Urology

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I would never claim to be an expert on what it takes to match but i will share what i think to be the case after matching this year and going through this process.

1-Don't knwo what kind of step 1 scores you need. i know there was a range of those with 210 and higher interviewing. I was told that 220 is an avg for matchers.

2- step 2- didn't meet many people who had taken this yet and i hadn't either so i have no idea. i did well on step 2 and didn't want to potentially blow it on step 2

3-aoa-don't have it and plenty on the interview trail didn't have it

4- research- you'll find that everybody tells you they want an academic and doing research proves that interest. So, i would say it always helps you even in a different field but not doing it won't preclude you from interviewing. I spent an extra year on research but not in uro and it seemed to help me but who knows!

I think in this field you need a good experience on your urology rotation and good letters. Also, as always, do what you can to make your cv stand out for the better. Get your uro done early and get your appy in asap.

good luck to you...and hope this helps a little.😀
 
Calico

Thank you for the information, it was very helpful. I think that I am going to try and do an elective in July. Your information is greatly appreciated. Could you share some insights on the what the training is like. Thank you.
 
220-230

No

No

Depends on the program, but usually yes.
 
I can't comment much on the training programs as i am not in one yet. If you mean structure i can tell you that...

Programs are 5 or 6 years long-
usually 5 year programs are 1 year of Gsurg and 4 or uro-some of those 5 yr programs have 4-6 mo of research as well

6 year programs can be 1 or 2 yrs of gsurg with 1 or 0 years of research.

hope that was what you were asking.
 
What kind of lifestyle are we talking when you are done? In addition, how long a redsidency is this?

Thanks
 
sorry didn't see that last part about how long the res is.
😱
 
Lifestyle in urology tends to be better than general surgery, as do most surgical subspecialties. True emergencies are few and most will initially be handled by residents (if at a teaching hospital). The attending will only get the call usually after the junior and senior residents have seen the patient.

That being said, urologists at community hospitals probably get called in for more of the routine "Mr Jones stopped putting out urine into his foley bag" calls since they have no residents to handle that stuff. Of course, they usually get paid better than academic urologists, so I guess that's your trade-off.

As for the residency issues, I would say you have very little chance of matching with step 1 score <210. It all has to do with making it through the filter and getting interviews. Higher scores mean more interviews, as to better grades and coming from a prestigious school. That's the bottom line. Once you get an interview, you need to convince them that they can work with you for 5-6 years. Hope that helps!
 
looking around freida today, i ran into some programs which say they won't be ERAS next year, anyone know how we are supposed to apply to non-ERAS programs?
 
Urology has its own match run by the AUA which is separate from ERAS/NRMP. Similarly, neurology/neurosurgery/ENT/opthomology matches are run through the San Francisco Matching Program, which is also separate from ERS/NRMP.
 
The American Urological Association (AUA) does run its own match, though most programs now accept applications via ERAS. That was new this year, prior to that applicants had to apply to each program individually.

As I said, most programs do accept applications through ERAS. Only a few did not this year (Columbia for one). For those programs you must apply separately to the program, have your letters, USMLE scores, transcript, etc sent to the program. It is a huge pain in the rear.

This year a few of the programs that were listed on the AUA website as not accepting ERAS applications actually were, so check with the program rather than relying on another source of information.

This is slightly different than the SF match, since my understanding is that those folks do everything through the SF match (one-stop shopping, so to speak). We future urologists must deal with (and pay) both the AUA and ERAS. Also, we have to register with NRMP for our prelim surgery spot. So, we actually get hit thrice! It'll be worth it in the end, though...
 
There are only a handful of programs that don't use ERAS. Offhand, in addition to Columbia, the ones I know of are : U Miami, Med Univ South Carolina, U New Mexico, U Colorado. If you really want to apply to these places then look up their website and read what their application procedure is.
 
