, UCSF, Mayo Clinic (Rochester), NYU Grossman, University of Washington, Mayo Clinic (Arizona), University of Alabama Birmingham, UTSW, Stanford, UCLA, Beth Israel, Yale, UVA, UNC, University of Colorado, Baylor

Not sure of swapping around gold/silver/not signaling but any suggestions or critiques is much appreciated!

Unless there's something drawing you to Ohio State in particular I wouldn't use a signal there; you are competitive at every program on your list so why not use your signal on MGH or Northwestern or WashU or some other, more competitive place? I'd add Case Western, would prioritize it over Cleveland Clinic too. Add Cornell since you seem interested in NYC and I'd put it in Sinai's place. Mayo Arizona is nothing special imo, I'd drop it and add another Ohio program (Cincinatti?) or some place in the Wisconsin/Iowa/UIC/Rush tier. Wouldn't hurt to add a few places from that list just to hedge your bets although you'll still probably be fine without it.

 

[LocalBreadcakes]

Passed Step 1/Level 1 First Attempt
Step 2: 233
Level 2: 568
Clinical Rotations: 1 pass, 3 high pass, 7 honors. Honors include internal med. Pass was in pediatrics. MSPE comments are strong with superlatives like best, most.
Letters: Strong
No red flags.
Relative red flags(?): 3rd quartile student. Shelves score 1 low pass (pediatrics) and 1 pass (psychiatry) [All other shelves high pass]

Research: Bench work that resulted in 1 poster at 2 school conferences. Bench work in undergrad with 2 posters at undergrad conferences. 1 clinical project underway.

Experiences/Extracurriculars:
Organized fundraisers, workshops, community service projects, social events, and guest speaker event. Also spoke at an undergraduate student conference. Medical mission work

Couples match: Partner is applying medicine-pediatrics with step 2 >260.

Geographic preferences: Pacific, East North Central, Middle Atlantic.

Signal List Strategy: All of our signals are with intention to stay at the same institution with in-house fellowship for cardiology. We’re targeting academic / academic affiliates that fall within score range and we had a connection to. If one of us gets an interview, we will reach out immediately to both our PDs about the other.

Gold

Loma Linda, Albany, Wayne State University / Detroit Medical Center (all of these schools we did/are doing sub-I's in, except myself in Detroit. Positive feedback from preceptors at these programs)

Silver

Geisinger Health System Program at Danville University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria Program

University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria Program

Western Michigan University School of Medicine

UMass Chan Bay State

Maine Health Medical Center

University at Buffalo

Penn State Hershey Milton

University of Arizona college of medicine - Phoenix Program

St Vincent Hospital Program (to be paired with partner at UMass Chan)

Arrowhead Regional Medical Center

OPEN

OPEN

We will also be applying to:

ECU Health Medical Center/East Carolina University Program

Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital Program

University of Tennessee

UPMC Harrisburg (to be paired with partner at Penn state)

University of Cincinnati

University of Rochester

Corewell Health – Grand Rapids/Michigan State University Program

Indiana University School of Medicine.

Michigan State University

Louisiana Shreveport

Marshall University School of Medicine Program

Marshfield Clinic Program

Medical University of South Carolina Program
MedStar Health Georgetown University Program
RUSH
Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University/Christiana Care Health Services Program
The MetroHealth System/Case Western Reserve University Program
University of Colorado Medicine
University of Kansas (Wichita) Program
University of Kentucky
University of Louisville
University of Minnesota
University of Missouri-Columbia
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
University of South Florida
University of Texas Health Sciences Center at Houston
University of Texas Health Sciences Center at Dallas

• + outlying programs

UPMC

• +outlying programs

USA Health Program
West Virginia university program

• +outlying programs

Virginia Commonwealth University
Rutgers Newark Beth Israel Medical Center

*No significance will bold. Counldn't format.