Official Eternal IM WAMC Thread

[Gill_97]

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Hello everyone, just got my Step 2 score back and would appreciate any feedback/advice.

Med School: MD low tier
Step 1: Pass
Step 2: 260
Clerkship grades: 3/6 honors with HP in IM and Surgery; Pass in OBGYN (sigh)
Research: 3 pubs by application submission, 1 first author, 5 abstracts with my name on it with 1 being presented at an international conference (not by me), 4 posters that I have presented with 1 being a regional conference
AOA: Unlikely
ECs: Good variety with student clinic volunteering, tutoring, probably like 5-6 activities I would say with 1-2 being leadership positions
Red Flags: None
Region preference: west coast (Arizona or California) or south-atlantic (NC/VA/DC) + FL
Hometown: SoCal

Current thoughts

Reaches
UCLA
Emory
Vanderbilt
Duke
Mount Sinai Icahn

Targets?
UC Davis
UC Irvine
USC/LAC
Olive View/UCLA
UC San Diego
Cedars Sinai
UC Riverside
UCSF/Fresno
University of Arizona Phoenix
UNC Chapel Hill
Wake Forest
Carolinas Medical Center
VCU
EVMS
UVA
MedStar/Georgetown University
George Washington
Zucker School of Medicine Hofstra
NYU
University of Miami/Jackson Health


Edits: added hometown and current list

 

[blurb_123]

Med School: Mid-tier MD
M1-M2 grades: All honors
M3-4 grades: All honors
Step 1: P
Step 2: 275
Class rank: Top 10%
AOA: Yes
GHHS: No

Research:
7 publications accepted, 8 under review.
4 abstracts at high impact conference

Extracurriculars: Strong, global health, med tech, etc.

LORs: Strong

Geographic Signaling: Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, West Coast

Red flags: None

Would appreciate a good school list and any thoughts on my chances at the big 4.Thanks in advance!

 

[gutonc]

Med School: Mid-tier MD
M1-M2 grades: All honors
M3-4 grades: All honors
Step 1: P
Step 2: 275
Class rank: Top 10%
AOA: Yes
GHHS: No

Research:
7 publications accepted, 8 under review.
4 abstracts at high impact conference

Extracurriculars: Strong, global health, med tech, etc.

LORs: Strong

Geographic Signaling: Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, West Coast

Red flags: None

Would appreciate a good school list and any thoughts on my chances at the big 4.Thanks in advance!

1. You make the list.
2. No harm in applying. It's just money and ego. And it's all really a crapshoot anyway. You'll get somewhere between 0 and 4 interviews out of it.

 

[Yhwach]

Thinking about applying to IM and want to see what my options would be if I wanted to stick at the east coast (targeting mid Atlantic, new England area mainly but will to go to the program best for training, potential interest in heme/onc).

What programs would be targets and reaches

Current Status: Completed MS3, on a research year, urm

School: T30 US MD

Step 1: Pass

Step 2: 234

Pre-clinical: P/F

Clinical grades: Pass throughout (we only get P, H, F no HP)

Class Ranking: They don't rank us in our letter so I don't have a rank

AOA: Doubt it

Research:
Presently around 17 Publications/Abstracts/Posters:
- One middle author radiology paper
- 1st author review article
- 3 middle authors in various review articles
- 12 poster presentations (public health, basic science some of these are before medical school)

Currently during my research year:
- 2 papers submitted
- 2 abstract accepted

I have various ongoing projects that I'm not counting in my 17 total
- One to two on going that would lead to one or two papers

Awards:
- A handful of innovative and case competition awards
- 2x merit scholarship

EC’s:
- radiology interest group leader
- SNMA board member
- a couple of med ed outreach activities for underrepresented high school students
- tutor
- recently a board member of a nonprofit

LORs:
- looking to get a strong letter from FM
- I can get a strong letter for my radiology research mentor at home institution
- Will get a letter from my research mentor during gap year
- waiting till 4th year to figure out other letters

 

[GoodNotGreat]

Tough to give input without a Step 2. I think youll get some academic interviews contingent upon you doing at least avg on Step 2. Places like Carilion Clinic, Medical College of Georgia, GW, NJMS, Univ of South Carolina, EVMS would prob interview you

Step 2: 24x

Have any assessment of my shot at Uni IM given this update?

 

[terpfan15]

Med School: Northeast DO school
M1-M2 grades: Graded, Top-Quartile
M3-4 grades: High Pass (EM, Psych, OBGYN), Pass (IM, FM, Surgery)
Step 1: P
Step 2: 24x
Class rank: 1st Quartile


Research:
- 1 abstract
- 3 research projects

Extracurriculars: Volunteering in the community, Leadership of non school related extracurricular, homeless shelter, mentoring for younger high school students

LORs (all anticipated to be strong):
- M3 IM Preceptor
- M3 IM Attending
- M4 IM Sub-I Letter

Geographic Signaling: Mid-Atlantic (Hometown and family located here, undergrad attended in mid-atlantic region as well)

Red flags: None

Goals:
- Interested in fellowship after completion of IM residency, goal of either cardiology or infectious disease fellowship

Program List:
- Need some help forming program list
- Interested in Mid-Atlantic hospitals --> GW, Georgetown, MedStar Baltimore, Hopkins (Bayview), Innova, WVU, Cristiana Care DE, UMD
- Potential interest in PA and Jersey as well. Unsure about how this will work with signaling and geographic preferences. Will a New Jersey/PA hospital give me the time of day if I put down the Mid-Atlantic region as geographic preference

 

[Deecee2DO]

Med School: Mid-tier MD
M1-M2 grades: All honors
M3-4 grades: All honors
Step 1: P
Step 2: 275
Class rank: Top 10%
AOA: Yes
GHHS: No

Research:
7 publications accepted, 8 under review.
4 abstracts at high impact conference

Extracurriculars: Strong, global health, med tech, etc.

LORs: Strong

Geographic Signaling: Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, West Coast

Red flags: None

Would appreciate a good school list and any thoughts on my chances at the big 4.Thanks in advance!

You may get Big 4 interviews as youre certainly qualified. But like gutonc said its never guaranteed at that level of competition many applicants have AOA and 260+ coming from ranked medical schools

 

[Deecee2DO]

Hello everyone, just got my Step 2 score back and would appreciate any feedback/advice.

Med School: MD low tier
Step 1: Pass
Step 2: 260
Clerkship grades: 3/6 honors with HP in IM and Surgery; Pass in OBGYN (sigh)
Research: 3 pubs by application submission, 1 first author, 5 abstracts with my name on it with 1 being presented at an international conference (not by me), 4 posters that I have presented with 1 being a regional conference
AOA: Unlikely
ECs: Good variety with student clinic volunteering, tutoring, probably like 5-6 activities I would say with 1-2 being leadership positions
Red Flags: None
Region preference: west coast (Arizona or California) or south-atlantic (NC/VA/DC) + FL
Hometown: SoCal

Current thoughts

Reaches
UCLA
Emory
Vanderbilt
Duke
Mount Sinai Icahn

Targets?
UC Davis
UC Irvine
USC/LAC
Olive View/UCLA
UC San Diego
Cedars Sinai
UC Riverside
UCSF/Fresno
University of Arizona Phoenix
UNC Chapel Hill
Wake Forest
Carolinas Medical Center
VCU
EVMS
UVA
MedStar/Georgetown University
George Washington
Zucker School of Medicine Hofstra
NYU
University of Miami/Jackson Health


Edits: added hometown and current list

Vandy and Duke are reaches and Emory Sinai NYU are soft reaches (very possible you may get interviews at one or 2 of these places). UCLA is a target. Your step score is your highlight you have ok research experience and your grades are solid

 

[obiwan]

Thinking about applying to IM and want to see what my options would be if I wanted to stick at the east coast (targeting mid Atlantic, new England area mainly but will to go to the program best for training, potential interest in heme/onc).