As far as I know (and I freely admit that my knowledge is pretty limited at this point), to apply for ENT you go through the SF match, but you also have to pay NRMP in order to rank the PGY1 Surgery year. Most applicants also have backup interviews planned through NRMP, as far as I understand, unless they are really cocky or have outstanding applications. I like to be on the safe side, so I'll probably have backup interviews lined up, just in case. So we do have pay both.
 
For urology, it depends entirely on the program for whether you need to do the NRMP. For the programs that do require it, its just a formality and you are guaranteed spots at the same institution for the gen surg years. I didn't apply to the NRMP, and ended up matching at a program that doesn't require it, so there's $50 saved, or better yet $50 that I can spend on Guinness this weekend. Even if I had matched at a program that required it, there still would have been ample time after the urology match to register with the NRMP (including additional $40 late fee).
 
One thing that helps is kicking ass on your elective rotation and having a sponsor who will push for you. If you rotate at a place and make the chairman love you, and all the residents treat you like one of their own, your chances are much better. High STEP 2 scores and all that are helpful, but if they think they will have a good resident for 6 years because they saw you work hard for a month and were a nice guy then they naturally consider you more highly than a comparable applicant whom they meet on paper and for a few hours on a Saturday.

Doesn't replace good scores and research, but it can be the "swing vote," so to speak.
 
I thought the interpretation of the USMLE Step I numbers listed on the websight was a bit too stringent. A great number of people that I have met on the interview trail and matched successfully had scores in 220s range. Therefore, I would not say that 220-230 will likely hurt you. I'd say, you won't get invited to some of the top programs, but you will definitely interview at very solid ones and have a very good chance of matching.
 
Hi,
Does anyone know where one can find information about average board scores for students who matched into different surgical subspecialties? Thank you.
 
SteveY,

San Fransisco match used to post averages and ranges, but those don't seem to be there anymore. Go to that www.urologymatch.com site that I posted yesterday...
They have board score ranges for GU. Indeed, sounds like these are guesses, but generally these reflect the numbers on the interview trail pretty well. Basically if your score's <230 you will get less interviews (unless your application is extrememly strong in other areas), but you can definitely still match. Once you come to the interview your board score becomes less important and your ability to get people to like you becomes crucial. My buddies that applied in Ortho would basically agree. ENT I imagine is similar. Hope this helps.

Peck
 
If you are getting ready to do a uro sub-i, check out the list of books you should read b/f and during your rotation:

www.urologymatch.com

Under Urology Sub-I on the "Becoming a Urologist" page.

-PC
 
Trying to collect some expriences from last year's Uro application season:

Got pimped hard on your Uro Sub-I?
Got asked difficult questions at interviews?

go to www.urologymatch.com and share these expriences with next year's applicants

-PC
 
I'm trying to make a 4th year schedule, my problem is i'm not sure when most interviews for early match residencies take place, i know end of oct, nov and december, but what is the peak time? Is it nov. or is it dec.? Or does it just depend on me, if i am to get interviews iA, does it just matter when i want to schedule them?
 
The peak times for interviews are November and early December
 
www.urologymatch.com has a good outline of the sequence of events for the fall of fourth year if you need more info. go to Becoming a Urologist page and read "Application and Personal Statement" and "Interviews" sections. Good luck.

PC
 
I'm trying to figure out my 4th year schedule, and I would rather not use up a vacation month during interview season if I can help it. My question is, aren't most Urology interviews in Nov and/or Dec? Also, I hear most of the time the interview dates are on Fridays or on weekends.

Thanks,
bh1
 
bh1,

many interviews are indeed on weekends but definitely not all. uro is competitive and not going to interviews b/c some course director is not flexible and would not let you have a day off would be a real shame. taking either nov or dec off is very advisable.

-PC
 
PC,
Thanks for the tip. I have decided to do a month of anesthesia or rads (which are both really flexible) in nov. and take dec. off to interview.

BH1
 
If any of you guys went through the Uro match this year, go to www.urologymatch.com and answer some questions about res. programs that the 3rd years are asking.

-PC
 
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