Trying to decide whether I should take a research year or not. I'm currently finishing up my 3rd year. I have a great position lined up at an MGH lab if I were to take a year, however I don't have any funding so the total cost of living expenses etc would be on me. Below are some relevant stats, my goal is to match somewhere around top 20 ortho residency. Any input would be incredibly helpful!
Med school: Top 20
Step I: 254
Clinical Grades: Honors in Medicine, Surgery, Family Med...still have to finish psych, OBGYN, peds
Research: 1 first author manuscript, 1 first author case report, 1 co-author basic science paper, 3 poster presentations, and potentially another first author manuscript before graduation
Extracurriculars: small stuff...President of a surgical interest group, a bunch of tutoring, Anatomy TA etc.