Residency App - "Each publication will add one point to board score" BS?

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I overheard some MS3 today stating "each research pub basically adds on one point to your step 1 score" for residency considerations......is there any merit/semblance of truth to this? or is this total hogwash?

Originally Posted by HDaddyDollarz

I overheard some MS3 today stating "each research pub basically adds on one point to your step 1 score" for residency considerations......is there any merit/semblance of truth to this? or is this total hogwash?

Never heard of it. At our (psychiatry residency) program, publications, extracurrics, etc were a nice bonus to consider for candidates who were already being considered on the basis of grades, scores, and letters.

Originally Posted by HDaddyDollarz

I overheard some MS3 today stating "each research pub basically adds on one point to your step 1 score" for residency considerations......is there any merit/semblance of truth to this? or is this total hogwash?

This makes no sense. The range for Step 1 score (0-300) is pretty big, and most people fall between 180-250, with a mean of about 210. 6 papers would be tremendous for an MD/PhD student, but it won't make any difference in your application if your Step 1 score is "bumped" only 6 points. IMHO, each publication is worth significantly MORE than 1 point on the USMLE (in terms of getting you accepted with everything else being equal), but this is heavily dependent on your specialty and program.

Originally Posted by gbwillner

This makes no sense. The range for Step 1 score (0-300) is pretty big, and most people fall between 180-250, with a mean of about 210. 6 papers would be tremendous for an MD/PhD student, but it won't make any difference in your application if your Step 1 score is "bumped" only 6 points. IMHO, each publication is worth significantly MORE than 1 point on the USMLE (in terms of getting you accepted with everything else being equal), but this is heavily dependent on your specialty and program.

DO you think review papers hold the same value

Originally Posted by forsparta

DO you think review papers hold the same value

No.