What programs would be targets and reaches

Current Status: Completed MS3, on a research year, urm

School: T30 US MD

Step 1: Pass

Step 2: 234

Pre-clinical: P/F

Clinical grades: Pass throughout (we only get P, H, F no HP)

Class Ranking: They don't rank us in our letter so I don't have a rank

AOA: Doubt it

Research:
Presently around 17 Publications/Abstracts/Posters:
- One middle author radiology paper
- 1st author review article
- 3 middle authors in various review articles
- 12 poster presentations (public health, basic science some of these are before medical school)

Currently during my research year:
- 2 papers submitted
- 2 abstract accepted

I have various ongoing projects that I'm not counting in my 17 total
- One to two on going that would lead to one or two papers

Awards:
- A handful of innovative and case competition awards
- 2x merit scholarship

EC’s:
- radiology interest group leader
- SNMA board member
- a couple of med ed outreach activities for underrepresented high school students
- tutor
- recently a board member of a nonprofit

LORs:
- looking to get a strong letter from FM
- I can get a strong letter for my radiology research mentor at home institution
- Will get a letter from my research mentor during gap year
- waiting till 4th year to figure out other letters

Would consider pretty much consider all the geographically applicable programs in the top 25-30 programs reaches for your profile. Targets are places like Boston Univ/Tufts/Brown/University of Maryland/Temple/Georgetown

 

[Peanutnut]

Med School: Mid-tier MD
M1-M2 grades: P/F
M3-4 grades: 4/7 Honors (IM, Psych, Neuro, Obgyn) 3 High Pass (Peds, Fam Med, Surg)
Step 1: P
Step 2: 263
Class rank: Not recorded
AOA: No
GHHS: No

Research:
2 papers, 1 abstract
maybe 1-2 more abstract submissions before deadline

Extracurriculars:
-Some Leadership, with a lot of involvement in the student clinic
-Part-time job till M3
-Mentor, OL

LORs:
-will be 3 M4 IM letters, plus Chair's Letter

Geographic Signaling: Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic

Red flags: None

Basically, I would really like to stay in the tristate area (NY, NJ, PA), but also want a strong program that sets me up for Heme-Onc (preferably with fellowship), so would love any program suggestions that fit that. I know my research is soft for the top programs but I got pleasantly surprised with my step score

Reaches:
-UPenn
-Columbia
-Cornell
-Sinai?
-Yale?

Targets:
-Jeff
-Georgetown
-NYU?
-UVA
-UMD
-Brown
-Tufts
-RWJ
-NJMS
-Temple

 

[Gill_97]

Vandy and Duke are reaches and Emory Sinai NYU are soft reaches (very possible you may get interviews at one or 2 of these places). UCLA is a target. Your step score is your highlight you have ok research experience and your grades are solid

I appreciate the advice, thank you. Are there any academic programs that I should consider adding to my current list, based on my region preferences (CA, NC, VA, FL, also wouldn't mind NJ/NY)?

 

[whoknows2012]

Med School: Mid-tier MD
M1-M2 grades: P/F
M3-4 grades: 4/7 Honors (IM, Psych, Neuro, Obgyn) 3 High Pass (Peds, Fam Med, Surg)
Step 1: P
Step 2: 263
Class rank: Not recorded
AOA: No
GHHS: No

Research:
2 papers, 1 abstract
maybe 1-2 more abstract submissions before deadline

Extracurriculars:
-Some Leadership, with a lot of involvement in the student clinic
-Part-time job till M3
-Mentor, OL

LORs:
-will be 3 M4 IM letters, plus Chair's Letter

Geographic Signaling: Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic

Red flags: None

Basically, I would really like to stay in the tristate area (NY, NJ, PA), but also want a strong program that sets me up for Heme-Onc (preferably with fellowship), so would love any program suggestions that fit that. I know my research is soft for the top programs but I got pleasantly surprised with my step score

Reaches:
-UPenn
-Columbia
-Cornell
-Sinai?
-Yale?

Targets:
-Jeff
-Georgetown
-NYU?
-UVA
-UMD
-Brown
-Tufts
-RWJ
-NJMS
-Temple

NYU is a reach. Would add Monte to targets and move down RWJ NJMS and temple to safety

Could consider adding Dartmouth, Hopkins bayview northwell and stony brook

 

[whoknows2012]

I appreciate the advice, thank you. Are there any academic programs that I should consider adding to my current list, based on my region preferences (CA, NC, VA, FL, also wouldn't mind NJ/NY)?

As far a nj ny would add stony brook Rutgers rwj and Einstein/Monte. This would all be in the either target or safety zone (northwell stony brook +/- rwj would be safety, Monte target and I think on your original list nyu should be moved up to reach)

 

[pbandjamie]

Med School: T25 (midwest)
Step 1: Pass
Step 2: 265
Clerkship grades: 6/7 honors, 1 high pass, >90th% on most shelves with 99th for IM (not sure if this is reported though)
Class rank: no ranking
Research: 3 published manuscripts (1 first author), 1 submitted manuscript, 6 poster presentations (all mostly first author), 2 oral presentations (1 first author) at international conference, and an anticipated case report submitted before ERAS released
AOA: No longer offered at my school
Gold Humanism: Not offered
LORS: was told they would be strong - 1 from IM clerkship director, 1 from IM AI director, 1 from IM department chair, 1 from research PI in oncology.
ECs: Lots of research, 2 leadership positions in medical school, 2 teaching positions, EMT volunteer experience and multiple other volunteer experiences
Red flags: No
Career goals: most likely fellowship in oncology

What are my chances for applying to the T30 IM programs? Planning on couples matching into IM with someone who goes to a lower tier east coast MD school, 264 on Step 2, all honors, lots of research, and strong letters.

 

[obiwan]

Med School: T25 (midwest)
Step 1: Pass
Step 2: 265
Clerkship grades: 6/7 honors, 1 high pass, >90th% on most shelves with 99th for IM (not sure if this is reported though)
Class rank: no ranking
Research: 3 published manuscripts (1 first author), 1 submitted manuscript, 6 poster presentations (all mostly first author), 2 oral presentations (1 first author) at international conference, and an anticipated case report submitted before ERAS released
AOA: No longer offered at my school
Gold Humanism: Not offered
LORS: was told they would be strong - 1 from IM clerkship director, 1 from IM AI director, 1 from IM department chair, 1 from research PI in oncology.
ECs: Lots of research, 2 leadership positions in medical school, 2 teaching positions, EMT volunteer experience and multiple other volunteer experiences
Red flags: No
Career goals: most likely fellowship in oncology

What are my chances for applying to the T30 IM programs? Planning on couples matching into IM with someone who goes to a lower tier east coast MD school, 264 on Step 2, all honors, lots of research, and strong letters.

You guys look to be in very strong shape for the top tier but do make sure to have a broad list. Good luck !! (went through couples match also so understand the added stress)

 

[pbandjamie]

You guys look to be in very strong shape for the top tier but do make sure to have a broad list. Good luck !! (went through couples match also so understand the added stress)

Thank you! Any advice for couples matching other than applying broadly (which we definitely will)? It definitely is a lot of added stress

 

[Deecee2DO]

Med School: T25 (midwest)
Step 1: Pass
Step 2: 265
Clerkship grades: 6/7 honors, 1 high pass, >90th% on most shelves with 99th for IM (not sure if this is reported though)
Class rank: no ranking
Research: 3 published manuscripts (1 first author), 1 submitted manuscript, 6 poster presentations (all mostly first author), 2 oral presentations (1 first author) at international conference, and an anticipated case report submitted before ERAS released
AOA: No longer offered at my school
Gold Humanism: Not offered
LORS: was told they would be strong - 1 from IM clerkship director, 1 from IM AI director, 1 from IM department chair, 1 from research PI in oncology.
ECs: Lots of research, 2 leadership positions in medical school, 2 teaching positions, EMT volunteer experience and multiple other volunteer experiences
Red flags: No
Career goals: most likely fellowship in oncology

What are my chances for applying to the T30 IM programs? Planning on couples matching into IM with someone who goes to a lower tier east coast MD school, 264 on Step 2, all honors, lots of research, and strong letters.

