orthowannabe
Unregistered User
(3/14/00 8:23:42 pm)
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good luck on matchday & tips wanted.
good luck to everyone eagerly awaiting the match results. or to the unlucky ones, good luck scrambling.
since this whole application/matching process is still fresh on your mind, any experiences or tips you would like
to share? especially for someone (ms 3) who is going to be a mediocre candidate at best. thanks.
cb
Unregistered User
(3/16/00 6:59:42 pm)
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matching
friends of mine who matched in ortho and had mediocre resumes, all matched either at their home school or at
places they did rotations. If your the kind of guy that the program wants to hang out with or have work for
them then the resume can be put aside. Certain programs tend to have a trend in taking people who rotate
there. At my school i hade two friends one aoa, 240...., the other middle of the road grades 220, both rotated
at the same program, both ranked it No. 1, aoa guy had 17 interviews, other guy had 3. The underdog got the
spot because he was "cooler, fit in better", aoa guy got 17th choice!
anasar
Unregistered User
(3/17/00 1:25:33 pm)
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matching
Matching is a stressful process but you certainly do not have to be aoa to get into a program. board scores
are very important think 230. otherwise, its all about how you present yourself, your letters of
recommendation, rotation grades, and interesting extracurricular activities.
I am an average student with honors in all ortho stuff but only a pass in general surgery. I have some
interesting research but nothing published. 230 on step I, did not take step II yet.
I ended up matching my 5th choice which was not a place that I rotated at - i just made a good impression
during the interview and was able to speak intelligently about my research activities which must have gone
over well.
good luck - it all comes down to that, I have friends who matched with 1 or 2 interviews and know someone
who had about a dozen and did not match.
Alan
JD
Unregistered User
(3/17/00 4:20:35 pm)
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good luck on matchday & tips wanted
All the guys at my school that I know who did any away rotation with middle of the road credentials all
matched....Their advice was to work your butt off, work your butt off, work your butt off...
mootalot
Global user
(4/11/00 3:08:19 pm)
Reply
mediocrity
I have a classmate who got 218, not AOA some preclinical honors and most honors third year. He matched at
an excellent program - beyond the reach of his numbers. Even if you have less than he had - the point is, this
guy is going to a powerhouse program.
The key is to be proactive. Don't wait and wonder which programs will be interested in you. Hound programs.
Let them know that there is something unique about you and your attraction to their program - that you are
not just trying to increase your odds by applying to their program. I personally got 3 interviews after most
interview offers had been sent out by doing just that. After I had most of my interview offers (early january) I
called most of the programs from which I had not yet heard and told those who would listen why I was special
and should deserve an interview. I got three offers (out of 11) that would have otherwise been rejection
letters.
The other point is do away rotations. The mediocre candidate is the one who wants it - who will really work
hard on an away to show that you are better than your ERAS app says.
Good Luck
