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john lucezi
Registered User
Posts: 1
(11/25/00 1:51:50 pm)
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Contingency Plans
To all ortho applicants this year, I know this is probably the last thing on your minds, but I was
wondering what happens if you don't match into orthopedics this year. What are your contingency plans
- do you plan to take a year off for research, do prelim year of surgery, categorical, etc... (fyi, I am a
third year med student hoping to do orthopedics, but aware of the difficulty of matching into such a
competitive field - I just wanted to get some feedback as you guys are going through the application
process right now). Thanks, and good luck with everything.
John
TR13
Registered User
Posts: 2
(12/18/00 4:36:34 pm)
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Re: Contingency Plans
John-
First of all, I don't believe matching into ortho is nearly as difficult as we have been lead to believe. I am
currently doing interviews, and I have no reason to believe that I won't match anywhere (nor have I
heard anyone else state that they are concerned.) It seems that if you just "diversify" your program
wishes (a few strong, a few average, a few below average programs) you will have little problem. Just be
realistic or even slightly optimistic in your program applications. Contingency plans that I have read or
heard about include a general surgery year or a research year in a department which you think that you
could get eventually get into.
The only advice that I can give you now is to do as many away well-planned away electives as possible as
a 4th year student. I did 3 (all places well-above my qualification level) and have been virtually guaranteed
a spot in 2 of the 3. Although a lot of work, it is certainly nice not having the burden of worrying whether
I will match somewhere. (Keep in mind that I have knocked on wood about 4 times during this post.)
Good luck and I wouldn't worry much.
Underdog1974
Registered User
Posts: 6
(12/21/00 9:57:33 am)
Reply
Contingency Planning
I hear there are over 900 applicants this year for orthopaedic surgery, and there are only ~550 positions
available through the match. You can do the math: A contingency plan is a good idea.
Programs will butter applicants up like crazy on the interview trail. They'll flatter you, they'll make you feel
good about your candidacy. Remember that all they want to do is improve their ranking on YOUR rank
list. Kissing your ass is sometimes the best way to do it. I wouldn't believe anybody when they say that
you are a shoo-in for a spot at their program. I have heard about too many people who were screwed at
the last minute because of something someone told them.
Cynic that I am, I think it's a realistic way to look at things. Merry X-mas!
TR1
Registered User
Posts: 2
(12/22/00 3:38:06 pm)
Reply
Contingency Plans
I think our esteemed colleague UD74 is a little more cynical than realistic. I agree that programs will tell
you just about anything for you to rank them highly and that you need to be skeptical of all of them.
The statement that there is about a 2:1 applicant to residency position ratio is very surprising to me,
and really difficult to believe. Regardless, if you can schedule about 10-11 interviews, I would think the
chances to match at one is approximately 99%. With few exceptions, I would think that those left
unmatched are lower than the top quarter of their class/non-AOA, no research, and board scores below
225. We all hear horror stories, and I met a resident on one of my away rotations who was junior-AOA,
240's board scores, a ton of research, and a decent personality who did not match at first. It turns out
that he didn't take interviews to any of the
TR1
Registered User
Posts: 3
(12/22/00 3:39:41 pm)
Reply
Contingency Plans
It turns out that he didn't take interviews to any of the "lesser" programs and "fell through the cracks"
at the "powerhouses." So I agree that their are no sure bets. So maybe contingency plans are the thing
to do if you are super cynical or have a marginal application.