Youre both good for T20. Apply broadly since couples matching

 

[pbandjamie]

Youre both good for T20. Apply broadly since couples matching

Thank you! Since signaling is offered now, any recommendations for where we should signal?

 

[obiwan]

Thank you! Any advice for couples matching other than applying broadly (which we definitely will)? It definitely is a lot of added stress

During your interviews, I would just let the interviewers know that you are couples matching in IM especially to places that you both are ranking higher on the list. The only other thing is thinking about what you place more priority on, being together at specific program/city vs sacrificing reputation/prestige. Hopefully, it won't be an issue for you guys since you are strong applicants on paper. It was an issue for us because my partner was quite weaker candidate. So basically, would ranking program A (top tier) for me/program B (lower tier) for her be higher on our list than us vs both matching into program C (mid tier) . That basically led to us having a ridiculously long match list since there are all these different iterations.

Thank you! Since signaling is offered now, any recommendations for where we should signal?

Regardless of geographic preference, make sure you go for cities with multiple programs

 

[wammyc]

Hey everyone! Will be applying IM this cycle and feeling a little iffy about my program list. Any feedback / bringing-down-to-earth would be greatly appreciated 🙂


Med School: Low-to-Mid Tier (East Coast)
Step 1: Pass
Step 2: 265
Clerkship grades: All honors (6/6), currently doing IM sub-I
Class rank: Top Quartile
Research: 1 published case report from undergrad, 2 abstracts, 1 poster presentation at national conference
AOA: Not released yet, but probably yes!
Gold Humanism: No
LORs: Should be strong - 1 from IM 3rd year attending (assistant PD), 1 from IM AI attending, 1 from IM department chair
ECs: 2 leadership positions, 2 additional unique academic projects, 3-4 volunteering experiences, scribed during a gap year before med school
Red flags: No
My application is definitely light on ECs and Research, but I’m hoping AOA helps me out a little here.


As of now, my list of programs is:

Reach: MGH, JHH, Columbia, UPenn, Michigan, WashU, Vandy, NW, UCLA, BIDMC, Chicago, Yale
Target: Cornell, NYU, Sinai, UPMC, UNC, Baylor, UCSD, USC, tOSU, BU, UVA, Brown, Monte, Jeff, UTH
Safety: Indiana, Tufts, JHU-Bayview, Georgetown, Wake Forest, MUSC, UMD, Northwell, Rutgers-RWJ, Temple, UMass


Does this look reasonable? What programs would be good to add/remove from the list above?

Thanks in advance for all the help!!

 

[Deecee2DO]

Hey everyone! Will be applying IM this cycle and feeling a little iffy about my program list. Any feedback / bringing-down-to-earth would be greatly appreciated 🙂


Med School: Low-to-Mid Tier (East Coast)
Step 1: Pass
Step 2: 265
Clerkship grades: All honors (6/6), currently doing IM sub-I
Class rank: Top Quartile
Research: 1 published case report from undergrad, 2 abstracts, 1 poster presentation at national conference
AOA: Not released yet, but probably yes!
Gold Humanism: No
LORs: Should be strong - 1 from IM 3rd year attending (assistant PD), 1 from IM AI attending, 1 from IM department chair
ECs: 2 leadership positions, 2 additional unique academic projects, 3-4 volunteering experiences, scribed during a gap year before med school
Red flags: No
My application is definitely light on ECs and Research, but I’m hoping AOA helps me out a little here.


As of now, my list of programs is:

Reach: MGH, JHH, Columbia, UPenn, Michigan, WashU, Vandy, NW, UCLA, BIDMC, Chicago, Yale
Target: Cornell, NYU, Sinai, UPMC, UNC, Baylor, UCSD, USC, tOSU, BU, UVA, Brown, Monte, Jeff, UTH
Safety: Indiana, Tufts, JHU-Bayview, Georgetown, Wake Forest, MUSC, UMD, Northwell, Rutgers-RWJ, Temple, UMass


Does this look reasonable? What programs would be good to add/remove from the list above?

Thanks in advance for all the help!!

I think the lack of research will hurt a little at the reaches but i think you still have a shot at any of these programs with 265 and AOA. AOA goes a long way at the top. Regardless if u get AOA i think youll still have a strong shot for interviews at Yale NW WashU BI UCLA (if u have CA ties)

 

[wammyc]

I think the lack of research will hurt a little at the reaches but i think you still have a shot at any of these programs with 265 and AOA. AOA goes a long way at the top. Regardless if u get AOA i think youll still have a strong shot for interviews at Yale NW WashU BI UCLA (if u have CA ties)

Thank you! Really appreciate the reassurance haha

 

[obiwan]

School: Mid tier US MD
Step 1: Pass
Step 2: 260
Pre-clinical: P/F (in top 25%, which noted on MSPE, whatever lol)
Clinical grades: all honors, good evals, high shelf scores
Class Ranking: 1st quintile
AOA: TBD, likely
GHH: TBD
Research:
1 rads paper, 1 NIH biochem paper
1 rads abstract; 4 other abstracts in which I’m mid-author in various fields
Like 6 poster presentations over the years, all local nonconference.

ECs:
Had rather unique experience of my father having a stroke right before step 1, and me becoming his primary caregiver in the nursing home
Lots of stuff around teaching and mentorship: creating study materials for underclassmen, mentoring new students, etc
3 years EMS, few student groups, student clinic. Also volunteer at the nursing home as a CNA.

LORs:
1 ID, 2 IM, 1 radiology research one

Random:
Engineering undergrad
URM

School list:
Top 3: UVA, GW, Georgetown (Region preference of DMV area)
Reaches: JHH, MGH, UPenn, Duke, WashU, Vanderbilt, UChicago, Yale, Emory, Michigan
Targets: UNC, UVA, Georgetown, UPMC, Jeff, BU, Tufts, Brown, Bayview
Safety: Wake Forest, GW, UMass, VCU, UConn, UMD

Basically I know I have not a lot of research, but how competitive is my application The list above is a running list, are there any big ones I'm missing if I'm aiming for middle east coast?

It is a competitive profile. If you're already applying to the Boston programs and aiming for the ivory towers, would throw in Brigham and Beth Israel

 

[obiwan]

It's a bit early for me (I'll only be applying next year), but my clinical grades are a lot worse than I was hoping for, and I want to know if any amount of Step 2, research, etc. will make me competitive for my reach schools, or if it's a lost cause at this point.

School: Top 25 US MD
Step 1: not yet taken
Step 2: not yet taken
Pre-clinical: P/F
Clinical grades: (distribution is 40% honors, 20% high pass, 20% pass)
OB: pass
Peds: pass
Surgery: high pass
Neuro: honors
Family med: high pass
Psych: not yet assigned
IM: not yet assigned
Class Ranking: probably 4th quartile, maybe 3rd if I'm lucky
AOA: no
GHH: no
Research:
No papers yet, but close to publishing in an unrelated surgical field

ECs:
Med ed stuff (coordinated an elective), interviewer for admissions committee, mentoring high school students

LORs:
have not yet asked

Random:
Non-trad
ORM

School list:
Reaches: UCSF, Stanford
Targets: UC Davis, Kaiser Permanente
Safety: nothing seems safe in the region I'm aiming for (Nor Cal)

Basically, given my grades, do I have a chance at my reaches if I crush step 2 and get some good LORs?

You need to do well on Step 2, honor your IM rotation, and do early subI with honors with a good LOR to go along with it before I would even consider you a remotely viable applicant to UCSF/Stanford.

