Case Western has a derm residency specifically for DOs. I'd imagine there are other similar programs at other institutions.
This is my 3rd time applying !! I matched where I currently do research.
Board Score: Step 1 = 245
Med school: top tier
Research Projects: During med school and current. About 6 pubs.
# of aways: 1, I guess 3 total if you count places I did research at too.
# programs applied to: 9, maybe less this time around
# of interviews offered: 1
Where matched: #1
I was surprised when I didn't match the first time (of course I wasn't 100%, but I thought I had a good chance). If you truly want to be a dermatologist, do not give up !!!
Well I dual applied because my application had a few glaring weaknesses. Today was the happiest day when I opened my envelope to see I matched into derm.
Board Score: Step 1 = 258, Step 2 = 244
Clinical grades: Junior AOA, Honored all core rotations 3rd yr, derm elective, honored dermpath elective 4th yr, satisfactory derm elective 4th yr
Med School: Low tier?
Research Projects: None really...I am working on a paper with one chair but nothing published.
# of aways: 0
# programs applied to: 30
# of interviews offered: 2, one at my home program and another in the same state where I rotated
Where matched: #1 (I liked this program the best, oddly enough it was where I only got a satisfactory)
Anything that helped: I think my interview helped immensely. I relaxed and just tried to be myself, let them know what I like, who I am. I really wanted to be a dermatologist, just made some mistakes along the way such as not doing research. I think that came through with my interviewers. I could not be happier today.
Thanks for sharing swman and acrochordon...just shows you why it's best to try to keep every interview possible, even if you can't make the pre-dinners. Congrats on the match!
There are so many factors involved and you never know why things went one way or the other. You would cringe if you get a chance to sit inside a ranking meeting to see how decisions are made...objective credentials are clearly important but so are the subjective politics...don't minimize the subjective part if you are thinking derm.
Well...honestly, I think in my case, the personal connections were KEY to me getting interviews and getting ranked!
WTF holy crap I just read that part, it's a sad state when 258 step 1, junior aoa only gets you 2 interviews. Probably was the no pubs thing or the dual application, take heed future applicants, numbers alone ain't gonna do it almost everyone has those.
can a lot of research (i.e. defined as >10 derm publications of any nature) offset any deficiencies in your app?
WTF holy crap I just read that part, it's a sad state when 258 step 1, junior aoa only gets you 2 interviews. Probably was the no pubs thing or the dual application, take heed future applicants, numbers alone ain't gonna do it almost everyone has those.
programs applied to: 30
Steps: I high 250's, II high 260's
AOA: yes
Grades: Top 2% of class
School: mid-tier state school with solid, but unknown derm program
Research: 1 basic science first author (non derm), 2 derm case reports
Aways: 1
Letters: 4 derm, very strong; one from well-respected and connected pedi derm
Applied: 85
Interviews: 26
Attended: 14
Matched: #2, southern program at which I did not rotate. Received a call from department chair 1 week prior to ROL submission deadline saying I didn't need to worry about matching
Misc: Thought my numbers where good relative to most competitive applicants, but not stellar. My goal from that standpoint was to have the stats that would help me clear all the filters, which I'm not sure occurred given what I have heard about the step I scores from this cycle. I do, however, have a very unique background which I incorporated into my personal statement with a lot of humor. I think this helped me get interviews I may not have otherwise and was told as much at just about every place I visited on the trail. Also, I think my mentor, who was a pedi derm, was extremely well respected in pedi circles which I know netted some interviews for me that I may not have otherwise garnered. In such a small field, networking is huge... having great faculty who serve as advocates for applicants and will call/email programs on your behalf is huge. It's kind of arbitrary I guess, but such is life. If you don't have someone who will make calls for you, do an away at a place where you think you can foster something with someone who will.
Steps: I 272, Step II Not available - took it late
AOA: Junior AOA
Grades: All Honors and one High Pass
School: mid-tier school with an essentially non-existent derm department
Research: 2 case report publications, neither with a "big name"
Aways: 1
Letters: 4 from derm, 2 from "big names"
Applied: 90
Interviews: 7
Attended: 7
Matched: #3 ... Got a call from this PD 3 days before rank list due.Happy with where I ended up, but rather surprised at how few interviews I had. Goes to show grades are not everything! My advice to all applicants is to make as many connections as possible. Also, do as many aways as possible!