USMLE Step I score

Started by GoBlue16
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GoBlue16

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I am a DO student and I just got my usmle scores back: 210/85
If I get great LOR and have good grades/high class rank what are my chances of matching at a good EM program in the midwest (Chicago, Detroit, Grand Rapids, etc.)?
Thanks!
 
nice one desperado!

seriously though....you should do a search on this forum and you should find a gagillion threads on it.

later
 
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Obviously, there is no easy answer. Your're ancy about your chances of getting accepted, which is natural and we've all been there.

1) Apply to a lot of programs. With average step I score, being a DO, you should apply to at least 30.
2) Take Step II soon so that the scores will be reported before applications and ace it. That will negate an average step I score.
3) Go to all of the interviews you are offered.

If you want it, you can get it. You may not get your first or second choice (athough statistics say you probably will) but if you want EM you can do it.
 
I'd put it more at 65%.

But seriously, you should be able to pull it off - they key will be great LOR's and applying to more than average number of places.

C
 
Does it really matter what your chances are? I'd put you at 53%, I'm pretty conservative, but since the DOW went up today I might drop you a few basis points.

As a DO you're going to be hte underdog. Your only option is to apply to as many places as feasible for you (I applied to 40+) and see what sort of itnerviews you get.

If we said you had no chance, would you apply anyways?

A good applicant is a good applicant, MD, DO, DC, PT, HIV... you seem like a good applicant.

Q, DO
 
BTW I think people offer up too much false hope with Step 2 - from PD's I've talked to about it and from that SAEM article on "Factors that play into match rank" or whatever, Step 2 (even if you ace it) ain't so important. Try to kick ass on rotations and be sure to rotate at teaching hospitals that PD's will have heard of. A letter from U of Somewhere will carry a lot more weight than a letter from Dr. Nobody, IM at the Hospital of Where-is-that?

C
 
As an aside I think this is where the osteopathic community does a real disservice to their students. They do not provide enough residency spots for their graduates, but they also don't provide enough quality clinical rotation sites to equip them well to go through the Allo match. Quinn, I think you need to take the AOA over. Go Matrix on their ass.
 
Alternatively, if you did really well on COMLEX then you could choose not to release your Step 1 scores. It might not help you get into the really good midwest programs though.
 
thanks everyone for the advice.....also I haven't gotten my COMLEX scores yet (thanks to the wonderfully efficent NBOME) so maybe they will be high enough to help me out some. also Seaglass u are right, there aren't enough spots for our students in osteopathic EM programs, and even the ones that are available often are not up to par with the allo programs. However I have heard of several dually accredited programs that are supposed to be quite good.
As a side note- does anyone have opinions on the EM programs at Henry Ford in Detroit or Cook County in Chicago?
Thanks!
 
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