What are some good safety programs?

[DoctorWannaBe]

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I have applied to about 12 pretty competitive programs, but would like to add a few safety programs to my list now. However, I don't know what good ones are since everyone here always talks about the well known top programs. I'm applying mostly in the west, but am open to the east coast and the Chicago area. I'm probably an average applicant (230 Step 1, a few honors grades including Peds). Someone on another thread suggested UC Irvine, UC Davis, Phoenix Children's, and U of Arizona. Are these safety schools, and if so, what other programs can I look into that are in the west and possibly east coast? Thanks!

 

[ZekeMD]

I have applied to about 12 pretty competitive programs, but would like to add a few safety programs to my list now. However, I don't know what good ones are since everyone here always talks about the well known top programs. I'm applying mostly in the west, but am open to the east coast and the Chicago area. I'm probably an average applicant (230 Step 1, a few honors grades including Peds). Someone on another thread suggested UC Irvine, UC Davis, Phoenix Children's, and U of Arizona. Are these safety schools, and if so, what other programs can I look into that are in the west and possibly east coast? Thanks!

I heard U. Chicago, St Chris

 

[Caddie]

What are the 12 "competitive" programs that you applied to in the west?

 

[165808]

I'm not sure that your scores/grades are considered "average." At least not for Pediatrics!! I'd say your scores are actually pretty competitive at most places, definitely on the West Coast, at least. I don't know about all the CHOP-ish programs out East, but you're definitely pretty competitive on the West Coast!! I've talked to a lot of people from my school that went into Peds in Cali, and it seems that some safer programs run along the lines of UCI, Loma Linda, USC (they didn't even remotely fill last year!!), and maybe CHOC (haven't heard much about them).

That's just my two cents, for what it's worth. But I do think you're selling yourself short!!

 

[DoctorWannaBe]

I'm not sure that your scores/grades are considered "average." At least not for Pediatrics!! I'd say your scores are actually pretty competitive at most places, definitely on the West Coast, at least. I don't know about all the CHOP-ish programs out East, but you're definitely pretty competitive on the West Coast!! I've talked to a lot of people from my school that went into Peds in Cali, and it seems that some safer programs run along the lines of UCI, Loma Linda, USC (they didn't even remotely fill last year!!), and maybe CHOC (haven't heard much about them).

That's just my two cents, for what it's worth. But I do think you're selling yourself short!!

Thanks for the confidence-booster! It's hard for me to judge how competitive I am, so I just wanted to add a few safety programs to my list of competitive programs.

I appreciate everyone's suggestions...keep them coming!

 

[Caddie]

What are the 12 "competitive" programs that you applied to in the west?

Just wondering which ones you consider competitive in the West. Here are a few that I consider good "safety" programs: Utah, New Mexico, Oregon, Phoenix Children's, Univ. of Arizona. San Diego might also be good - most of their residents pass the boards. Board score pass rate is the main thing that I am looking at when applying for "safety" programs.

On another note, I know a lot of Pediatric applicants in my class (there are 16 of us out of 103 students) whom are incredibly "competitive." It scares me that all of us have been told that we will get in to our first choice program. Anybody concerned that this might be a year that there are a lot of competitive applicants?!?!?!

 

[DoctorWannaBe]

Just wondering which ones you consider competitive in the West. Here are a few that I consider good "safety" programs: Utah, New Mexico, Oregon, Phoenix Children's, Univ. of Arizona. San Diego might also be good - most of their residents pass the boards. Board score pass rate is the main thing that I am looking at when applying for "safety" programs.

On another note, I know a lot of Pediatric applicants in my class (there are 16 of us out of 103 students) whom are incredibly "competitive." It scares me that all of us have been told that we will get in to our first choice program. Anybody concerned that this might be a year that there are a lot of competitive applicants?!?!?!

What about UCLA-Harbor or UTSW (or other programs in Texas)? Are those easier to get into?

I heard that OHSU is a fairly competitive and well-respected program. The other competitive programs out west that I applied to are U. Washington, UCSF, Stanford, UCLA, CHLA, U. Colorado. I also applied to UCSD which is probably not as competitive as some, but I didn't think it was a safety school.

 

[Caddie]

What about UCLA-Harbor or UTSW (or other programs in Texas)? Are those easier to get into?

I heard that OHSU is a fairly competitive and well-respected program. The other competitive programs out west that I applied to are U. Washington, UCSF, Stanford, UCLA, CHLA, U. Colorado. I also applied to UCSD which is probably not as competitive as some, but I didn't think it was a safety school.

I am in the same boat as you except for that I don't want to go anywhere in Texas (so I don't know anything about those programs) and can't afford to go anywhere in California. I have applied to: UCSF (although I can't really afford it), OHSU, Seattle, Utah, Denver, Wash. U in St. Louis, and Northwestern. Then, I applied to USF (in Tampa, which is a great city), and New Mexico.