Strengthening residency app for second try.

[drkat]

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Hello all,

I am a 4th year DO student, soon to be DO (in May). I applied Pathology and unfortunately did not match. I have signed a contract to do a traditional rotating internship starting towards the end of June.

I still want to do Pathology but am open to other possible fields, such as Pediatrics. I am wondering how to strengthen my application for my second round in the match.

I have taken and passed on the first time, COMLEX I, COMLEX II, COMLEX PE, USMLE Step 1, USMLE Step 2 CK. I have gotten extra letters of recommendation in Pathology and am doing a month with a pediatrician for a letter after graduation and before I start my internship year.

1. Should I take COMLEX Level 3? Is this even possible before I finish one year of post-graduate training? Should I take USMLE Step 3?

Honestly that's all I could think of as a possible way to strengthen my application for next year. Any ideas? Has anyone gone through this and matched the second time? What did you do? Thanks!

 

[Tekar]

I'm a mere OMS1 nearly two, but in my eyes, I see something weird. How are path and peds even remotely close? They seem like conflicting interests entirely and it would seem to me that it might also be biasing your interviews if your head isn't in the game. You may also be subconsciously expressing interests during rotations that conflict with what they see. For example, what if on your pathology rotations, you're talking about your interest in kids inadvertantly and while on peds, you're focusing on the path side???

I could be (very likely am) talking out of my hiney, but if I'm right, I've helped you and if I'm wrong, you've probably ignored me. Either way, no harm done.

 

[Doctor4Life1769]

I'm a mere OMS1 nearly two, but in my eyes, I see something weird. How are path and peds even remotely close? They seem like conflicting interests entirely and it would seem to me that it might also be biasing your interviews if your head isn't in the game. You may also be subconsciously expressing interests during rotations that conflict with what they see. For example, what if on your pathology rotations, you're talking about your interest in kids inadvertantly and while on peds, you're focusing on the path side???

I could be (very likely am) talking out of my hiney, but if I'm right, I've helped you and if I'm wrong, you've probably ignored me. Either way, no harm done.

😕

Anyways, for the OP... I'd work on networking. Take COMLEX 3, dont think USMLE Step 3 is needed (unless you barely passed Steps 1 and 2). Were you COMLEX and USMLE scores subpar? Not interview well? You need to figure that out. Do some path rotations and attain letters.

You shouldn't have ANY issues if you decide on peds. I know of people who matched with a failed COMLEX and without USMLE.

 

[dermpathdoc]

I fail to see how you could not match in Pathology unless your scores were borderline on USMLE and you did not even rotate at the places you tried to Match at( or you applied to programs that tend to take only ivy leaguers)
Did you even try to scramble? Pathology tends to have a number of programs with empty spots that they fill with DO's or EFCMG's. There is quite a bit you are not telling us and it is difficult to advise you without that information.

Hello all,

I am a 4th year DO student, soon to be DO (in May). I applied Pathology and unfortunately did not match. I have signed a contract to do a traditional rotating internship starting towards the end of June.

I still want to do Pathology but am open to other possible fields, such as Pediatrics. I am wondering how to strengthen my application for my second round in the match.

I have taken and passed on the first time, COMLEX I, COMLEX II, COMLEX PE, USMLE Step 1, USMLE Step 2 CK. I have gotten extra letters of recommendation in Pathology and am doing a month with a pediatrician for a letter after graduation and before I start my internship year.

1. Should I take COMLEX Level 3? Is this even possible before I finish one year of post-graduate training? Should I take USMLE Step 3?

Honestly that's all I could think of as a possible way to strengthen my application for next year. Any ideas? Has anyone gone through this and matched the second time? What did you do? Thanks!