What's the ratio of # programs/interviews?

[Shookas]

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Hi,
I was wondering about how many programs is sufficient to warrant enough interviews. My grades/exam scores are fairly competitive,,,but I know that doesn't always matter. I'd be interested to hear others thoughts who have gone through the process. Does it depend on what field you're applying to? I am thinking EM, but still have a few rotations left. Again, any thoughts would be great!!

Shookas 👍

 

[tigershark]

I would think it would be largely dependent on the field, applicant and caliber of programs. I applied to 25 radiology programs and got 14 interviews. 3/3 transitional and 1/2 prelim medicine.

 

[rugtrousers]

Agree with above. I got interviews at all the programs I applied to, but other students at my school applying in the same specialty were not as successful. One strategy is to apply early (late September?), see how things go, and add more programs in October/early November if necessary, knowing that interview offers tend to try up as the season wears on.

 

[Von Hohenheim]

Hi,
I was wondering about how many programs is sufficient to warrant enough interviews. My grades/exam scores are fairly competitive,,,but I know that doesn't always matter. I'd be interested to hear others thoughts who have gone through the process. Does it depend on what field you're applying to? I am thinking EM, but still have a few rotations left. Again, any thoughts would be great!!

Shookas 👍

By "fairly competitive" do you mean "average"?

 

[cyanocobalamin]

Hi,
I was wondering about how many programs is sufficient to warrant enough interviews. My grades/exam scores are fairly competitive,,,but I know that doesn't always matter. I'd be interested to hear others thoughts who have gone through the process. Does it depend on what field you're applying to? I am thinking EM, but still have a few rotations left. Again, any thoughts would be great!!

Shookas 👍

Yes it depends on the field.
It can be very capricious sometimes.
Most people I know going for EM applied to 12-20 and interviewed 8-10ish.

I did the shotgun approach (for PM&R) and applied broadly, got interviews almost everywhere I applied. You can always say no to an interview later. But if you apply to too few, by the time you know it, it's already pretty late.

Also because of the match system, places interview typically 10x their spots which seems insane. Of course some do less and some even more. A successful match applicant typically ranks 8 programs and an un-successful one typically ranked about 5 programs on average. Hope that helps.

 

[monkey7247]

I applied to over 50 programs, yielding 16 interview offers and 12 interviews. Stupid ophthalmology... 😎

 

[Shookas]

By "fairly competitive" do you mean "average"?

My GPA 3.82 and my Step 1: 240. I think that's fairly competitive.

 

[BKN]

My GPA 3.82 and my Step 1: 240. I think that's fairly competitive.

For EM, the other half is missing. Do 1 or 2 EM rotations to get experience and a couple of good SLORs (Standardized Letter of Recommendation, an Academic EM thing) from senior EM attendings. If you can earn that, you'll do OK with 10-12 interviews.

BKN
EM PD

 

[ear-ache]

My GPA 3.82 and my Step 1: 240. I think that's fairly competitive.

If you want to be 'very competitive' - take Step 2 early (i.e. - scores available before September 1st) and rock it. The downside to this is if you don't rock it, your score is there for all the world to see and there is no option to not release the score (I believe you do not have the option to not release USMLE scores if they are available before your ERAS is submitted). My 2 cents.

I'd be curious to know what BKN's opinion is on this.

 

[BKN]

If you want to be 'very competitive' - take Step 2 early (i.e. - scores available before September 1st) and rock it. The downside to this is if you don't rock it, your score is there for all the world to see and there is no option to not release the score (I believe you do not have the option to not release USMLE scores if they are available before your ERAS is submitted). My 2 cents.

I'd be curious to know what BKN's opinion is on this.

In almost every scenario, including your CK scores is advantageous, since most clinicians seem to do as well or better than on their mle 1s. It's particularly helpful if your MLE1s were not great and you do "rock it".

The one exception is where you do well on part 1 and not so well on CK. That doesn't happen very often.

In Shookas case, he's already got about a 94 on MLE 1 and a strong GPA. He's competitive, the only way his CK would make it stronger is if he got a 98-99. 👍