USMD at Lower Mid(per IM ranksheet) "West North Central"(such a vague geographic description) School
I have like 60 schools on my preliminary application list and have absolutely no idea how competitive I am because my school has given absolutely no advice on drafting this list.
Stats:
Step 1: Pass(1st time)
Step 2: 261
My school does clinical grades and shelf grades for core rotations:
Shelfwise: 2H, 1P, and rest NH(got NH in IM but it was my first clinical rotation)
Clinical grade: Even NH(got NH in IM) and P, no honors
AOA is calculated mostly from clinical grades, so no AOA or Gold humanism
3rd quartile(based on AOA calculations)
Research: 19 Pubs in ERAS but only 1 is published abstract, rest are mostly 5 posters presented multiple times, and some philosophy/ethics work related to medicine I added for giggles
Extracurriculars: Strong volunteering, as I do a lot of tutoring with refugees, some research that I did not get any projects out of(Due to institution cutting off funding for one, one is at Top10 school in area but any pubs of mine are pending), am the member of 2 hospital ethics committees, miscellaneous community involvement for the rest
LOR: I have one writer from my ethics background, 2 of my writers love me but are more community physicians than academics(1 from VA, 1 from PCP). The attending from my ICU sub-I who promised me a letter has ghosted me despite me asking him in person for it again last week.
Honors:
Some philosophy and DEI stuff from college. I did get an ethics commendation from my school by finishing some courses and research
Connections: None, but I did do an away at a Top 10 so I could travel and see a new healthcare organization and I felt like they liked me
Hobbies: Cooking, writing, intermural sports(champion), and reading(you guessed it) philosophy
Extra circumstances: I did have a mass requiring topical chemotherapy and excision during my M3 year and Step 2 but it was kind of minor. I mentioned it on the circumstances section but I'm not sure if I should mention it.
Geographic preferences(have never left my hometown which is the location of my current school): Mid Atlantic, South Atlantic, Pacific(might switch this because I only like 2 schools in the area)
Location pref: Urban but idrk
Basically, I have no idea how competitive I am and really need to find safety schools(preferably with decent ethics opportunities). My only motivation in apps besides this is getting away from my hometown because while I love it, I need change to grow. I also have no idea how to signal but I will list the programs I have currently signaled below to help guide.
Gold signaling: Columbia(did away), UWashington, UChicago
Silver signaling: Tulane, WashUinSTL, Emory, Duke, Icahn Mt. Sinai, Georgetown, Cornell, Brown, Hawaii, Tufts, Miami
Non-signaled schools are everywhere in the country including some UCalis, all academic chicago programs, and my home program.
So after all this information, I have a gut feeling I am overshooting a decent amount. Can someone please advise me in picking better safety and target schools, as well as an appropriate signaling strategy please??? Thank you in advance kind strangers
I have like 60 schools on my preliminary application list and have absolutely no idea how competitive I am because my school has given absolutely no advice on drafting this list.
Stats:
Step 1: Pass(1st time)
Step 2: 261
My school does clinical grades and shelf grades for core rotations:
Shelfwise: 2H, 1P, and rest NH(got NH in IM but it was my first clinical rotation)
Clinical grade: Even NH(got NH in IM) and P, no honors
AOA is calculated mostly from clinical grades, so no AOA or Gold humanism
3rd quartile(based on AOA calculations)
Research: 19 Pubs in ERAS but only 1 is published abstract, rest are mostly 5 posters presented multiple times, and some philosophy/ethics work related to medicine I added for giggles
Extracurriculars: Strong volunteering, as I do a lot of tutoring with refugees, some research that I did not get any projects out of(Due to institution cutting off funding for one, one is at Top10 school in area but any pubs of mine are pending), am the member of 2 hospital ethics committees, miscellaneous community involvement for the rest
LOR: I have one writer from my ethics background, 2 of my writers love me but are more community physicians than academics(1 from VA, 1 from PCP). The attending from my ICU sub-I who promised me a letter has ghosted me despite me asking him in person for it again last week.
Honors:
Some philosophy and DEI stuff from college. I did get an ethics commendation from my school by finishing some courses and research
Connections: None, but I did do an away at a Top 10 so I could travel and see a new healthcare organization and I felt like they liked me
Hobbies: Cooking, writing, intermural sports(champion), and reading(you guessed it) philosophy
Extra circumstances: I did have a mass requiring topical chemotherapy and excision during my M3 year and Step 2 but it was kind of minor. I mentioned it on the circumstances section but I'm not sure if I should mention it.
Geographic preferences(have never left my hometown which is the location of my current school): Mid Atlantic, South Atlantic, Pacific(might switch this because I only like 2 schools in the area)
Location pref: Urban but idrk
Basically, I have no idea how competitive I am and really need to find safety schools(preferably with decent ethics opportunities). My only motivation in apps besides this is getting away from my hometown because while I love it, I need change to grow. I also have no idea how to signal but I will list the programs I have currently signaled below to help guide.
Gold signaling: Columbia(did away), UWashington, UChicago
Silver signaling: Tulane, WashUinSTL, Emory, Duke, Icahn Mt. Sinai, Georgetown, Cornell, Brown, Hawaii, Tufts, Miami
Non-signaled schools are everywhere in the country including some UCalis, all academic chicago programs, and my home program.
So after all this information, I have a gut feeling I am overshooting a decent amount. Can someone please advise me in picking better safety and target schools, as well as an appropriate signaling strategy please??? Thank you in advance kind strangers
