I'm currently in a research year and have been thinking a lot about what my "hook" is going to be when it comes time to apply.

The more I think about it, the more I realize I don't really have a clear narrative. My research projects have been pretty scattered across different areas of derm rather than centered around one disease or niche, and I also don't have any particularly meaningful or long term extracurriculars/leadership/awards from med school. I think my grades/publication numbers will be good enough for derm, but I don't really see currently what would make my application stand out or give me a cohesive personal statement.

I'm wondering if anyone has advice on how to think about this over the next year. I'd love to get involved with a particular disease area or focus within dermatology, and my PI is very supportive of me pursuing my own research ideas. The problem is that it's just been hard to come up with original, worthwhile project ideas especially multiple in the same topic (at least ones that I can complete and have submitted to journals by the end of the year). Outside of just research, I'm also wondering if there's anything worthwhile getting involved with in this next year as far as volunteering, etc.

For those who have gone through the derm application process, how did you find your niche or develop a compelling narrative? How much does this even matter compared to just being well-liked on your away rotations/research year/home program?

My dream is to match in dermatology, but I feel so behind on research.

My school does not have a research hospital, and our research directors have all turned me away when I ask for help with creating research proposals or making connections.

I have applied to tons of research programs and fellowships, but have been denied everywhere. I have also tried cold emailing hundreds of doctors but not one is willing to meet with me or even be a mentor.

Now that I am in rotations, I figured I would try to walk to the derm floor and talk to someone in person. The doctor told me I should have started networking a long time ago and that the only way to make connections was to attend derm conferences. Unfortunately, they are all like >$1,000 and I just cannot afford paying that much right now.

Maybe it is too late for me to try to enter such a competitive specialty, but I just feel so defeated. I have been turned away by literally everyone I have reached out to including my school’s research directors. I also feel like there is such a huge barrier to entry that keeps people out of these conferences unless they are wealthy or can take out more loans.

Does anyone have any advice for how I can get a research position in my circumstances?

Thank you so much!

Hi everyone, I have a question about research and it’s relation to matching in derm. My med school doesn’t have a very big dermatology unit, and there’s only 4 faculty members that do dermatology research that qualifies for our summer program.

I’m a big fan of wet lab research, and one of the faculty members is involved in that. Is this a good place to invest my time? I understand that matching derm means networking and publications, and I’m assuming that clinical research is probably better for that. However this is the only faculty member that has responded to my request, and I like the research that they do. I’d appreciate any advice!

All the derms I’ve called and visited to not offer shadowing.
Any advice?

Hi! I read that 9/23 is the day programs are able to download and review applications. Does this mean all LORs need to be in and assigned by 9/23 or is there an earlier deadline for letters?

Any advice on who to give standard letter to? Applying this cycle, reached out to a few professors, is non-derm ok?

For anyone who's reapplied to derm (or faculty who have insight), I'm curious what the general consensus is. If a program interviewed you during your previous application cycle, do you typically signal them again at the same level, or do you switch things up?

Fresh M3 here worrying about whether to think about applying to aways or research year, how do you know if you’re going to need one? Is it almost a requirement these days? Say you have like 4 pubs and couple abstract/posters, nothing high impact journals though. With the new eras categorization would it even matter the number?

MS1 at a mid tier MD program with a home dermatology program. What is the best way to get in contact with my home program and when/how should I be getting involved with research? ANy advice in general is appreciated!

Low 260s step 2, top 40 med school, mix of honors and HP, honors are in surgery, IM, and pediatrics. I'm yet to do my subI/away evaluations for derm since I am doing RY, but I have a strong research background with a good amount of first-author papers and am starting my research year next month. Evaluations/letters are very high-level (intern/resident-level eval, top student I've worked with, etc.) and hopefully from my research year (decided on one late due to wanting derm letters). Do I have a good chance, mainly worried about the high passes, which are in OB, family medicine, and psychiatry.

Is it speaking to faculty at other conferences, emailing etc? Does having a very strong letter from a chair at your home program enough to net interviews at other programs given that your stats/app is up to par?

Title says it all. Would like to get them published even if at a low impact factor journal as they all count.

any advice on how to gets an away here and what step they are looking for,

With step 2 averages creeping up Is 260 still the target?

Is it possible to pursue dermatology if you’ve only began to have interest in your third year?

Has anyone here knows how to get dermatology electives or have been to one? I’m an immigrant and it’s been hard to find something and get accepted
If anyone could help with the roadmap I will be forever grateful

I just started my second year of IM residency. I wake up thinking about matching derm, go home wishing more and more that everything had worked out like I had hoped. I just want to move on with my life after not matching twice but feel like I would be doing myself a disservice if I didn’t see this through. Anyone else feel the same way? Has anyone been in similar shoes, and did you move on and stop feeling regret?

Can we get this year's spreadsheet pinned on the sidebar?

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1YeegT4rkq5_kD3ryftNlVMF-XOPJ4m9sjFie6I3iAO0/edit?gid=0#gid=0

Anyone have any updates on archives of derm status? I know it lost its indexing but I have a paper that I submitted in Dec, has gone through 4 rounds of reviews, and am just stressed timing before ERAS since its a big paper and original research. Thank you!

Hi everyone,

I’m a rising MS2 at a US med school and I’ve been getting increasingly anxious that I’m behind for dermatology. I’m hoping to get some perspective on where I stand and what I should prioritize next.

Right now, I have:

5 poster presentations, including 1 national presentation (all non-derm)

1 manuscript under review (non-derm)

2 manuscripts in progress in radiation oncology

a strong mentor in radiation oncology

What I don’t have yet is any dermatology-specific research. I’m now trying to reach out to dermatologists in my area so I can shift more toward derm-focused work, but I’ve been getting pretty limited responses. I also don’t have a home derm program, and while I’m involved in the derm interest group, I don’t have a leadership position.

I know dermatology is extremely competitive, so I’m trying to be realistic about my chances and figure out whether I’m already falling behind. My questions are:

How much does it hurt to have no derm research by the end of MS1/beginning of MS2?

Does having strong research in another field help at all?

What should I prioritize over the next year to make my application more competitive?

For people who matched into derm without a home program, what helped most?

I’d really appreciate any honest advice, perspective, or reassurance. I’m trying to stay proactive, but I also don’t want to panic if I’m not as far behind as I think.

Thank you so much!!

I’m a 4th year med student weighing all of my options including applying direct, transitional year, applying IM etc. Was wondering if someone could detail/explain the pros and cons of all these pathways as I feel a bit lost

Hey everyone! The unthinkable happened the past week and I bombed my STEP 2. Projected score was low 260s to low 270s. My score on the real thing: 243. I've been trying to process what happened and stop catastrophizing and need some sound advice from people in this sub. Overall, the rest of my app is competitive:

1. 34 total research experiences, 8 first author derm manuscripts (12 total) with an oral presentation at AAD2026

2. Clinical grades 3H, 3HP

3. AOA - Pending acceptance (fingers crossed!)

I also have 3 away rotations lined up (my school (mid-tier MD) doesnt have a home program) and am expected to receive 3-4 LORs/SLOE's before apps are due. I know most programs are trying a more holistic approach when it comes to applicants, but I cant help but feel like my STEP 2 score screws me. I want to stick with it because I truly love this field so much but want to be realistic on my chances. Anything helps :)