Based on Northwestern's strong preference for rotators, I do not think that you are out of their league IF you do a rotation there. You also need to do well on that rotation, of course, but working hard and not being a complete tool will lead to success on an away rotation. If you really want to be in Chicago, there are several good programs. Northwestern is one, but Loyola and Rush also have very good reps and you could consider them too. Although I don't know about their preference for rotators if it is as strong as NW's.
Just for stats ... NW interviewed 45-50 this year for 9 spots (already pretty good odds) and 35-40 of those were rotators. So if you are very interested in NW, I would highly suggest a rotation.
just my 2 cents....... :smokin:

Try and figure out which Chicago program you want to end up at for residency and do a rotation there. NW gets a lot of rotators b/c of school name and the rep that you wont get in if you don't rotate there. Personally, I think each Chicago program has it's strengths and anybody who tells you NW is the best program in Chi town either doesn't really know the other programs or is from NW.

I think Loyola is the most 'well rounded' program. University of Chicago is best academically, followed by Rush. UIC has a rep for some malignancy and is one of those places like USC where you are, perhaps, operating too much (academia suffers). NW has a great, although undeserved, reputation and functions like a huge private program soft on operative experience. That said, it is a place where you will get a solid education and come away with a good rep for fellowships, etc.

I know there are better programs in Chicago than NW. My rationale was simply odds. It takes the most residents and someone from my small home school has been accepted there before. But with Chicago being such a popular city to live in, I fear that I'm not competitive enough in terms of mainly Step 1 numbers and that I'm pretty much wasting a month. I've read horror stories on this forum alone with people rotating there, with a 240, and not being a tool not granted an interview. What do you guys think? Is that more the exception than the rule in terms of step 1 numbers? Would taking Step II earlier be helpful?

Screw,

I don't know anything about NW, nor do I know anything about Chicago, so you could probably care less about my opinion. I know that at this point in the process, if you are anything like I was, you are very excited and nervous, but you should know that you will relax and open your mind a little as you go through the application and match process. There are lots of cities and lots of programs out there and you truly do not know how you will feel this time next year. I am a fourth year student wanting to do ortho now waiting for the match results. My rank list does not look like I thought it would this time last year. In fact, the aways and the interviews were great experiences and they have affected me in ways I never thought they would. Step 1 score is only one part of the equation - and yours is very good, by the way. If you really want to go to NW - do an away there. Kick some butt and make some friends. If you posses qualities that NW looks for, and you fall in love with the program - It's a match. But keep an open mind and don't be afraid of rotating somewhere else.

bonebar,

Thanks for your advice. I appreciate. You're probably right...where I want to go now, will probably change where I want to go later. I'm just preparing for it not changing. Thanks for stating the reality of the situation. Greatly appreciated.

Just found out that I got a month at NW. Any advice from people who did do a rotation there? Who to get to know? Who will write you a good letter in short notice? Where to park? Little things like that.