(05-04-2020, 07:41 PM)Guest Wrote: This cycle is going to be nebulous. I was recommended to take a research year and apply when aways are status quo again and I don’t have to get a gen surg letter
In the same boat. Although I was told I could match this year, it was suggested that without aways it would be tough for me to match in what would have been my top 5. I'm taking a year for research so I can do a Sub-I at my dream program and hopefully have a higher chance of matching at a program of my choice
(05-04-2020, 09:17 PM)Guest Wrote: (05-04-2020, 07:41 PM)Guest Wrote: This cycle is going to be nebulous. I was recommended to take a research year and apply when aways are status quo again and I don’t have to get a gen surg letter
In the same boat. Although I was told I could match this year, it was suggested that without aways it would be tough for me to match in what would have been my top 5. I'm taking a year for research so I can do a Sub-I at my dream program and hopefully have a higher chance of matching at a program of my choice
sure sure... but let me play devils advocate. Lets say you apply this year and don't get your top 5, but you do get into a program that will train you to become a neurosurgeon.... Instead you take a year off to do research, when in reality you'll get maybe 1-2 quality publications before applications are due again in September. You will have taken on more loan burden to take an additional year. You will also need to explain why you chose to do a year of research. Also, there's no guarantee that aways will be allowed next year either. But for the sake of argument lets say you do rotate at your "dream" place and after all of that you still don't match top 5, but instead at another program.
I think that all of you people wanting to take a year off should really consider how worth while that is. If you're competitive now do you think a year of research is going to set you apart. Also, if a significant portion of applicants decide to take time off to get their "dream" away rotation then everyone is in the exact same boat they are in now. Except you will have wasted a year and still have matched where ever you were going to match.
That being said. If your application needs work then some time off is probably good. But it takes more than a year to get quality publications out or to do quality research...
(05-04-2020, 09:37 PM)Guest Wrote: (05-04-2020, 09:17 PM)Guest Wrote: (05-04-2020, 07:41 PM)Guest Wrote: This cycle is going to be nebulous. I was recommended to take a research year and apply when aways are status quo again and I don’t have to get a gen surg letter
In the same boat. Although I was told I could match this year, it was suggested that without aways it would be tough for me to match in what would have been my top 5. I'm taking a year for research so I can do a Sub-I at my dream program and hopefully have a higher chance of matching at a program of my choice
sure sure... but let me play devils advocate. Lets say you apply this year and don't get your top 5, but you do get into a program that will train you to become a neurosurgeon.... Instead you take a year off to do research, when in reality you'll get maybe 1-2 quality publications before applications are due again in September. You will have taken on more loan burden to take an additional year. You will also need to explain why you chose to do a year of research. Also, there's no guarantee that aways will be allowed next year either. But for the sake of argument lets say you do rotate at your "dream" place and after all of that you still don't match top 5, but instead at another program.
I think that all of you people wanting to take a year off should really consider how worth while that is. If you're competitive now do you think a year of research is going to set you apart. Also, if a significant portion of applicants decide to take time off to get their "dream" away rotation then everyone is in the exact same boat they are in now. Except you will have wasted a year and still have matched where ever you were going to match.
That being said. If your application needs work then some time off is probably good. But it takes more than a year to get quality publications out or to do quality research...
What's one year compared to 7 years somewhere you don't want to be? "You will also need to explain why you chose to do a year of research"...taking a research year no longer needs to be defended given how common it is these days, and COVID is a perfectly reasonable explanation that all PDs will understand. In fact, it can show you are willing to do whatever it takes.
Agree with your other points though, there is no way to guarantee you'll match at a specific program and being set on one program is not a good idea. I also agree with quality; applicant pubs are through the roof with many departments tagging on med students as an nth author to all papers and seems like people are starting to see through this. You can definitely get some stuff out though in one year, especially with clinical research.
Taking a year off is never bad idea, assuming you are productive or work with someone influential in the field; if you dont work with an influential person and don't publish, it can be a waste of time.
Speaking of influential....everyone here is talking about PDs and their views and SNS.....you people do realize that in the end, the only decision that matters is the Chair's, right? Ideally you want to have both the PD and the chair on your side, but if you do decide to do research, I would recommend you work with a Chair you can impress.
people coming off a research year are screwed
(05-03-2020, 12:25 AM)Guest Wrote: (05-02-2020, 11:30 PM)Guest Wrote: Senior resident at a busy midwest program. Our PD also said that if our institution allows it, we will give a chance to applicants to rotate here. No talks, by any means, about retaliation against applicants who did aways. At the same time, I don’t think it will make those without aways look less competitive to us. Don’t stress out. If you can get an Away, because “you” want to get to know the field better or connect with more people, then do it. But don’t think that if you don’t do so, you’re not going to match. The process is going to be fair regarding this aspect of the application, in my opinion.
+1 here. We're opening back up in mid-June as per the medical school and we'll likely take Sub-Is. It sounds like quite a few other top places (including the BNI) will take rotators as well. Highly doubt that not having away letters will hurt you (and it definitely won't here). I have no idea what they're talking about at the SNS meeting.
I understand where some of you are coming from though. Here's an idea for the med students - why not rotate at top places you'd like to go, request a letter, and then just don't send that letter to any other programs (or programs that you're worried will penalize you). You can choose exactly which programs get specific letters. The real benefit of an away is to maximize your chances of matching here (by showing up, working hard, being a great person to be around). You can still do this and avoid the negative repercussions it sounds like you're all worried about.
(05-05-2020, 12:03 AM)Guest Wrote: people coming off a research year are screwed
Why
(05-05-2020, 12:03 AM)Guest Wrote: people coming off a research year are screwed
Uh, I think these people will probably be the strongest candidates this application cycle.
My overall impression is that not much will tangibly change for the majority of applicants (ie those with a home program). The main change is that proportionally more weight will be given to home letters, so work hard to rock those Sub-Is. for those without a home program, letters from Gen Surg will suffice just fine. Seems like the main role of letters this cycle will prob just be to make sure there aren’t any alarm bells about an applicant. Otherwise Step scores and the interview will serve to thin the herd and identify those whom the programs want.
A disconcerting change considering students have been expecting a different experience for sure, but in practice very little has changed. Have good step scores, work hard on rotations, and don’t be weird on the interview, and you’ll be just fine.
(05-05-2020, 11:18 AM)Guest Wrote: My overall impression is that not much will tangibly change for the majority of applicants (ie those with a home program). The main change is that proportionally more weight will be given to home letters, so work hard to rock those Sub-Is. for those without a home program, letters from Gen Surg will suffice just fine. Seems like the main role of letters this cycle will prob just be to make sure there aren’t any alarm bells about an applicant. Otherwise Step scores and the interview will serve to thin the herd and identify those whom the programs want.
A disconcerting change considering students have been expecting a different experience for sure, but in practice very little has changed. Have good step scores, work hard on rotations, and don’t be weird on the interview, and you’ll be just fine.
LMAO, are you telling me good letters and connection from UCSF are the same the those from lower programs....SubIs are the way for average or slightly above average applicant to show themselves and match into top programs assuming other aspects of their application are strong as well. Now, more emphasis on score, research, letters and connection. the later two will depend on the names as well as content, but the names....you can't deny it will also make a big difference.
Anyone hear any new updates from their home program?
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