<p>Miami- many of DD’s classmates entered med school certain of their speciality choice, DD was pretty sure, too. But taking the clinicals can cause some kids to decide not to pursue that drea because they learned something that changes their mind or the various rotations can allow them to fall in love with something new and unexpected. In some cases, they may just really enjoy other options and resultantly, have doubts about their original choice.</p>
<p>Your DD is lucky to have known all along what to be and to still love it. DD had many friends experiencing doubts and angst. The fact that the early MS4 rotations should support your speciality choice (doing sub-is etc.) really means they need to be fairly certain by the time they sign up for MS4 options. In DDs case that was January of MS3.</p>
<p>It is January of DS’s MS3 now. I do not think he has had any idea about his specialty choice yet.</p>
<p>I think he did not know what career path he is interested in high school and even in the first two years in college!</p>
<p>Hope he could make up his mind soon. It seems he tends to be late in many things: late in deciding which major/career to go to, late in MCAT, late in submitting med school app, now late in the choice of specialty!</p>
<p>BTW, is Virology a very competitive specialty to get into? For this specialty, does it consist of one year of preliminary year in IM and then N (how many?) years of virology? Or, is it an IM in 4 years and then Virology in fellowship?</p>
<p>DS’s current rotation is about 12 hours a day. It seems pretty tough. He said his Dansko shoes were too large so he bought another smaller pair - but it is too small. It gives him blister. I think it is better to wear a pair of shoes (esp. Danskos) that is slightly too large than too small, right?</p>
<p>I visit SDN’s 2013 residence match thread recently. Some students said some school tends to be good at steering their students toward some specialty. An example they cited was that Georgetown produces more students (like 12+ in 2013) in the competitive ortho specialty.</p>
<p>It is also said that in IM, the correlation of the attended med schools in US N&R ranking and the “good/reputed” residency programs the students from such med schools get into is higher, but for EM, the correlation is lower.</p>
<p>“The fact that the early MS4 rotations should support your speciality choice (doing sub-is etc.) really means they need to be fairly certain by the time they sign up for MS4 options.”
-Yes, as D. told me yesterday, she is planning to submit requests for her electives on Feb.1 1 min. after midnight. She wants to make sure that she gets what she wants. They cannot do it before Feb. 1st. I hope she gets them. She knows what she wants and where she wants to ahve them. Not sure yet about “away” rotation though. Some strongly suggest it, but “key” people in charge did not think that they are important. In addition, “away” rotation is expansive and in her case it is still going to be regional as she has no plans to apply to residencies outside of Midwest.<br>
Does anybody can tell the pros of “away” rotation, especially in case when applicant’s #1 choice is to stay in the same location as their Med. School.</p>
<p>Miami: “submit requests for her electives on Feb.1 1 min. after midnight”</p>
<p>Your statement made me remember my S’s experience in signing up last year. Due to a particular elective’s location and specialty area, students seemed to be aware of which electives would fill up fast. As soon as the enrollment period opened, the students who entered an elective then hit enter, then another elective then hit enter, etc., seemed to be more successful in getting desired electives than the students that entered entire list first then hit enter. Good luck to your D</p>
<p>The MS4 stress is rolling faster than expected. Just avoided a major tragedy, got absolutely last spot in one of the MS4 rotations (and way before the date that they specified). 2 programs are totally filled for July. I hope and pray for a September spot in another one. This was completely, 100% unexpected, did not even think about this as some type of 4th year hurdle. Also more talks about number of residencies. Looks like 70 is a solid number as of now. Every day brings so many changes and she is still in a middle of her 3rd year. Unbelievable…and it is just going to be more and more. What a rollercoaster.
