OK, i'm in a slight dilemma and looking for some advice I guess. I'm debating between either allo or osteo ortho, the thing is i have a family of 4 kids, and some areas of the osteo persuasion are not in the best areas...detroit, etc.
Scores are good 245 USMLE and 685 on COMLEX. Have research and extensive experience as an orthopedic PA for three years. I'm looking for good family areas where hopefully I don't have to drive all over, etc and live in a decent area for my kids.
Any help is appreciated, and I've looked at all the residencies for osteo, just don't know which ones are the family friendly areas.
Im at Botsford in Farmington Hils, MI... bout 30 min from downtown detroit. I live in Livonia, which is VERY family oriented. My neighborhood is veryquiet. The hospital is in a good part of town as well. I wouldnt think twice about bringing a family up here. Most of our residents have kids and are perfectly happy. Most of the programs up here are far enough away from detroit that it doesnt matter.
capneedle, the raw scores mean nothing, it is the percentile ranking that count. Your scores appear solid, so go for it. Your experience as a ortho PA should be showcased, meaning strut your stuff on your rotations. As far as what to do with allo vs. osteo. Apply to both, if you match into an osteo ortho spot, take it. There are advantages to allo residency, however, ortho is competitive, and the best ortho program is the one you get into. Use allo ortho as a back-up. Greater than 90% of the ortho residents do fellowships, save to say you will do a fellowship. I feel that a fellowship will negate any short-comings with the residency. I am offering you my opinion as a DO ortho attending who is fellowship trained and in practice. Right now ortho is heavy recruited, both MD and DO orthopods are in demand period! Whatever route you take you will be successful! My opinion regarding Botsford, it is a demanding program. Of the residents I know at least 2 are divorced and 1 had a near divorce. Make no mistakes about Botsford, it is a rigorous program that takes a toll on the wife and family. This may have changed but was not the case 5 years ago.
They dont give percentile scores anymore.. THe scoring system all changed 2 years ago. BUT if you use the standard deviation and simple stat, you can get that 685 is 99 or so...
WHo do you know at Botsford? I am there now, and there isnt a single resident that is divorced. In fact, only 4 of us are single (of 17). Many of them have multiple kids, and more on the way.
