Midwest Medschool
Step I - 244
Step II - 235 - Took it in December and released my score, which made it available before rank lists were due. It didn't hurt me, but if I had to do it again, with a solid Step I score, I would not have released it and saved myself a month of worrying.
Honors/High Pass/Pass
35% Honors first two years
On the transcript: Honors in Surgery, Medicine, Ortho junior elective (4wk), Family medicine, Plastic Surgery Sub I, Ortho Sub I at home program. High Pass in three others and a Pass in Peds. (Made the mistake of letting my resident know I was interested in Ortho).
1 away - Loyola
Senior AOA
Letters: 3 Ortho and 1 Plastics, all ?strong to very strong.?
Research - one dedicated project started at the beginning of third year, working towards publication currently. Some interviewers rated my research experience on a 1-10 scale or something comparable and I think I generally got 7-8/10 with 9?s and 10?s probably reserved for published work in which the applicant played a major role. What I took away from this is that simply trying to add my name onto a project already in progress and getting a publication that way would not always be considered more impressive than working as a primary investigator on a project for which a publication is in the works.
Applied to 43 programs/offered 24 interviews. Did 18 including Cincinnati, CWRU, Akron General, SUMMA, Beaumont, Grand Rapids, Michigan, Henry Ford, Kalamazoo, AGH, WVU, Wisconsin, MCW, Loyola, UIC, Brown, Tufts, SLU
Standouts for me were Michigan, UW, MCW, Grand Rapids, Beaumont and Brown. Also impressed with CWRU (potential for research year dropped it down a bit) and AGH. Desire for a smaller city with less traffic, better cost of living dropped Tufts, Loyola and UIC.
Matched at home program, which was No. 1 on my ROL.
Some thoughts on the match:
1) While it is well discussed on this site, the importance of having components of your application that stand out in a positive way ? high board scores, honors on clinical rotations, strong letters, AOA, publications ? what is somewhat overlooked I feel, is the importance of minimizing the negative aspects of your application ? passes or low-passes on clerkships, average letters, no research (depending on the program), negative clerkship comments that make their way onto your Deans letter, etc. Programs are always looking for ways to eliminate applicants and it is as much the negative aspects of your application as a lack of positives that can hurt you when applying.
2) At one interview on the trail I was told by an interviewer ? ?In two hours, I have to sit down at a table with my colleagues and make the case for why I want you at my program over all the other applicants here today. What should I tell them?? I thought this question was very revealing and demonstrates the importance of having an advocate at the rank list meeting ? someone who will make the case for why you should be ranked highly. This emphasizes the importance of having more than a Step I of 260 on your application ? you need a well-rounded application that demonstrates consistent hard work and gives the interviewer something concrete to base his or her argument for why you would make an outstanding resident. Just being a pleasant interviewee, doesn?t cut it.
3) With regard to away rotations these certainly can help and are of increasing importance for those with average scores and grades, as doing well can overcome a lot. However they can hurt you and a poor impression, not only eliminates you from contention at that program but can also hurt you at other programs if the chairman is well-known and receives phone calls from other programs that you are interviewing at. Also, there has been some discussion in the past about doing aways at programs that guarantee you an interview. A guaranteed interview shouldn?t affect your decision on where to rotate, because if after a month, the program has decided they don?t want you, there is nothing you can say in the interview that is going to change their mind. All you are doing is adding the expense of interviewing at a program where you have no chance of matching while possibly taking time away from another interview where you might have a shot.
4) Regarding success on your Ortho sub-I, I agree with the above. I actually found it to be one of the easier rotations to Honor. Making the lives of your residents as easy as possible and contributing what you can to minimize the time they spend in the hospital is the key. Get there early, stay late. And never complain. As obvious as that is, I still saw students I rotated with complaining to the residents about how tired they were. You have to be smarter than that and realize, as tired as you may be, your residents are still working harder than you are.
Good luck.
