3rd Year Neurology Grade

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Hi all,

This is my first time posting in SDN in a long time (I used to post as a med student). Here is my problem: I am currently a 3rd year wanting to go into neurology. I'm more than bummed because I received a high pass instead of honors in the 3rd year neuro rotation even though I've worked harder in that rotation than I have in any of the others, and I made it known to attendings that I was interested in neuro, stayed late, did extra readings, etc.

My specific questions are: what are my chances of getting into a good neurology residency? I'm not thinking like top 5, more like somewhere in the top 40.
How much does my grade of high pass instead of honors hurt me, and what can I do to counter that?
Have any of you neurology residents out there matched at your 1st or 2nd choic residency program with just a high pass instead of honors in neurology?

A little about my stats: Step 1 = 233.
3rd year grades: Honors in OB/GYN, Peds, Psych. High pass in IM, Surgery, Neuro. Pass in Family
I'm from a top 30 med school in research.
I have about 3 research experiences, and 1 paper that is in the process of being submitted for publication, a few poster presentations.

I guess I'm a little concerned since neuro is getting more competitive from what I've heard, and I really wanna match in two or three specific programs that are currently ranked in the 20's-40's.

Thank you in advance to any who respond!

i have less credentials and matched at a "top 25 program"

youll should do well

it is true though that neuro is getting more competitive...the applicants i were interviewing with seemed to be above par and highly intelligent at all the places that i interviewed

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Originally Posted by neurolover2013

i have less credentials and matched at a "top 25 program"

youll should do well

I agree with neurolover here. I received a high pass in my third year neurology grade as well, and didn't even know I was interested in neurology until after. Needless to say, I'll be going to my first choice!
If you are interested in neurology, definitely pursue that interest and take some 4th year electives (neuroICU, epilepsy, etc.). Honor in that elective. However, I think you will be fine, given your other credentials .

if you're really gung-ho about a few programs, do aways there so they can see upfront that you're not an idiot. Do a neurology elective at your own school beginning of 4th year and blow people away with your ambition. Your 3rd year clerkship might have had strict distribution requirements for P-HP-H and someone might have outgunned you a little on a shelf or something. It happens. If you're going into neurology anyway hopefully the work you put in will result in you being a better neurologist.

Originally Posted by neurolover2013

it is true though that neuro is getting more competitive...the applicants i were interviewing with seemed to be above par and highly intelligent at all the places that i interviewed

...compared to your personal interview experiences from the last several years?

I applied to residency 7 years ago, when you had to choose between a zeppelin and an autogyro for your travel arrangements, and I don't remember my co-applicants being below-par knuckledraggers at that time. Maybe my memory is fading.

After moderating this forum for several years, this meme is among the most tenacious. Top tier programs have always been hard to get into, but for AMGs there really are good chances of matching even with mediocre stats, provided that you are willing to apply smartly and broadly. Prelim spots are another story.

Take your high pass and move on. Get an honors in your MS4 year at your home institution, and if you feel like it, do some away rotations. Your stats are otherwise decently competitive, even for top tier locations.

apologies if what i said was misconstrued...

neuro like just about everything else IS getting more competitive and this is evident in the upward trend in step scores...along with word of mouth and although its not always the best barometer, ive noticed that some programs that traditionally filled with many FMG's are now almost entirely AMG for the last couple of years

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Thanks for the advice, guys. It has made me feel a little better about my grade. It's always frustrating when you do your best in something, but the results are less than what you had hoped, and you really don't know what you could have done differently.

I plan to take a neurology sub I, as well as an internal medicine sub I. In terms of other neuro electives, my school doesn't really offer much more than that. The only related things are pediatric neurology and neurosurgery. If I were to do one of these (ped neuro vs neurosurg), which would be better?

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Another good option is PM&R provided you can see more of the neuroscience related stuff (EMG studies, spasticity treatment, stroke/spine/TBI rehab, muscular dystrophy, ALS) and don't get stuck doing a lot of non-neuroscience stuff (Cardiac rehab, ortho, etc).

Edit: Also- I've heard about the increase in quality of applicants from older docs at our institution, but they are comparing to a time further back than 7 years ago, where neuroimaging was a pneumoencephalogram and they were diagnosing subdural hematomas with EEG and burr holes. The specialty continues to advance at an exponential rate.

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Sorry to bump an old thread, but I figured it was better than starting a new one. Anyway, my question is also regarding third-year (and fourth-year) neurology grades. My school doesn't require a neurology rotation and they have a policy where you can't get honors in an elective or sub-I. Therefore, I can't get anything more than satisfactory in my neurology rotation. I've heard from a few people that it's important to honor your neuro rotation, but surely there are other schools out there that don't allow that option. I guess I'm just wondering if this is something that might hurt me.

That could be a good thing. You can do an elective rotation at your home school without worrying about your grade (make sure the grading system is indicated somewhere in an LOR or deans letter), and then do an away Sub-I. you'll already have a month of neuro under your belt and can work for that Honors. That's what I would do.

Originally Posted by Acherona

That could be a good thing. You can do an elective rotation at your home school without worrying about your grade (make sure the grading system is indicated somewhere in an LOR or deans letter), and then do an away Sub-I. you'll already have a month of neuro under your belt and can work for that Honors. That's what I would do.

The way I understand it, honors isn't an option for a Sub-I either. I could be wrong, but that's how I understand it.

Eh, what can you do? Just make sure your Dean's Letter is explicit in saying that you got the highest grade they could give you. It's not your fault your med school hamstrings its students.

Yeah, that's what I'll have to do. My school has a pretty good match rate, so I assume they know what's best. I just didn't know what to think since people kept saying I need to honor my neuro rotation.

Thanks for the advice!