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Hi folks!
TL;DR Soon-to-be MS2 interested in Ophthalmology and looking for perspectives on how I'm currently doing, what can be changed, etc.
I am just about ready to start MS2 at a solid state school on the west coast (will not reveal due to anonymity). I am thinking of Ophtho due to its implications globally (very into global health, will discuss), but of course I know students do change their minds often during rotations. I'm trying to create the best case scenario for myself if I do decide that I want to pursue the field, so I'd like to learn about what are some ways I can make it a reality!
A little about me:
-MS1 grades were decent, with honors (90+ or top 10-20%) in 5 of 8 courses... not sure how this really stands against others since I don't discuss grades with classmates, but a student who recently matched into Ophtho had 1-2 honors (I know it might not mean much, but this is the only comparison I have since he told me while giving advice)
-Doing my best to set myself up well for Step 1 at the end of MS2. I spent the last few weeks casually adding some notes from MS1 into FA and reading BRS lightly. I've created a plan for how I want to do as best as I can in class while incorporating Step studying/Qbanks into my routine during ms2
-I am involved in research: 1 publication during MS1 (from undergrad work, non-optho), and 5-7 international projects in progress (I will be first author on perhaps 5 all said and done, with all papers hopefully published over the next 1-2 years), 1 healthcare quality project (will be first author), and I've been trying to get a research project done at my Ophtho program, but it's been shaky since it's clinical and it's tough for the docs to take time and enroll participants (since I cannot enroll on days I'm not there). So likely no Ophtho research.
-Involved in extracurriculars, but not really at my school. As I said earlier, I'd love to pursue global health, so I've been heavily involved in that, and I founded a nonprofit that works in developing countries (will not provide details, again due to anonymity).
So, what else can I do to prepare an application for Ophthalmology? Any advice would be fabulous, and criticisms too!
TL;DR Soon-to-be MS2 interested in Ophthalmology and looking for perspectives on how I'm currently doing, what can be changed, etc.
I am just about ready to start MS2 at a solid state school on the west coast (will not reveal due to anonymity). I am thinking of Ophtho due to its implications globally (very into global health, will discuss), but of course I know students do change their minds often during rotations. I'm trying to create the best case scenario for myself if I do decide that I want to pursue the field, so I'd like to learn about what are some ways I can make it a reality!
A little about me:
-MS1 grades were decent, with honors (90+ or top 10-20%) in 5 of 8 courses... not sure how this really stands against others since I don't discuss grades with classmates, but a student who recently matched into Ophtho had 1-2 honors (I know it might not mean much, but this is the only comparison I have since he told me while giving advice)
-Doing my best to set myself up well for Step 1 at the end of MS2. I spent the last few weeks casually adding some notes from MS1 into FA and reading BRS lightly. I've created a plan for how I want to do as best as I can in class while incorporating Step studying/Qbanks into my routine during ms2
-I am involved in research: 1 publication during MS1 (from undergrad work, non-optho), and 5-7 international projects in progress (I will be first author on perhaps 5 all said and done, with all papers hopefully published over the next 1-2 years), 1 healthcare quality project (will be first author), and I've been trying to get a research project done at my Ophtho program, but it's been shaky since it's clinical and it's tough for the docs to take time and enroll participants (since I cannot enroll on days I'm not there). So likely no Ophtho research.
-Involved in extracurriculars, but not really at my school. As I said earlier, I'd love to pursue global health, so I've been heavily involved in that, and I founded a nonprofit that works in developing countries (will not provide details, again due to anonymity).
So, what else can I do to prepare an application for Ophthalmology? Any advice would be fabulous, and criticisms too!
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