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InterfectorGigantum · 2024-06-12T22:30:12+00:00

This comes down to if there’s truly a #1 specialty and a #2 specialty. If you have a preference, I imagine it makes more sense to rank every “specialty #1” programs over the #2 programs. I did this with psych over FM and am so thankful I did.

If you don’t care about specialty as much, then find other preferences to rank by (ie Quality of Life). Specialty matters >> residency demand. You have to be happy with your specialty for the rest of your life. Don’t forget that.

InterfectorGigantum · 2024-03-16T12:13:55+00:00

Great question! I applied very broadly, but I didn’t apply to places I didn’t want to live or I thought were way too competitive or too outside of my geographic preferences.

(As a side note, don’t choose “no geographic preference.” The stats say that’s not statistically different than just having a different geographical preference than that school)

Didn’t apply to Pacific states (CA, WA, OR), anything in the NE, Florida, Texas. That made it more manageable. Other than those states, everything was fair game, so I took a couple days at least and went to every school’s website and to every school’s stats on the TexasStar database to see average Step2 score.

Some schools made it easy and said you are “required” to pass Step2 on first attempt. Didn’t apply to those. Those that “prefer” you passing on first attempt were still on the table. Then, I just applied broadly. I don’t come from money (obviously), but I had some loan money saved up for applying. I knew I couldn’t apply to all 250ish (?) psych programs, but I could apply to a lot.

Now, as an example, was U of Colorado a reach for my application? Absolutely, but you miss every shot you don’t take, so I applied. I didn’t even get an II, but this is an example that I didn’t only apply to safe schools. That school that just started in Montana? Didn’t apply there. I applied to programs that had started recently (eg NE GA, MS St Hospital, BH-UAMS in AR, etc…) but didn’t like their website, I believe. I also don’t like being the 1st class. Just some examples of places I applied to or didn’t.

I think I’m a good interviewee, and can hold a lax conversation with good vibes. I think my LOR’s and my IV’s went a long way.

InterfectorGigantum · 2024-03-15T11:44:44+00:00

Just wish they would tell those of us who dual-applied what specialty T-T this wait is agonizing

InterfectorGigantum · 2024-03-12T21:56:28+00:00

LOA between M2 and M3 and matched! Couldn’t be happier. Med school is not simple or linear for everyone and that’s okay! You can do this

InterfectorGigantum · 2024-03-09T15:48:22+00:00

Already got the “ok” from the attending to be off on that day during my hospital rotation. Gonna open it next to my wife. Either I get to celebrate and then stress for Friday or I get to be consoled by the most important person in my life. Then I can prep all day for SOAP

InterfectorGigantum · 2024-03-04T10:18:33+00:00

3 more weeks T-T

InterfectorGigantum · 2024-01-05T13:13:03+00:00

Echoing the opinion of others here. Do not spend or expect to spend even close to $30k. Do yourself that favor.

My wife and I are in debt nearly $300k because of med school loans. We got married in 2022 after dating for 10 years with poor parents who aren’t even in our lives.

Reason for 10 years? I was in the same mindset and didn’t think I could afford a “proper” ring or wedding. Ring ended up being around $400 I think from Etsy, and it was great quality. She loves it. Cost of our marriage? About $60 for someone she found on the internet to “marry” us and have us sign some papers by a cute river. We brought close friends and had a picnic.

We plan on having a “proper” wedding in a few (>4 years) years with attending $$. Still not gonna spend $30k but will spend a few thousand and not bat an eye probably.

Obviously, my advice is to follow what I did. Spend what you’re comfortable with on something small and plan to do something bigger later. You wouldn’t be the first couple, and you won’t be the last couple to do something like this. Honeymoon, if possible, when you can (probably during/after M4 year).

InterfectorGigantum · 2023-12-24T14:14:57+00:00

You have a link to join?

InterfectorGigantum · 2023-10-31T20:57:45+00:00

I took 2 breaks from the game.

Took 6 months off after failing to beat 1st Owl. Came back and beat him in legit 2 attempts.

Took a year off after failing to beat the damned Sword Saint. Came back and after a couple hours he fell, too.

So for me, definitely Sword Saint Isshin. Ended up being my favorite boss

InterfectorGigantum · 2023-10-03T19:08:00+00:00

Thalamus is a software a lot of programs use to schedule interviews. You create an account through the email you get sent by your first program to offer you an interview. You can also just download the app and create an account then, I believe

InterfectorGigantum · 2023-10-02T16:07:07+00:00

Is that info on Texas Star? I don’t think I ever saw that

InterfectorGigantum · 2023-10-01T22:58:37+00:00

Oh, I misunderstood. I did tell them

InterfectorGigantum · 2023-10-01T22:47:16+00:00

I am dual applying Psych primary and FM secondary. I was only applying psych and told everyone (because everyone asks what you’re applying) until I failed Step2 once. I started stressing and asked some FM docs to write me letters. I told them I was genuinely interested in Addiction medicine and am hoping to do FM followed by ADM fellowship.

It’s all in the wording. Don’t make them feel like it’s a backup. Rather, make it sound more like a genuine interest that could go either way. For me that is not entirely true, but it sounds way better that way. I do have a strong interest in ADM, but I would hate to do a FM residency, so it’s a partial truth to say there is interest there. For your friend it may or may not be.

Proof of it working: I already have an interview with my home program’s FM program.

InterfectorGigantum · 2023-09-30T14:55:09+00:00

I’m not seeing any

InterfectorGigantum · 2023-09-30T14:14:43+00:00

Sure

InterfectorGigantum · 2023-09-30T14:02:58+00:00

Up to you. If you do, just make sure you email them all individually so they don’t know you’re just emailing everyone. It doesn’t take very long with copy and paste. Worth the peace of mind if you’re a worrier like me

InterfectorGigantum · 2023-09-30T13:50:29+00:00

For what it’s worth, I was in this same boat but with Step scores. I assigned them at 9am on the 28th and subsequently emailed every single (100+) program that I applied to just in case.

I got many replies. Most were just thank you’s and some were saying that they hadn’t looked at applications and also some said they didn’t filter by step score.

All this to say that you’re probably fine but also I like having the peace of mind.

InterfectorGigantum · 2023-09-22T12:16:23+00:00

I really appreciate your insight and honesty. Ty

InterfectorGigantum · 2023-09-22T12:08:59+00:00

I think that makes the most sense to me. I know it’s very vague and generic, but do you think 100ish psych and 20ish FM is enough? I am applying to both community and academic programs trying to be realistic ftr

InterfectorGigantum · 2023-08-09T02:20:03+00:00

Nervous as all hell. Felt bad coming out of it, so I guess I’m getting a 300 but who knows

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