How do you go about even choosing what places to audition at if you have no preference in location? (DO)
Passing along knowledge I have gleaned from current fourth years, this forum, and Program Directors I've been lucky enough to talk with:
If you want to do EM and are a DO, plan on doing at least 2 aways for 2 SLOEs. Pick programs that have taken DOs in the past (find this on the EMRA match website, filter for 1-10% DO's and higher, I'd recommend over 10% if possible). This is very important. You can have an awesome SLOE until you get to the section on where you would be ranked on their Rank Order List. If they're being honest, and their institution doesn't match DO's, this could be a lower 1/3 for your SLOE. Some PD's look past that and consider everything. Some may not. I also wouldn't plan on much of an AOA match next year. Many programs will fill out of it, but the number of programs will be down even from this year. Many programs are getting their initial accreditation, and may not be eligible for the AOA match if they go 3 years.
Schedule your aways early by not using VSAS. VSAS programs by and large seem to wait until after they've gotten their students set up for the year and many are just now accepting applications, and processing them in May or June. VSAS can be useful, but has been a major headache for me, as a lot of aspects of the site aren't explained well. Immunization forms take a long time to get filled out if they don't use the AAMC standardized form. Some sites even require your PCP fill out your immunization form. Some sites require a Step 1 score to be accepted. Not Level 1, it must be Step 1.
So, if you're preparing for COMLEX Level 1, take Step 1. Same goes for Step 2. If you haven't taken Step 1, you have to take Step 2. It's expensive, it's more time, it sucks. But, as a DO, you have to level the playing field. With the merger, don't handicap yourself by not taking it. Unless you're worried you might fail. Obviously a Step failure is worse than not having it. Think of it from a PD's POV: Their dean comes into their office after the match. Dean: "So we had X student from our MD school not match at your program. I see you took Y DO student. Why did you take Y over X?" The PD has to answer that question. Is it the best way to look at things? Maybe not, but that is a very real scenario. As a DO, you're walking into interview season with a degree that some PD's see as a red flag. You cannot give them any other reason to throw out your application.
I was told first year of med school that as a DO, you have to do everything the MD student does, but better. If Step 1 average in that specialty is a 230, get a 240. If they require 2 SLOEs, get 3. If they have an average of 2 volunteer activities do at least 3. You get the idea. It gives you an inferiority complex for sure, but hopefully at the end of it all, you match and you get to become a physician in the specialty you want. Obviously, not everyone can do all of these things, but do the best you can. DO's match into EM, AOA and ACGME, with less but don't hang your hat on that. Do everything you can to make yourself competitive.
Racerwad said:
Think about where you want to be when you are done with training, professionally, and then try and find a program that will help get you there.
And this. You have to be very mindful of where you want to be in many different ways. Do you want to be an attending at an academic institution, doing research and teaching residents/medical students? Do you want to be a community doc? If geography isn't limiting to you, it can be on your application. You're more likely to get interviews from programs in your med school region than from outside it. If you want to do residency in an area and your school isn't in that area/you're not from that area, you NEED to do an away in that area as a DO. Geography bias can happen. Going back to my earlier point: Don't give them a reason to not take a look at you.
