Rotations, do I need certain clinical grades for competitive peds?

[smh343]

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Just started 3rd year. I'm very interested in some more competitive pediatrics programs including my home institution. Obviously I'll work as hard as I can to honor my peds rotation. My class rank is below average so probably no AOA, but my step 1 is very high. If I had a good peds grade, good LORs, would I be expected to have higher than passes/high passes in my other rotations? I don't know how any of this is looked at.

Side question but I'm concerned about trying to build rapport with preceptors given our peds rotation was shortened due to covid, and always wearing masks/face shields makes interacting a little unnatural.

Thanks!!

 

[Blueprint Med School]

Hi there! I am currently a second year pediatric resident and can give you a lot of good advice! For starters, a strong Step 1 score is very important to help you match into a prestigious pediatrics program. Looks like you have that under your belt, which is great! Congrats! Although class rank and AOA help, what's much more important is how 3rd year and early 4th year go for you. Focus on crushing those shelf exams (especially the pediatrics one). Also, make it a goal to get very strong letters of recommendations from prestigious pediatric programs. If you want to match at your home institution, then you're already at an advantage. That is precisely what I wanted as well. I was able to get 4 letters of recommendation from my home institution which is where I ended up matching at 🙂. One of those LORs was from the attending who graded and led our 3rd year Pediatrics rotation. Another was from the Pediatrics Department Chair (this is not the residency program director but the director of the pediatrics rotation for med students). The final two were from Heme/Onc attendings that I worked with during my 4th year Sub-I on the inpatient onc floor (which I completed very early on in my 4th year before applications went out). If you can get 3-4 strong LORs from reputable attendings at your home institution, you will be GOLDEN! It will also look amazing for any other prestigious programs you apply to. Do what you can to schedule your Peds Sub-Is and audition rotations early on in 4th year too so you can sneak in another strong LOR before applications go out. If you are worried about building rapport, try to set up time to meet with your attendings one-on-one during your Peds rotation. Make them know you are interested in pediatrics and get their advice and input. This will show them that you are dedicated and interested. It also gives them the ability to get to know you a bit better too. Also, if you do end up doing a sub-I in 4th year, it wouldn't be a bad idea to try to meet and introduce yourself to the program director as well!

Best of luck with everything!! Please reach out if you have any other questions!!

- Annette G, MD, MPH - USMLE Tutor and Residency Advisor at Med School Tutors

 

[smh343]

Hi there! I am currently a second year pediatric resident and can give you a lot of good advice! For starters, a strong Step 1 score is very important to help you match into a prestigious pediatrics program. Looks like you have that under your belt, which is great! Congrats! Although class rank and AOA help, what's much more important is how 3rd year and early 4th year go for you. Focus on crushing those shelf exams (especially the pediatrics one). Also, make it a goal to get very strong letters of recommendations from prestigious pediatric programs. If you want to match at your home institution, then you're already at an advantage. That is precisely what I wanted as well. I was able to get 4 letters of recommendation from my home institution which is where I ended up matching at 🙂. One of those LORs was from the attending who graded and led our 3rd year Pediatrics rotation. Another was from the Pediatrics Department Chair (this is not the residency program director but the director of the pediatrics rotation for med students). The final two were from Heme/Onc attendings that I worked with during my 4th year Sub-I on the inpatient onc floor (which I completed very early on in my 4th year before applications went out). If you can get 3-4 strong LORs from reputable attendings at your home institution, you will be GOLDEN! It will also look amazing for any other prestigious programs you apply to. Do what you can to schedule your Peds Sub-Is and audition rotations early on in 4th year too so you can sneak in another strong LOR before applications go out. If you are worried about building rapport, try to set up time to meet with your attendings one-on-one during your Peds rotation. Make them know you are interested in pediatrics and get their advice and input. This will show them that you are dedicated and interested. It also gives them the ability to get to know you a bit better too. Also, if you do end up doing a sub-I in 4th year, it wouldn't be a bad idea to try to meet and introduce yourself to the program director as well!

Best of luck with everything!! Please reach out if you have any other questions!!

- Annette G, MD, MPH - USMLE Tutor and Residency Advisor at Med School Tutors

You are amazing, thank you!