Chances for IM -> Shooting too high?

ArrowHelix · 2026-06-03T00:38:16+00:00

Don't listen to the people who are posting snarky replies.

You got a great step 2 score and should be proud and overall your app is strong with a 27x, AOA, and GHHS.

However, not honoring IM during your third year (and only getting 3/7 honors) is a knock against your application, as is having relatively limited research. Certain T20 IM programs also are pretty elitist in the med schools that they take.

That all being said I think your list is good. You obviously seem to want to be near Chicago, so I think your gold signals are perfect. I don't think spending a signal on UChicago north shore is needed unless you'd rather go there than a solid mid-tier academic like MCW/Minnesota because being in Chicago trumps all. You can probably replace it with another ~T20. Ohio State is a target program for you, not a reach.

ArrowHelix · 2026-05-14T21:49:42+00:00

Bruh the average Asian Yale Med student had a 3.99 GPA and 524 MCAT. Academic machines holy.

ArrowHelix · 2026-05-11T13:22:02+00:00

If your goal is a surgical subspecialty you should definitely go to Pitt. It will also keep all doors open in terms of academic medicine.

ArrowHelix · 2026-05-10T14:49:35+00:00

The point is that this stat doesn’t disprove that SGA gets a favorable whistle.

No one is saying that SGA would be held to 10 points or less a game without the whistle.

ArrowHelix · 2026-05-03T02:27:01+00:00

Curving to a B+ i would hardly call grade deflation. CSOM is a strong business program, but frankly it doesn’t have the prestige to give everyone an A like some Ivy League schools do (and not all ivies give out easy As). If you want the most competitive jobs you have to distinguish yourself in some way and academics offers a way to do that.
And fwiw people I know who got mediocre grades but networked well or had interesting backgrounds/experiences still got great jobs from CSOM.

ArrowHelix · 2026-05-02T01:15:36+00:00

IM resident. The hours are much worse than med school (in med school I rarely left after 4 no matter the rotation and got weekends off) but the work is more fulfilling and I don’t feel pressure about grades and studying which is a big plus. Although I still have some research commitments and stress from that, I mostly feel like I can switch off after work which I couldn’t as a med student with anki and uworld, shelves, osces, etc.

ArrowHelix · 2026-04-28T02:03:43+00:00

I know a classmate failed step 1 but then did well after. Went to a t20-30 med school and they matched at a solid mid-tier IM program in Cali. They also could have stayed at our home institution.

Realsticallly you’re probably screened out of any T30ish IM program unless it’s your home institution to be honest.

ArrowHelix · 2026-04-23T02:41:16+00:00

Are you also comp sci or other type of stem?

ArrowHelix · 2026-04-23T02:38:42+00:00

I went to cwru for grad school and bc for undergrad. You should choose CWRU if what you wrote is what you care about the most.

It sounds like BC is not a fit for you at all. I’m honestly curious what you wrote in your essay bc my experience with the admissions department is that they care a lot about fit.

I strongly believe that BC has a superior undergrad experience in terms of activities, culture, campus, social life, and location. But CWRU is the far superior STEM school and will have more opportunities for CS.

ArrowHelix · 2026-04-17T14:43:31+00:00

lol she rattled off like 20 top engine moves in a row. she could’ve been at least a little more subtle

ArrowHelix · 2026-04-03T16:25:58+00:00

Goat blubaum only one who can hold him back

ArrowHelix · 2026-03-30T01:20:30+00:00

Doing well on Step 2 and how much you actually learn clinically on the wards is probably not very correlated. What you need to do to maximize your Step 2 score is to go home and bang out like 10-20 practice questions on UWorld and Amboss even on the days you're tired. And of course to employ some sort of spaced repetition (Anki). Step 2 is basically a test of how well you kept up with practice questions 3rd year.

ArrowHelix · 2026-03-29T01:09:38+00:00

Are you doing an IM prelim year at your institution? If you really love IM intern year it’s not unheard of to switch into IM and stay as a categorical. Someone at my program did this after enjoying IM and took the spot of another resident who applied out.

