Throw us a bone!

[johnd]

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Would any of you who recently matched at top 5 IM programs like to let us 3rd years know what your step 1 scores are? No reason to be shy now, right?

 

[KUB]

Well, I matched at Northwestern (my #2 choice), but you can look at a previous thread for my complete ROL.
Anyway, I go to a SMALL state school, board scores are Step 1 > 245, Step 2 pending, pre-clinical stuff mostly A's, clinical stuff mostly honors, AOA, no research in med school, some during undergrad (no publications). In my opinion, to get your foot in the door at most of the top 5 or 10 places, you need the scores (ie, step 1 above 230 probably), BUT even then, a couple of places just didn't offer interviews. Don't know why for sure. Maybe my school, maybe geography, who knows. Well, if there's anything else that may be helpful, let me know.
Good luck to everyone. I hope you all get what you want!

 

[johnd]

Thanks for the reply. Very helpful. Did anyone run across any "diamond in the rough" programs that maybe I wouldn't have heard about but should consider? I am not really interested in academics but am considereing a fellowship so it would have to be a place with a decent fellowship placement record.

The students in my class just had a meeting with the RD of IM and he basically told us that we shouldn't really consider any programs out of basic top 20 or so if we were competitive at these places. Is this true?

Thanks again!

 

[Anthony328]

I interviewed at nine places including a few top 10 including UTSW, Baylor, and Beth Israel Deaconess(did an elective there). I attend a state school not in top 10, my Step 1 was 226, plenty of research mostly before med school, above average grades (on a H, HP, P grading system...Few H's and Ps, mostly HP), and 3 strong LOR's. I interviewed at three programs that were unexpectedly impressive. They were very well organized, emphasized teaching/impressive morning report, research oriented/encouraged research, had outstanding facilities, bright/self motivated residents who landed nice fellowships. I had heard good things about them from my advisor as well as someone who was interviewing a year ahead of me. These programs were University of Arizona Tucson, University of Utah, and UMass. Unfortunately UMass is in a small/boring/snowladen town approx 60 miles west of Boston so I ranked it #6. Utah, Arizona, and Baylor were my top 3 picks.
I matched at Tucson! If you are interested in interventional cardiology as I am, I highly recommend giving Utah and UA a click on ERAS. They have competetive fellowships and nice places to live to boot. There are a few reviews at scutwork.com for University of Arizona and UMass.

 

[jgoodman]

Hey Anthony, congrats on UA! I'm hoping to match in 2004 - hope I do well too. Could you tell us about Beth Israel? I'm hoping to do match in MA since my girlfriend matched there this year.
Thanks!

 

[Anthony328]

Yes I had a great educational experience there. I did a Cardiology consult month there and was with a BU student. The facilities are superb. I was really impressed with their computer system, very similar to the VA GUI system where most prior D/C summaries, Labs(in a well organized fashion), Microbiology, and diagnistic immaging was accessible. Our team was basically a 1st year cardiology fellow, 4 residents and 2 students. We would typically arrive around 8-9 to see patients that we were carrying or earlier when there was a conference. Have brief cardflip rounds with our attending, pick up consults from the fellow if there were any and meet again in the late afternoon to present them to the attending/walking rounds. Most days from noon-1 there was a 1 on 1 ekg teaching session for the other studnent and myself where we would go through some basics and then go through a few cases. I know EKG's fairly well now. I highly recommend doing an elective month there.