Just chill and do well third year and you should be totally fine for any program (unless you are small-built and your bench:boards ratio is less than 1 in which case you will have a difficult time getting into a "top" program). As for step 2, take it so that your score comes after you submit ERAS (in September) so that if you don't do as well as Step 1, you don't have to disclose your score.

Dude,

Be prepare for a flogging from some of the more senior members on this board. This is because you're obviously a stellar candidate on paper (i.e. board scores and possibly AOA). Leave the sweating for guys like myself (i.e. non-AOA and sub-230 board scores). So don't worry, unless you're a total tool bag, you should match at an upper tier program. I did with average board scores.

Hi, this is Dr. Hoppenfeld. I'm bored and planning on reapplying to do an ortho residency just for sh*&s and giggles. Do I have a realistic chance of matching at a middle-tier school? I have solid board scores, junior AOA, and wrote the bible on surgical approaches. What are my chances?

Thanks )

Dr. Hoppenfeld,
I think that if you can get some solid LOR's you might-- MIGHT-- be okay. Just being an ortho god is not enough. You should probably apply to at least 90 programs and take every interview you can get.

T-Bones,
I think your concern should be to match in the right kind of program. My 2 cents worth: Avoid the jock-oriented programs, some of which you listed in your post, and go for those with residents with similar personalities to yours.

If I need to sort through more crap like this post from T-Bones, I may actuallly have to shoot myself. I have a 270, Honored every class I took, am published in multiple journals, will I match?- SHUT UP. If you're so insecure with yourself that you need to have us hold your hand and let you know that your are a good candidate, then find a new field. Of course you'll match somewhere, unless you are the tool that you appear to be in this post. If that is the case maybe radiology is the right career choice for you. :evilgrin:

Deep breaths guys...I think people that get so worked up over a post like this should maybe look in the mirror before handing out the tool designation. Ortho is a pretty stressful career choice. If something like this gets you so worked up, maybe you should choose Radiology. It doesn't require as much stress, or human interaction.

agree with ortho2003.

Just to let you all know that a friend of mine was 2nd in his class, 261 on step 1, some research, and matched at his 8th choice. So it's not unheard of for a top candidate not to get his top choices.

I know it is stressful, and I am just kidding. But, there are a tons of posts with people with stellar stats asking if they have any chance. There are always exceptions to the rules, but for the multitude of applicants that fall into that category, read one of those posts and realize that you are in much better shape than others, like myself.

relax! I am only starting my third year rotations havent received a grade in any of them yet, don't have any research under my belt, and from what i have heard good Step One scores dont necessarily guarantee you will get a spot. If I had to rephrase my post i would have asked what would be the best advice to increase my chances of getting the residency of my choice.(taking the step two early, making sure i do some research, etc.) By the way which of the programs that I listed are considered "jock" programs?

Miami is a jock program. I don't know about the others. UF may be jock, too, since football is so big there, but that is just a guess. You'll know if you can fit into a jock program if you can go to a gym daily for a week and feel comfortable hanging out with the serious lifters there. Whether you'll have the free time during residency to go to the gym to work-out is another matter...

T-Bones,
I would call MUSC a jock program(Charleston). USC definitely is not(Columbia). You should be looking at Duke and Carolinas(Charlotte).

MUSC 04 :roll smile: