picking residencies for application

[mossyfiber12]

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Hey guys. I will be applying during the next cycle for IM and I was just wondering how you all are going about picking programs.

Location is an important factor for me but I don't if I am competitive for those programs or not. Is there anyway to find out the average step 1 or 2 scores for accepted applicants?

Also, does it help to contact these programs now or just till interview seasons start?

Thanks.

 

[Jolie South]

I just put together a list (not for IM) and the advice I got was to think about program length (if that varies) and location.

I made a list of 35-40 programs and went to talk about it with an attending in my specialty of interest to gauge whether I had made a broad enough list in terms of competitive and less competitive programs.

Obviously, the number you should apply to varies based on specialty and competitiveness of your app, but I got a lot of good feedback from the aforementioned meeting.

 

[OveractiveBrain]

Hey guys. I will be applying during the next cycle for IM and I was just wondering how you all are going about picking programs.

Location is an important factor for me but I don't if I am competitive for those programs or not. Is there anyway to find out the average step 1 or 2 scores for accepted applicants?

Also, does it help to contact these programs now or just till interview seasons start?

Thanks.

I had a mentor help me out. He knew me and had a good feel for the programs. Did I miss some gems? Sure. But I got what I wanted and am loving it.

Mentor, Location, then feel during interview are what you'll go on. Its tough to know which to apply to, so make sure you do your homework (both their propaganda on their website and the unofficial stuff on the web or at your school)

As to contacting the programs, DONT DO IT. Apparently, the academic world is different from the business world. Im all about submitting the one-page resume, getting your name out there showing interest. Apparently, that's obnoxious in the academic world (PD, and Clerkship Director's opinion). Submit stuff the way you are supposed to (ERAS), then their websites, then let them contact you.

 

[Law2Doc]

Hey guys. I will be applying during the next cycle for IM and I was just wondering how you all are going about picking programs.

Location is an important factor for me but I don't if I am competitive for those programs or not. Is there anyway to find out the average step 1 or 2 scores for accepted applicants? ...

I'm not aware that you can find out Step scores, but that really doesn't matter to residents anyhow. Things to focus on are location, call schedule, the % of folks who get fellowships and where, the kind of rotation schedule, training/lecture quality, number of vacation days, and whether you seem to like the residents there. You don't need to decide if you are competitive -- they will decide that for you -- just apply to a range and see where you get interviews.

 

[OveractiveBrain]

I'm not aware that you can find out Step scores, but that really doesn't matter to residents anyhow. Things to focus on are location, call schedule, the % of folks who get fellowships and where, the kind of rotation schedule, training/lecture quality, number of vacation days, and whether you seem to like the residents there. You don't need to decide if you are competitive -- they will decide that for you -- just apply to a range and see where you get interviews.

This is true. Applying to medical school was 80% trying to sell yourself, 20% them selling themselves. For residency, even for the most competitive, its 80% them selling themselves to you, 20% you selling yourself.

Some schools post their intern class step score, some don't want you to know.

The things you choose are going to be more a feel, a fit, a general sense of well being and success while you're there. Unless, of course, you are aiming for an MD/PHD faculty spot at Harvard, in which case you wouldn't be asking the question in teh first place.

Get a mentor, ask advice from people in your department.

 

[jdh71]

Hey guys. I will be applying during the next cycle for IM and I was just wondering how you all are going about picking programs.

Location is an important factor for me but I don't if I am competitive for those programs or not. Is there anyway to find out the average step 1 or 2 scores for accepted applicants?

Also, does it help to contact these programs now or just till interview seasons start?

Thanks.

Everyone's got an opinion in the IM forum. You could always run this question by those of us in there.

I think finding a mentor in the IM department, as suggested, is an AWESOME, idea. Someone you trust.

Put together a list of locations and then use FREIDA to search for programs in that area (by state). Make a list. Run it by your mentor. Run it through the IM forum. Check out the program webites, most places are proud of the grads they send to fellowship and will likely have a list available somewhere (those that don't . . . wonder why).

You can always send me a PM with your stats and where you want to go. I'm discreet, and I've been following trends over the last four years. My PM box is always open for that kind of thing.