The best wishes for the Match Day!!! Everybody so truly deserves the best and not only for hard work but also for emotional endurance!</p>
<p>Miami: If you don’t mind, what Is D applying to? As my S applied to 15, interviewed at 12, 70 seems like a lot. When S was MS4 the general chatter amongst students was apply to around 20, hope for 10 interviews unless someone was interested in some very competitive program/specialty. Then the number of programs tended to skyrocket.</p>
<p>The hope is also for 10 interviews. When D. mentioned 30 to MS4, he laughed and said that nobody is applying to 30. She hears 70 as an average. Many apply to over 100.</p>
<p>Jug, I am thinking it is derm, they seem to require many apps for few interviews</p>
<p>I found it interesting to follow specialities on SDN, where DD may have applied for about 22-25 and been offered 15 or so interviews in a specialty, I saw no one on SDN with less than 35 and some with 60-100 in that same speciality!</p>
<p>Somemom: if it’s derm then the high number of apps makes sense as to my knowledge there are not that many residency spots and boatloads of competitive applicants. In addition doesn’t derm require a transitional year which means apps for both the transitional year and the residency itself and not necessarily at same location? It’s just the mechanics of applying (cost, travel, scheduling, etc). I would think that along with their advisor/mentor (not classmates), a MS3/MS4 considering derm has to take a very,very hard/realistic look in the mirror at their academic/research qualifications, etc to make sure that come Match Day they are not disappointed.</p>
<p>D applied to twenty-five programs (I initially had thought fewer), had fifteen interviews and ranked fourteen. After weeks of agonizing over it her match list was finalized today. I could hear the relief in her voice. On March 21st the chips will fall where they may.</p>
<p>Elleneast: congrats and good luck to your D. The only thing D has left to do is perfect her grinning. She’ll use it a lot on Match day as will the S/Ds of several other parents who post. Good luck to all.</p>
<p>Thank you! The first round is on me when this is over. Boy, it was interesting listening to her go through the process of weighing programs. Best of luck to everyone.</p>
<p>The second and third rounds are on ME when this is over! </p>
<p>Best to all!! It surely is great to have someone besides my daughter (who is stressed enough as it is) to talk to about all of this. Thanks, guys!</p>
<p>Elleneast- how great that your DD is already done with her rank list. I am sure my DD will be shuffling things around and debating #8 v #7 until the last possible minute!</p>
<p>Yes, Dansko clogs are designed to wear a little loose. D2 bought a pair recently and was about to return them because she thought they were too large. Luckily she called and I told her that they fit differently than normal shoes, she loves them now.</p>
<p>Elleneast: congrats and good luck to your D. !!
entomom,
My D. decided NOT to buy Danskos…well, they are too ugly for her (according to her, I have never seen them). She is done with the most intense - Surgery. What worked for her was alternating 2 pairs of her most comfortable shoes. She said she was OK because different pairs had slightly different pressure points. I was surprised because she has never been walker / runner and her sport actually did not make her legs particularly srong either.<br>
I am glad that her idea has worked for her and saved us another bill (we are paying for all her expanses and tuition).</p>
<p>Congratulations, Elleneast. That is great! D went to fourteen interviews and ranked all 14. She did not like #14, but she thought she would rather be there than be nowhere… She didn’t finalize her rank order list until the end - and she changed #1 and #2 that last week. :eek:
I will be happy to buy the fourth round. Churchmusicmom, I’ll make yours a double! I will confess, however, that the extra celebrating on D’s Match Day was a little too much for me…</p>
<p>I wear Danskos and love them. After D raved about them, I thought I should have them, too. When I buy a new pair, I have them bring out several different pairs so I can try them, as they all fit differently. I also wear socks that are a little thicker, not trouser socks.</p>
<p>Keeping you all in my thoughts - the waiting is hard!</p>
<p>Thanks to entomom, MiamiDAP, and hrh19 for answering my questions about Danskos. I will forward the info to DS.</p>
<p>I think he needs to stand for a long time for this rotation. He also could not eat lunch during noon time. I heard he sometimes eats breakfast very early and then eat brunch, but no lunch.</p>