Just registered, but have enjoyed reading the posts over the last 2 years. Here is my info:
Med School: Far from top 10
AOA (Ranked #1)
Step 1: 99 (rather not share my exact score)
Step 2: 99 (did not post it for programs)
Clinicals: Half Honors/Half HP
Research: 2 pubs (1 JSES, 1 non-peer reviewed), 1 biomechanics project
Extracurriculars: athlete, etc (everyone in ortho is well-rounded)
Applied to 58, Offered 42, Went on 18.
Interviewed at: Northwestern, Columbia, NYU, Michigan, Wash U, Harvard, Duke, Pitt, Penn, Loyola, CWRU, CCF, Miami, Hopkins, Brown, Yale, home, and UCLA.
Matched at #1. Not including my ROL bc that is an individualized thing so it is useless. But here are my 2 cents on some of the programs.
Northwestern: Great location, very good program. Did not rotate there and they made me very aware of that when I interviewed there which turned me off. For you MS III's, this is the place to rotate at if you want to improve your chances (of the 50 interviewed, 42 were rotators)
Columbia: Awesome PD, Great Residents, very academic, but I question the op experience.
NYU: Great op experience, very large program (which can be +/-) , great location.
Michigan: Very balanced, great that there are no fellows, but i question the op experience, location is +/-.
Wash U: Great program......to do a fellowship and get tons of research/pubs.
Harvard: Great reputation, large size, also great for fellowship.
Duke: Great program, very happy residents, strong academics, lots of research available.
Pitt: Fu is the man, very approachable, very balanced program.
Penn: Great Residents that work hard and play hard, not too fond of philly. Op experience v. good, lots of research available. they push hard for the 6-year track.
Loyola: Well-balanced, ok facilities, good trauma.
UCLA: lacks op experience
Brown: very strong program with good balance. 6 years/Providence is a turn-off.
Ok im tired, back to the bar. Good luck to the 3's and congrats to all the 4's.