Comments on: The MCAT, Residency Match and Beyond

By: Another Current Client

Another Current Client — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 03:54:33 +0000

I am impelled to add to Rich and Current Client’s comments. This article gives only a glimpse of Dr. Freedman’s expertise and meticulous services. I have worked with Dr. Freedman for the past ten months and her guidance has helped me to attain multiple medical school acceptances. SDN has found a valuable contributing author.

By: John

John — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 21:44:03 +0000

“How will we decrease the income disparities among specialties so students will pursue the specialties where the need is greatest?”

This statement scares me. Dont think that I am bashing anyones specialty….but why should an orthopod who trains for 5-6 years and works 70+ hours in private surgical practice make the same amount (without the same liability) as a family practice doctor who trained for 3 years and works maybe 50 hours/ week doing “more cerebral work”, like preventative medicine, monitoring BP, diabetes, asthma, copd?

By: Galanaso

Galanaso — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 18:17:03 +0000

From an ex-administrator of a competitive medical school’s GME program (alleopathic), I loved this article. This information was great. The sad thing is that some students still find a way to differentiate between DO and MD. I agree that another forum is the place for that. Just know that most MD schools understand that DOs can pass the USMLE but MDs cannot pass the COMLEX. Bottom line is the residency will judge the individual and not the letters following the name but how well the applicant prepares himself/herself. (for 3 years running our head resident was a DO.)

Follow the tips given in this article and a person will do well with their match.
Thanks

By: Jackie F

Jackie F — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 06:27:24 +0000

Great article! I loved it. I’m just starting the pre-med journey and have been researching day and night for many months now on the whole process. Anyway, this is informative.

ted, I do not care if I go to Harvard or the easiest ‘back door’ school in the country as long as I can practice medicine and treat patients who need treatment. Being a doctor is not about making the big bucks or having the flashy MD next to your name; it’s all about the patients and the doctor’s compassion and skill in assisting people with their health concerns so they can live life to the fullest. If you are going to be a doctor for any other reason then you need to pick a different career.

By: Jessica Freedman

Jessica Freedman — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 16:40:19 +0000

Dear NM,

Even if you don’t know the specialty you will pursue, it is still wise to become involved in research. Everyone in medical education understands that most first and second year medical students do not have enough clinical exposure to make a well informed choice regarding specialty selection.

Become involved in quality research (basic science or clinical) that illustrates your analytical skills and ability to complete a project. A project that results in a publication, abstract or presentation would be best so, be sure to ask the person under whom you work, if this might be possible.

There is alot of “If only I had known” type of advice — too much to write about here. The biggest mistake medical students make is not doing enough electives in the specialty to which they are applying and not getting the “right” letters from faculty in that specialty.

I hope this helps. Visit my blog for lots of useful tips: http://www.mededits.blogspot.com.

By: NM

NM — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 22:55:21 +0000

I am going to be starting medical school in August. Is there anything else, like research, that I can start working on now and in the summers after 1st and 2nd year to be a strong applicant for the more competitive programs? Would it matter if my research were in a field other than that which I applied for? It would be unreasonable, it seems, to expect 1st and 2nd year students to have known which field they were going to pursue.
Do you have any other “If only I had known…” advice regarding matching?
I appreciate your contributions to SDN and any feedback, Dr. Freedman.

By: Partial MD

Partial MD — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 04:15:21 +0000

Cleared boards and applied for Match 2000. Did not match. Went through Post Match Scramble – Back in those days -Snail mail route. Missed key unfilled spots. In all that flurry, a messy divorce had tangled itself mercilessly. Did not bother to apply again with all the burn-out. Worked in research after.

Just checked the message boards online for year end 2008 – seeing a newer applicant crowd with the same old issues. Can’t see much to have changed in 10 years.

If the country is facing a shortage of MDs looking ahead, then policy heads- please increase the residency slots and train for basic care. Focus on re-entry training. Have a broad vision far ahead. Pentagon to start to hire professionals from abroad on temporary visa (Citizenship offered as hook) to fill in their MD shortage in the US (pilot program 2009).

By: bananaface

bananaface — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 21:18:21 +0000

Please follow the direction of the admin above who noted, “For further discussion on MD vs. DO vs. IMG, please go to the SDN Forums. This article is not intended to create debate over the academic criteria for different physician training pathways.” Thank you.

By: Josh

Josh — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 02:28:33 +0000

I agree with MM. Osteopathy is hardly a backdoor. I know several people who were accepted to allopathic schools but chose osteopathy because it aligned more with their personalities and ideologies. Osteopathic physicians can get into any of the residencies that MD’s can get into. People who think otherwise should change their attitudes, because youre going to be working with DO’s no matter where you end up.

By: Ben

Ben — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 16:29:41 +0000

Great piece.

It’s good to get an overall impression of application porcess from the professionals who do it.

Thanks so much.–Ben.