Statistics of Matched Applicants 2011 (Please contribute!)

[WholeLottaGame7]

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Yeah, jesus christ...I'm a 3rd year with a 237 and I thought I was sitting relatively pretty for anesthesia...now I'm half-wondering if I need to start considering other options lol.

Nope, that's almost identical to my Step 1 and I matched at my #1 at a great program on the East Coast. Don't sweat it.

A 230+ should get you in the door pretty much anywhere as long as you have something else on your application (great clinical grades, leadership, volunteering, etc). That's not to say don't bother applying if you have less, because I know scores of people that matched with 210s-220s. But as your Step1 score decreases, you obviously have to ramp up the other parts of your application.

 

[cfdavid]

First, these are some really great board scores. Realize that while great indeed, they are not currently necessary to match anesthesia. Rather than the clear self-selection going on here, I would think that a much better gauge of your competitiveness would be Charting Outcomes.

That being said, suffice it to say that my own board scores were nowhere close to the 250's and I did just fine (ranked #1 and loving my program).

For those newly minted MS4's, if you're having doubts on your competitiveness, for whatever reason, you could always do an away rotation and show major interest in some of the lesser KNOWN programs. From my experience on the interview trail there were MANY hidden gems out there. Programs that the 250-260 Step I folks aren't, generally, going to even take seriously. These programs know that, btw.

If the goal is to match anesthesiology, there is a way to do it barring any glaring deficits in your application.

It does help to be personal and non-retarted on the interview trail (we had one dude interview with us with the weirdest haircut imaginable and our chaiman was like "what's with that guys hair"! (he was basically red flagged....), not to mention the socially awkward).

I'll elaborate on the interview thing. I'll restrain myself a bit here, but let's just say that this is a reasonably conservative field. Dress accordingly and don't experiment with hair styles. Look clean cut. Look sharp. Double check your suitcases beforehand. Don't be the dude showing up without a tie. Don't be the tool with excessively wrinkled clothes. (some is acceptable since they know you're traveling but make an effort). Show interest in the program. Chat with the residents. Have questions which show at least a little effort on your part that you've researched the program/area. Smile. Unless you have a beard or goatee, SHAVE. If you do have facial hair, maintain it well. You can't change who you are and if you're not Mr./Mrs. charisma, then that's o.k. Be yourself but just present your best at each interview.

Those are basics but I swear you'll be suprised how many interviewees will NOT do the above (which are ALL controllable). First impressions are a big deal. I would do the same if you're doing an away at any program of interest....

I stress the above since by now, you can't control much of your application but you CAN control the above which will help you.

 

[Josh1]

What are some 'hidden gems?'

 

[cfdavid]

What are some 'hidden gems?'

I'm not going to spoon feed you. Apply broadly if you are concerned about your competitiveness. You can then determine which are satisfactory to you. All I'm saying is there are many programs out there not being considered by 260 Step I folks but that will still train you to become a board certified anesthesiologist.

 

[asdfjkl1]

What are some 'hidden gems?'

I hadnt heard that much about U Wisc and Pitt going in to my interviews, but was very impressed with the programs and opportunities. But maybe Im the only one that didnt know this before the interviews

 

[Josh1]

Thanks for the reply.
I know this has been gone over before, but I'm just curious to hear it from you since you seem to have been involved in this forum a long time and have anesthesia experience:
What do you look for in a program that makes it a 'gem.'
I'm looking here for specifics. I've heard some general advice: case variety, independence etc. But how did you tell whether or not a hospital was going to have sufficient variety of cases? Or have good teaching (besides hearing about it on here).
Thanks for your reply, a (hopefully) future anesthesiologist appreciates it

cfdavid. Your initial reply that wayne state, baystate, vermont were hidden gems was a more helpful response, I realize this is just your opinion and I'll have to search myself.

 

[W222]

Has the scale of the STEPs changed or something? 270s? WTF? Seriously, I scored a 248 five or six years back and I had people telling me I could have gone into any specialty. People in my class scored much lower and matched into top programs is a bunch of specialties.

