school rank

[jbloggs]

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I know some of this has been talked about before...but I question how much it actually correlates? Is a student from a top 25 or top 30 school who has gotten consistent high passes considered equivalent to a student from a top 50 or 55 school who has gotten straight honors? Or does school name only really help you at the top 10?

 

[babyblue_39]

Uh... maybe I'm wrong but I would say school ranking has very little to do with candidacy other than the fact that if you're at a higher ranked school, you'll likely have letters from bigger name faculty and maybe better research opportunities. A friend of mine from my medical school (not top 50) matched in Medicine at Brigham's while his best friend, who went to a top 15 medical school did not get many of the top interview offers because he did not honor his Medicine rotation (despite getting 260s on boards). I think different specialties value different things, but I don't think what school you're coming from is going to trump who you are and what you've done.

 

[jbloggs]

Does anyone else have any comments on this? Dr. Doan? I don't think the issue here is simply one of class rank, but rather what these grades might mean. I think if you are at a top 25 or top 30 school, a high pass among a class with an incoming GPA of 3.75 and MCAT average of 32.5 might be equivalent to an honors grade coming from a top 60 school, where the average incoming GPA might have been 3.6 with an MCAT average of 30.5. You are up against a different caliber of competition that is hardly equivalent.

 

[Surgess]

Does anyone else have any comments on this? Dr. Doan? I don't think the issue here is simply one of class rank, but rather what these grades might mean. I think if you are at a top 25 or top 30 school, a high pass among a class with an incoming GPA of 3.75 and MCAT average of 32.5 might be equivalent to an honors grade coming from a top 60 school, where the average incoming GPA might have been 3.6 with an MCAT average of 30.5. You are up against a different caliber of competition that is hardly equivalent.

I think babyblue is right on target. Attitude is a very important quality in any person that one will work closely with for three or more years. From all I've been privledged to see and do, there is no such thing as an "easy" med school. The USMLE is also a great equalizer. Finally honors is honors for a reason. It's supposed to be difficult to attain; therefore it sets you apart and I think says something about the effort you put into a particular rotation.

 

[rubensan]

this is a complicated question. i think that most people will agree that the top 15 or so programs tend to match highly qualified medical students that come from top institutions. some may argue that the reason for this is that the top institutions also have top ophthalmology programs. thus, contacts, LORs and phone calls come from people within the field that matter. i have also noticed that highly qualified medical students coming from middle teir medical schools with top ophtho programs (USC, iowa, u of miami, jefferson) also fare will in the match probably for many the same reasons listed above. does this mean that you can't match in ophthalmology if you don't go to harvard or hopkins? NO! it just means you have to be a bit more strategic about the whole process, i.e. consider doing away rotations, research, etc.

to answer OP's question. does this mean that Applicant A with all high passes from a school that is ranked #29 is going to fare better in the match than Applicant B who is AOA from a school that is ranked #59? No and if someone has told you this, than they are looking at this whole process in an overly simplistic manner. so much of the match is based upon factors outside of school rank (LORs, personal statement, how you do on the interview) and factors that are out of your control. i think i have commented on this before but some years, programs may want to take more women than men, some programs favor their own applicants, some programs favor applicants outside of their own institution. your involvement in research at one program was not enough, but at another program was too much for them to take you seriously. the answer to all of this is, apply early and apply to abroad range of programs. concentrate less on the numbers and rankings and more upon your personal statement and CV and what you can bring to the table. remember if you score above a 230 on USMLE, are in the top 1/2 to 1/4 of your class, and receive approximately 10 or so interview invitations you have statistics on yourside in that you will match into an ophthalmology residency program.

Good luck!

 

[Sight6505]

I really do think it matters.

 

[7ontheline]

Reading some of the posts have gotten me a little nervous... I come from a no-name school.. most likely ranked #101. I chose this school b/c I entered a combined-degree program. I am AOA, 98 on STep 1, lots of research including 2 publications in Retina, abstracts in ARVO and ASRS. Although I am still applying to a broad range of programs, I was thinking top 15. I know the odds are against me coming from a no name school.. but I thought I was doing all the right things- actually everything I could possibly do to be a stronger applicant for these top programs. Does that seem very unlikely? Any comment would be appreciated.

After reading your post, I can see why you are nervous. . .it's because you're a gunner nutcase. Everything on your application seems to point to a very high chance of a great match unless you're unbearable to deal with. (Which is not uncommon among med students, I suppose.)

 

[babyblue_39]

After reading your post, I can see why you are nervous. . .it's because you're a gunner nutcase. Everything on your application seems to point to a very high chance of a great match unless you're unbearable to deal with. (Which is not uncommon among med students, I suppose.)

Hahah *laughing cuz its true!!* Let the paranoia of gunner nutcases inaugurate the upcoming interview season.

I kid.. I can understand the nervousness (I was terrifed this time of the year). But I can also tell you that I'm non-AOA from non-ranked medical school (not even #101), plain MD, no Ophtho pubs, who did no away rotations but still matched at a Top 10 program. Since your credentials are better, does that guarantee you a Top 10 match? Absolutely not. There's so many intangibles. Nevertheless, let that be reassurance that it can be done. And, as 7ontheline said, you should have a good chance from what you've said thus far.

 

[PDT4CNV]

My opinion is that what medical school you come from matters less than what has been suggested. It is of little importance as long as it is an accredited US school without a "bad" reputation.

Having an ophthalmology department is helpful but not necessary either. What matters most are your grades and usmle scores and letters of rec. These are what will get you good interviews. So having a good LOR from somebody well known can be VERY helpful, and this can be obtained at home or away rotations. All the other stuff (publications, research, away rotations, being personable) will help you match once you get that interview.

I was offered interviews at just about every top-ranked ophthalmology program and their were always people there from all-over the country, medical schools I never even heard of.