Recent Apps: Got any advice for 3rd years?

[BobBarker]

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Congrats on getting ERAS out of the way. I'm curious as to a number of things, and my school is very little help. How many letters do we need to get and what types of letters? As a DO applying exclusively to allopathic programs, on the cover sheet do you put your AOA# or are you provided an AAMC#? I can almost guarantee that my transcript will be incomplete as my school is notorious for not getting evaluations in for months on required rotations. Will this be an issue? What types of paper work do you have to have to complete ERAS? In general, what are the do's and don'ts of the application process?

 

[Arch Guillotti]

You have discovered the deep dark black hole that is devoid of any information known as DO school advising. It is a very good idea (duh!) to have a letter from an anesthesiologist, two if you are a real gogetter - however if you have several other very strong ones they might be more useful. Stay on your schools case about the evals, you don't want something stupid to hold you up.

 

[fakin' the funk]

Congrats on getting ERAS out of the way. I'm curious as to a number of things, and my school is very little help. How many letters do we need to get and what types of letters? As a DO applying exclusively to allopathic programs, on the cover sheet do you put your AOA# or are you provided an AAMC#? I can almost guarantee that my transcript will be incomplete as my school is notorious for not getting evaluations in for months on required rotations. Will this be an issue? What types of paper work do you have to have to complete ERAS? In general, what are the do's and don'ts of the application process?

Let's say you're applying to anesthesia programs (advanced and categorical) as well as prelims as needed.

Most anesthesia programs require neither an anesthesia letter nor an anesthesia chair letter. However, it's a good thing to have and ideally you'd have a letter from a chair of anesthesiology (somewhere, anywhere), a strong medicine letter, a surgery letter, and if you're really feeling adventurous maybe another ICU or anesthesiology letter. You need at the very minimum 2 letters, 3 is your best bet, if you have a 4th (as above) then that's even better. It's easiest and least stressful on you to have your LoRs requested by July or August since ERAS opens usually Sept 1.

If you have a program in mind, and you think you can impress them with your skills/knowledge/personality, I personally think it is to your advantage to do an away there, but only after a rotation at your home institution. You have to be a good judge of whether or not you rub people the right way.

AFAIK, the AAMC # was issued to us at the time of AMCAS, so I'm not sure a DO applicant would have one. Otherwise I can't help ya.

Everything I've heard and read indicates that your 3rd year clerkship grades, especially on medicine and surgery, and your performance in your anesthesiology 4th-year month, are the crucial transcript items.

A complete residency application is your personal info, CV info (entered into ERAS), PS, LoRs, transcript, USMLE/COMLEX reports, MSPE, photo.

I usually say this first: the FAQs are CHOCK-A-BLOCK FULL of great info. Read them.

 

[BobBarker]

Thanks for the great info. There is a lot of turmoil at my school/home hospital. Last year, they folded the anesthesia, opthalmolgy, gi fellowship, ortho, and a few other programs. It looks like a move to another hospital is imminent as the current situation at our longtime home hospital has become unworkable. Nobody really knows what programs, what attendings, what residencies are going to make the move, or where exactly that move will be. I've set up a rotation in December with a DO who did his anesthesia residency at Hopkins who is in general private practice. Looks like a good opportunity for a letter. I have medicine in March, and surgery in June. Don't have any idea where and who with do to all of the issues. Going to do at least two aways. Probably in July and August at my top two programs, and I will try to get a letter from a chair out of the July rotation.

 

[amyl]

the DO world has to stop alienating its best graduates, providing substandard training and thus pushing us to the MD world, and then acting like we are dead. basically, what i am saying is you are not alone feeling like you are getting no support from your DO school.

 

[treasurefull2]

Unfortunately I have to agree. I can't speak for other schools, but my school as well provides VERY BAD advising, if at all... I never listened to what they said and did my own research, and I am very glad about that...

 

[lfesiam]

Congrats on getting ERAS out of the way. I'm curious as to a number of things, and my school is very little help. How many letters do we need to get and what types of letters? As a DO applying exclusively to allopathic programs, on the cover sheet do you put your AOA# or are you provided an AAMC#? I can almost guarantee that my transcript will be incomplete as my school is notorious for not getting evaluations in for months on required rotations. Will this be an issue? What types of paper work do you have to have to complete ERAS? In general, what are the do's and don'ts of the application process?

what sup dude. you can assign max of 4 LORs to a program on ERAS...so this is what I have:

LOR 1 = anes
LOR 2 = anes
LOR 3 = peds
LOR 4 = rads
LOR 5 = meds* geared toward for prelim med/transitional

*Some prelim meds require one LOR from a medicine attending and/or chairman.

My advice to you is to ASK MORE THAN 4 writers !!! I asked 8 people for letters, got 5 back. I know peeps who asked just 4 people...only 2 got back to them. Start collecting now in your clerkship rotations. You want your apps ready to go on Sept 1st, the 1st day that applicants can hit the "submit" button.

i'm sure you know this but an awesome letter from a small name who knows you well is much better than a short paragraph from a big name.

good luck man.