 

[deleted1095841]

You need to do well on Step 2, honor your IM rotation, and do early subI with honors with a good LOR to go along with it before I would even consider you a remotely viable applicant to UCSF/Stanford.

Thanks. But even if I somehow do that, my chances are still low, right?
Is there something unique (e.g. collaborate on a research project with faculty at these schools) that I can do to turn things around?

 

[obiwan]

Thanks. But even if I somehow do that, my chances are still low, right?
Is there something unique (e.g. collaborate on a research project with faculty at these schools) that I can do to turn things around?

They would still be considered solidly reach programs for you with those hypotheticals but again you are talking about 2 of the premier training programs in the country that happen to be in very coveted locations so they are going to be reaches for a lot of applicants. One thing to consider is doing an away rotation at either place (if that is an option) and knocking a grand slam with good LOR. Unless you have some contacts/leads at these places to get immediately plugged in and start running with a research project, I don't think thats going to be a fruitful endeavor. Otherwise, just focus on what needs to be done and apply and see what happens. The worst thing that can happen is you don't get an interview and you just move on. I'm also assuming that you going to apply to more than 4 programs. Good luck

 

[deleted1095841]

One thing to consider is doing an away rotation at either place (if that is an option) and knocking a grand slam with good LOR.

Do you mean a general IM away rotation, or a subspecialty?

 

[gutonc]

Do you mean a general IM away rotation, or a subspecialty?

And here's the rub. A subspecialty away rotation is often a throwaway since the connection to the residency program may be modest to nonexistent and at best, you have to reach out on your own to try to get a meeting with the IM PD.

Most places like UCSF and Stanford (and lots of other upper and mid-tier programs) won't take outside rotators for general IM/Sub-I rotations.

 

[Adjet]

School: Mid tier US MD (a Univ. of California school)
Step 1: Pass
Step 2: 257
Pre-clinical: P/F first year; 3/5 honors in 2nd year (top 20%)
Clinical grades: 6/7 honors (everything except peds) with great evals
Class Ranking: TBD, likely top 10-30%
AOA: TBD, likely to get though as historically 5+ clinical honors gets AOA at our school so I am going to assume yes.
GHH: No
Research:
4 publications (all primary research articles in cardiology and nephrology) two of which I am first author.
8 abstracts/presentations including one oral presentation at major cardiology conference.
NIH grant
Excellence in Research scholarship at school

ECs:
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee member on California chapter of American College of Cardiology. President/Founder of Cardiology Interest Group. Basketball podcast in undergrad. 2-3 other cookie cutter ECs

LORs:
1-2 Cardiology, rest a combination of ICU and maybe sub-i

Random:
low SES with various awards and scholarships

School list:
Need help with this. My ultimate goal is a combination of prestige + California or East Coast. Can you please help create a list for me as I am unsure if I am competitive for top programs and need a variety of reaches + safeties. Ty!

Especially if you get AOA, no program would be out of reach so include all the big names. UCSF, Stanford, UCLA, UCSD and whichever east coast programs you'd like (BWH, MGH, BIDMC, Penn, Columbia, JHU, Cornell, etc.). For safeties, just pick a handful of mid-tier programs in your ideal location and you should be fine.

 

[obiwan]

School: Mid tier US MD (a Univ. of California school)
Step 1: Pass
Step 2: 257
Pre-clinical: P/F first year; 3/5 honors in 2nd year (top 20%)
Clinical grades: 6/7 honors (everything except peds) with great evals
Class Ranking: TBD, likely top 10-30%
AOA: TBD, likely to get though as historically 5+ clinical honors gets AOA at our school so I am going to assume yes.
GHH: No
Research:
4 publications (all primary research articles in cardiology and nephrology) two of which I am first author.
8 abstracts/presentations including one oral presentation at major cardiology conference.
NIH grant
Excellence in Research scholarship at school

ECs:
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee member on California chapter of American College of Cardiology. President/Founder of Cardiology Interest Group. Basketball podcast in undergrad. 2-3 other cookie cutter ECs

LORs:
1-2 Cardiology, rest a combination of ICU and maybe sub-i

Random:
low SES with various awards and scholarships

School list:
Need help with this. My ultimate goal is a combination of prestige + California or East Coast. Can you please help create a list for me as I am unsure if I am competitive for top programs and need a variety of reaches + safeties. Ty!

UCSF/Stanford are your reaches even though you should be a viable applicant, UCLA/USC/UCSD are targets, UC Davis/Irvine/Cedars Sinai/Loma Linda/the other community UCLA programs are safeties

 

[AnonymousDoctorGuyPerson]

And here's the rub. A subspecialty away rotation is often a throwaway since the connection to the residency program may be modest to nonexistent and at best, you have to reach out on your own to try to get a meeting with the IM PD.

Most places like UCSF and Stanford (and lots of other upper and mid-tier programs) won't take outside rotators for general IM/Sub-I rotations.

Yeah, subspecialty electives are more to get to know an institution you may want to work at rather than get your foot in the door. But I've heard success where attendings knew the IM PD and reached out / their letters may hold more value since the faculty has most likely interacted with the IM PD at some point.

 

[stark4lyfe]

Hello! Appreciate any feedback/setting expectations, especially given my step score.

Med School: Low-tier MD school in Northeast
M1-M2 grades: Pass
M3-4 grades: 1 Honors, 4 HP (both Medicine and Surgery), 1 P in Peds, Honors Medicine Sub I, Honors EM
Class rank: Middle third
Step 1: P
Step 2: 242
AOA: No
GHHS: No

Research: 3 publications (1 first author) and 1 pub awaiting decision; 6 posters
Extracurriculars: Decent, leadership in school, volunteered
LORs (think will be good):
- M4 IM Sub-I site director
- M3 Outpatient IM
- IM Chair letter
- Research mentor -> also will work with her in hospital
Geographic Signaling: Northeast (fundamentally agnostic about location given Step score). Hometown in mid-atlantic.

Red flags: None

Goals:
- Academic IM with option for fellowship

Delusional: Yale, Johns Hopkins
Reaches: Jefferson, BU, Brown, Montefiore, UVa, Case Western, UPMC
Targets: UMaryland, JHU Bayview, Inova Fairfax, Georgetown - University Hospital, George Washington, Temple, UConn, UMass, Kaiser Mid-Atlantic, VCU, Wake, Tufts
Safeties: Georgetown-WHC, community programs?, Rutgers?, Christiana Care - Jeff

Am of course concerned about the Step score, so let me know if I'm crazy or not please. Mostly picked programs that are largely USMD, mainly in the hopes that folks won't be actively mean to me.

 

[Adjet]

How is this:

1. Massachusetts General Hospital
2. Johns Hopkins University
3. University of California, San Francisco
4. Brigham and Women’s
5. Duke
6. Mayo Clinic (Rochester)
7. University of Michigan
8. University of Pennsylvania
9. University of Texas Southwestern
10. New York Presbyterian (Columbia)
11. Washington University St. Louis
12. UCLA
13. University of Washington
14. Vanderbilt University
15. NYU
16. McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University
17. Stanford University
18. Icahn School of Medicine Mount Sinai
19. Emory University
20. Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
21. Cleveland Clinic
22. University of Chicago
23. Yale-New Haven Medical Center
24. UPMC
25. Baylor
26. USC
27. New York Presbyterian (Cornell)
28. University of Colorado
29. UCSD
30. Boston University
31. Sidney Kimmel Medical College
32. OHSU
33. Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
34. UCLA Harbor
35. Georgetown/MedStar Health
36. Montefiore Medical Center
37. University of California, Davis
38. Olive View UCLA
39. University of California, Irvine
40. Scripps Clinic
41. Loma Linda University
42. Kaiser Permanente (Los Angeles)
43. Kaiser Permanente (San Francisco)

Looks fine to me. You'll get more interviews than you'll have the bandwidth for so need to be selective about which ones you'd actually want to go to.

Hello! Appreciate any feedback/setting expectations, especially given my step score.

