What are my chances? How can I improve application?

[Jtfgy]

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Hi guys,
I've recently made the plunge to go the ophtho route for residency after a rotation a couple of weeks ago. My step score isn't that great (241), but isn't horrible either. My clinical grades and preclinical grades are great currently (only 2 B's in MS2 year, rest are A). I have one ophtho case report under review and another in the works. I have a poster presentation at a national conference for something not ophtho related, and am working on getting that published. In terms of extracurricular, I do not have anything ophtho because I just made the decision but I have a lot of other activities including leadership positions and many service related activites.
My home institution is a newer state school with no home ophtho program. I'll have one letter from the guy that I'm doing research with and was planning on doing 2 or 3 away rotations and getting letters there.

I just wanted to know realistically what my chances are of matching? And how can I improve my chances?

To throw a wrench in the situation, my significant other is in my class and planning on matching into general surgery (he's pretty competitive for gen surg). We are okay with being apart for 3 or so years, but would like to try to avoid that.

 

[immunology89]

Hi guys,
I've recently made the plunge to go the ophtho route for residency after a rotation a couple of weeks ago. My step score isn't that great (241), but isn't horrible either. My clinical grades and preclinical grades are great currently (only 2 B's in MS2 year, rest are A). I have one ophtho case report under review and another in the works. I have a poster presentation at a national conference for something not ophtho related, and am working on getting that published. In terms of extracurricular, I do not have anything ophtho because I just made the decision but I have a lot of other activities including leadership positions and many service related activites.
My home institution is a newer state school with no home ophtho program. I'll have one letter from the guy that I'm doing research with and was planning on doing 2 or 3 away rotations and getting letters there.

I just wanted to know realistically what my chances are of matching? And how can I improve my chances?

To throw a wrench in the situation, my significant other is in my class and planning on matching into general surgery (he's pretty competitive for gen surg). We are okay with being apart for 3 or so years, but would like to try to avoid that.

I think your step score and research are right on track. I would not take step 2 early in your situation just because of the timing and your score is good. Just a word of warning regarding LOR. I did the three ophtho aways and found the structure of 2/3 rotations not very conducive to receiving letters of recommendation. The majority of work was with the residents or between different attendings in those 2 rotations. Ideally you want to have the LOR in hand by beginning/early august so keep in that mind in terms of scheduling. If I was you, I would to establish a relationship with an ophthalmologist at a school you plan to do an away at and request to work with him/her so that you are not starting from scratch or dividing your time between the entire faculty. You seem to have the right attitude regarding your SO. Good luck.

 

[gregoryhouse]

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