You routinely read students on SDN saying that preclinical grades don't matter and that board scores is where it's at. Of course, this is generally true but it is more nuanced that.
For example, a B student means different things at different schools. At mine, the range of a B is massive and if you're at the bottom of the B range you have a gross lack of knowledge of the subject, notably below the high yield info you'd even see in FA. When are you planning on shoring up these deficits and learning vast quantities of new before Step 1? That can be concerning.
On the other hand, there are classes where a solid B and an A are determined by minute details specific to a given professor and success is determined by memorizing their slides minutia alone. A solid B student could have a great knowledge of the subject for Step 1 but not be interested in regurgitating the methods of a study mentioned once on slide 123. Who cares about a B because of class ran like that.
This is why I think outside resources and qbanks in M1 and M2 are important. It allows you to compare you knowledge to what is expected of all med students. While preclinical grades are not the most important thing on your app, they are important in preparing you for boards. If you're confident you're preparing yourself for boards, I wouldn't sweat the grades too heavily.
All A's? Hardly. This isn't the premed process anymore. Board scores, ECs, and clinical grades are the most important things for most specialties.
