I am a medical graduate (graduated in 2009) from India currently doing orthopaedic research in a Hospital in NY. I think I have a competitive CV with high board scores (260 in Step 1 and 243 in step 2), 6 months of ortho clinical rotations in USA with honors and high honors grades on all, submitted 8 articles during the last year (none has been accepted yet), platform and poster presentations and letters from eminent orthopaedic surgeons. I am planning to apply for the year 2011. I know its very hard for foreign graduates to get into ortho, that is why I need your advice on the back up plans I should have in case I go unmatched this year. Here are a few things that I have in mind:
1. Do more research? I think it will strengthen my application but I am not sure if it would add anything substantial to my application in case I go unmatched this year? I am also concerned about the fact that I will be moving away from my graduation. I regularly go to OR and clinics to stay in touch but do you think that the programs will see my year of graduation and will that be a very negative factor when I re-apply?
2. Prelim General Surgery year? I have heard many pros and cons about this and would like to know your opinion on this
3. Prelim Year in Ortho: This seems to be a more attractive option but I am not sure if many programs have such positions? Do you know of any such spots and if some programs can create it?
