Why do you think you need to do a research year? Do you want to do one? Your stats are excellent. If you take Step 2 early and rock it you should be set to match at pretty much any program on the Left Coast.

The only reason I can come up with for doing a research year is if you want to do it or you know you want to match at a particular program and you plan to do your research there. Otherwise, a research year will likely not help you that much - in fact, it might make people question why you felt you needed to do one. Besides, don't you have loans?

Thanks for the response.

I want to do one because I enjoy research and I am fearful about how competitive the California schools are. I also want to train at an academic institution.

Yes, I have loans, but the program I would do research in offers a $25k stipend which should offset the interest.

-docdelicious

Thanks for the response.

I want to do one because I enjoy research and I am fearful about how competitive the California schools are. I also want to train at an academic institution.

Yes, I have loans, but the program I would do research in offers a $25k stipend which should offset the interest.

-docdelicious

I'd say the same thing - it's up to you. Ortho is competitive enough that if you match anywhere you can likely break into academic medicine...just do a fellowship in something. Only do research if you want to do it.

I agree. I'm not sure that a voluntary research year would benefit your resume. It could be useful if you don't match (which isn't particularly likely given your stats), but dragging a year to to research isn't really going to give you a whole lot, especially if you haven't already begun a project, since you won't have any new pubs to show when you're interviewing in the fall. It's also a bit of a risk, because there's always the chance you won't produce much in that year, and because some folks might red-flag you wondering "so WHY did this guy pass and hit the lab for a year... should we be worried?"

I suppose a good indication would be if the PI was some high-powered guy/gal at a program to which you'd really like to match and you want the direct face time and haven't had it already.