What should I do?

[tither100]

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I'm a 4th year student in Illinois at a state medical school, and my Step 1 is 198. I want to apply for anesthesia, but I'm limited to applying for anesthesia in the Boston area, where my fiancee and family are. What do you guys recommend as far as:
1) how many programs I should apply to
2) Which Boston area programs are within my reach (if any)
3) Should I do away rotations at some Boston programs
4) Should I take Step 2 and hope to do better? When should I take it to allow programs to see the improvement?

Thanks so much in advance for your help! I'm so scared about the upcoming match.

 

[Willamette]

tither,

I think that if you REALLY want anesthesiology that you'd be well advised to:

#1) Take Step II and rock it
#2) Cast your net wider than Boston. I think that somewhere in the Northeast is doable, but putting all your bags in the Tea Party Basket is just asking for a bunch of Yanks to beat up one of your relievers...or something like that.

Good luck!


Willamette

 

[jtw]

Tither,
I agree with Willamette--take Step II asap and do better on it (most people do). I took it in July last year b/c I wasn't thrilled with my Step I, and I think it definitely helped me. It would be very risky to limit your applications to boston, but if you're set on it, then apply to ALL the boston programs and definitely do a couple of aways there.

 

[tither100]

Thanks for the advice, guys. DO you think it's worthwhile to applyto the 3 Harvard programs too?

Tither,
I agree with Willamette--take Step II asap and do better on it (most people do). I took it in July last year b/c I wasn't thrilled with my Step I, and I think it definitely helped me. It would be very risky to limit your applications to boston, but if you're set on it, then apply to ALL the boston programs and definitely do a couple of aways there.

 

[IlianaSedai]

One thing that will really help you is to rotate at the program if they still have space. HINT HINT. A program I rotated at offered to "overlook" my score if it was < their 200 cutoff (mine wasn't), based on the fact that I rotated there.

 

[Disse]

Thanks for the advice, guys. DO you think it's worthwhile to applyto the 3 Harvard programs too?

Apply to every program in the area you want to be unless you absolutely, positively KNOW you do not want to perform your residency in that institution. Don't limit yourself on any self-perceived deficiencies (never sell yourself short 😉) That being said, unless you have first hand knowledge regarding of any particular institution you don't really know if you don't want to perform your residency there--especially if you are going to limit yourself into one particular geographic area.

Also, I would highly advise you to discuss your options with your fiancee regarding geographic options. If she is flexible at all you should definitely apply to more programs. Why? Because you want to have an nice rank list (limited rank lists increase the chance of not matching no matter who you are). Similarly, there may be other programs that are close, but not in, Boston where you would be very happy and have great training.

Good luck. The match is stressful but doable!

 

[tither100]

Thanks. Geographically speaking, I looked at programs in and outside Boston, and it seems that UMass in Worcester is pretty close, but other than that single program, not too many others are commutable. Baystate is about 2 hours from Boston. The Connecticut programs are also about 2 hours. Portland, Maine is out of the question. I hope it works out somehow.

Apply to every program in the area you want to be unless you absolutely, positively KNOW you do not want to perform your residency in that institution. Don't limit yourself on any self-perceived deficiencies (never sell yourself short 😉) That being said, unless you have first hand knowledge regarding of any particular institution you don't really know if you don't want to perform your residency there--especially if you are going to limit yourself into one particular geographic area.

Also, I would highly advise you to discuss your options with your fiancee regarding geographic options. If she is flexible at all you should definitely apply to more programs. Why? Because you want to have an nice rank list (limited rank lists increase the chance of not matching no matter who you are). Similarly, there may be other programs that are close, but not in, Boston where you would be very happy and have great training.

Good luck. The match is stressful but doable!