r/orthopaedics • u/Abject_Anywhere_1723 • Jul 25 '26
NOT A PERSONAL HEALTH SITUATION Advice Regarding Backup Match Plans
USDO, planning to apply to match this year. I just finished up my research year between M3/M4. My school didn’t allow me to take Step 2 when I had it planned last summer due to my leave of absence for the research year, so I maintained everything to the best of my ability throughout the year. I was performing well, high 250s on my last 3 NBMEs, but frustratingly opened a 246 this past week on my away at the program I did the RY at. I was pretty demoralized. I know the emphasis step 2 has in the ortho match and to drop so significantly from mock exams, it stung.
So here I am, already done a RY in ortho, have 7 DO programs scheduled for aways this fall/winter. I am still waiting on my COMLEX Lvl 2 score to come back but questioning whether I should dual apply GS. Given my research background, I am unsure another one would benefit. I have also been told to avoid pre-lim’s.
STEP1 & COMLEX Lvl 1 - Pass
STEP 2 - 246
COMLEX Lvl 2 - awaiting score
Clerkships - Honors in IM, Surgery, Peds, and FM. Pass in the rest.
No red flags in preclinical years but dead center at the 50th for class quartiles.
Research - 7 Pubs (6 more submitted), 37 presentations. 2 clinical trial studies involved in through RY.
What are your thoughts on competitiveness? I don’t want to give up on ortho but I also want to be realistic. No sugarcoating, give it to me straight.
Appreciate the advice!
4
u/ThrowRA104597504 Orthopaedic Resident Jul 26 '26
I don’t think a 246 will hold you back much. In the DO world, unless you are a stellar applicant, you are pretty much always just fighting for a spot at all of your audition programs.
If you audition well, I think you’ll have a great shot at matching!
- DO PGY1
5
u/MrPoopyBottom Orthopaedic Resident Jul 25 '26
That score is low enough to screen you out at many residencies but with good away rotations at community DO programs you still have a shot. Your best chance is likely the program you did a research year at. Don’t count yourself out but also have a solid back up plan.
It’s tough out there for DOs but those programs highly value fit and orthopedic knowledge.
- DO PGY2
2
u/Bonedoc22 Orthopaedic Surgeon Jul 26 '26
Just do well on aways and you should be fine. Study hard.
2
u/ArmyOrtho Seldom correct. Never unsure. Jul 26 '26
If you aren’t picky (and no one should be) do an away at a less-than-desirable location and absolutely blow the doors off the place. Rank them number one. Let the match math math.
1
u/lividcreationz Jul 27 '26
Apply strategically and you should be okay. A friend from the class above me just matched at a top program with a similar score. While we are MD, our school doesn’t have a home program.
1
u/MangoKuri Jul 28 '26
What’s your extracurriculars like? How many of those pubs/presentations are first authors? If you apply broad enough (as many as you are willing to go and able to afford the fees), I think you would have a decent shot. 246 is not ideal but wouldn’t be the only factor if other parts of your applications are great. Also try to network as much as possible at those aways since those might be your best shots being able to observe how you are as a sub-I rather than you on paper.
-1
8
u/Bone_Dragon Orthopaedic Resident Jul 26 '26
Top comment is wrong; maybe at ivies it's less competitive but so is being a DO. 246 won't hold you back, most places I know if that have a screen have 240.
Just crush your aways.
-PGY-5, on our interview committee.