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- Jun 9, 2004
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I think the majority of applicants have a general idea of what programs looking for in applicants. Every year people post their stats and ask about their chances, perhaps seeking a little reassurance. It's ok I've been there myself.
Good news for future applicants rads is relatively less competitive than its peak 2-3 years ago, as less people are applying for the same number of spots (self-selection?).
Obviously what the programs want: High board scores, High class rank/AOA, good letters of recommendation, research (any kind, but obviously meaningful rads research is better). These factors determine whether you are invited for an interview.
Boards: Step 1 >= 240 will give you a good chance of matching somewhere. 220 is generally the effective minimum cut off for an interview.
Step 2 counts less than step 1, because not all people are required to take it at the time of application. A good step 2 can help offset a bad step1, but again, its preferrable to do well on step 1 in the first place. If you did well on step 1, and you aren't required to take step 2 before you apply, then don't take it. If you have to take it, try to do as well or better than on your step 1.
Grades: Obviously the higher the better. AOA status gives you a high likelihood of matching, probably at one of your top choices. First quartile will give you a good probability of matching somewhere. Try to be at least in the top half of your class.
Letters: try to have good letters of rec. They don't have to be from radiology faculty. Its best to get a great letter from a bigwig. Next best thing is a great letter from a nobody. A generic letter from a bigwig is meaningless.
Research: it matters if you want to go to a big research institution. But realistically how much time do you have to do productive (leading to publication) research in medical school? If you get published you are exceptional. Basic research is the most impressive followed by clinical followed by case reports. Again, your research doesn't have to be in radiology, but if it is, even better.
Lastly reputation of school: If you come from a highranking/ivy school, it may impress some lower ranking programs, and some of those high ranking programs like to take there own. If you are from a state or lower ranking school, it won't hurt you, as long as you have everything I've mentioned before.
IMG status is a hurdle, as most programs like to take well qualified american grads over well qualified IMGs. If you are an american citizen and an IMG, it will raise the question of why you didn't go to an American med school.
I've seen some stellar IMGs come through that ended up matching at some top programs because these people were rockstars in their own country.
There is still probably bias against DO's.
Again, if the more of the afformentioned stats you have the better. Average boards can be offset by having good stats in everything else. Average grades can be off set by good boards. Etc.
Again these factors will get you an interview. If you get an interview, congrats, you're in the running. If you don't come off as a total tool, a bore, or a boor, you will get ranked. A good interview won't necessarily trump the afformentioned factors unless you have cult-leader charisma. I've seen that bump an 'average' candidate into the top ranks. But again, your interview performance will not drastically alter your ranking. Usually ranks are based on the first factors, modified by your interview performance.
Ok... number of programs: obviously the more you apply to, the more interviews you are likely to get. The more you get the more likely you will match somewhere.
If you are competitive aim for 20-25 programs so you get 10-12 interviews. If you are less competitve go higher, try to get more interviews. If you don't think you are a competitive applicant, you can hail mary and apply very broadly, and go to as many interviews as you can afford. There are regional biases. You're best chance of matching is in your home region. As an outsider it takes an act of god to match in california. Its also pretty competitive to match in the big cities in the northeast, because a lot of people end up applying there. As an outsider it is probably easiest to match in the midwest and southeast.
Anyways, thats all I have time to contribute at the time. Please, please future applicants read this and use the search function before you ask a question that has been asked, and ANSWERED before.
Ultimately your chances are based on the factors mentioned above. Nothing is 100% but if you have all the factors above you have a very high chance of matching, if you lack a lot of the factors above, your chances are slim. If you are somewhere in between then your chances will be somewhere inbetween.
Good luck , I'll post more when I can!
Good news for future applicants rads is relatively less competitive than its peak 2-3 years ago, as less people are applying for the same number of spots (self-selection?).
Obviously what the programs want: High board scores, High class rank/AOA, good letters of recommendation, research (any kind, but obviously meaningful rads research is better). These factors determine whether you are invited for an interview.
Boards: Step 1 >= 240 will give you a good chance of matching somewhere. 220 is generally the effective minimum cut off for an interview.
Step 2 counts less than step 1, because not all people are required to take it at the time of application. A good step 2 can help offset a bad step1, but again, its preferrable to do well on step 1 in the first place. If you did well on step 1, and you aren't required to take step 2 before you apply, then don't take it. If you have to take it, try to do as well or better than on your step 1.
Grades: Obviously the higher the better. AOA status gives you a high likelihood of matching, probably at one of your top choices. First quartile will give you a good probability of matching somewhere. Try to be at least in the top half of your class.
Letters: try to have good letters of rec. They don't have to be from radiology faculty. Its best to get a great letter from a bigwig. Next best thing is a great letter from a nobody. A generic letter from a bigwig is meaningless.
Research: it matters if you want to go to a big research institution. But realistically how much time do you have to do productive (leading to publication) research in medical school? If you get published you are exceptional. Basic research is the most impressive followed by clinical followed by case reports. Again, your research doesn't have to be in radiology, but if it is, even better.
Lastly reputation of school: If you come from a highranking/ivy school, it may impress some lower ranking programs, and some of those high ranking programs like to take there own. If you are from a state or lower ranking school, it won't hurt you, as long as you have everything I've mentioned before.
IMG status is a hurdle, as most programs like to take well qualified american grads over well qualified IMGs. If you are an american citizen and an IMG, it will raise the question of why you didn't go to an American med school.
I've seen some stellar IMGs come through that ended up matching at some top programs because these people were rockstars in their own country.
There is still probably bias against DO's.
Again, if the more of the afformentioned stats you have the better. Average boards can be offset by having good stats in everything else. Average grades can be off set by good boards. Etc.
Again these factors will get you an interview. If you get an interview, congrats, you're in the running. If you don't come off as a total tool, a bore, or a boor, you will get ranked. A good interview won't necessarily trump the afformentioned factors unless you have cult-leader charisma. I've seen that bump an 'average' candidate into the top ranks. But again, your interview performance will not drastically alter your ranking. Usually ranks are based on the first factors, modified by your interview performance.
Ok... number of programs: obviously the more you apply to, the more interviews you are likely to get. The more you get the more likely you will match somewhere.
If you are competitive aim for 20-25 programs so you get 10-12 interviews. If you are less competitve go higher, try to get more interviews. If you don't think you are a competitive applicant, you can hail mary and apply very broadly, and go to as many interviews as you can afford. There are regional biases. You're best chance of matching is in your home region. As an outsider it takes an act of god to match in california. Its also pretty competitive to match in the big cities in the northeast, because a lot of people end up applying there. As an outsider it is probably easiest to match in the midwest and southeast.
Anyways, thats all I have time to contribute at the time. Please, please future applicants read this and use the search function before you ask a question that has been asked, and ANSWERED before.
Ultimately your chances are based on the factors mentioned above. Nothing is 100% but if you have all the factors above you have a very high chance of matching, if you lack a lot of the factors above, your chances are slim. If you are somewhere in between then your chances will be somewhere inbetween.
Good luck , I'll post more when I can!