Realistic chances for ortho?

[Aswandoshik]

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I'm in a pickle about applying for ortho. Of all the things I've experienced in medicine, ortho has definitely been my favorite and by a lot. I know I'm a mediocre applicant but wanted to gauge some opinions to see if it's worth applying.

My stats:
Top 20 med school in the Midwest
Step 1: low 230s
Step 2: will take after M3 year with 6+ weeks of studying, goal is to crush it, shelf exams have been consistently strong
Clinical grades: high passes in ob gyn, surgery, psych, neurology; still need to take medicine, peds, family med
Research: 4 publications, 8 poster presentations, 1 patented medical device, 5 more ortho projects making good progress
Degrees: Taking a gap year for MBA, will crank out research, publish, and present
Connections: Doing research with a chair emeritus at HSS (no chance I go there but the LOR will be strong), will receive a LOR from well-known sports medicine person at home institution

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[sella.turcica]

I'm in a pickle about applying for ortho. Of all the things I've experienced in medicine, ortho has definitely been my favorite and by a lot. I know I'm a mediocre applicant but wanted to gauge some opinions to see if it's worth applying.

My stats:
Top 20 med school in the Midwest
Step 1: low 230s
Step 2: will take after M3 year with 6+ weeks of studying, goal is to crush it, shelf exams have been consistently strong
Clinical grades: high passes in ob gyn, surgery, psych, neurology; still need to take medicine, peds, family med
Research: 4 publications, 8 poster presentations, 1 patented medical device, 5 more ortho projects making good progress
Degrees: Taking a gap year for MBA, will crank out research, publish, and present
Connections: Doing research with a chair emeritus at HSS (no chance I go there but the LOR will be strong), will receive a LOR from well-known sports medicine person at home institution

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Why MBA?

 

[TheIllusionist]

you'll be fine

 

[Aswandoshik]

Why MBA?

Interested in the business side of medicine and quality improvement. A lot of my research is in ortho outcomes and entrepreneurship in medical devices. Was considering a research year but the MBA program is strong

 

[7331poas]

Interested in the business side of medicine and quality improvement. A lot of my research is in ortho outcomes and entrepreneurship in medical devices. Was considering a research year but the MBA program is strong

you can get the mba at any time. why compromise your ability to match?

 

[TxC]

How strong is the MBA program? Do you want to use the degree to "check boxes" or "make connections"?

Business of medicine and QI can be learned in other ways.

 

[Aswandoshik]

How strong is the MBA program? Do you want to use the degree to "check boxes" or "make connections"?

Business of medicine and QI can be learned in other ways.

MBA program is top 10 with strong healthcare tract. Been advised by ortho dpt that it helps “tell a story” and would look favorably, especially if research is done concurrently.

 

[managedcarefin]

MBA program is top 10 with strong healthcare tract. Been advised by ortho dpt that it helps “tell a story” and would look favorably, especially if research is done concurrently.

Getting your MBA from Kellogg or Ross would be worth it but not anywhere else. Also, couldn't you get your MBA during your residency.

 

[TxC]

Getting your MBA from Kellogg or Ross would be worth it but not anywhere else. Also, couldn't you get your MBA during your residency.

Maybe it's a linked program with the med school.

Michigan, Northwestern, and Chicago all have that (and they all fit the Midwest Top 20 med school & Top 10 MBA program description).

 

[Aswandoshik]

Maybe it's a linked program with the med school.

Michigan, Northwestern, and Chicago all have that (and they all fit the Midwest Top 20 med school & Top 10 MBA program description).

Yea it’s Michigan/Ross

 

[managedcarefin]

Maybe it's a linked program with the med school.

Michigan, Northwestern, and Chicago all have that (and they all fit the Midwest Top 20 med school & Top 10 MBA program description).

You're right I forgot about Booth.

 

[TxC]

IMO, as long as you're motivated about the research, the MBA is worth it given the prestige of the program. It for sure helps "tell a story" like you mentioned earlier.

I have a BS in healthcare administration, and interviewers have seemed very interested in talking about it.

 

[OrthoTraumaMD]

Make sure you have a backup specialty. The step 1 score will be a big challenge to overcome as the average these days is 250s.

 

[Dox4lyfe]

Make sure you have a backup specialty. The step 1 score will be a big challenge to overcome as the average these days is 250s.

By backup, do you mean to dual apply to two specialities? Or to go full blown ortho the first time, but be open to drop to surgery or whatever else if it doesn't work out?

 

[OrthoTraumaMD]

By backup, do you mean to dual apply to two specialities? Or to go full blown ortho the first time, but be open to drop to surgery or whatever else if it doesn't work out?

Dual apply.

 

[membername24]

Your step score in the low 230s coupled with no(?) honors in rotations will be a red flag. Would probably skip the MBA in favor of a research year

 

[VincentAdultman]

Not really sure a research year is going to help much.

Your problem isn’t research, it’s your Step One.

 

[TxC]

While the low 230's certainly doesn't help, it is not so low to the point where matching ortho is nearly impossible.

http://www.nrmp.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Charting-Outcomes-in-the-Match-2018-Seniors.pdf (page 139)

 

[sup3rnova]

certainly will be an uphill battle. applications are screened and interviews granted based largely on step1