Ortho Backup plan

[callmedoctor2020]

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MS4 from West Coast school applying ortho this cycle and wanted some insight on prior experiences with the match process. Recently had our interview offer day and I ended up getting 10 IVs, much less than anticipating. Most from signals at western programs, might have signaled too many top programs and east coast programs which could have costed me a lot of IVs.

Stats: 265 step 2, AOA, honors on half of clinical rotations (but not surgery), 10 ortho pubs with 80 total research pubs/posters/presentations. Long term mentors who I presume wrote good LORs.

In talking to school advisors, 10 IVs is perceived as an uncomfortable position to be in and puts me at risk to not match. Anyone have experience with around this number of interviews? I could also see a circumstance where less interviews were offered this year due to transition back to in person and signals both being implemented together for the first year. Not a ****post or humblebragging, but legit want to know if I need to put a backup plan into motion. Working on a lot more research over this year and can probably enter a RY through school if needed.

 

[PathNeuroIMorFM]

10 ortho pubs with 80 total research pubs/posters/presentations. Long term mentors who I presume wrote good LORs.

Ok I'll bite. HOW?

Working on a lot more research over this year

I think research is probably a diminishing return at this point.

 

[callmedoctor2020]

Ok I'll bite. HOW?

I think research is probably a diminishing return at this point.

Good system and group with abstracts getting submitted (and often accepted) to several local and national conferences each year since first year, all the projects have hit in getting accepted to journals. But that’s beside the point.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

I am confused. Plugging your numbers into NRMP charting outcomes yields an 85-90% chance of matching which is about as good as it gets

 

[CJhooper123]

Make the most out of the 10 interviews you have (e.g. mentors calling for you the week before interviewing). You are in an OK spot but certainly not out of the woods. If you have a home program, PD LOR, strong mentors, and did well on aways you are in a better spot.

Just prepare a backup plan now if you don't match. Are you all in on ortho? --> maybe think about doing a research year to either A) develop a new, strong mentor who can vouch for you B) go to a small / community program that will offer near conditional linkage into their program. You can consider a prelim gen surg year - I'd only consider this if you've already done a RY.

If you see there's more to medicine than ortho, think about SOAP'ing into a different specialty or reapplying with multiple specialties. Just do your best now and plan.

 

[MDMechEngr]

I think you have a solid shot at matching with 10 IVs based on charting, especially with your stats, even though the number of IVs that you received was not where it should be. Sounds like you may have used too many signals on high ranking programs on the other coast that don't want to consider you because of bias or whatever. Do you have a home program and how many away sub-I did you do? because you have a really good shot at matching your home or away program. GL.

 

[callmedoctor2020]

Do you have a home program and how many away sub-I did you do? because you have a really good shot at matching your home or away program. GL.

Yea have a home program with good mentors that I know well and did three aways. Good feedback from all and was invited back to all of them, feel good about those

 

[MDMechEngr]

Yea have a home program with good mentors that I know well and did three aways. Good feedback from all and was invited back to all of them, feel good about those

Good to hear. I also want to mention that S2 score also has a diminishing return once you reach near 260. It seems that with S1 P/F, the focus is not on S2 as everyone thought, not like it was with S1 scored. At least that was my observation. My stats are as good as it gets. I did not receive as many IVs as I thought I would, but the IVs that I did get came from top tier. So maybe I got yield protected. We really need to play this match game smartly. LMFAO.

 

[MDMechEngr]

What do you think the focus is on?

More holistic review of applications is what I am seeing from IVs received, but who the **** knows. I mean a 240 S2 is going to still likely sink you, but 270 is not all that. Be like water.

 

[CJhooper123]

More holistic review of applications is what I am seeing from IVs received, but who the **** knows. I mean a 240 S2 is going to still likely sink you, but 270 is not all that. Be like water.

Exactly - the emphasis on holistic review is real. It almost feels like there's no difference b/w 250 and 265 for ortho.

Trying to figure out the game is brutal. 10 interviews, is solid, but it's impossible to know. Is the applicant MD/DO? Did away rotations guarantee interviews? Does OP have a home program? Good mentorship?

 

[MDMechEngr]

Exactly - the emphasis on holistic review is real. It almost feels like there's no difference b/w 250 and 265 for ortho.

Trying to figure out the game is brutal. 10 interviews, is solid, but it's impossible to know. Is the applicant MD/DO? Did away rotations guarantee interviews? Does OP have a home program? Good mentorship?

Good point on guarantee IVs for rotators. If OP did rotations at programs that do not grant IV to everyone that did a rotation there as a curtesy, then they are in a better position certainly.

 

[callmedoctor2020]

Good point on guarantee IVs for rotators. If OP did rotations at programs that do not grant IV to everyone that did a rotation there as a curtesy, then they are in a better position certainly.

MD, have a home program, know for sure 2/3 aways didn’t invite everyone back. Agreed no point trying to figure out the game at this point

 

[voxveritatisetlucis]

How do you get 80 research items from 10 pubs?

 

[MDMechEngr]

nice thanks for response and v cool. networking is huge it seems

Networking and home program connection is HUGE.

 

[deleted1199414]

Networking and home program connection is HUGE.

are there any cool stats that show how insane of an advantage home connection is?

if not all cool just curious and anecdotal evidence is fine. like would a 250 t10 md be safe at their home program for like a derm or something (assuming it's a competitive high tier program) if they're that beloved by everyone/connected well? or do they draw a line at some step2 score and like even though we love the guy he just doesn't have the score

 

[CJhooper123]

how does one find out if doing aways somewhere = guaranteed interview? I assume asking + looking at previous residents?

There's no list I'm aware of. There are a few programs that traditionally do it. Sometimes ORIN Is a good resource but it's actually hard to find this info out.

 

[LucidSplash]

There's no list I'm aware of. There are a few programs that traditionally do it. Sometimes ORIN Is a good resource but it's actually hard to find this info out.

I would argue that if a program doesn’t offer you an interview after a rotation, you don’t want to waste time interviewing there anyway. I’ve never understood the attraction of a “courtesy” interview. If they wouldn’t offer you one of their own accord, they aren’t seriously considering you.

 

[CJhooper123]

I would argue that if a program doesn’t offer you an interview after a rotation, you don’t want to waste time interviewing there anyway. I’ve never understood the attraction of a “courtesy” interview. If they wouldn’t offer you one of their own accord, they aren’t seriously considering you.

Agreed