Med School: Low-tier MD school in Northeast
M1-M2 grades: Pass
M3-4 grades: 1 Honors, 4 HP (both Medicine and Surgery), 1 P in Peds, Honors Medicine Sub I, Honors EM
Class rank: Middle third
Step 1: P
Step 2: 242
AOA: No
GHHS: No

Research: 3 publications (1 first author) and 1 pub awaiting decision; 6 posters
Extracurriculars: Decent, leadership in school, volunteered
LORs (think will be good):
- M4 IM Sub-I site director
- M3 Outpatient IM
- IM Chair letter
- Research mentor -> also will work with her in hospital
Geographic Signaling: Northeast (fundamentally agnostic about location given Step score). Hometown in mid-atlantic.

Red flags: None

Goals:
- Academic IM with option for fellowship

Delusional: Yale, Johns Hopkins
Reaches: Jefferson, BU, Brown, Montefiore, UVa, Case Western, UPMC
Targets: UMaryland, JHU Bayview, Inova Fairfax, Georgetown - University Hospital, George Washington, Temple, UConn, UMass, Kaiser Mid-Atlantic, VCU, Wake, Tufts
Safeties: Georgetown-WHC, community programs?, Rutgers?, Christiana Care - Jeff

Am of course concerned about the Step score, so let me know if I'm crazy or not please. Mostly picked programs that are largely USMD, mainly in the hopes that folks won't be actively mean to me.

I think you are realistic about your outlook regarding target programs (low-mid tier academic). You could probably add a few more low tier academic/community programs to be safe (i.e. places like Cooper, Northwell etc.)

 

[obiwan]

Hello! Appreciate any feedback/setting expectations, especially given my step score.

Med School: Low-tier MD school in Northeast
M1-M2 grades: Pass
M3-4 grades: 1 Honors, 4 HP (both Medicine and Surgery), 1 P in Peds, Honors Medicine Sub I, Honors EM
Class rank: Middle third
Step 1: P
Step 2: 242
AOA: No
GHHS: No

Research: 3 publications (1 first author) and 1 pub awaiting decision; 6 posters
Extracurriculars: Decent, leadership in school, volunteered
LORs (think will be good):
- M4 IM Sub-I site director
- M3 Outpatient IM
- IM Chair letter
- Research mentor -> also will work with her in hospital
Geographic Signaling: Northeast (fundamentally agnostic about location given Step score). Hometown in mid-atlantic.

Red flags: None

Goals:
- Academic IM with option for fellowship

Delusional: Yale, Johns Hopkins
Reaches: Jefferson, BU, Brown, Montefiore, UVa, Case Western, UPMC
Targets: UMaryland, JHU Bayview, Inova Fairfax, Georgetown - University Hospital, George Washington, Temple, UConn, UMass, Kaiser Mid-Atlantic, VCU, Wake, Tufts
Safeties: Georgetown-WHC, community programs?, Rutgers?, Christiana Care - Jeff

Am of course concerned about the Step score, so let me know if I'm crazy or not please. Mostly picked programs that are largely USMD, mainly in the hopes that folks won't be actively mean to me.

I would throw in UNC if you're applying to places like UPMC/UVA

 

[organic_pancreas]

Med School: Mid-tier school in midwest
M1-M2 grades: Pass
M3-4 grades: 3 Honors in IM, neuro, psych; 3 high pass in FM, Peds, Surgery; 1 pass in Ob-gyn
Class rank: Middle of the pack
Step 1: 225-230
Step 2: 240-245
AOA: No
GHHS: No

Research: 7 publications (4 first author and 3 second author), 12 posters, 5-6 abstract
Extracurriculars: Lead a large free clinic in first two years, reviewer for school’s research publication site, mentorship, some unique EC’s outside of medicine

• Also worked a job on weekends for the first 2 years of medical school as it had good pay and wasn't too intensive. Not sure if I should mention this on apps, as I don't want schools to think I wasn’t all in on medical school.

LORs:
- M3 subspecialty physician
- M4 subspecialty physician
- M4 Sub-I hospitalist
- IM Chair letter

Geographic Signaling: Going hard for midwest but applying to some programs outside the region
Red flags: None
Goals: Most interested in a couple IM subspecialties

Delusional: Northwestern, Mayo Rochester, UPenn
Reach: Michigan, Ohio State, UChicago, WashU, Cleveland Clinic, UPMC, UNC
Target: Cincinnati, Indiana, Case Western, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Rush, Loyola, GW, MCW, UAB, Mayo Jacksonville, Miami
Safeties: Not sure?

Appreciate any feedback! Most worried about my low steps.
Thanks!

 

[Adjet]

Med School: Mid-tier school in midwest
M1-M2 grades: Pass
M3-4 grades: 3 Honors in IM, neuro, psych; 3 high pass in FM, Peds, Surgery; 1 pass in Ob-gyn
Class rank: Middle of the pack
Step 1: 225-230
Step 2: 240-245
AOA: No
GHHS: No

Research: 7 publications (4 first author and 3 second author), 12 posters, 5-6 abstract
Extracurriculars: Lead a large free clinic in first two years, reviewer for school’s research publication site, mentorship, some unique EC’s outside of medicine

• Also worked a job on weekends for the first 2 years of medical school as it had good pay and wasn't too intensive. Not sure if I should mention this on apps, as I don't want schools to think I wasn’t all in on medical school.

LORs:
- M3 subspecialty physician
- M4 subspecialty physician
- M4 Sub-I hospitalist
- IM Chair letter

Geographic Signaling: Going hard for midwest but applying to some programs outside the region
Red flags: None
Goals: Most interested in a couple IM subspecialties

Delusional: Northwestern, Mayo Rochester, UPenn
Reach: Michigan, Ohio State, UChicago, WashU, Cleveland Clinic, UPMC, UNC
Target: Cincinnati, Indiana, Case Western, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Rush, Loyola, GW, MCW, UAB, Mayo Jacksonville, Miami
Safeties: Not sure?

Appreciate any feedback! Most worried about my low steps.
Thanks!

You have a solid application outside of average scores. I think your assessment of reach/target is reasonable. It's possible you get bites from top midwest programs due to geographic location/preference and extensive research/extracurriculars but no guarantees. You should get enough interviews from targets that you don't need many safeties (community programs).

 

[Adjet]

Med School: Low-tier Mid-Atlantic MD School
M1-M2 grades: Top 10%
M3-4 grades: All honors
Class rank: Top Quartile
Step 1: Pass
Step 2: ~270
AOA: Yes
GHHS: Yes

Research:
I worked at a well-respected top institution during my M1 summer, it was technically a paid job rather than a research experience, but I got 2 posters + 2 abstracts out of it after volunteering additional time as an M2 & M3, unfortunately though given the nature of the work I wont see my name on a manuscript until ~2024.

• 1 Local Poster prior to med school
• 1 Regional Poster (Not presenter)
• 1 National Poster, small conference (Presenter)
• 2 National conference posters (huge conference in this field, not presenter) + 2 published abstracts
• 1 accepted abstract with submitted manuscript for a review paper

Extracurriculars: Lots of leadership, teaching, and service. Interesting hobbies. I'd consider my ECs to be strong, stronger than most mainly because I had the time, and energy, and just frankly enjoyed doing what I did. I also do have unique work experiences prior to med school, some of which carried over during my preclinical years.

LORs:

• M3 IM Rotation Clerkship Director
• M4 IM Sub-I Clerkship Director
• School IM Chair Letter
• Subspecialty IM Letter from an Away (Top IM program if that matters)
• Potential MICU Rotation letter (my next block in September, depends on timing)

Geographic Signaling: Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, East North Central [Flexible on this]

Red flags: None

I'm couples matching so I'm looking for a good list of programs that both fit what I can reach, as well as being centrally located around urban centers to increase our chances of matching at least nearby. The main cities I'm looking at are NYC and Philadelphia, but would feel comfortable with others.

