FALCON76
OSRR Newbie
Posts: 5
(3/14/02 11:58:52 pm)
144.74.60.91
Reply | Edit | Del All Overcoming regionalism
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I've heard that regionalism plays a big role in where you get invited for interviews. What can an applicant from one region of the country do to make himself or herself appealing outside regions?
OrthoStud
OSRR Fellow
Posts: 119
(3/15/02 7:48:34 am)
208.1.152.57
Reply | Edit | Del Overcoming Regionalism
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Get 270 on step 1, be junior AOA, publish 5 papers in JBJS.
Other than that, you're SOL for the most part.
I'm exaggerating obviously.
Doing electives outside the region may be the only way to increase your chances. And if you're from midwest state X and built a bridge or went to college there, and go to med school in northeast, then midwest X may look twice at your app.
Perry Osteum
OSRR Intern
Posts: 14
(3/15/02 9:37:18 am)
156.63.242.11
Reply | Edit | Del Re: Overcoming Regionalism
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Yeah, what orthostud said (with very little or no exaggeration). I'm from a pretty good medical school in the Midwest with good board scores/grades/research letter (yeah, yeah, we all look the same on the orthoring too...), but I found it very difficult to get out of my region. Things that may have helped me:
1. 270 on step I (no kidding)
2. AOA (my school does not publish this until January)
3. Several 1st authored papers in JBJS, AJSM, and WFJYL
4. Seriously, the best way to break out of your region is doing away rotations and seriously busting your @#$. Also, if you have personal connections at certain schools, in certain cities (family in the area) etc..
What the h$%& do I know though... six days and counting y'all.
oldoc
OSRR Newbie
Posts: 4
(3/15/02 11:04:32 am)
64.219.170.28
Reply | Edit | Del regions
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Regionalism is an important part of this process. A midwest program might not give an interview to a stud from Boston simply because there is likely no chance in h$%& that he/she will go to their program. I know, everyone says they just want to go where they are given a chance but we all know there is a pecking order
I am just an average guy with decent grades (not AOA) and good boards but I interviewed from california to florida. (The northeast wasn't too fond of me). I would say for those people who dont have 250+ and AOA and Hiesman trophies and supermodel girlfriends, just go and work your @#$ off in your ortho rotations. people know and respect the people you get your letters from so that may be a deciding factor.
Good luck everyone, time to wallow in cheap beer for 6 days
Bone Jock
OSRR Senior
Posts: 57
(3/15/02 8:07:09 pm)
129.22.195.159
Reply | Edit | Del Re: regions
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Another Average candidate here. Got interview offers out west, midwest (where I'm from), and east coast. I got the big Heisman stiff arm from programs in the area east of the Mississippi and south of the Mason-Dixon line (except for Kentucky and D.C., but they don't count).
tbone
OSRR Senior
Posts: 66
(3/16/02 1:46:56 pm)
63.214.216.104
Reply | Edit | Del Re: Overcoming regionalism
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I agree with oldoc and Bone Jock (even though he thinks my No. 1 program is for nerds ). I am from the east coast but applied widely to many regions of the country and got interviews in the west, east, and midwest (I didn't apply in the south). My boards were strong, but less than 250. However, I was not AOA, and I did not honor all of my classes during 3rd year- in fact I only got a pass in one of them. My letters came from some well-known people, which may have helped.
One thing I learned from this whole process is that it is a complete crapshoot, and a lot of random factors are involved.
I think what's important is to work hard, get to know some people who are well-connected, and don't be afraid to apply to programs just because you think they won't take you. You could look at it the same way you should look at your rank list- apply where you want to go, not just where you think you'll end up.
Of course, the proof is in the pudding- I don't know where I'm going yet, so I really can't say for sure if I'll match outside of the east.
Good luck everyone- 2 days 'til Black Monday.
longhorn orthopod
OSRR Intern
Posts: 17
(3/16/02 6:16:53 pm)
129.106.115.125
Reply | Edit | Del regionalism
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I'm from Texas (as the name implies), did all my schooling in Texas, but now I'm ready to go. I was really worried that out of state schools wouldn't look at me. I got less than 250 on the boards, was AOA, didn't honor everything, had good letters, and pretty crappy research. I interviewed all across the country, from California to Chicago to Virginia. I agree that it's pretty much a crap shoot, and I'll never understand why some schools thought I was good and others didn't, but oh well. I did do 3 aways at schools outside of the state and got some really good letters from those places. I figured that's all I could do. My top 6 places are all out of state, so we'll see what happens. Just apply where you want to and hope for the best.
Bone Jock
OSRR Senior
Posts: 59
(3/17/02 12:22:53 pm)
129.22.7.119
Reply | Edit | Del tbone
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Tbone,
Glad you didn't take that whole "nerd thing" personally. Now that I've finally had a chance to look at things I realize my No. 1 (CWRU) is considered a nerd program too. Guess I've just been in denial. Hopefully we end up at our No. 1's so we can take shots at each other for the next 5 years =). Good luck dude.
tbone
OSRR Senior
Posts: 68
(3/19/02 9:39:40 pm)
63.214.192.226
Reply | Edit | Del Re: tbone
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Thanks, Bone Jock. Good luck to you too. Only 2 more days!
