What to do in 4th year to make myself competitive.

[mcat_taker]

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So I keep hearing on this board that research isn't really necessary for OBGYN. The problem is I decided late on OB end of third year, and my school does not give me much elective time or time for aways in 4th year. Is there anything I can be doing to help my cause ? What is considered a below average step 1 for OBGYN? Have a 215 and not sure whether I should just give up w that score. Very average student. @anonperson @Dr G Oogle and whoever else any advice?

 

[Dr G Oogle]

I think 220 is around avg; can look up the NRMP data; you need good LORs especially for surgical specialties, highlight any sort of outreach you did, it’s true obgyn doesn’t care much about research but having a published paper or even an oral presentation can improve your chances. Finally an AI provides a way to target a specific program that you may want to attend. You can also meet with your own PD and see what she/he can tell you. In fact I strongly urge you to do that ASAP as they will be the most useful information providers

 

[nonamesleft]

match was rough this year for my friends. a good number of people I know with >230s on step 1 didn't get more than 7-8 interviews for obgyn. As a result, the match rate within my knowledge group was ~80%..
Check out the PD survey on NRMP, as well as the texas star survey for how your stats stack up. I think you need a login via school to get access to the texas star survey though..
There's also a google spreadsheet in one of the other threads on this forum.

 

[anonperson]

So I keep hearing on this board that research isn't really necessary for OBGYN. The problem is I decided late on OB end of third year, and my school does not give me much elective time or time for aways in 4th year. Is there anything I can be doing to help my cause ? What is considered a below average step 1 for OBGYN? Have a 215 and not sure whether I should just give up w that score. Very average student. @anonperson @Dr G Oogle and whoever else any advice?

If you want to match, you will have to apply BROADLY. You should be able to match though. May not be at Hopkins but you should get a match at a lower tier academic program or community program.

I matched with a 197 on Step 1. Although it was a community program in the sticks. I applied to 100+ programs and went on 34 interviews. Matched pretty low on the list. If I could match with all of my baggage then you should be able to.

Try to do one Sub I in MFM or gyn oncology and get your letters in order.

 

[mcat_taker]

If you want to match, you will have to apply BROADLY. You should be able to match though. May not be at Hopkins but you should get a match at a lower tier academic program or community program.

I matched with a 197 on Step 1. Although it was a community program in the sticks. I applied to 100+ programs and went on 34 interviews. Matched pretty low on the list. If I could match with all of my baggage then you should be able to.

Try to do one Sub I in MFM or gyn oncology and get your letters in order.

Thanks! and yes will apply to tons of programs like you said.

 

[MedGrl@2022]

Similar situation here. Only recently did I fall in love with Ob/Gyn (I was not planning to go into OB/Gyn) but now it is all I can think about. I have a good USMLE Step 1 ~240 but only Passing grades on all my clerkships (my school only gives the top 10% Honors). I also had to take 2 years off between M2 and M3 for personal reasons.

I am also Catholic. Therefore, while I am comfortable counseling women on all of their options I am not actually comfortable prescribing contraceptives for contraception.

Would something like getting an MPH, make me look like a more valuable/competitive candidate?

 

[Newhorizons21]

I am also Catholic. Therefore, while I am comfortable counseling women on all of their options I am not actually comfortable prescribing contraceptives for contraception.

Oof. Please don’t do OB/GYN.

 

[BigTumor]

Oof. Please don’t do OB/GYN.

People do it. As long as they are comfortable counseling it should be fine.

 

[Merely]

Similar situation here. Only recently did I fall in love with Ob/Gyn (I was not planning to go into OB/Gyn) but now it is all I can think about. I have a good USMLE Step 1 ~240 but only Passing grades on all my clerkships (my school only gives the top 10% Honors). I also had to take 2 years off between M2 and M3 for personal reasons.

I am also Catholic. Therefore, while I am comfortable counseling women on all of their options I am not actually comfortable prescribing contraceptives for contraception.

Would something like getting an MPH, make me look like a more valuable/competitive candidate?

I understand not doing full abortions but will a residency actually let someone graduate when they won’t do like half the job? I feel like every pt in the outpatient setting wants birth control, r u going to refer every pt you have to your colleagues?

 

[Dr G Oogle]

I understand not doing full abortions but will a residency actually let someone graduate when they won’t do like half the job? I feel like every pt in the outpatient setting wants birth control, r u going to refer every pt you have to your colleagues?

You actually don’t have to do any elective terminations in residency, I believe even at some places family planning is an elective. Elective terminations especially in first trimesters are listed as D&C and you get plenty of those in residency. Much like you don’t have to do every urogyn or even every gym surgical procedure to graduate. You can also potentially structure your practice so that you never have prescribe contraceptives though that would definitely be a hard job to find (being a laborist is really the only example that comes to mind, though in general anyone receiving peripartum care should have contraceptive counseling otherwise you really are doing half the job).

All that being said, regardless of your personal beliefs you will be tested on every aspect of obgyn practice during written and oral exams and cannot claim some sort of belief related exemption to avoid having the knowledge about these procedures and treatments.