Optho/derm questions

[jwalker12]

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Hello everyone. I have been trying to figure out if I am competitive enough for optho or derm and if I am not what I can do to become more competitive. I am currently a third year and this far have honored all my rotations, I have honored every class my first two years of school.. I scored a 615 on step 1, I am a member of sigma sigma phi and psi sigma alpha. I do not have any research unfortunately but am willing to do that if need be. Thanks for any help in advance.

 

[sylvanthus]

Hello everyone. I have been trying to figure out if I am competitive enough for optho or derm and if I am not what I can do to become more competitive. I am currently a third year and this far have honored all my rotations, I have honored every class my first two years of school except two. I scored a 615 on step 1, I am a member of sigma sigma phi and psi sigma alpha. I do not have any research unfortunately but am willing to do that if need be. Thanks for any help in advance.

I think you need to figure out what in the world you want to do.

 

[rc4ch]

I believe you have the numbers. What's left is the audition rotations.

 

[cliquesh]

Your step 1 is probably ok. You need research. There are only 14 AOA opth spots per year, so I think it would prudent to have a back up plan. 2 people in my class matched Acgme opthamology. They had usmle scores between 230-239. I'd recommend taking the usmle. If you get a decent score, like a 235+, it will give you a nice fall back specialties, like anesthesia and radiology.

I don't know anything about derm.

 

[jwalker12]

Thanks everyone for there input. Wow only 14 spots for optho, that must be crazy. When you say take usmle are u referring to 1 or 2. I'm almost done with hits year I don't think it's possible for me to go back and take step 1 so I guess I will do step 2. Do aoa programs require step 2 before matching you? If not I can take it middle of 4 th year and do step 1 this summer than.

 

[jwalker12]

Thanks everyone for there input. Wow only 14 spots for optho, that must be crazy. When you say take usmle are u referring to 1 or 2. I'm almost done with hits year I don't think it's possible for me to go back and take step 1 so I guess I will do step 2. Do aoa programs require step 2 before matching you? If not I can take it middle of 4 th year and do step 1 this summer than.

Sorry I mean third year * not hits year

 

[cliquesh]

Thanks everyone for there input. Wow only 14 spots for optho, that must be crazy. When you say take usmle are u referring to 1 or 2. I'm almost done with hits year I don't think it's possible for me to go back and take step 1 so I guess I will do step 2. Do aoa programs require step 2 before matching you? If not I can take it middle of 4 th year and do step 1 this summer than.

Step 1 would be ideal. I know of people that only took usmle step 2 and were successful with Acgme anesthesia and PM&R. I don't know if only a usmle step 2 would help you with something competitive like opthamology. It definitely won't help you with derm.

Most programs usually require you to have a comlex 2 score before they rank you, and some require a passed PE score too.

I guess you kind have to figure out what you want. If you don't take step 1, I think you'll have a shot at most AOA specialities, including opthamology, but there are very few spots and you'll have to do a lot of audition rotations. if your auditions go well, you'll match. If they don't go well, you won't match. Your level 1 isn't good enough for people to dismiss a poor/average rotation.

Your comlex level 1 score is also probably good enough for a mid-tier to low tier Acgme IM, neurology, PM&R and anesthesia program, and a low-tier radiology and general surgery residency. If you take usmle step 2 and do well, you'll get more interviews and you'll likely interview at better programs. I don't think that a good usmle step 2 will be good enough for an Acgme opthamology residency. This is just pure conjecture. I have no idea.

If you take the usmle step 1 and do well on it (240+), which isn't that hard, it will open many doors. I think you'd have a legitimate chance at Acgme opthamology. It will also make you a shoe-in for decent back up residency.

If you do bad on step 1 you'll ruin your chances for anything Acgme.

Usmle step 2 is easier to do well on than step 1.

My comlex level 1 is similar to yours and I scored in the 250's on usmle step 1.

Sorry if I wasnt very helpful. I don't think anyone really knows if taking step 2 is good enough because few people take only step 2. It seems to work, at least for mid-competitive specialties.

 

[koojo]

Hello everyone. I have been trying to figure out if I am competitive enough for optho or derm and if I am not what I can do to become more competitive. I am currently a third year and this far have honored all my rotations, I have honored every class my first two years of school except two. I scored a 615 on step 1, I am a member of sigma sigma phi and psi sigma alpha. I do not have any research unfortunately but am willing to do that if need be. Thanks for any help in advance.

There is the problem. See if any faculty at your school is doing research and join them. If not, then write up a case report or two.

 

[jwalker12]

Thanks everyone for there input. Looks like I got a lot of research to do.

 

[BigSib]

Hello everyone. I have been trying to figure out if I am competitive enough for optho or derm and if I am not what I can do to become more competitive. I am currently a third year and this far have honored all my rotations, I have honored every class my first two years of school except two. I scored a 615 on step 1, I am a member of sigma sigma phi and psi sigma alpha. I do not have any research unfortunately but am willing to do that if need be. Thanks for any help in advance.

Google "AACOM GME Match Report 2009" and "AACOM GME Match Report 2011" for osteopathic-specific matching statistics regarding ophthalmology and dermatology. They don't represent ACGME match statistics.

 

[paintballguy]

maybe I'm looking in the wrong place, but I don't see any info about Derm on those google links...

 

[cliquesh]

maybe I'm looking in the wrong place, but I don't see any info about Derm on those google links...

Derm isn't included in those numbers because AOA derm residencies do not participate in the aoa match, so none of that data is recorded.

 

[paintballguy]

well, how useless of them.

 

[BigSib]

I have been trying to figure out if I am competitive enough for optho or derm and if I am not what I can do to become more competitive.

New article specific to ophthalmology match: http://www.do-online.org/TheDO/?p=135181

 

[DocNurse]

I am a derm resident and I think your step 1 score is fine. Make sure you do roughly the same on step 2. I can speak from experience that derm selection committees are going to look at your attempt to do research in your field. Ideally you would do derm research but really any attempt at research whether published or unpublished would give you points. Also, getting out to do out rotations is vital in derm. Most places won't even interview you unless you have rotated. If you want to do derm, remember that you have to do a traditional internship first. You have time but you need to start getting things lined up if you want to do derm.

 

[dermpathdoc]

Hello everyone. I have been trying to figure out if I am competitive enough for optho or derm and if I am not what I can do to become more competitive. I am currently a third year and this far have honored all my rotations, I have honored every class my first two years of school.. I scored a 615 on step 1, I am a member of sigma sigma phi and psi sigma alpha. I do not have any research unfortunately but am willing to do that if need be. Thanks for any help in advance.

you are too late..if you want either of those specialties you should have begun planning in first year..done an audition rotations or something in an underserved country doing a mission in dermatology or optho. consider taking year off for research in some program that is looking for bodies to do their slavery...if you are a DO unless you have grades in the top 1% and have a personal/family connection to a derm program forget MD residency.

doing research or publications are your best bet but not a guarantee to a program. Doc nurse has a point but most med schools limit electives to 1 or two in 1 specialty choice...so you have to make those count.