Realistic Options for a MS3

[Daftrage]

---

Members do not see this ad.

So I am the type of person who obsesses over things like residency options and wondering what my competitive level is. It has been difficult to find good information so I started this thread for 2 purposes. 1) to get feedback from others who have recently been in my position to see what options I should pursue and 2) hopefully give someone under me a realistic view of the options that an average medical student has in psych. All feedback is greatly appreciated and I plan on updating this with information about where I get interviews and where I match (months down the road).

The stats: MS3 coming upon last rotation of third year so grades and class rank are essentially locked.

GPA - 3.0: 2 C's in my first year, 2 A's in third year clinicals (Family, Geriatrics), everything else has been B's.
Class Rank - 100/150
USMLE Step 1 - 198, wasn't happy but no changing it now
No negative comments in file yet, all positive reviews on clerkships.
Graduating from a middle of the pack medical school without any medical research (some minor psychological research in college - not published)

So as you can see a very average student with a few weak points in my resume. I have an extremely broad net to go really anywhere in the country. What do you guys feel my options are? Are there certain programs that I should not consider because I won't be competitive (you won't hurt my feelings)?

 

[TexasPhysician]

I think you will have trouble at Harvard, Stanford types, but otherwise you still have a shot at most places.

 

[psychattending]

Assuming everything else is ok in your application, you will likely get an interview at several of the stronger programs but will likely end up lower on their list. That does not mean you can't get into a highly competitive program and should not try, you just might not get your first top choices in that group. If there is a specific strong school you want to train at, then doing well on a sub-I there would give your application a good boost. Taking step 2 CK early and doing appreciably better on it (say >220) would probably also improve your chances. You should also have a good dose (?5?) of mid-range programs in your interview mix. I would think you would be highly competitive in those programs. I don't think the stats are out from this year's Match but last year I think that anybody who ranked at least 10 programs matched.

 

[trophyhusband]

So I am the type of person who obsesses over things like residency options and wondering what my competitive level is. It has been difficult to find good information so I started this thread for 2 purposes. 1) to get feedback from others who have recently been in my position to see what options I should pursue and 2) hopefully give someone under me a realistic view of the options that an average medical student has in psych. All feedback is greatly appreciated and I plan on updating this with information about where I get interviews and where I match (months down the road).

The stats: MS3 coming upon last rotation of third year so grades and class rank are essentially locked.

GPA - 3.0: 2 C's in my first year, 2 A's in third year clinicals (Family, Geriatrics), everything else has been B's.
Class Rank - 100/150
USMLE Step 1 - 198, wasn't happy but no changing it now
No negative comments in file yet, all positive reviews on clerkships.
Graduating from a middle of the pack medical school without any medical research (some minor psychological research in college - not published)

So as you can see a very average student with a few weak points in my resume. I have an extremely broad net to go really anywhere in the country. What do you guys feel my options are? Are there certain programs that I should not consider because I won't be competitive (you won't hurt my feelings)?

Your stats are relatively similar to my wife's. You didn't say whether you were an allopath or osteopath. She was an allopath at a large state med school. She applied to:

1. University of New Mexico
2. Indiana University
3. University of Kansas
4. Texas A&M - Scott & White
5. University of Oklahoma
6. Creighton/Unversity of Nebraska
7. University of Arizona
8. UT - San Antonio
9. UT - Houston
10. UTMB - Galveston
11. Baylor
12. UT - Southwestern
13. UT - Southwestern Austin Program
14. George Washington
15. Maricopa Medical Center
16. Oregon
17. University of Washington
18. Loyola
19. Rush
20. UIC
21. John Peter Smith
22. University of Colorado
23. Banner Good Samaritan

She got interview invites from all of them except for GWU. So you shouldn't have a really big issue if your an allopath and you aren't hoping for something like Harvard... though she didn't apply to Harvard so you never know.

 

[peppy]

Aside from pointing out those few places that are snooty enough to rule out people based on no research or a low USMLE, I don't think anyone can honestly tell you where you have a chance, because you are a unique individual and Psych is a specialty where it's usually *not* all just about scores/grades.

Hit it off with the right people at a "competitive" program and you might get in somewhere that based on stats alone you shouldn't. Conversely, if you have a bad interview at a not-so-competitive place you may end up not being ranked by a place where your stats should make you a shoo-in.

The best thing you can do is prepare yourself to go on a lot of interviews (i.e., save up the money for plane tickets and try to get accomodating rotations) and apply broadly, to make sure you have a lot of options open to you. In psych, it really should be more about trying to find a program that's a good fit for you in a location you like rather than trying to get into the "highest tier" program. Psych is not like IM where it seems like you have to go to a "name brand" program to have a shot at a fellowship or decent existence. There are many psych programs that offer good training and a reasonable lifestyle even if they aren't considered the "elite" programs.

 

[Daftrage]

Thanks for the info so far guys. I'm in an Allopathic school for those who were wondering. I am planning on knocking out my Step CS/CK in August and do hope to score appeciably better on the CK, although I think 210-220 would be my realistic goal.

I have the frame of mind that I am going to go on 10+ interviews at this point and am just hoping that I can get some interviews at the higher tier schools (probably ones in Cali since I couldn't handle the cold in Boston/New York area). Once again thanks for the feedback, it is encouraging.