hi all,
I'm currently looking into surgery residency programs so I can start setting up my 4th year rotations. I have not taken the USMLE step 1, but I did really well on my COMLEX 1 exam. My questions are:
1) Are allopathic programs that much better than osteopathic programs?
2) Do I have to take the USMLE step 1 to get into an allopathic program? If so, what score is considered competitive?
3) Which good allopathic programs in NY or CA are considered "DO-friendly?"
4) How should I set up my rotations? Should I do all my surgery Sub-I's from July to December and then do the rest of my rotations towards the end of the year?
5) When is the best time to take USMLE step 2/COMLEX 2?
Thanks for all the help!
Michele
#1. I agree with mballs. Most DO programs will train you adequately to do general surgery. There are a few crappy programs where getting your numbers is a struggle though, so be careful.
In regards to fellowships, the one thing that has really surprised me on the interview trail is the amount of osteopathic fellowships available. Many of them are definately not advertised, so it's critical to talk to the residents/programs to see what available/funded. The bad news is that you have to dig up this info yourself. The good news is that in many cases these programs will take their own residents, meaning you have a strong chance to get the fellowship you want if you're already in the program.
However, if you are dead set on a paticular fellowship, give allopathic programs a long hard look.
#2. I did not take the USMLE, and applied to a very short list of allo places that were close to homes. I got a few interviews, but I decided not to take them. I just don't think that you're on the level playing feild when you haven't taken their test. Like it or not, that's reality. So I wasn't willing to not rank the several good osteo places that I had interviewed at to only rank a few allo places (and know that I wasn't likely to be highly ranked because I was sans USMLE). Obviously, your past the prime time for USMLE 1, but for anyone else outh there that is considering applying allo, TAKE THE USMLE.
#4. If you're going to apply allo, it's absolutely criticalto have all of your letters/application stuff in ASAP. Try to have everything ready by mid-August for the opening of ERAS Sept 1. It's probably OK to have a letter or two pending at that time, as you can add letters to ERAS when they come in. But don't count on letters from a Sept-Nov rotation. You just don't know what can happen. They might write you a poor letter, they might not write it at all. Bottom line, be prepared with several letters from 3rd year and July/August of 4th year. You can still ask for letters from subsequent rotations, but you'll have a backup plan just in case. DON'T FIND OUT THE HARD WAY.
As far as rotations go, July-Oct seem like the best time. If you rotate early, it's OK, because attendings and residents will remmeber you come interview time.
#5. Take Step 2 (certainly COMLEX and USMLE if applying allo) as early as possible in the 4th year. You do't want to be trying to study OB or peds that you had at the beginning of 3rd year a year and a half later. And besides, if you're applying allo you want that good step 2 score to go above and beyond the other applicants as much as possible. The good news is, Step 2 isn't that big a deal. Study hard at the end of 3rd year, maybe take a few weeks off (although I didn't) and you'll be fine.
Lastly, there are a few people here that are applying osteo this year. If people want, I'm sure several of us wouldn't mind detailing our interview experiences. For the sake of anonymity, I'd like to hold off a month or two, as the DO world is a small place, and yes, they do read SDN. Although I will say this, I've been fortunate to rotate and interview at many DO programs, and I've been very pleased with what I've found. If you just want to be a good surgeon, it can definately be done in osteo residencies. If you want high powered academia and fellowships, it's good to keep your options open.
Good luck!
