except me .... i havent done any research...zilt, zero...not even in undergrad....havent saved any babies.. (unless the baby roach i spared yesterday counts )...
but still have step 1s and rotations coming up.

so did they mention any correlates with actually matching ?

I am currently a PGY2. When I was applying to residency, my grades and USMLE score were excellent , however, I didn't do any research. I believe research is just shows them that you may have a desire to become an academic orthopod. Research is also program dependent. Some programs thrive on research junkies, while others see it as a necessary evil.

I would agree with much of what Gatorbone has concluded. However my 2 cents is this...if you want to be successful in MATCHING somewhere, make sure you have a well balanced application that can be attractive to almost anybody who reads it. Make sure you dont look like only a smart jock, or a well published student, or simply a pleasant guy/gal to have on rotations. Make sure that all the bases are covered to maximize your chances. AS per the article in JBJS that we have discussed repeatedly on this forum...proving yourself to a program through a rotation is still the best way to match...but only for that specific program and maybe has a little influence for the "friends of friends" aspect.

I have talked to so many of the 1st/2nd/3rd years at my school and without fail they all mention that they feel they might be lacking one thing (whether research, extracurriculars, whatever). Having something to fill in all those spots on the app makes you that much more interesting. That (for the unknown applicant to a program) is attractive and will help get you an interview...which is the chance to convince them you are infact normal and well rounded! Just my experience...good luck

Very interesting,
I totally agree with you Chili, but I think that where you do your aways (especially if you get LORs from there) has alot of influence, good and bad, on where you get interviews. Now I'm just speaking from my own experience, but I rotated at a big name place in Boston, got great LORs, and found that a significant number of programs that invited me to interview had faculty that either knew my LOR writers very well or trained at the program I rotated at. I was actually told by one interviewer that he would see that I was ranked highly based on the fact that he trained in Boston and knew my LOR writers well. So I feel that the "friends of friends" thing will carry you further than you think.
At the same time, where you do your away can be detrimental in regards to regionalism, ? of bad blood between programs, etc. So choose your aways very carefully and get as much input as you can before you decide where to go. Good luck y'all,
Skull