Thinking about Anesthesiology Match 09

[RxBoy]

My first problem is my competitiveness.. I am a pretty mediocre US MD fresh M4 with 200's on step 1 and taking my step 2 next week. I just scored in the upper 220's range on the official practice yesterday so hopefully that pans out. I have high passes here and there in my 3rd year classes (no honors). According to SDN I need a 280+ and honors in every class in medical school to match in anesthesia. Grant it I am not the brightest of the bunch, but according NRMP Charting outcomes (http://www.nrmp.org/data/chartingoutcomes2007.pdf) a person in my standing (200+ US) has a >90% matching. I'm not looking for Harvard or Yale and I'm pretty sure they're not looking for me. So my first question is how accurate is that in the real world of middle teir programs? And what strategies should I take to match? I am doing my anesth elective rotation in August at my university hospital.

Also Neuro is next favorite intrest, should I apply to Neuro programs as well for safety? (I already have a really good Neuro LOR). Thanks for any input.

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[amyl]

if anesthesiology is your first choice go for it. apply to prelim med years as back up. hopefully you rock step two. apply widely. work your behind off on your away rotations. do as many aways as you can in addition to rotating at your home program.
as long as you are not geographically picky, apply widely enough and behave on interviews you should match.

 

[lord_jeebus]

Talk to your program director about programs you should apply to. There are many programs that are less competitive, but some are better than others.

I also think it would make a big difference if you found out who the big names in your department are and made some connections (for a strong letter of red and phone calls)

The document you looked at from the NRMP should also highlight the importance of going on a lot of interviews.

 

[fakin' the funk]

You know I hear the match this year is going to more competitive than ever before...





just kidding, that's what everyone says every year

Best of luck!

 

[Arch Guillotti]

My first problem is my competitiveness.. I am a pretty mediocre US MD fresh M4 with 208 on step 1 and taking my step 2 next week. I just scored in the upper 220's range on the official practice yesterday so hopefully that pans out. I have high passes here and there in my 3rd year classes (no honors). According to SDN I need a 280+ and honors in every class in medical school to match in anesthesia. Grant it I am not the brightest of the bunch, but according NRMP Charting outcomes (http://www.nrmp.org/data/chartingoutcomes2007.pdf) a person in my standing (200+ US) has a >90% matching. I'm not looking for Harvard or Yale and I'm pretty sure they're not looking for me. So my first question is how accurate is that in the real world of middle teir programs? And what strategies should I take to match? I am doing my anesth elective rotation in August at my university hospital.

Also Neuro is next favorite intrest, should I apply to Neuro programs as well for safety? (I already have a really good Neuro LOR). Thanks for any input.

I am a dumb old DO w/a Step I score of 200 who got in a pretty durn good program. I did a whole lot better on Step II, applied widely, got good letters, did several aways. Just be smart about things and you likely will have no problem. When I applied in 2003 the same old rumors were swirling aarounf about how competitive gas was becoming.