Should I bother applying this year?

I'm a current MSIV. Unlike other fourth years, I am behind one rotation (8 weeks) because I transferred medical schools between my second and third years. I chose to do a sub I in ortho for my first rotation because ortho is really the only field I have any experience in which I have enjoyed. Unfortunately, my application is weak. My Step I score was crap (208, was miserable right before I moved and couldn't study well), my grades place me only in the top 1/3 of my class and although I have an entire summer of orthopaedic research to help me, it resulted in no publications. I have already taken Step II but have unknown scores. So, when I went to talk to my dean about my deans letter, I was advised that if I want to go into ortho, my best bet would be to volunteer to repeat my fourth year in order to bolster my application for othopaedics, and to find a back-up field to apply to at the same time so that I do not have to go unmatched. She doesn't feel that I have any chance in obtaining an ortho residency if I turn in my application as it is. At this point, I am considering applying for both ortho and ER, but unfortunately at my school we do not rotate through the ER until MSIV. Since I am behind a rotation, it is impossible for me to do an ER rotation and obtain LORs before my ERAS is due. I' m not entirely against the idea, but I would like a second opinion from an unbiased POV. My other options other than repeating MSIV are:
1. to apply to ortho + prelim year in 2008, then reapply in 2009 if I don't obtain an ortho residency.
2. apply to ortho + family practice, and forget about ortho all together and go do sports med
3. not apply and wait a year doing volunteer shadowing and research and apply in 2009 while saving myself the $50,000 in tuition

I would appreciate any opinion anyone can give, as I need to make a decision about this ASAP. Thank you!

hey.

okay, this topic in particular is good one to get a feel on. first off, good luck to you in whatever decision you end up making.

I think it's important to be ambitious, but also realistic at the same time. While your step 1 scores are below the average for matched applicants (step 1= 234), there are other positive factors in your app that would increase your chances. (ie. summer of orthopaedic research, good grades, possible AOA?)

If you end up blowing away step 2, that could help you out tremendously, but considering the competitiveness of the field, there's no guarantee.

I switched into ortho at the end of my 3rd year, and went into the application fray w/o any ortho experience of any kind (no shadowing, no research, nada). My step 1 was a ~240.. I was advised by my chairman to apply anyways, and i received over 15 interview offers; I ranked 12 programs.....but I did not match. My interviews all went pretty well and I was repeatedly told as such by the programs

Was it the fact I switched late, was it the lack of research experience? I'm not entirely sure, but given that the big void in my app was research experience. I decided to defer graduation, and spend some time doing solid research work. I wanted ortho more than any other field, so it didn't bother me too much to have to take a year off.

In retrospect, I think the research fellowship was a blessing...b/c it's giving me an opportunity to not only relax a bit, but to really work on cutting edge technology. And the connections i'm making, are awesome. So i'm applying now and such hoping that this year will have made a difference.

At the end of the day, if you are truly interested in ortho..definitely go for it, but give yourself the opp to try to fill in any voids in your application. There are threads about doing a prelim year vs research...and I think that as a person with no ortho research, for me doing the fellowship was the better way to bolster my app.

Other things to consider are your ability to do an away rotation, which are some of the best ways to get noticed by programs and LORs. B/c this field is so competitive, you gotta figure whether you are doing everything you can to help yourself out.

In the grand scheme of things, I think taking a year off isn't that big of deal....but some folks want to get started on their residencies immediately. As you have mentioned, FM+sports med is one way to go....just do your best to be sure of what you want.

hope this gives you some perspective.

OG2008