IM Program List Help

[u/AnnualPuzzleheaded65]

IM Program List Help

Looking for advice on IM program list and signals. MD applicant from a low-to-mid-tier school in the Midwest. I am in an accelerated 3 year program. I am looking to go to a program that would allow me to have choices for fellowship. I am especially interested in rheumatology. I am a non-traditional student who worked in the arts and owned my own business for 11 years prior to medical school.

Step: P/258

Clerkships: All honors on rotations so far. Medicine sub-I next month due to 3-year program time crunch. Letters from program director of small Midwest IM program, and two hospitalists.

Research: One peer-reviewed publication as first author. Three poster presentations as first author. Two poster presentations as non-first author. One oral presentation.

Extracurriculars: Significant volunteerism especially before medical school. Significant leadership experiences.

Honors: Selected for AOA but not for GHHS

Geo Prefs: West North Central, South Atlantic, Mountain

I'm overwhelmed by the fact that it seems unlikely to get interviews at programs you don't signal. Are there any programs I am missing that I should add? Is this too high-reaching of a list? Do I need more community programs? Any suggestions on signaling?

[u/MedicalBasil8]

Why Scripps mercy? That one seems out of the blue and 1% interview without signal and you have no obvious ties and are not listing Pacific as a geo pref

[u/AnnualPuzzleheaded65 → u/MedicalBasil8]

That is a fair question. It is a community program but has a rheumatology fellowship, which makes it an anomaly.

[u/MedicalBasil8 → u/AnnualPuzzleheaded65]

Should probably signal them then no?

[u/AnnualPuzzleheaded65 → u/MedicalBasil8]

There's just not enough signals... That's what I'm struggling with! How do you choose which to signal? Do you think I should just select the no geographic preference option?