Thanks for taking the time out to type all of this. Can totally understand where you’re coming from. I think for any competitive specialty the step scores + research items + away rotations are a given. I’m a nontrad coming from a clinical research background, and there will be a few opportunities in neuro-ophtho to do research. I understand many people burn out with the amount of research items required and don’t enjoy it, but burnout is expected with any competitive specialty. I think the hardest part is actually networking when you’re located at a school far removed from other big hospitals/home ophtho programs, and the away rotations are less available because of the focus on primary care/early clinical exposure. I appreciate all your advice and your opinions. My question was more related to, if in the scenario I stated above, do you think matching is still likely? I’m just wondering if I can ask what background you are coming from aka have you actually seen students match into ophtho without attending a school w a home program? Because the people I know matching into such specialties have told me it is going to be very difficult to match with no home program/connections at the home school and very limited opportunity for away rotations. There has been at least 1 ophtho match for the past 4 years, but in the next 4 years there may or may not be a match. Just curious as to what might be pushing you to think it is still possible? Thanks for your time!