WAMC: Top Tier IM

[archibaldhaddock]

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Hi, hopefully this is appropriate. I realize these posts come across as annoying and neurotic, but with a couple possible red flags I just want to do my due diligence.

School/Academic Info:
US MD, low-tier state school
Step 1: Pass
Step 2: 269
Honored all except OBGYN which was HP
Got GHHS, school doesn't have AOA

Research:
2 first author Pubmed indexed publications (reviews, not case reports but also not original research)
2 presentations/abstracts at national conferences
2 other presentations at school/local symposia
Will have 3 additional first author pubs submitted at time of ERAS but very likely not published

Extracurriculars & Leadership:
Have engaged in both state and federal lobbying/advocacy efforts for a national society and also local school health equity interest group for all of medical school
Several leadership positions in school (dealing with LCME accreditation, evaluation groups)
Student council position
Led multiple interest groups
Extensive volunteering prior to med school

Clinical Experience & Letters:
Will likely have decent but not amazing letters from IM sub-i, probably a good one from research mentor

Concerns:
Meh LoRs
Meh school
Meh research
Reckless driving misdemeanor from 8 years ago, clean record since

My goal is a very strong IM program (T20 at least) on the West Coast. How assured can I be of this goal?

 

[purpledoc1]

Hey, hopefully this helps you.

The LoR thing concerns me greatly. EXCELLENT LoRs are a must if you want to match at your dream program/super competitive specialties.

Do you think that you would be happy in an IM program that is not top tier?
Is your goal to eventually match into another subspecialty after IM?

Your research doesn't concern me much but the misdemeanor does a bit. Can you explain why you've put this behind you and it's not something that the school doesn't need to take into consideration? Can you explain why you grew from it and you're a better person as a result? Remember to be as positive as you can about this.

I don't think that west coast is too competitive for you, but why does it have to be T20?
Can you do some quick networking or reach out in order to get some better LoRs in time for the match? Best of luck and I hope that it all works out in your favor.

 

[futureapppsy2]

Why do you think you'll have meh LORs?

 

[true_royal]

"Meh" LORs and a misdemeanor will make T10 hard but otherwise I think you're good for most other T20-30 programs

 

[m1redsox]

There are only 4 T20 West coast IM programs, so this is a pretty tall ask. Your app is good, but when your goals are too specific, you should prepare for disappointment. Getting into any T20 IM program is a massive accomplishment. Getting the one *specific program* of your choice is very difficult.

I say this to answer your question of, “how assured can I be of this goal?” to which I’ll reply: you should not be assured at all of this goal. In your case, it may be a reasonable goal, but if you end up at UNC or UPMC, you should not be disappointed at all. T30 programs can get you the specialty/career setting of your choice too. Heck, a T300 program could.

 

[archibaldhaddock]

Hey, hopefully this helps you.

The LoR thing concerns me greatly. EXCELLENT LoRs are a must if you want to match at your dream program/super competitive specialties.

Do you think that you would be happy in an IM program that is not top tier?
Is your goal to eventually match into another subspecialty after IM?

Your research doesn't concern me much but the misdemeanor does a bit. Can you explain why you've put this behind you and it's not something that the school doesn't need to take into consideration? Can you explain why you grew from it and you're a better person as a result? Remember to be as positive as you can about this.

I don't think that west coast is too competitive for you, but why does it have to be T20?
Can you do some quick networking or reach out in order to get some better LoRs in time for the match? Best of luck and I hope that it all works out in your favor.

Honestly I might be overthinking the letters. I am getting a couple letters from preceptors I've worked with for 1-2 weeks on my sub-i where I performed very well and got great feedback, but it feels weird to get a letter from someone you've known for that little time. But maybe that's just par for the course for residency and I should adjust my expectations?

As for the misdemeanor, I'm very comfortable talking about growing from it and putting it behind me. I am hoping my strong record for service and altruism since will make for a somewhat strong narrative.

I would potentially be happy at a non-"top" IM program, but I would really like to match into as strong a program as possible to have the best training possible, as well as maintaining competitiveness for fellowship.

 

[futureapppsy2]

Honestly I might be overthinking the letters. I am getting a couple letters from preceptors I've worked with for 1-2 weeks on my sub-i where I performed very well and got great feedback, but it feels weird to get a letter from someone you've known for that little time. But maybe that's just par for the course for residency and I should adjust my expectations?

As for the misdemeanor, I'm very comfortable talking about growing from it and putting it behind me. I am hoping my strong record for service and altruism since will make for a somewhat strong narrative.

I would potentially be happy at a non-"top" IM program, but I would really like to match into as strong a program as possible to have the best training possible, as well as maintaining competitiveness for fellowship.

Yeah, those don’t sound like they’d be meh LORs to me.

 

[pigsinacloth]

Honestly I might be overthinking the letters. I am getting a couple letters from preceptors I've worked with for 1-2 weeks on my sub-i where I performed very well and got great feedback, but it feels weird to get a letter from someone you've known for that little time. But maybe that's just par for the course for residency and I should adjust my expectations?

As for the misdemeanor, I'm very comfortable talking about growing from it and putting it behind me. I am hoping my strong record for service and altruism since will make for a somewhat strong narrative.

I would potentially be happy at a non-"top" IM program, but I would really like to match into as strong a program as possible to have the best training possible, as well as maintaining competitiveness for fellowship.

That was legit all of my letters. The most I worked with an attending for one of My LOR was 2 weeks, it's just the nature of medical training. As long as they are reasonable faculty who write LORs at least somewhat regularly, they should understand the name of the game and potentially even ask around to see what people thought of you.

 

[Kanye's Psychiatrist]

bro thinks his T20 school is "meh" and a red flag