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Flatus

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I know this is a thread that people don't like to reply to but I just wanted to get an opinion of my chances at anesthesia. I have been lurking for quite some time and wanted to post this question without being called a troll for lack of posts but since i would need to know how my situation would affect my chances in the field, I am started this thread

I failed 2 classes my first semester of medical school due to some personal problems. One of those classes was changed to P after passing the re-exam and the other I remediated for a HP. Since then here are my numbers:

- 1st and 2nd year of medical school: High passed all
- 3rd year: so far i have 1P, 2HP, 2H
- step 1: 219
- i have one publication in anesthesia research as first author

I realize that getting failing grades my first semester stands out as a red flag and hurts my chances but I just wanted to know how it would affect my application. With the 2 F's and a 219 step 1, would you recommend taking step 2 earlier or does it not matter? I want to thank everyone in advance.
 
I think you should take step two earlier but make sure you do well. So work hard to prepare for it. You have a solid step one score; thus a strong step two score will improve your chances even more.

You will certainly get asked about your two failing grades at your interviews. Just be honest about why you failed on your first attempt. In fact, write about it in your personal statement. Be uprfront and confident. Don't think that just because you failed those two courses on your first attempt, that now you don't have the potential to enter this specialty. Some people may not fail any courses, but may do horribly on step one and still land a spot. I would apply widely, ask for strong letters, consider doing away rotations at places you're truly interested in, and continue with the research. You'll be surprised at how important your research will become. Good luck.

Cheers.
 
Flatus said:
I know this is a thread that people don't like to reply to but I just wanted to get an opinion of my chances at anesthesia. I have been lurking for quite some time and wanted to post this question without being called a troll for lack of posts but since i would need to know how my situation would affect my chances in the field, I am started this thread

I failed 2 classes my first semester of medical school due to some personal problems. One of those classes was changed to P after passing the re-exam and the other I remediated for a HP. Since then here are my numbers:

- 1st and 2nd year of medical school: High passed all
- 3rd year: so far i have 1P, 2HP, 2H
- step 1: 219
- i have one publication in anesthesia research as first author

I realize that getting failing grades my first semester stands out as a red flag and hurts my chances but I just wanted to know how it would affect my application. With the 2 F's and a 219 step 1, would you recommend taking step 2 earlier or does it not matter? I want to thank everyone in advance.
Click to expand...


You will be asked about it in interviews but another approach would be to deal with it in your personal statement. Of course no one knows your "personal problem," but you can Use it to show how you overcame adversity or something.

I also agree that you should take step two early and do well.
 
take step two early and do well. in your personal statement explain what happened, write about how you overcame whatever it was and what it taught you... also, do aways at programs you want to go to and work as hard as possible...
 
do NOT write about it in your personal statement. That's like calling a girl up to ask her on a date and saying, "Do you want to go out with me? I know i have a zit on my nose, and my shirt is a little faded, and the last girl I took out never wanted to see me again, but what do you say?" Somebody once said, "Never bring up past failures."

If during the interview you are asked about it, (some will, some won't) you can give a great answer about everything you learned from the experience. But until they care, don't hang it in front of their faces.

Just move on bud. You've done well since then. Let that be the focus of your statement. You'll be fine.
 
I think I would agree with Surfer...do NOT write about it in your personal statement...I've read where that may be regarded as trying to make excuses for prior failures. I'm NOT saying that you are trying to make excuses; but I am saying that others MIGHT regard it that way.

What I'd suggest is preparing a good answer for interviewers who will ask about those failing grades in your first semester of medical school. At that point, you can put the appropriate spin on how the adversity you went through built character, etc, etc.

Other than that bump in the road first year, you have some very solid numbers (and a first-author paper in anesthesia research...that will be a plus). I think you'll be a competitive candidate. As far as advice I'd give, I'd agree with what's already mentioned. Prepare well for Step 2, take it early and get it outta the way. Do well on the rest of your clinical rotations (I'm sure that goes without saying). In your personal statement, write about why you want to pursue anesthesia and why you'd make a good candidate...just wait until you're asked about it on the interview trail to try to explain why you had the not-so-good grades first semester.

Good luck.
 
