I agree with the posters who responded before me. Your scores are going to keep you out of VERY FEW programs. Your Step 1-2 scores are slightly better than mine and I attend a very good program. I think that it will be important for you to find ways to stand apart. Your grades/boards are essentially a screen for medical competence, but PDs aren't usually going to make their rank list based upon scores. They want applicants who will be a good fit to the team and can contribute something more than redumentary medical competence. You don't have research experience...that's a missed opportunity. It's a question that was asked on EVERY interview I attended. You're a DO, so I completely GET not being involved in research (it's difficult to come by at MOST DO programs), but I'd have something to say when the question arises (because it will). You don't even have to have anything published (though it would be nice if you did)...but just have something to talk about when you are asked the question on interviews. If I was interviewing you and asked you about your prior research experience...if you told me that research opportunities are limited at your school but that you have sought out research and over the past few months have been working with Dr. soandso on blah research project or case report...that would give me MUCH more hope that you'd be able to meet the ACGME residency requirement of research one day than if you told me nothing at all. You need to give programs a reason to want you. If you don't have a flashy work experience, life experience, or research experience, the easiest way of doing that is by proving that you are competent and would be a good team member on an audition rotation. Through my experience...the majority of applicants who match to my program auditioned. Perhaps we only grant auditions to students with a certain grade point, serving as an initial screen...but I doubt it. Now...it's not impossible to match without an audition...I did it. But I probably checked enough boxes along the way, including interview day interactions, research experience, and a stellar work experience, that it was enough to give my PD enough confidence to rank me higher than applicants with better grades and applicants who auditioned. Find a way to stand apart in a good way.
@DMBandFan86 was spot on recommending two audition rotations. If you could do three...even better. If you're a good worker and person...I'd be absolutely shocked if you didn't match to one of the 2-3 programs you auditioned.
