Post by drdrizzle on Mar 24, 2007 9:57:14 GMT -5
Regardless of what anyone tells you, getting into a top IM residency program is very competitive. To have a chance at the top 15 programs, a step one score of >230 is needed. Otherwise a score of 220 or better will put you in good shape anywhere else. You should apply regardless to wherever you want, but realize you might get screened out. Yes there are a lot of spots, but the competition is fierce. Why? Simple—fellowships (and location). That’s what practically everybody wants to do. The best chance you have of getting that Cards/GI fellowship is going to a well known program and everybody knows that. The advantages are these: 1. you have a better chance of doing a fellowship at that program and its likely to be pretty good. 2. They will probably be doing a ton of basic and clinical research that you can also do and add to your CV. 3. reputation. 4. The higher ups (chairman, etc) have more connections and can make phone calls for you. It is no secret that all fellowship are getting more competitive, even ones that before no one wanted to do, like ID. I was told a couple years ago by the chairman of the Cards department that he got over 600 applications for the handful of spots they have at MCG. While yes its true that everybody is applying everywhere. But that should tell you that they don’t think their chances are that good. Derm and Ortho wannabes take the same shotgun approach!
The major problem with the current system is that you have to apply for your fellowship during the beginning of your second year of residency and interview that winter/spring. So you don’t really have that much time to get your application ready. Most programs give you some elective month or two off after your intern year for some time to do research, but these can be on a competitive basis. If you have done some research in Medical school and already started building your CV, you have a better chance of getting that time off. Also that means less stress when you are a resident to get something published. So my advice to those wanting to do fellowships is to get starting preparing in medical school, esp those that want to do GI/Cards/heme onc. While I know it is fun it sit back, relax, and make fun of how stressed kids that want to do derm or ortho are. This is a good chance to take advantage of some opportunities that can help you later when it will be very competitive and stressful for you. Remember, you WILL match into internal medicine, but you may NOT match into a fellowship you really want, or be forced to take a year off and be a hospitalist (yuk!) b/c you had to reapply.
This post isn’t meant to scare anyone away from internal medicine. Just give you a heads up of some things to be considering, the earlier the better.
The major problem with the current system is that you have to apply for your fellowship during the beginning of your second year of residency and interview that winter/spring. So you don’t really have that much time to get your application ready. Most programs give you some elective month or two off after your intern year for some time to do research, but these can be on a competitive basis. If you have done some research in Medical school and already started building your CV, you have a better chance of getting that time off. Also that means less stress when you are a resident to get something published. So my advice to those wanting to do fellowships is to get starting preparing in medical school, esp those that want to do GI/Cards/heme onc. While I know it is fun it sit back, relax, and make fun of how stressed kids that want to do derm or ortho are. This is a good chance to take advantage of some opportunities that can help you later when it will be very competitive and stressful for you. Remember, you WILL match into internal medicine, but you may NOT match into a fellowship you really want, or be forced to take a year off and be a hospitalist (yuk!) b/c you had to reapply.
This post isn’t meant to scare anyone away from internal medicine. Just give you a heads up of some things to be considering, the earlier the better.