Would it be appropriate to post here regarding feedback for my program list?

[kelminak]

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Hi there,

I'm applying to psychiatry this year and was wondering if it is allowed to post program lists for feedback on whether or not it looks appropriate? I can post in this thread if so, as my scores are wonky and I could use some help. If not, could I get pointed in the right direction?

Thanks!

 

[Sushirolls]

Appropriate, but no point.

Apply to what you plan to, and then add a few more. Get back to us at rank list time.

 

[kelminak]

Appropriate, but no point.

Apply to what you plan to, and then add a few more. Get back to us at rank list time.

Understood. I just have this fear that my bad COMLEX scores are going to hold me back (we're talking like 10-15th percentile here) despite having good USMLEs so I have no idea which programs I'm actually competitive for or not. Or if it matters at all, which some people said it doesn't. Idk, just lost.

 

[Sushirolls]

Can't change it now. Just apply broadly, roll the dice, and practice not letting it get to you. This is also an exercise of stress management and how not to to have "occupational trauma."

Each ensuing stage will continue to have some stress. Next will be actually graduating, then starting intern year, then performance of intern year, then cranking out step/level III, then getting medical license, then annual PRITES, then performance/finishing residency, then having some level of responsibility for your patients, then job hunting, then having full responsibility for your patients, then managing paperwork headaches of CME and other regulatory scut. Then family +/-, personal hobbies, finances, career satisfaction, health, etc.

The stress of things will continue year after year after year; practice the art of balancing them now. It won't stop.

 

[Stagg737]

Understood. I just have this fear that my bad COMLEX scores are going to hold me back (we're talking like 10-15th percentile here) despite having good USMLEs so I have no idea which programs I'm actually competitive for or not. Or if it matters at all, which some people said it doesn't. Idk, just lost.

Take this for what's it's worth, but I had similar Level 1 and 2 scores with no USMLE scores. Applied broadly (75 programs) and had no problems getting interviews or matching. I had other strengths in my app, but only 1 program asked me about my scores and it was just if I had a plan to study for Level 3 (I did). It's also the program I ended up at, so clearly didn't hinder me that much.

 

[hallowmann]

Understood. I just have this fear that my bad COMLEX scores are going to hold me back (we're talking like 10-15th percentile here) despite having good USMLEs so I have no idea which programs I'm actually competitive for or not. Or if it matters at all, which some people said it doesn't. Idk, just lost.

I guarantee you that if you have good/better USMLEs most (if not all) places will barely look at the COMLEX scores, only that you passed them.

You'll be fine. Apply broadly with a range of more competitive, moderate and less competitive programs. If you're really worried, add some extras to the less competitive places.

 

[MacDonaldTriad]

So the reality is that Allopathic domestic schools are considered above DO training, and DO training is considered above the majority, but not all IMG students. It is a hard, but a reality. There is a wide variety of IMG quality, but this only means good and bad with a wider range of quality. These generalizations are more driven by applicants than by programs. Applicants research us and have mostly formed their opinions of us based on where our trainees come from.

Coming from a DO program with poor scores makes you low middle. If you have reasonable USMLE scores, the COMLEX becomes ignored. If you don't get into a domestic allopathic school, USMLE is the best way to prove yourself competitive. Now that step one is pass fail, step two will be even more important. I don't like it, but now that you can apply to programs with a mouse click, these generalizations become exaggerated because our number of applicants have quadrupled and we don't know who are truly interested in us.

If we are more concrete about poorly validated score based and school based measures, we apologize and don't like it either but have little choice. We are making heroic efforts to be more holistic in our ability to see beyond numbers and schools and get an idea of who is truly impressive, but this also proves to be difficult to do with an ERAS application. If you have a compelling story, use the personal statement and back it up with the list of activities.

Best of luck everyone.

 

[Monocles]

Wouldn't hurt to post. Worst case scenario is people don't respond. Best case scenario is if you have some super malignant program on your list that we can comment/warn you about.

 

[kelminak]

So the reality is that Allopathic domestic schools are considered above DO training, and DO training is considered above the majority, but not all IMG students. It is a hard, but a reality. There is a wide variety of IMG quality, but this only means good and bad with a wider range of quality. These generalizations are more driven by applicants than by programs. Applicants research us and have mostly formed their opinions of us based on where our trainees come from.

Coming from a DO program with poor scores makes you low middle. If you have reasonable USMLE scores, the COMLEX becomes ignored. If you don't get into a domestic allopathic school, USMLE is the best way to prove yourself competitive. Now that step one is pass fail, step two will be even more important. I don't like it, but now that you can apply to programs with a mouse click, these generalizations become exaggerated because our number of applicants have quadrupled and we don't know who are truly interested in us.

If we are more concrete about poorly validated score based and school based measures, we apologize and don't like it either but have little choice. We are making heroic efforts to be more holistic in our ability to see beyond numbers and schools and get an idea of who is truly impressive, but this also proves to be difficult to do with an ERAS application. If you have a compelling story, use the personal statement and back it up with the list of activities.

Best of luck everyone.

Thanks, that's kind of what I gathered. My USMLE scores are MUCH better than my COMLEX scores (23x/24x), so I think it'll be ok and I'm just "psych"ing myself out. Do people in psychiatry make that pun a lot?....

Wouldn't hurt to post. Worst case scenario is people don't respond. Best case scenario is if you have some super malignant program on your list that we can comment/warn you about.

I think I'll take everyone's advice here and just post a rank list once it gets to that point. I might as well let some of the dust settle from who actually gives me an interview and narrow it down for everyone here at that point. I'll definitely be back though!

 

[Sushirolls]

Do people in psychiatry make that pun a lot?....

It would only be shocking in the ECT suite.

 

[ridethecliche]

I'm split on whether I love or hate the direction that this thread is taking.

 

[MacDonaldTriad]

I'm split on whether I love or hate the direction that this thread is taking.

Splitting is my favorite primitive defense. It works especially well in administrative meetings. Sublimation may think it is sublime, but it is rather boring when applied properly.