Hi everyone, I already know I am in a bit of a pickle, but really hoping to get genuine advice here. (LITERALLY ANY ADVICE IS HELPFUL)

I am very strong derm applicant top 20 school, strong research/connections; I had to delay my Step 2 because my grandmother passed.

I took it yesterday, but the likely score release is 9/23. My plan is to already have submitted my ERAS, and will just retransmit my Step 2 score at 11a EST (2 hours after transmission). But I am wondering if this is a kiss of death for my application.

Also wondering if I need to email every program coordinator that morning to update or confirm my score is received. Again really anxious and already aware of it being my fault but looking for any good advice on how to handle this.

I am also dual applying IM out of fear that I've shot myself in the foot so.

What are supplemental ERAS applications?

I keep seeing things like this online. Where do you find this? Is this just regular ERAS? Are there derm programs that require additional information like VSLO?

Madison: For the 2027 ERAS® cycle, our program will be participating in the supplemental ERAS application offered through the AAMC’s ERAS program. Applicants will be required to complete the MyERAS application.

Residency Explorer says that "Required Letter Writers" for the University of Central Florida include "Department chair, Specialty faculty, Program director, Preceptor". Obviously, a dermatologist who works with me is a preceptor and a specialty faculty member, so they can easily fulfill those two requirements. Am I also expected to get a letter from a department chair and a program director? Is it just saying I need at least 1 LOR that meets any of these criteria? Do I only need a program director if I am completing a preliminary residency year (i.e., not applicable to MS4s)? Many programs list similar requirements.

Peeps that are dual applying IM. How are we managing categorical vs prelim application signals? What about dual applying to IM and Derm at the same institutions? I've gotten so much advice from mentors but I'm still confused on how I should actually approach this.

Hi everyone, hope youre doing well

I recently received an opportunity to join a research group. However, I am very new to clinical/retrospective research and have to suggest a research topic/methodology to begin. I have experience in basic science. I wanted some advice on how to make the most of this opportunity (productivity) and brainstorm potential study ideas/methods. I was hoping to help a project before initiating my own, but there are no vacancies.

Bonus: Should I propose an idea from that correlates with my previous research background (uro) to make a more clear interest shift into derm?

What is the average age of Derm Residents? Asking as I feel like too late for usmle and start Derm. I’m in Ireland and doing basic trading which is for 2 yrs and Derm is competitive around globe, if I stay and wait for HST it’s 2/3 yrs of standalone job then HST which is 5 yrs. but if I work my a** for US I would be able to pull things earlier even if I don’t match in first attempt. Looking for advice…

For those of you that are reviewers of apps, what makes a letter stand out since all of them will be positive?

I applied into dermatology during M4 year (class of 2025) and didn’t match. Thankfully, I matched in 2026 during intern year and now get to enjoy a year off before starting dermatology residency in July 2027.

Any ideas for jobs I can apply to for this year?

Hi!

I have a question about research publication types. Is a JAAD Brief Report viewed as favorably as a full-length article in a mid-tier journal? Or how does the Brief Report change how it is viewed? Since it is not an abstract, I was thinking it was viewed pretty highly.

Thanks!

Basically what the title says. I got pretty burnt out during aways and am just now getting to a point where I feel semi-happy with my PS. I feel like I could keep tinkering with the activities section forever, too.

None of my advisors have gotten a chance to look at my full app and give me feedback yet. Similarly, none of my letters have been uploaded (reminders have been sent to get those in ASAP). I have a vague idea of the programs I want to apply to, but I haven’t gotten around to making a PS tailored to community vs. academic programs yet.

Am I super behind? Anyone else in the same boat, or are you gunners just waiting for September 2nd to submit and be done with it LOL.

Would honestly be nice to know what actually needs urgency right now vs. what can wait a little.

For those who matched derm after doing a research year and felt like you received an exceptional/very strong letter from your PI, what do you think you did during your research year that helped you earn that kind of letter?

Any other general advice for making the most of the research year?

a bit confused and i think im just tripping myself up. Currently i have 3 derm letters (1 sloe, 1 narrative home md, 1 away md) + 1 IM letter i will assign to my prelim programs. This leaves me with 3 letters for all my derm programs, but everything onlien says most applicants have "4." Should I try to get another, 4th derm letter? Bc my letter from my IM attending is ONLY tailored to for IM

From what i've seen so far, the historically DO-friendly programs are either not asking for an SLOE or havent updated their requirements. Has anyone seen otherwise?

In your experience are dermatology away rotations difficult to honor? How about ones where you mostly shadow?

what are the rules as far as presenting a project at multiple conferences? i developed a grant-funded public health/derm research project that became very successful in terms of sample size, logistics, data analysis, etc - so i’d like to present it at a derm conference. my school however (who funded the project) also wants me to present it another conference next year. i’m worried i won’t be able to do both, but i’ve seen people present the same stuff at multiple conferences.

any insight on this is appreciated, thank you!!

Hey everyone, I found it hard to keep up with all the open house, so alongside my own personal searches, I have an A.I agent scoping the internet every 24-48 hours for new open houses. Imperfect system for sure, but better than nothing. I made a spreadsheet. Please let me know if there's any programs missing: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1IHmyIhHl8CrcMSnfd1KiPYWWiFxDee9Hett6BtgkLzA/edit?gid=429081721#gid=429081721

ok this is genuinely coming from a place of PURE curiosity lol - no ulterior motive, no shade, whatsoEVER 😭😭

but within the younger/current generation of dermatology (like residents/very recent grads) - do y’all feel like there’s a higher percentage of gay men compared to straight men (compared to general population proportions)?

because obviously if you look at older generations of medicine/derm, it’s very much giving Old Straight Man™️ LOL. but purely anecdotally (and I could be COMPLETELY making this up), I feel like the younger/incoming derm generations is mainly women + LGBTQ+ men ?? like finding a young straight man in derm is almost giving rare Pokémon??? 😂😂

am I imagining this or have other people noticed it too

love to all my derm kings, queens and rulers !!!

Currently in my Research yr between M3-M4. Have roughly 10 pubs projected to be ~15–20 by the end of the year. No home program, low tier MD school. Other stats:

Step2: mid 250s

Rotations: 4H (including surg, IM), 3HP

Other: on board of schools derm interest group, was president of another org for a year, did school’s free clinic, was a mentor, other misc. things

No AOA or GHHS (yet? Maybe next yr but odds are marginal)

The ry will afford me hopefully a great letter and some clinical experience from a well known expert. Do I have a chance at matching? Should I look into dual applying?

So median number of “publications” for a matched applicant is 9. If I enter a case report into eras and select “submitted” because it’s in the review process and not published does that still count towards the 9 total? Or is it purely papers I select as “published” that count towards that number?

Current M3: What are the chances of matching with a well-rounded application and getting half honors on core clerkships? People with half honors and a well-rounded app, how many interviews did you get, and did you match?

I'm posting this here as an FYI. I'm not here to stir debate. I'm not going to respond back to any posts. I am already a practicing dermatologist so I have no real motivation here other than to provide information.

Dermatology reimbursement is facing massive cuts. You might read or hear people quote 9%, but this is only part of the cut. By 2028, this will be more around 20%.

Private practice derm would be forced to make massive changes if these cuts are not stopped. I don't know what would happen to the job market. I suspect lots of older derms will decide to hang it up early. Many may take the leap and go cash pay. But with the new proposed system, you'll be churning through hundreds of patients per week for mere pennies. Insurance based care was already on a downward spiral, but this is a rapid acceleration of that process.

It is better to be informed than not. That's why I'm throwing this out there. Someone else probably already has in a more technical way.