Apologies if something similar has been posted here before, but I'm a MS1 at a T20 med school and was wondering how much my school's name will help me in the match process, especially if I don't care for matching at top-tier academic nsgy programs. Just want a good operative experience in my training and would be more than happy to match at places like Rochester, Hofstra, SUNY Upstate, Temple, NYMC etc. (All my friends/family are in the PA/NY area). Don't get me wrong, I plan on working hard, being productive during my MS1/2 years, taking a research year, etc., but matching seems to be fraught with uncertainty despite all that, and was wondering if aiming at mid-tier (maybe low-tier idk) residencies from a T20 would give me a little bit more certainty.
Similarly, would doing a sub-I at the above programs help in locking in a spot if I have everything else checked off? It seems that most people ik tend to do their Sub-Is at prestigious programs.
Once you get out of the top 5 or so, the name doesn’t really impress anybody. Just perform well and check your application boxes like everyone else. Do your sub-I’s where you want to match. Keep in mind, if you group them all in NY/PA, your application will likely be passed over in the Midwest or West coast. That’s your choice, but make sure you weigh decreased chance of matching and needing to scramble for a spot that nobody wanted in the regular match vs location.
Why take a research year? Sounds like wasted time for your case.
Appreciate your response. I was thinking of taking a research year because the vast majority of the neurosurgery folk at my school do (almost 90%), so I thought it was almost a soft requirement at this point. Most of them do match at heavily academic programs though so perhaps that's the reason.
Never really thought of the decreased chance of matching if all my sub-Is are in the same region. Definitely will plan on diversifying a bit now. That being said, I grew up here and went to undergrad in this region, and my medical school is also in that region as well. Wouldn't that alone already hint at a bias towards the east coast?
Also, I never heard of scrambling a spot in neurosurgery being a possibility. I thought they consistently had a 100% fill rate?
Being from T20 school ~ AOA from public school/lower tier US MD school with decent home NSG program.
Being from a T20 school will probably help especially if it’s associated with a strong home program (most of them).
Conversely, if you’re from a place that is a brand name school but the neurosurgery program isn’t as strong then you might not get the boost that you’d expect (UCSD, Cornell, UChicago). Furthermore some public schools with strong/more supportive home programs match students at better places than more “prestigious med schools” i.e. Buffalo, Florida, UVA.
SubIs are a double edged sword. Perform well and you can almost guarantee yourself a spot. Poor performance can sink your entire app by way of a bad letter. Have a decent geographic spread but don’t do bicoastal if that’s not your intent. You can do multiple NE cities like one NY program, one Philly, one Baltimore or DC.
Thank you that is super helpful, I appreciate it! From what I can tell so far, my home program seems pretty supportive and productive when it comes to research. What would you call performing well on a Sub-I vs. mediocre vs. poor?
Your performance on Sub-I's is strongly judged based on your relationship with the residents and fellows. Must know the basics (i.e. read the chart, brush up on the relevant anatomy) but no one cares if you can answer every question right. It's a month long interview that shows you are tolerable for 7 years.
I've heard conversations between residents regarding Sub-I's they did not like, and it's nearly always an interpersonal issue.
Most important of all is never gun down other Sub-I's or rotating 3rd year medical students on the service. Your communication and interpersonal skills are assessed at all times, and most places will have you do a 10-20 minute presentation at the end of your month so that is another area to shine.
Practice your examination, carry supplies, and be proactive with basic scut work (varies by program) like dressing changes, pulling drains, etc.
Other stuff is observe the dress code. If the attending is in clinic dressed business casual with a white coat, don't show up in scrubs. Conversely, if everyone is in scrubs during rounds, don't wear a white coat.
Finally, people will inevitably ask you about your experience at other Sub-I's. Keep the not-so-great stuff to yourself to inform your rank list and only share positive information because residents and faculty will talk. Don't tell any program they are #1 until after all your Sub-I's are over and you are ready to send a letter of intent.
Thank you! That makes sense. When would you (or would you are all) recommend reaching out to programs you are interested in, perhaps for research or a quick meeting? Not sure if doing that as early as an M1 might be seen as a negative, just thought developing a long-term relationship with faculty at a program you are interested in might be beneficial.
Got it makes sense. Yeah I plan on reaching out for summer research between M1/2. Appreciate all the helpful advice.
If you do all your Sub Is in the east coast, your app won’t be passed up in the Midwest, but it will be passed up in the east coast.