OSRR Newbie
Posts: 5
(3/14/02 11:58:52 pm)
144.74.60.91
Reply | Edit | Del All Overcoming regionalism
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I've heard that regionalism plays a big role in where you get invited for interviews. What can an applicant from one region of the country do to make himself or herself appealing outside regions?
OrthoStud
OSRR Fellow
Posts: 119
(3/15/02 7:48:34 am)
208.1.152.57
Reply | Edit | Del Overcoming Regionalism
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Get 270 on step 1, be junior AOA, publish 5 papers in JBJS.
Other than that, you're SOL for the most part.
I'm exaggerating obviously.
Doing electives outside the region may be the only way to increase your chances. And if you're from midwest state X and built a bridge or went to college there, and go to med school in northeast, then midwest X may look twice at your app.
Perry Osteum
OSRR Intern
Posts: 14
(3/15/02 9:37:18 am)
156.63.242.11
Reply | Edit | Del Re: Overcoming Regionalism
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yeah, what orthostud said (with very little or no exaggeration). I'm from a pretty good medical school in the Midwest with good board scores/grades/research letter (yeah, yeah, we all look the same on the orthoring too...), but I found it very difficult to get out of my region. Things that may have helped me:
1. 270 on step I (no kidding)
2. AOA (my school does not publish this until January)
3. Several 1st authored papers in JBJS, AJSM, and WFJYL
4. Seriously, the best way to break out of your region is doing away rotations and seriously busting your @#$. Also, if you have personal connections at certain schools, in certain cities (family in the area) etc..
What the h$%& do I know though... six days and counting y'all.
oldoc
OSRR Newbie
Posts: 4
(3/15/02 11:04:32 am)
64.219.170.28
Reply | Edit | Del regions
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regionalism is an important part of this process. A midwest program might not give an interview to a stud from Boston simply because there is likely no chance in h$%& that he/she will go to their program. I know, everyone says they just want to go where they are given a chance but we all know there is a pecking order
I am just an average guy with decent grades (not AOA) and good boards but I interviewed from california to florida. (The northeast wasn't too fond of me). I would say for those people who dont have 250+ and AOA and Hiesman trophies and supermodel girlfriends, just go and work your @#$ off in your ortho rotations. people know and respect the people you get your letters from so that may be a deciding factor.
Good luck everyone, time to wallow in cheap beer for 6 days
Bone Jock
OSRR Senior
Posts: 57
(3/15/02 8:07:09 pm)
129.22.195.159
Reply | Edit | Del Re: regions
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Another Average candidate here. Got interview offers out west, midwest (where I'm from), and east coast. I got the big Heisman stiff arm from programs in the area east of the Mississippi and south of the Mason-Dixon line (except for Kentucky and D.C., but they don't count).
tbone
OSRR Senior
Posts: 66
(3/16/02 1:46:56 pm)
63.214.216.104
Reply | Edit | Del Re: Overcoming regionalism
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I agree with oldoc and Bone Jock (even though he thinks my No. 1 program is for nerds ). I am from the east coast but applied widely to many regions of the country and got interviews in the west, east, and midwest (I didn't apply in the south). My boards were strong, but less than 250. However, I was not AOA, and I did not honor all of my classes during 3rd year- in fact I only got a pass in one of them. My letters came from some well-known people, which may have helped.
One thing I learned from this whole process is that it is a complete crapshoot, and a lot of random factors are involved.
I think what's important is to work hard, get to know some people who are well-connected, and don't be afraid to apply to programs just because you think they won't take you. You could look at it the same way you should look at your rank list- apply where you want to go, not just where you think you'll end up.
Of course, the proof is in the pudding- I don't know where I'm going yet, so I really can't say for sure if I'll match outside of the east.
Good luck everyone- 2 days 'til Black Monday.
longhorn orthopod
OSRR Intern
Posts: 17
(3/16/02 6:16:53 pm)
129.106.115.125
Reply | Edit | Del regionalism
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm from Texas (as the name implies), did all my schooling in Texas, but now I'm ready to go. I was really worried that out of state schools wouldn't look at me. I got less than 250 on the boards, was AOA, didn't honor everything, had good letters, and pretty crappy research. I interviewed all across the country, from California to Chicago to Virginia. I agree that it's pretty much a crap shoot, and I'll never understand why some schools thought I was good and others didn't, but oh well. I did do 3 aways at schools outside of the state and got some really good letters from those places. I figured that's all I could do. My top 6 places are all out of state, so we'll see what happens. Just apply where you want to and hope for the best.
Bone Jock
OSRR Senior
Posts: 59
(3/17/02 12:22:53 pm)
129.22.7.119
Reply | Edit | Del tbone
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Tbone,
Glad you didn't take that whole "nerd thing" personally. Now that I've finally had a chance to look at things I realize my No. 1 (CWRU) is considered a nerd program too. Guess I've just been in denial. Hopefully we end up at our No. 1's so we can take shots at each other for the next 5 years =). Good luck dude.
tbone
OSRR Senior
Posts: 68
(3/19/02 9:39:40 pm)
63.214.192.226
Reply | Edit | Del Re: tbone
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Thanks, Bone Jock. Good luck to you too. Only 2 more days!