Pubs, JD, but bad board score--pipe dream?

By Guest on Tuesday, 01 June 2010

Posted in Match Center

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Hey guys,

First off I've got to say thanks for this website. It's been a tremendous resource and I'm totally going to donate. I've got a lot of decisions to make about away rotations in the next couple weeks, and I need some help deciding whether ortho is a pipe dream for me. I've read a couple threads and they were super helpful.. but my app has some other aspects I was hoping someone could shed some light on.

School: midwestern state school
Step 1: 216
Grades: Mostly passes, 1 HP first year
Other attributes: have a law degree, passed the bar
Recc letters: overall strong. One from my PI (chair of ortho at a big state school out west), one from the chair of ortho at my school, two from other ortho attendings at my school
Publications: several. 8 review articles, three original research articles, About 10 original research abstracts, a couple of book chapters. Some pure ortho, some at the intersection of plastics and ortho and OB (craniofacial deformities), some at the intersection of neuro and ortho.

I was initially considering going into OB because I was interested in birth defects prevention, but I just did an ortho elective during my surgery rotation and fell in love with it. I realized that if I wanted to correct birth defects I could attack it from an orthopedic standpoint as well. I had always thought I'd like ortho but I had some doubts--whether I could hang with the guys without annoying them (I'm a girl), and whether I really could understand the anatomy and biomechanics. I was pleasantly surprised on both counts.. and now that I've done the rotation I'm 100% sure this is something I'd be happy doing every day for the rest of my life. I'm a really hard worker and seem to make a good impression on attendings (I'm basing that last statement on reccs and feedback)--but I've never been good at med school exams (give me a civic procedure exam and I can recite the Erie doctrine with my eyes closed, but I can't seem to do the same with medicine exams. I've never failed anything, just never hit it out of the park). I do get along well with pretty much everyone I meet and I'm pretty easygoing.

So I guess the question is.. should I go for ortho, or is this just a pipe dream for me given the less than stellar board score and so-so grades? I personally have major doubts about whether I'd be able to match, but so far several advisors and attendings have both told me to go for it nevertheless, saying I bring other aspects to the table (the law degree and research). So far I have a couple aways scheduled already on the west coast, but I need to figure this out before applying for more away rotations in ortho.

Ideally I'd like to end up on the west coast where I'm from, near my family and fiancee, but if it comes down to it I want this so bad I'll go absolutely anywhere and plan to apply broadly (100+ programs). I've got some sub-I's scheduled already but am debating whether to schedule more.

Any advice you could give would be most appreciated.. this whole process is so exciting but the uncertainty is also so scary.
Thanks a million-

Hrm.. well, first of all.. regardless of what your grades are, my opinion is should always try for what you know you're going to be happy with. Have a backup plan, either in another speciality or, if you really want to do ortho.. a research / intern year backup.

That being said, it will be definitely an uphill struggle, but that's okay. Even for people with great scores, it still is an uphill battle. I had what it took, grades/CV wise and I still didn't match the first time around, it's just the way things go.

However, there are two things that are very important for any candidate to stand out. First and foremost is that you have a great personality and are fun to work with. That's really key. Second is to have an interesting story that is not obtrusive.

I'm not sure about the first thing, but the fact that you're a girl, have a JD, had that prior in OB,.. etc. makes you very memorable.

With your grades and such, most academic places won't give you the time of day, but I'd still apply there. However, community programs and programs that are 'hidden' gems, so to speak, will absolutey love you.

I would try to do as many aways at places you know don't get a lot of rotators. Every place favors rotators, but you want to goto a place that receives just over a few (like 6).

As far as your backup, that will depend on how much you want to do ortho. For me, I knew it was ortho or bust. If I didn't make it, I would do something outside of medicine. It just wasn't worth it for me.

If you think you'd default to OB, do a rotation in it.. if you really want to ortho, don't do anything as a backup, only plan to do research or something along those lines if you don't match.

You have an interesting story and great enthusiasm for the field. This goes a long way. Hard work and persistance seem to be what selection committees look for.

Good luck.

Guest

16 years ago

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#56348

hmmmmm...

If a bunch of anonymous people on the internet told you that ortho was a pipe dream for you, would that really change anything for you?

Guest

16 years ago

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#56349

Thanks guys.. those are really good points, and I really appreciate the encouragement. I suppose you're right, in theory it shouldn't matter to me if I really want ortho. I've always been the kind of person who goes with all I have for something when I really want it, no holds barred (much to my dad's chagrin when I decided to go for med school after finishing another degree).... so I don't know why this should be any different...drills and locking screws are just way too sexy to pass up for the rest of my life. But seriously.. the interest is definitely there; every day I looked forward to going to work, and it was such a relief to finally find out what I want to do.

I guess the question then becomes.. is there any way to get past the screen? How can I bring my application and some of the unique attributes to light of PD's if computer algorithms/secretaries automatically screen my app out based on numbers screens? I know I'm going to have to network like a presidential candidate--but is there anything beyond that and away rotations that I can do? Have you ever heard of anyone sending letters to PD's ahead of time expressing interest?

And.. do you know the screennames of anyone with less than stellar board scores who have had success that I could message? I've searched the forums but haven't come across lower board scores yet.

Again, thanks so much for taking the time to reply.. SO appreciated.

Guest

16 years ago

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#56350

I guess the question then becomes.. is there any way to get past the screen? How can I bring my application and some of the unique attributes to light of PD's if computer algorithms/secretaries automatically screen my app out based on numbers screens? I know I'm going to have to network like a presidential candidate--but is there anything beyond that and away rotations that I can do? Have you ever heard of anyone sending letters to PD's ahead of time expressing interest?

And.. do you know the screennames of anyone with less than stellar board scores who have had success that I could message? I've searched the forums but haven't come across lower board scores yet.

Again, thanks so much for taking the time to reply.. SO appreciated.

ERAS allows PD's to filter applications based on a certain step one cutoff. There is no way around this for a med student, even if you get >260 on step 2. I've heard of outstanding rotators getting interviews in spite of board scores not meeting the cutoff, but in general there is no way to make your application "stand out" in the face of a low step one score and those programs sadly never see your application. It sucks but what's done is done.

Regarding sending notes]http://www.nrmp.org/data/chartingoutcomes2009v3.pdf[/url]

Guest

16 years ago

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#56351