Re-applying for Residencies with red flags

[Buckets25]

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Hello, I'm posting here looking for advice. I recently graduated from my DO medical school and I'm going to re-apply through ERAS again this year. Last year, I applied for ERAS the first time, ready to start my application process with hope and optimism. I had the LORs, Personal Statement, transcripts, and Dean's letter. Everything was ready. Sadly, I had a rough year last year as I failed my Comlex level 2 twice and my Comlex PE twice so not only I didn't match, I couldn't even get an interview because I was playing catch-up all year. Still have no idea how it happened but it happened. Went through a bad depression and a rough time while all my other friends matched into the residencies of their dreams. I finally passed all of those boards (Comlex 2-610 and PE) and graduated but effects from last year are still with me. Everything was perfect before that, passed all of my pre-clinical classes with ease, passed Comlex Level 1 with ease, passed all my shelf exams with ease, had 4 publications released and presented poster presentations at 2 conferences, and received praises from most of my preceptors. Now that I'm done with everything, I can apply for residencies but I feel I'm at a disadvantage already because of the last year. I'm currently doing volunteer work at a geriatric clinic to pass the time. I have questions.

Can I submit my ERAS application AND NOT send my scores, then send my good scores to the program director/coordinator through email? Maybe then I can get an interview and then explain my red flags to them in person if they ask about them.

Is ERAS the only way I can apply for residencies or are there other services I can go through to better my chances?

Is there any hope for me to get a residency? I'm down to go anywhere, I have no preference at this point.

 

[JustPass]

Sorry you are going through and have went through what you have already but I've seen worse get a spot.
Just apply via ERAS and apply broadly, a lot. Send all your score. I don't even think it's possible to not send the bad ones. Even if you can, they'll see that you had 5 years of med school (if you just graduated) or a gap between graduation and application (if you graduated last year), and think it's weird if there is no explanation for it. Own up to your downfalls and there will be a door that opens up for you.
Now, you may need to lower your standards a lot but something is better than nothing. Wherever you go, you just need to stick through it for 3 years.

 

[calvinhobbes]

Apply to every single FM program and rank every single one. You’ll match for sure, especially the (previous) DO programs. I definitely know of people in your situation who have matched!

 

[DO2015CA]

What specialty were you shooting for last year and what do you plan on applying this year

Apply to every single FM program and rank every single one. You’ll match for sure, especially the (previous) DO programs. I definitely know of people in your situation who have matched!

There is no for sure. But I think they can match FM given that you apply broadly enough.

 

[Buckets25]

Thanks for all the support. I was gunning for PM&R last year. I did rotations with 2 PM&R physicians and was hooked! I had audition rotations lined up but because of what happened I had to cancel those. I know that dream is over but Family Medicine was my backup. I graduated in May, so I graduated on time I just had to finish my last rotation a month later that's all. I have my diploma and everything is finished, I'm working at a geriatric clinic for now, hoping to get accepted for the next cycle.

 

[samac]

Unfortunately there’s no way to selectively send scores in ERAS. It all transmits at once.

Good luck with your application!

 

[hungrydoc710]

Why not apply to all comm IM?

 

[DO2015CA]

Thanks for all the support. I was gunning for PM&R last year. I did rotations with 2 PM&R physicians and was hooked! I had audition rotations lined up but because of what happened I had to cancel those. I know that dream is over but Family Medicine was my backup. I graduated in May, so I graduated on time I just had to finish my last rotation a month later that's all. I have my diploma and everything is finished, I'm working at a geriatric clinic for now, hoping to get accepted for the next cycle.

You can do sports medicine after FM

 

[AlteredScale]

Can I submit my ERAS application AND NOT send my scores, then send my good scores to the program director/coordinator through email? Maybe then I can get an interview and then explain my red flags to them in person if they ask about them.

Is ERAS the only way I can apply for residencies or are there other services I can go through to better my chances?

What I've seen so far in this process is that when you apply you are asking the NBOME to send a full transcript to the programs of your choice. That means whatever failures are on there are going to be there. However ur passing scores will there too.

I have also heard it to be helpful to discuss in ur personal statement what you did you overcome the challenges of failing those exams and passing them now.

ERAS --> SOAP --> scramble is the main pathway now because of the all-in and all-out policy which means the a program either places all their slots into the NRMP program or none of them. I guess you could search for programs that may not be participating in NRMP and see if they'll prematch but I am totally unaware of any program that does so.

 

[Wjldenver]

Hello, I'm posting here looking for advice. I recently graduated from my DO medical school and I'm going to re-apply through ERAS again this year. Last year, I applied for ERAS the first time, ready to start my application process with hope and optimism. I had the LORs, Personal Statement, transcripts, and Dean's letter. Everything was ready. Sadly, I had a rough year last year as I failed my Comlex level 2 twice and my Comlex PE twice so not only I didn't match, I couldn't even get an interview because I was playing catch-up all year. Still have no idea how it happened but it happened. Went through a bad depression and a rough time while all my other friends matched into the residencies of their dreams. I finally passed all of those boards (Comlex 2-610 and PE) and graduated but effects from last year are still with me. Everything was perfect before that, passed all of my pre-clinical classes with ease, passed Comlex Level 1 with ease, passed all my shelf exams with ease, had 4 publications released and presented poster presentations at 2 conferences, and received praises from most of my preceptors. Now that I'm done with everything, I can apply for residencies but I feel I'm at a disadvantage already because of the last year. I'm currently doing volunteer work at a geriatric clinic to pass the time. I have questions.

Can I submit my ERAS application AND NOT send my scores, then send my good scores to the program director/coordinator through email? Maybe then I can get an interview and then explain my red flags to them in person if they ask about them.

Is ERAS the only way I can apply for residencies or are there other services I can go through to better my chances?

Is there any hope for me to get a residency? I'm down to go anywhere, I have no preference at this point.

I've known some students with only one board failure, and unfortunately they didn't match, so you also need to develop a good contingency plan if you find yourself in that situation. That said, bookmark these three sites if you need to snag something after the match concludes:

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[NotAProgDirector]

The good news here is that your ultimate L2 score was quiet good @ 610. Usually when people fail exams like this, they then pass with a minimum score. All is definitely not lost, although it won't be easy and you should expect quite a few rejections.

My advice:
1. If you're interested in PM&R, apply for it. It's not the most competitive field. It would have been much better if you had some experience there, but there aren't that many programs and applying to at least some of them is probably worth it.

2. I would use your PS to talk about your exam failures. You turned two L2 failures into a great score. Tell that story.

 

[Buckets25]

You can do sports medicine after FM

That's the plan now

 

[Splenda88]

You will match FM, but you have to apply to ~200 programs. My friend had to repeat both step1/2 and matched FM last year. He applied close to 200 programs.

 

[Buckets25]

You will match FM, but you have to apply to ~200 programs. My friend had to repeat both step1/2 and matched FM last year. He applied close to 200 programs.

Yeah I'm doing that too lol

 

[BorntobeDO?]

Yeah I'm doing that too lol

Good luck man, I think you should take and pass level 3 if you can tho. I bet it would really help your app.