 

[cfdavid]

Thanks for the reply.
I know this has been gone over before, but I'm just curious to hear it from you since you seem to have been involved in this forum a long time and have anesthesia experience:
What do you look for in a program that makes it a 'gem.'
I'm looking here for specifics. I've heard some general advice: case variety, independence etc. But how did you tell whether or not a hospital was going to have sufficient variety of cases? Or have good teaching (besides hearing about it on here).
Thanks for your reply, a (hopefully) future anesthesiologist appreciates it

cfdavid. Your initial reply that wayne state, baystate, vermont were hidden gems was a more helpful response, I realize this is just your opinion and I'll have to search myself.

A "gem" would have been open to bashing which I don't want or need. This is all relative. (you'll always have a disgruntled resident chime in about how terrible almost any program I list as a "gem" is).

What I am saying is that IF you are concerned that you may have some deficiencies in your application, THEN you should apply to lesser competitive programs. I've interviewed at a good number of those programs where whether it be geography (often) or it simply not being a "big name", you will receive some solid training and will be able to accomplish your goals within reason.

My "gems" were all different in terms of class size etc. They all had a few things in common, however (which was based upon my personal assessment):

decent hours, good didactics, good cases with few deficiencies (or if deficiencies then they had other strengths to make up for it), and good faculty.

No program is perfect, and what I consider a "gem" may be different from what you do.

Yeah, I do think you can get great training out of those mentioned before I edited.

Good luck.

 

[heartland]

Is anyone willing to post their stats from this year's (2012) match? I know it's all anecdotal, but it's helpful for us MS3s to gauge our application plan for next year.

Thanks in advance. And congrats!

 

[Reignmaker]

1. Couple's matched with my husband - him surgery, it was our # 9, but technically, my third ranked anesthesia program if you take away repeats - No names, but it's a big program in the south. We're both Ross students - so we were ecstatic to couple's match into competitive fields into a great program.

2. Step 1: 225, Step 2: 235 - nothing stellar at all - esp for a caribbean grad

3. Had done some prior research before medical school at UPENN (which I think helped a lot), I was told that I had great LOR's, an interesting personal statement and great grades.

Overall, I think I was an enthusiastic interviewer who demonstrated my interest, followed up and was VERY polite to the coordinator (they have all the power!). I just wanted to post to give hope to all the Caribbean grads out there who want to pursue Anesthesia as a field.

 

[HaKadoshBBQ]

1. #1 choice. Major academic center in the northeast.
2. 248/243
3. USNWR Top 40 Allopathic school, letters from chair and vice-chair, honors 6/8 3rd year clerkships, AOA, year off for research fellowship, did not do any away rotations.

 

[mersault]

1. #1 choice. West coast.
2. 239/251
3. honored only 2 clerkships, honored ICU and anesthesia AIs (but I think almost everyone does anyway).
4. One anesthesia poster presentation.

 

[mersault]

What are some 'hidden gems?'

This is a rather subjective question. One thing I will mention is that with all the ACGME requirements programs are more and more similar then they are different. I think location and whether or not you think you get along the with faculty/residents is a huge part of choosing a program. Also, if you know you want to do a particular fellowship it may be helpful to go to a program that offers that fellowship.

 

[Cathyran]

1. Matched at a big name program on the east coast, my top choice.
2. 247/269
3. Anesthesia research in medical school, and a lot of research as an undergrad as well. Honors in 6 rotations (including anesthesia) and near honors in 2 rotations 3rd year. Mostly honors in preclinical courses as well, but I was not elected to AOA. The rest of my app was pretty average--no special volunteer work or activities that really made me stand out.

 

[Swtfrk]

1. Matched #4 on my rank list at a big name Midwest program and very happy with the result. I was part of a couples match.
2. 250/250
3. I was 3rd quartile at a low tier allopathic school. I think my school's lack of reputation may have kept me from getting more interviews, but I fortunately was able to interview at most of the places I was interested in. I'm sure my class rank didn't help either. I had no honors through my first three years (all passes) and struggled through my school's grading scheme and exams, but I fortunately learned enough material to do well on my steps. I honored anesthesia and my medicine sub-i though. I did the FAER fellowship after M1 and was able to get a poster and publication out of it. Got letters from my medicine chair, anesthesia chair, and FAER mentor. I did one away but it was not at the program that I matched at.