Also – how much is my lack of strong research going to impact some of the top programs? I have a spattering of posters, and 2 submitted abstracts which I imagine don’t hold much weight. Nothing 1st author, no manuscripts.

I'd appreciate any tips, thank you!

Essentially being at the top of your class, you will be well-positioned wherever you choose to apply without crazy research productivity. You should put all the big names on the list (Cornell, Mt. Sinai, NYU, Columbia, Penn, BWH, MGH, BIDMC, Hopkins etc.) and then add a few mid-tier programs in the cities that you would feel comfortable with.

 

[obiwan]

Med School: Low-tier Mid-Atlantic MD School
M1-M2 grades: Top 10%
M3-4 grades: All honors
Class rank: Top Quartile
Step 1: Pass
Step 2: ~270
AOA: Yes
GHHS: Yes

Research:
I worked at a well-respected top institution during my M1 summer, it was technically a paid job rather than a research experience, but I got 2 posters + 2 abstracts out of it after volunteering additional time as an M2 & M3, unfortunately though given the nature of the work I wont see my name on a manuscript until ~2024.

• 1 Local Poster prior to med school
• 1 Regional Poster (Not presenter)
• 1 National Poster, small conference (Presenter)
• 2 National conference posters (huge conference in this field, not presenter) + 2 published abstracts
• 1 accepted abstract with submitted manuscript for a review paper

Extracurriculars: Lots of leadership, teaching, and service. Interesting hobbies. I'd consider my ECs to be strong, stronger than most mainly because I had the time, and energy, and just frankly enjoyed doing what I did. I also do have unique work experiences prior to med school, some of which carried over during my preclinical years.

LORs:

• M3 IM Rotation Clerkship Director
• M4 IM Sub-I Clerkship Director
• School IM Chair Letter
• Subspecialty IM Letter from an Away (Top IM program if that matters)
• Potential MICU Rotation letter (my next block in September, depends on timing)

Geographic Signaling: Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, East North Central [Flexible on this]

Red flags: None

I'm couples matching so I'm looking for a good list of programs that both fit what I can reach, as well as being centrally located around urban centers to increase our chances of matching at least nearby. The main cities I'm looking at are NYC and Philadelphia, but would feel comfortable with others.

Also – how much is my lack of strong research going to impact some of the top programs? I have a spattering of posters, and 2 submitted abstracts which I imagine don’t hold much weight. Nothing 1st author, no manuscripts.

I'd appreciate any tips, thank you!

Add on Montefiore, Temple/Jefferson, Tufts/Boston Univ in your mid-tier range for the respective metro areas that you're targeting in addition to what the other poster added. I guess I failed US geography because I have no idea what East North Central is

 

[AnonymousDoctorGuyPerson]

Add on Montefiore, Temple/Jefferson, Tufts/Boston Univ in your mid-tier range for the respective metro areas that you're targeting in addition to what the other poster added. I guess I failed US geography because I have no idea what East North Central is

Hahaha don't worry I just learned about it through ERAS as it's part of their new geographic signaling system.

It's for my purposes essentially Chicago

And thanks!!

 

[appropriatepeanut]

Hi everyone! @obiwan @Deecee2DO
I'd really appreciate your feedback and any recommendations you have for additional programs that I should include.

I was born and raised I Dallas (hence all the Dallas programs listed), and the only other geographic ties I have outside of the state is family in Georgia and an uncle in Chicago. For the most part, I am trying to stay in a large city (to hopefully find a partner of the same culture/religion) and am also interested in pursuing GI or cards for fellowship.

Med School: mid-tier MD school in Texas
M1-M2 grades: preclinical performance was not as strong as clinical performance. 5/10 HP 5/10 P
M3-4 grades: Honors on IM/surgery/EM/psych/OBGYN, HP in neuro and peds, and P in FM
Class rank: Unsure of final rank but preclinical rank was in the 3rd quartile hopefully 2nd with clinical grades.
Step 1: P
Step 2: 262
AOA: No
GHHS: No

Research:
2 local conference posters, 1 of these posters we are currently submitting to a resident's journal (first author)
4 national conference posters (some of them I was a presenter at, some of them I wasn't)
Extracurriculars: school leadership, volunteered at community clinics, mentoring of underprivileged high school students and pre-med college students.
LORs: I think my letters are strong. Most of my writers volunteered to write me a letter and were very happy with my clinical performance with them.
- M3 IM rotation letter
- IM Chair letter
- I would like to get one on my M4 sub-I in September if possible given timing
- Psych letter

Geographic Signaling: South, Midwest, PNW? Flexible on this!

Red flags: None

Goals:
- Academic medicine in a big city that will help me be competitive for fellowship or has a fellowship program.

Delusional:
Penn
U Chicago

Reach or Target? ( I am not sure if I am competitive for these would appreciate your feedback) :
UTSW
Wash U St Louis
Emory
Cleveland Clinic
Northwestern
Baylor Houston
Baylor Dallas

Safety:
Methodist Houston
Methodist Dallas
Texas Health Resources Dallas

Are my research experiences and ECs enough for schools in major cities or top programs? Also, if there are any other recommendations for programs to apply to I know my list is short I'd appreciate it! I plan on adding to it once I get a better sense of my competitiveness and where I should target. Thank you in advance🙂

 

[Phenylalamean]

Please help me figure out my competitiveness! Now that residency explorer is down, I am just kind of nervous about being too top-heavy for residency applications and don't really know where I stand. My school's advising hasn't been helpful at all on this front.

Med School: Mid-Tier MD Midwest Program
M1-M2 grades: Pass/Fail
M3-4 grades: 4 Honors (Surgery, OBGYN, Psych, Neuro), 2 HP (IM, Peds), 1 P (FM, had it first)
Class rank: No class rank
Step 1: P
Step 2: 252
AOA: No
GHHS: No

Research: 4 publications (1 first author) 1 poster at national conference, 1 podium at national conference, one 3rd author publication in high impact journal
Extracurriculars: Very active in school's outreach clinic, held a leadership position in school's orientation program
LORs: 1 Research mentor (Urologist), 1 Cardiologist, 1 Crit care, 1 Chair letter

Geographic Signaling: Pacific, Mountain, Midwest. Thinking about putting no preference since I really just want to go to a cool city regardless of region.

Red flags: None

Goals: I just want to match at a decent institution in a cool city. Ideally, I'd like to train at an academic program.

For funsies: UCSF, UCLA, MGH, U Chicago, UPenn
Reaches: Northwestern, Cedars-Sinai, Duke, Cleveland Clinic, Baylor, Michigan
Targets: BU, GW, Indiana, U Colorado (Family ties), Georgetown, UCLA Olive View, Mayo AZ, Oregon, Rush, Sidney Kimmel, Temple, Tufts, Cincinnati, UNC, USC, U Washington, U Wisconsin, Wake Forest
Safeties: UT Dell, UC Irvine, Loyola, Kaiser Oakland

My school told me to apply to mainly target schools and some safeties but I don't even know what really qualifies as those. Should I be applying to more community programs? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

 

[obiwan]

Hi everyone! @obiwan @Deecee2DO
I'd really appreciate your feedback and any recommendations you have for additional programs that I should include.

I was born and raised I Dallas (hence all the Dallas programs listed), and the only other geographic ties I have outside of the state is family in Georgia and an uncle in Chicago. For the most part, I am trying to stay in a large city (to hopefully find a partner of the same culture/religion) and am also interested in pursuing GI or cards for fellowship.

