Hey everyone,
I’m an MS4 at a mid-tier MD program with multiple affiliated ortho residencies, and I’d really appreciate any honest feedback on my application as I head into Sub-I season and prepare for Step 2. I am concerned about my subpar clinical grades in the context of my application.
School/Academic Info:
US MD, mid-tier
Step 1: Pass
Step 2: Scheduled for early summer (currently scoring ~250s on practice exams, historically scored 99% percentile on standardized exams)
Honors in Surgery, no other honors. All passes
No AOA (very limited slots at my school, find out in senior year)
School doesn’t officially rank
Research:
10+ ortho-focused papers submitted (2 accepted: 1 in spine, 1 in OJSM), the others are with well-published PIs who have a track record of getting these papers in the journals we submitted into.
9 Global Health and Trauma papers (One in JBJS, Second Author)
Multiple national/international podium and poster presentations (AAKHS, regional orthopedic conferences as well, none at AAOS but submitted 24 podium/poster/eposters this year)
All in all will probably have 50+ "items" on ERAS, but might remove dilutionary material
Extracurriculars & Leadership:
Extensive global health and humanitarian work (from High school)
Helped build a national nonprofit from the ground up (now managing ~$8M in medical aid)
Participated in a surgical mission to an active war zone in early 2024
Serve as Research Director and Volunteer Coordinator for same medical NGO
Fluent in 2 languages, conversational in 3 more
Clinical Experience & Letters:
One home ortho rotation completed, secured "strong" LORs from both PD and APD, both of whom I completed 2 Manuscripts and multiple posters with
One strong ortho LOR from academic faculty and mentor (expecting more from Sub-Is), well published in the field but retired PD
Concerns:
No AOA and only 1 honors
No Step 2 score yet
Only 3 Sub-Is secured
13 applicants from my school who have much better clinical grades than I do, but comparable projected steps if not lower, and much lower research / extracurriculars
Coming from a program with ortho presence, but not a Top 20 powerhouse
Would love honest insight on and brutal feedback:
1. How competitive this app looks across academic vs mid-tier vs community programs
2. What I should be focusing on most between now and ERAS (Step 2? Aways? Research output?)
3. What do I need to do now to match
Really appreciate any input, feel free to drop a comment or DM. Thank You all.
I’m an MS4 at a mid-tier MD program with multiple affiliated ortho residencies, and I’d really appreciate any honest feedback on my application as I head into Sub-I season and prepare for Step 2. I am concerned about my subpar clinical grades in the context of my application.
School/Academic Info:
US MD, mid-tier
Step 1: Pass
Step 2: Scheduled for early summer (currently scoring ~250s on practice exams, historically scored 99% percentile on standardized exams)
Honors in Surgery, no other honors. All passes
No AOA (very limited slots at my school, find out in senior year)
School doesn’t officially rank
Research:
10+ ortho-focused papers submitted (2 accepted: 1 in spine, 1 in OJSM), the others are with well-published PIs who have a track record of getting these papers in the journals we submitted into.
9 Global Health and Trauma papers (One in JBJS, Second Author)
Multiple national/international podium and poster presentations (AAKHS, regional orthopedic conferences as well, none at AAOS but submitted 24 podium/poster/eposters this year)
All in all will probably have 50+ "items" on ERAS, but might remove dilutionary material
Extracurriculars & Leadership:
Extensive global health and humanitarian work (from High school)
Helped build a national nonprofit from the ground up (now managing ~$8M in medical aid)
Participated in a surgical mission to an active war zone in early 2024
Serve as Research Director and Volunteer Coordinator for same medical NGO
Fluent in 2 languages, conversational in 3 more
Clinical Experience & Letters:
One home ortho rotation completed, secured "strong" LORs from both PD and APD, both of whom I completed 2 Manuscripts and multiple posters with
One strong ortho LOR from academic faculty and mentor (expecting more from Sub-Is), well published in the field but retired PD
Concerns:
No AOA and only 1 honors
No Step 2 score yet
Only 3 Sub-Is secured
13 applicants from my school who have much better clinical grades than I do, but comparable projected steps if not lower, and much lower research / extracurriculars
Coming from a program with ortho presence, but not a Top 20 powerhouse
Would love honest insight on and brutal feedback:
1. How competitive this app looks across academic vs mid-tier vs community programs
2. What I should be focusing on most between now and ERAS (Step 2? Aways? Research output?)
3. What do I need to do now to match
Really appreciate any input, feel free to drop a comment or DM. Thank You all.
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