Radiology without rotation or letter

[vman]

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I am an MS 4 now recently thinking of radiology. Despite being in a big medical center (top 10 school) the bureaucracy that it is, has made it next to impossible to get a rads elective rotation and the school is not willing to budge on moving my core rotation.
I am 220+ step 1. Flying in the middle of the class. Most rotations, a few high passes, very few honors. Strong letters from surgery sub-I. Have other good letters also.- one from core medicine rotation.
But I most likely wont have a rads letter- since, as mentioned above, I won't be doing a rotation.
I have a very compelling personal statement- and yes, my reasons for going into rads are pretty solid.
I am interested in community based programs. What are my chances?
Do I have to have a rads rotation? Do I have to have a rads letter?

 

[colbgw02]

You definitely don't have to have a rads letter. As I've said before, rads letters are relatively low yield because the rotation is organized such that you spend very little time with any given person. Program directors know this.

Your step 1 score won't get you into a top program, but that shouldn't stop you. Apply broadly, with regards to both competitiveness and geography.

A solid performance on an away rotation is probably the single most important thing you can do to get into a given program. Well, that and step 1. But it's certainly not requisite.

There are plenty of good quality community programs out there, and it shouldn't limit you too much unless you plan to practice academic medicine. This is especially true if you plan to stay in the same area as the community program.