Med School: mid-tier MD school in Texas
M1-M2 grades: preclinical performance was not as strong as clinical performance. 5/10 HP 5/10 P
M3-4 grades: Honors on IM/surgery/EM/psych/OBGYN, HP in neuro and peds, and P in FM
Class rank: Unsure of final rank but preclinical rank was in the 3rd quartile hopefully 2nd with clinical grades.
Step 1: P
Step 2: 262
AOA: No
GHHS: No

Research:
2 local conference posters, 1 of these posters we are currently submitting to a resident's journal (first author)
4 national conference posters (some of them I was a presenter at, some of them I wasn't)
Extracurriculars: school leadership, volunteered at community clinics, mentoring of underprivileged high school students and pre-med college students.
LORs: I think my letters are strong. Most of my writers volunteered to write me a letter and were very happy with my clinical performance with them.
- M3 IM rotation letter
- IM Chair letter
- I would like to get one on my M4 sub-I in September if possible given timing
- Psych letter

Geographic Signaling: South, Midwest, PNW? Flexible on this!

Red flags: None

Goals:
- Academic medicine in a big city that will help me be competitive for fellowship or has a fellowship program.

Delusional:
Penn
U Chicago

Reach or Target? ( I am not sure if I am competitive for these would appreciate your feedback) :
UTSW
Wash U St Louis
Emory
Cleveland Clinic
Northwestern
Baylor Houston
Baylor Dallas

Safety:
Methodist Houston
Methodist Dallas
Texas Health Resources Dallas

Are my research experiences and ECs enough for schools in major cities or top programs? Also, if there are any other recommendations for programs to apply to I know my list is short I'd appreciate it! I plan on adding to it once I get a better sense of my competitiveness and where I should target. Thank you in advance🙂

Would definitely recommend trying to get a strong letter for your subI month. As far as your programs go, WashU/Northwestern/UTSW are more reach programs for your profile (UTSW typically doesn't take as many non-home program Texans compared to BCM). Would consider adding Vanderbilt as a reach; UPMC, UAB, UNC, Case Western, Rush Univ as target-ish level programs; and UT Houston/San Antonio depending on your desire to stay in Texas. And FYI, BUMC Dallas is a safety program.

 

[anondoc246]

Hi! Appreciate any feedback/help in setting expectations! Would like to be in a bigger city (ideally in Chicago) and at an academic center since I want to do fellowship.

Med School: Middle-tier school in South
M1-M2 grades: Pass
M3-4 grades: 1 Honors, 4 HP (both Medicine and Surgery), 1 P in Surgery; H in IM AI
Class rank: Unsure but probably middle 3rd
Step 1: P
Step 2: 245-250
AOA: Unsure but probably no.
GHHS: Yes

Research: 2 publications; 2 pubs submitted and awaiting decision; 2 abstracts; 8 posters + 2 oral presentations at national conferences
Extracurriculars: Strong, lots of student clinic leadership and community involvement
LORs (think will be strong):
- M4 IM Sub-I attending
- M3 IM attending
- IM Chair letter
- Research mentor

Geographic Signaling: East North Central (partner lives in IL); Northeast (lots of family here). From the south.
Red flags: None
Goals: Academic IM with goal of fellowship

Delusional: Northwestern, WashU, Columbia, Cornell
Reaches: UChicago, NYU, Emory, Sinai, Montefiore, UVA, Case Western
Targets: Rush, UIC, Jefferson, Temple, Loyola, UMaryland, JHU Bayview, Georgetown, George Washington, Tufts, UMiami, Tulane, MCW, UWisconsin, Rochester, Rutgers RWJ
Safeties: Unsure if I should add community programs??

Appreciate any feedback! Thank you!!

 

[tanbrucewayne]

Hi all - would love any advice about re-applying to IM after not matching into a surgical specialty this past year. I will be completing a surgery preliminary year at my home institution which also has a top 20 IM program.

Med School: Top 20
Step 1 / Level 1: 24X
Step 2 / Level 2: 26X
Clerkship grades: P/F
Class rank: N/A
Research: 15+ publications (4+ first author, mix of oncology, allergy & immunology, and surgical research)
LORs: Surgery PD, IM chair, two strong clinical letters
Gold Humanism/AOA: No/NA
ECs: Extensive volunteer work with the student-run free clinic, including multiple leadership and longitudinal positions; positions in medical school and medical center committees
Red flags: Previous MD graduate, completing a surgical prelim year
Career goals: Academic medicine, either oncology or cardiology or critical care

Questions:

• How many programs should I apply to? Currently, have a list of ~60 programs with about equal numbers in the high/mid/low tiers.
• What should my expectations be in terms of interviews and competitiveness?

@Deecee2DO @obiwan would appreciate your input.

Thoughts on my program list? Regionally signaling West Coast, and NYC/NJ/PA and IL/OH/MI/IN region. Open to adding more programs or removing likely low-yield programs.

Far Reaches: BWH, MGH, Johns Hopkins, UPenn, UCSF, UCLA, Duke, Columbia, Michigan, Mayo (MN), U Washington
Reaches: UPMC, WashU, Vanderbilt, Beth Israel, Cornell, Northwestern, UChicago, Stanford, Baylor, Yale, UTSW
Targets: NYU, Emory, Miami, Mount Sinai, USC, Mayo Clinic (Florida), UNC, UCLA Harbor, UCLA Olive View, Boston U, UCSD, UAB, UC Davis, Mayo (AZ), MUSC, Case Western, Cleveland Clinic, Ohio State, Tufts, OHSU
Safeties:? Cedars Sinai, Temple, Jefferson, UC Irvine, UT Memphis, Meharry

 

[obiwan]

Hi! Appreciate any feedback/help in setting expectations! Would like to be in a bigger city (ideally in Chicago) and at an academic center since I want to do fellowship.

Med School: Middle-tier school in South
M1-M2 grades: Pass
M3-4 grades: 1 Honors, 4 HP (both Medicine and Surgery), 1 P in Surgery; H in IM AI
Class rank: Unsure but probably middle 3rd
Step 1: P
Step 2: 245-250
AOA: Unsure but probably no.
GHHS: Yes

Research: 2 publications; 2 pubs submitted and awaiting decision; 2 abstracts; 8 posters + 2 oral presentations at national conferences
Extracurriculars: Strong, lots of student clinic leadership and community involvement
LORs (think will be strong):
- M4 IM Sub-I attending
- M3 IM attending
- IM Chair letter
- Research mentor

Geographic Signaling: East North Central (partner lives in IL); Northeast (lots of family here). From the south.
Red flags: None
Goals: Academic IM with goal of fellowship

Delusional: Northwestern, WashU, Columbia, Cornell
Reaches: UChicago, NYU, Emory, Sinai, Montefiore, UVA, Case Western
Targets: Rush, UIC, Jefferson, Temple, Loyola, UMaryland, JHU Bayview, Georgetown, George Washington, Tufts, UMiami, Tulane, MCW, UWisconsin, Rochester, Rutgers RWJ
Safeties: Unsure if I should add community programs??

Appreciate any feedback! Thank you!!

I might add on Cleveland Clinic since you're already applying to Case Western and the other university programs in Ohio since you're open to being in the state as well as consider UPMC as a reasonable reach/target program. I guess you could have Cook County as a safety for s**ts and giggles if you really want to be in Chicago

 

[obiwan]

Please help me figure out my competitiveness! Now that residency explorer is down, I am just kind of nervous about being too top-heavy for residency applications and don't really know where I stand. My school's advising hasn't been helpful at all on this front.

Med School: Mid-Tier MD Midwest Program
M1-M2 grades: Pass/Fail
M3-4 grades: 4 Honors (Surgery, OBGYN, Psych, Neuro), 2 HP (IM, Peds), 1 P (FM, had it first)
Class rank: No class rank
Step 1: P
Step 2: 252
AOA: No
GHHS: No

Research: 4 publications (1 first author) 1 poster at national conference, 1 podium at national conference, one 3rd author publication in high impact journal
Extracurriculars: Very active in school's outreach clinic, held a leadership position in school's orientation program
LORs: 1 Research mentor (Urologist), 1 Cardiologist, 1 Crit care, 1 Chair letter

Geographic Signaling: Pacific, Mountain, Midwest. Thinking about putting no preference since I really just want to go to a cool city regardless of region.

