if you come from lower ranked school or a school without a derm department, I wholeheartedly recommend it. The connections you make are invaluable. << Unless your app is spotless or your home institution wants you, you'll need a research year. It's quickly becoming the new norm x2

Not necessary if you have AOA-level grades and great letters. I was able to match without a research year x3 << to give another perspective, research is very important if you want to match at top academic programs (Harvard, UCSF, the like).<<got interviews at most of the top 5 without a research year. i dont think its necessary. << did you do any research?

<< N=1 but I had AOA, 250s/270s, good letters, and here I am unmatched x1

sorry to hear that. are you soaping? << Had 1 soap interview, had lots of people email/call to support me, no offer<aw im so sorry, what do you think went wrong? << no idea, I think they just interviewed a lot of people and liked them more than me I guess

maybe personality? I myself am an introvert, and I feel like people in derm treat introversion like a disease << they're missing out. sending you a virtual hug. << thanks. It sucks to get hopes up a 2nd time and fail, but I'll just do my prelim and apply again. Failing that, research fellowship << can't imagine how difficult it must be to have been disappointed a second time. glad you have a plan, and best of luck my friend<<I'm in the same spot as you, interviewed yesterday for a SOAP spot and was really hoping it would work out. As much as I'd love a spot to be open in round 2 I know it's unlikely. Just wanted you to know you're not alone in this process. Best of luck to you!

Do you guys mind sharing what program you interviewed yesterday? I myself am PGY1 in prelim right now soaping and didn't get a spot in round 1; how do we know if SOAP spots get filled for that specific program?< The list gets updated at the end of each round; each round lasts 2 hours then i guess it gets updated at 2 PM EDT< yes it gets updated at 205

How many intervieews did you have AOA/ 250/270 are crazy stats. << I had 9 interviews, 2 of them med-derm <<sorry you didnt match. I had 260s+ on steps and didnt match but was able to match to spot during my prelim year

How many interviews did you have? << 9 total, 2 med-derm, 2 from my aways, 1 from home. So I got only 4 random derm interviews