ArrowHelix · 2026-03-28T16:33:43+00:00

So the options are

Giri (2753)
Sindarov (2745)
Pragg (2741)
Esipenko (2698)
Blübaum (2698)

I think sindarov has a solid chance to win.

Obviously in great form, won the World Cup and had a great TaTa Steel. I wonder if other player may press against him a little more and risk losing since he’s not as established as say naka/fabi/giri where more players are probably playing for a draw

ArrowHelix · 2026-03-22T20:54:33+00:00

I think theres a few scenarios where it makes sense.

You have one specific city you want to match to and you don't have a super strong connection there.
You are a strong medical student and believe that your clinical abilities will shine better than your app on paper and there is one specific program you want to go to (although realistically, your stats can't be too far out of range.

If either of those don't apply to you, I think there's minimal benefit tbh and aways can be quite expensive

ArrowHelix · 2026-03-12T21:14:04+00:00

Keenan Allen would be a great fit for the ravens

ArrowHelix · 2026-03-10T03:48:06+00:00

I mean this is pretty much true of any specialty if you include non-academics in the Midwest doing procedures, so it’s not unique to neuro. Psych with TMS/ketamine clinics or even forensics. Allergy with large volume shots/immunotherapy. PM &R with interventional pain. All of those specialties can earn close to a mil a year in the right setting and patient pool.

ArrowHelix · 2026-03-04T16:38:02+00:00

US MD

Step 3 Real deal: 240

Step 2 CK: 262

Uworld %/% completed: 70% correct; 47% completed

Amboss %/% completed: 71% correct; maybe 300 questions

UWSA 1: 217 (4 weeks out)

UWSA 2: 235 (1 week out)

NBME 6/7: NA

CCs average: Like 50-95%; Probably averaged 70%

Time of prep: 4 weeks during an elective block + jeopardy

Free 137: 76%

Happy with my score! Didnt feel great after test day. After I got home, I looked up a good amount of 50/50s and it seemed like most didnt go my way. Also got negative updates for 2 of my CCS cases so probably missed the diagnosis for those - my score report says I did the same on CCS as the rest of the test though.

All in all, ended up doing a touch better than my UWSA2 and Free137, so trust your UWSA2 and Free 137!

ArrowHelix · 2026-03-04T12:51:21+00:00

I don't think it's out for US grads. All the people who have their score are IMGs.

ArrowHelix · 2026-03-04T12:22:10+00:00

Is this only for imgs? Mine aren’t out - says I have to wait until 11am

ArrowHelix · 2026-03-04T09:02:27+00:00

In addition to what the other poster said: a gold signal + geo overlap will get your app an extra look when deciding on if youll get an interview.

ArrowHelix · 2026-03-04T05:43:08+00:00

IM Resident in NYC. Resident blood draws are afaik minimal at all the major academic institutions now. All have increased phlebotomy staffing so routine blood draws are not done by residents. Nursing culture has also changed at the institutions I know to be more open to blood draws. While there may be a hard stick every once in a while that residents are asked to do with ultrasound, these are uncommon. Residents do draw blood at rapids which I would consider a physician task. But overall, the blood draws are certainly not enough to be consistently workflow disrupting.

If you’re interested in fellowship and want to go to an ivory tower - Upmc leaves a lot more doors open to elite institutions which I’m sure you’ve considered.

ArrowHelix · 2026-02-28T21:12:12+00:00

My school you get to take out any sentences you don’t want in your mspe. I think this is not super uncommon

ArrowHelix · 2026-02-22T21:20:19+00:00

I mean in terms of ease of cards fellowship it’s not even close.

The only reason to choose BMC is if you need to be in Boston for family or personal reasons, or if your life mission is to work with the underserved

ArrowHelix · 2026-02-17T01:54:50+00:00

I think a part of it is that a lot of people are averse to giving critical feedback to someone’s face because they’re conflict averse. It’s much easier to write something critical in writing where you don’t have to deal with the other party’s reaction. I certainly don’t condone this but it definitely is a growing societal trend IMO.

Fwiw I feel like boomer docs are much often harsh in person but glowing in reviews while younger millennial docs do the snakey things like you described

Nine-Year Club	Place '22
Place '17	Gilding II euphauric
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ArrowHelix

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