Red flags: None

Goals: I just want to match at a decent institution in a cool city. Ideally, I'd like to train at an academic program.

For funsies: UCSF, UCLA, MGH, U Chicago, UPenn
Reaches: Northwestern, Cedars-Sinai, Duke, Cleveland Clinic, Baylor, Michigan
Targets: BU, GW, Indiana, U Colorado (Family ties), Georgetown, UCLA Olive View, Mayo AZ, Oregon, Rush, Sidney Kimmel, Temple, Tufts, Cincinnati, UNC, USC, U Washington, U Wisconsin, Wake Forest
Safeties: UT Dell, UC Irvine, Loyola, Kaiser Oakland

My school told me to apply to mainly target schools and some safeties but I don't even know what really qualifies as those. Should I be applying to more community programs? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Northwestern/Duke/Michigan are probably true reaches for you. The rest of your list is fine. I would add on University of Utah as a solid program to apply to based on your geographics and Salt Lake City seems to be one of the "cooler" cities these days at least according to the young folk. Don't think you need to go crazy on community programs unless your highest priority is being in a cool city so like Swedish/Virginia Mason for Seattle/Santa Clara for Bay Area/Scripps for San Diego etc

 

[sleeperstepscores]

Med School: Mid-tier school in southeast
M1-M2 grades: Mix of mostly P and HP, H in neuro (didnt think these grades actually mattered)
M3-4 grades: H in neuro and FM; HP in IM, surgery, peds; P in OBGYN and psych; likely H on IM AI
Class rank: NA
Step 1: P
Step 2: 26x
AOA: No
GHHS: No

Research: 2 publications, 8 posters (5 at national conferences, 1 case report only)
Extracurriculars: Strong leadership, volunteering is avg aside from clinic I started

LORs:
- M3 outpatient IM physician (strong letter)
- M4 sub-I attending
- M4 sub-I attending
- IM Chair letter (strong)
- PI for biggest project that ran throughout med school

Geographic Signaling: Northeast and Southeast for sure, going hard for northeast. Might add Cali but unsure if its worth it w/my grades.
Red flags: None
Goals: Strongly leaning towards fellowship.

Delusional: UCSF, UCLA, UCSD, UPenn
Reach: Columbia, NYU, Cornell, Mount Sinai
Target: Georgetown, MUSC, Colorado, Maryland, Duke, Mayo Jax
Safeties: GW, USF

I'm still making my list (open to tips), and tbh I really want to end up in NYC (or any big city that isnt frigid or has water nearby). My step score and research is carrying me I think, but my grades are pretty average and id just like to hear what people think. For what its worth, I think my interviewing will go well.

How much are my grades going to hold me back? Will applying to community programs like Montefiore limit fellowship apps?

 

[whoknows2012]

Med School: Mid-tier school in southeast
M1-M2 grades: Mix of mostly P and HP, H in neuro (didnt think these grades actually mattered)
M3-4 grades: H in neuro and FM; HP in IM, surgery, peds; P in OBGYN and psych; likely H on IM AI
Class rank: NA
Step 1: P
Step 2: 267
AOA: No
GHHS: No

Research: 2 publications, 8 posters (5 at national conferences, 1 case report only)
Extracurriculars: Strong leadership, founded a student run clinic and founded a cultural org in undergrad, volunteering is avg aside from clinic I started

LORs:
- M3 outpatient IM physician (strong letter)
- M4 sub-I attending
- M4 sub-I attending
- IM Chair letter (strong)
- PI for biggest project that ran throughout med school

Geographic Signaling: Northeast and Southeast for sure, going hard for northeast. Might add Cali but unsure if its worth it w/my grades.
Red flags: None
Goals: Strongly leaning towards fellowship. Nearly all my research is GI related.

Delusional: UCSF, UCLA, UCSD, UPenn
Reach: Columbia, NYU, Cornell, Mount Sinai
Target: Georgetown, MUSC, Colorado, Maryland, Duke, Mayo Jax
Safeties: GW, USF

I'm still making my list (open to tips), and tbh I really want to end up in NYC (or any big city that isnt frigid or has water nearby). My step score and research is carrying me I think, but my grades are pretty average and id just like to hear what people think. For what its worth, I think my interviewing will go well.

How much are my grades going to hold me back? Will applying to community programs like Montefiore limit fellowship apps?

If you want to be in NYC could consider adding Monte rwj and Hofstra northwell. You’ll likely place Monte in the target and the other two in safety bin but would increase your chances in the nyc area.

Re; your question about Monte, it is in fact an academic program. It’s the aecom (Einstein) main hospital. Take a look at their fellowship matches which I believe are updated online for how their residents have matched over the last several years. I don’t believe it would close any doors.

If open to other northeast/new England would consider BU, brown tufts Dartmouth and BID and could also bwh and mgh with the understanding that those two are unlikely to offer you an IV

Good luck

 

[OncOncOnc]

If you want to be in NYC could consider adding Monte rwj and Hofstra northwell. You’ll likely place Monte in the target and the other two in safety bin but would increase your chances in the nyc area.

Re; your question about Monte, it is in fact an academic program. It’s the aecom (Einstein) main hospital. Take a look at their fellowship matches which I believe are updated online for how their residents have matched over the last several years. I don’t believe it would close any doors.

If open to other northeast/new England would consider BU, brown tufts Dartmouth and BID and could also bwh and mgh with the understanding that those two are unlikely to offer you an IV

Good luck

I think Columbia and Cornell are at least as competitive as UCLA and UCSD, but you don’t lose much by applying. Duke’s also a reach.

More mid-Atlantic and SE, coastal, broadly mid-tier academic programs to consider: Jefferson, Temple, Hopkins Bayview, Miami, Tulane

 

[Deecee2DO]

Med School: Mid-tier school in southeast
M1-M2 grades: Mix of mostly P and HP, H in neuro (didnt think these grades actually mattered)
M3-4 grades: H in neuro and FM; HP in IM, surgery, peds; P in OBGYN and psych; likely H on IM AI
Class rank: NA
Step 1: P
Step 2: 267
AOA: No
GHHS: No

Research: 2 publications, 8 posters (5 at national conferences, 1 case report only)
Extracurriculars: Strong leadership, founded a student run clinic and founded a cultural org in undergrad, volunteering is avg aside from clinic I started

LORs:
- M3 outpatient IM physician (strong letter)
- M4 sub-I attending
- M4 sub-I attending
- IM Chair letter (strong)
- PI for biggest project that ran throughout med school

Geographic Signaling: Northeast and Southeast for sure, going hard for northeast. Might add Cali but unsure if its worth it w/my grades.
Red flags: None
Goals: Strongly leaning towards fellowship. Nearly all my research is GI related.

Delusional: UCSF, UCLA, UCSD, UPenn
Reach: Columbia, NYU, Cornell, Mount Sinai
Target: Georgetown, MUSC, Colorado, Maryland, Duke, Mayo Jax
Safeties: GW, USF

I'm still making my list (open to tips), and tbh I really want to end up in NYC (or any big city that isnt frigid or has water nearby). My step score and research is carrying me I think, but my grades are pretty average and id just like to hear what people think. For what its worth, I think my interviewing will go well.

How much are my grades going to hold me back? Will applying to community programs like Montefiore limit fellowship apps?

Move UCSD and UCLA to reach from delusional (normally they would be targets but i am unsure you have ties to CA) and move Duke and Columbia to delusional category although i dont think your delusional category is completely delusional haha thats a little harsh i think they are definitely reaches though (Duke Penn Columbia UCSF). NYU Cornell and Sinai i think are high targets but still targets. MUSC GW USF and Mayo Jax are safeties. Colorado Maryland and Georgetown are targets. Add Dartmouth Brown Cleveland Clinic Main Emory UNC BU Tufts Monte Wake Forest and UVA to targets