Peds Residencies in FL

[Halloweenie]

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I'm a 2nd yr D.O. student currently, and a Peds Residency in Florida is my ultimate dream and goal. I have some general q's I haven't been able to find the answers to by searching...hoping to get some input here! 🙄

1. Is Pediatrics difficult to get into?
2. Is it necessary to take the USMLE in addition to the COMLEX (keeping in mind FL residencies)
3. If you do a rotation at a program you really like during third year, will they remember you when applying to residency?
4. Are there any residents out there who applied successfully/interviewed at Fl Pediatrics Residencies? Can you share you experiences/scores/strengths/weaknesses
5. Any tips for whether to choose the DO match, MD match, or try both?
6. Are there FL Peds programs who got students in the scramble?



Thank you in advance to those who reply!😀

 

[Bitsy]

Hey! I'm a 4th year DO student currently applying and just finishing my interview season.
1. Pediatrics is not known to be a competitive field. That being said, the top programs are going to have a lot of great applicants so I would say it depends on the programs you are looking at.

2. I took both USMLE & COMLEX Step I & II. I did not apply to any Florida programs. If you are interested in osteopathic pediatric residencies (there are a few in Florida), then you obviously won't need the USMLE at all. Maybe somebody else can comment on the allopathic programs? I would say that taking USMLE Step I is never a bad idea (if you are fully prepared to take it and can score at least average). Even though you are an osteopathic student, if you apply to allopathic programs, you will have to show your USMLE scores if you have taken them. You used to be able to hide them in the past if you wanted to....not the case anymore

3. Performing well on a rotation at a residency program you may apply to in the future is never a bad thing! It is especially helpful if you do a sub-i there to show them that you can handle the workload of an intern at their hospital. Make sure to get a letter of rec from your attending at the end of these rotations. While you may not have any interaction with the PD while you are there doing a rotation as a medical student, when you interview, they will most certainly ask about it if its on your transcript (or bring it up!) and they can refer to your LOR or even talk to the people you worked with personally.

4. Sorry, can't help with this one

5. My advice would be to apply for both then you can always withdraw from either the osteopathic or allopathic match. It's always good to have options! Just know that if you enter a rank list for osteopathic residencies and you match, you will automatically be pulled from the allopathic match. If you decide after applying for both that you want to go for allopathic residencies, you simply have to withdraw from the osteopathic match before the rank list deadline.

6. not sure

Good luck!!!

 

[coldflare]

2. Is it necessary to take the USMLE in addition to the COMLEX (keeping in mind FL residencies)

Not necessarily. There are several DOs in my program (an MD program) who have only taken COMLEX.

3. If you do a rotation at a program you really like during third year, will they remember you when applying to residency?

I'd recommend doing an away rotation in your fourth year, rather than third. You'll be better equipped to demonstrate your ability to relate to patients and families, as well as your ability to teach and assume leadership in a team.

4. Are there any residents out there who applied successfully/interviewed at Fl Pediatrics Residencies? Can you share you experiences/scores/strengths/weaknesses

I did. I am an MD, applied in north FL (Pensacola, Gainesville, Jacksonville), and matched at my first choice. I did not apply in Tampa, Orlando, or Miami, so I can't speak for those, but the Jacksonville program has a significant number of DO residents.

 

[Halloweenie]

Not necessarily. There are several DOs in my program (an MD program) who have only taken COMLEX.

I'd recommend doing an away rotation in your fourth year, rather than third. You'll be better equipped to demonstrate your ability to relate to patients and families, as well as your ability to teach and assume leadership in a team.

I did. I am an MD, applied in north FL (Pensacola, Gainesville, Jacksonville), and matched at my first choice. I did not apply in Tampa, Orlando, or Miami, so I can't speak for those, but the Jacksonville program has a significant number of DO residents.

any idea how the DOs in your program scored on COMLEX? think i arranged my sched to have "audition rotation" time avail 4th yr. on that note, when do those need to be done in order to start appyling? would you mind sharing a score/range how you did on the USMLE?


thanks for all the great info!!😀