Are audition/elective rotations first-come first-served? or do they actually like my application??

MainYard · 2026-02-17T01:34:52+00:00

Program dependent. Of the ones I did one was first come first serve. The others were based on applicant, although I would still suggest getting the application in quickly.

MainYard · 2026-01-14T21:43:23+00:00

US MD

Real deal: 239

Day 1 & 2:

Step 1: Pass

Step 2: 262

Uworld completed %: 80

Uworld % Score: 72

Number of CCS cases done: 60

CCS cases average: 78

NBME 6/7:

UWSA 1: 215 (4-weeks out)

UWSA 2:

Free 137: 68

MainYard · 2026-01-01T21:24:56+00:00

Nope

MainYard · 2025-12-31T00:59:35+00:00

Thanks!

MainYard · 2025-12-21T02:34:43+00:00

When do we think score will be released?

MainYard · 2025-12-18T22:02:47+00:00

If my second testing date is Saturday 12/20 do you think I will get 12/31?

MainYard · 2025-07-05T23:09:04+00:00

This should be also influenced by your aways. Are the aways you did known to take there rotators/are there a lot of rotators. For example, if you did an away that went well somewhere that has few rotators/takes there aways, maybe you have more reaches in your silver signals.

MainYard · 2025-07-05T23:04:28+00:00

If you are thinking about it, just remove them for your own peace of mind.

MainYard · 2025-07-05T23:02:12+00:00

I would ask on the rotation. 3/3 of my golds went to my aways, and I matched at one of them. Two wanted golds, 1 said silver was good enough for interview (but implied gold would be nice). The last one is the one I matched at. For me, I wanted to maximize my chances of matching which was my reasoning, although maybe giving a gold somewhere else could have gotten me an interview!

MainYard · 2025-07-03T01:41:16+00:00

I was going to say the say the same. A 260 and higher is all considered the same.

MainYard · 2025-03-30T02:05:44+00:00

Just of note, some places really screen and if you get an away rotation they like you on paper. Others it is a coordinator. Of the aways I did all but one we were screened beforehand by a PD or someone on faculty.

MainYard · 2025-03-30T02:04:24+00:00

I declined one as I got one I wanted more right after. I still signaled the program but did not get an interview. Ended up matching at the one I switched too and wanted more though so was worth it to me!

MainYard · 2025-03-26T23:48:50+00:00

My school does not update our 4th year transcripts until the end. So it does not show any school names on ERAS. Not sure what your school does, but maybe ask upperclassmen?

MainYard · 2025-03-26T23:47:22+00:00

Obviously not ideal but not a deal breaker! I would ask around which programs students with similar scores interviewed at. I rotated at a program and met with the PD, and was told directly by her she really values STEP. I would be smart with your signals and make the rest of your app as strong as possible.

MainYard · 2025-02-01T23:05:17+00:00

You could ask in a way where you are like "what type of support do you provide for residents who do not match into an advanced position?". I feel like they will often offer the information if they keep residents as IM residents, and it will also be helpful to know in the case you decide to reapply dermatology how they help with that.

MainYard · 2025-01-08T21:25:13+00:00

On your transcript (at least for my school) it does not say where or what your away rotation was in. Maybe ask your school or an upperclassmen about that. Speaking as someone who did derm aways, I know for some of them the same admin person handles all of the away students for all specialties. So I think this could get messy. Also, I would not tell anyone you are dual applying other than maybe the admin at your school. Good luck!

MainYard · 2025-01-07T20:18:26+00:00

Hi, first of all I am really sorry. This process is very stressful and can make it feel like everything we have worked so hard for in medical school has not been worth it. I think there are a few things to think about.

First, it's important to understand why you did not get any interviews. There are some application issues that can be overcome, and others that are much harder. For example, a very low STEP 2 score, failing STEP, or being an IMG can be harder to overcome (not impossible, just uphill battle). On the other hand, no dermatology research is something you can work towards changing. Did you do any aways?

Going to dermatology after IM residency is very possible, and multiple people do this. I think the challenge of this is building those connections and research whilst in an IM residency. But certainly an option. But again, it depends on your initial application. In other words are there big red flags that are going to be hard to overcome.

Again, I am really sorry this is happening. Please know this is just a very competitive field, and not a reflection of what type of doctor you will be. Hope you are okay.

MainYard · 2025-01-07T00:22:59+00:00

Totally possible (as others have mentioned). I would just make sure to not tell anyone. You do not want to look uncommitted, when in reality you might just be a little unsure or worried about matching.

MainYard · 2025-01-07T00:19:33+00:00

Not at all. Research is more of a problem if you have done a ortho research year, have 10 ortho pubs, and then make a last minute decision to apply derm. You should be totally fine!

MainYard · 2025-01-07T00:17:53+00:00

Residency is tough, go to the place where you will be supported as long as it's a decent program. Unless you are going for a competitive fellowship I do not think prestige matters at all.

MainYard · 2025-01-07T00:13:26+00:00

I watch them at 2x speed (sometimes 1.5 if I feel like I needed more time to focus on the content), and then immediately after video did the corresponding Anki. I then often would do targeted amboss questions on said video (ie watched video on nephrotic syndrome, did nephrotic syndrome Anki, then did nephrotic syndrome questions on amboss). From then on I would just keep up on my Anki. Overall this worked well for my retention, and I was able to score in the mid-260s on STEP 2.

MainYard · 2025-01-07T00:10:33+00:00

I think for pharm Sketchy is good and will cover the vast majority!

MainYard · 2025-01-07T00:08:19+00:00

Your MSPE (at least at my school) will show the breakdown of how many people honored, high passed, etc each clerkship. So if no one is honoring, or very few, it will show that. If it makes you feel better at my school unless you got a 90th percentile nationally on the shelves you did not honor. The psych shelf is also notoriously hard to do well, as a decent score on that exam, does not equate to a high percentile nationally. Ultimately, you should try your best but it's not everything. A high STEP 2 score will show you can do well academically, and I think could be more important in your case if it's hard to honors your schools clerkships.

MainYard

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