Thread: Ortho- Don't be a dream crusher

Yea, I know it's impossible and I should have gone to a U.S. school etc. etc. Shooting for ortho anyway and absolutely won't be stopped. About 1-2 match into this every year. Just wondering if any of those that successfully matched have a recommendation for clinicals? What electives to do and what hospitals have Ortho programs with a chance of getting to know someone there and getting a shot at residency.

Thanks

Shoot for it, definitely. I have communicated with a guy who got Urology (arguably even more competitive than Orthopedics) from the Carib, and he took a year after graduation (he already had high USMLE scores and excellent grades) to complete and publish research in the field, and he got what he wanted. Good luck! It's an uphill battle and getting steeper, but there is no sense in not even trying. When do you graduate?

It's not IMpossible, more like improbable...frankly you are not likely to get a response from those that matched ortho here...in my class 3 matched and of them 2 are my friends and I know they don't post here.
You will need outstanding board scores ...aim for 260+ and you should have a 4.0 ...
Try to do your cores, esp surgery where there is an ortho program, not because they will give you a spot, but because you can start networking with people who will give you a chance to do research and will give you some guidance ...then do away rotations early in your 4 th yr...this you should try to do where they do take FMGs...do more than one...lsu is one that I know has a record of taking FMGs.
Also you can transfer to a US school...but again you need outstanding score to do this, though you may be more competitive if you have completed 3rd yr and repeat the yr on transfer. Have a friend who did just that for ortho( though eended up loving rad onc and ended up matching that instead).
Be also prepared to sit out a yr to do ortho research and then Getting something that way.

I'm wrapping up 4th term at the moment so I have a while until graduation. Just trying to plan ahead. Thanks Rokshana. If anyone else has suggestions for away rotations please let me know. I was considering the year off and I had also read about the transition year for surgery but not exactly sure how that works. My GPA is a 3.67 at the moment so no hopes of a 4.0. Path will bump it up a little though. I was really hoping a solid board score would help. No way to change my GPA at this point. Definitely will put in applications for transfer after Boards since I am in the January term. Any more advice is welcome. I know I've got a long road ahead of me but I'm willing to do whatever I have to.

I would plan for a year off. Maybe do 2 ortho rotations early in 4th year. Meet some people during that time and try to get into some sort of significant research.

Transferring would obviously be your best hope. From what I hear Drexel and Suny Upstate didn't take any this year, and those are transfer friendly schools.

I spoke to one of the people who matched recently even though I just started, because I'm looking to do the same. The person was extremely helpful. I forgot what was said regarding rotations, but I was told that can go a long way towards helping your chances. That being said, this person also took a year off to do research. It's going to be tough. I guess plan on rocking the step and making sure you plan out the rotations/what you'll do for an elective wisely.

Not trying to get ya down but maybe something else will attract ur attention when doin rotations. Thas what happened to me.

Although I think deep down inside I wanted to match in my current specialty but didn't know it

But if Thas what u reeeeeeaalllly want to do then the name of the game is steps 1/2 and research. I began creating a self study schedule for step 1 in my last term on the island

You think you really wanted to do surgery?!? I see you start July 2012, you might reconsider soon enough lol. I thought surgery might not be bad, but all the residents at the hospital I worked at before SGU hated it, and from what I read online it's one of the worst residencies to go through stress-wise. What did you see that made you change your mind?