Thank you all for the advice. One question I have is that if i already have a research publication, would it be beneficial to do a month of anesthesia research elective or just take that month off instead to study for the boards? I'm just trying to also plan out when to get LORs and get my application ready with board scores with the month off for step 2
 
Study. Destroy the boards. No more research. DO NOT write about it in PS. Have good explanation that is not defensive. GL


Flatus said:
Thank you all for the advice. One question I have is that if i already have a research publication, would it be beneficial to do a month of anesthesia research elective or just take that month off instead to study for the boards? I'm just trying to also plan out when to get LORs and get my application ready with board scores with the month off for step 2
Click to expand...
 
Flatus said:
would it be beneficial to do a month of anesthesia research elective or just take that month off instead to study for the boards?
Click to expand...

Just curious as an upcoming 4th year: What can a 4th year do in a 1-month research elective? Case report? Tiny case series? Seems you'd have to put in a lot of work before the 1 month to have it be productive at all, and that it'd be a miracle to get a publication out of it.
 
DO NOT, ever ever ever ever mention ANYTHING NEGATIVE about yourself in a personal statement, that includes failing grades...

Make it a strong, powerful, and positive statement...
 
I failed a class 1st year and had to repeat a large part of the year (my skool sux with how they handle that), and my Step 1 was 25 points lower than yours. I worked my tail off and brought up Step 2 a lot.

I've had 14 interviews this year (not including transitional year). I can tell you in a couple months whether I was competitive enough to land a spot.

I was advised from multiple program directors in more than 1 specialty to address what happened in my personal statement, and I did. I was careful to not make excuses, but to give a feel for what was going on at the time. A few people have asked me about it, but not very many at all. Several have commented on my personal statement in a positive light. So I disagree with those who say not to mention it - I say you should address it, but be careful and deliberate with how you do so.
 
Flatus said:
Thank you all for the advice. One question I have is that if i already have a research publication, would it be beneficial to do a month of anesthesia research elective or just take that month off instead to study for the boards? I'm just trying to also plan out when to get LORs and get my application ready with board scores with the month off for step 2
Click to expand...

Agree with those saying to study for the boards. You have a friggen' first-author publication. You don't need any more research to add to your CV.

I think it would be much more productive and beneficial to you to take the month off, study, and kick @$$ on Step 2.

Good luck.
 
I wanted to just post an update with a follow up question rather than opening a new thread. Taking the advice that you guys gave about steps and PS, I took Step 2CK "early" and though the score is good, I would have wanted higher due to the roadbumps earlier in medical school. I ended up with a 230/95.
While writing my personal statement, I chose to avoid explaining the reason for the difficulty my first semester because there wasn't just one thing but rather a compilation of things going on which resulted in my performance. I felt that if I explained all of that, it would do 2 things. 1 - make my PS long and distract from the real purpose of it and 2 - appear as if I am just making excuses rather than giving a truthful account.

For those two questions I had, I truly appreciate the advice given. Now I have another question - I scheduled an away rotation at a fairly competitive residency program in october and am questioning whether it would be beneficial to do so or not. It would be fairly late and though its possible to get a LOR, itd be cutting it very close and would depend on whether the letter writer would be able to get it in on time for it to be even looked at. Also, the place I scheduled the interview is competitive as it is and with a red flag up and Step scores that aren't knocking anyone's socks off, should I bother? currently I plan on going through with it but just wanted to get other individual's opinions regarding that. I hope to work very hard while I'm there and hopefully my work ethic will allow them to give me some more consideration. i think I already know the answer (do the away) but i would appreciate the advice of those who have gone through the process to give a 2nd objective opinion on this. Thank you again guys.
 
i think the its a valid questioning since if i failed any classes, it would be something to keep in your head always
 
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congrats on your step two. if you don't do the away at the competitive program what are you going to do that month? fill it with something else like pulm, fam med, etc? do the anesthesia month.
 
use the experiences you've accumulated to your advantage and you'll be fine.
 
Flatus said:
I failed 2 classes my first semester of medical school due to some personal problems. One of those classes was changed to P after passing the re-exam and the other I remediated for a HP.
Click to expand...

Don't talk about it in your personal statement.

Do request a copy of your transcript to inspect. You need to see for yourself how those two classes look like on the transcript. Some schools don't even mention the little fact that you had to retake the exam, and just show your final grade.

Don't point out a little flaw in your transcript that people might otherwise not notice (see advice about looking at the transcript yourself, above).

Let it go and don't mention it unless asked in an interview.

Do prepare an answer for "just in case" you are asked in an interview "What does this mean on your transcript?"

I remediated histology as a 1st year student and had to "remediate" two "minor" classes. Out of the 20 places (some of which were supposedly competitive) where I interviewed for a residency or PGY1 year, only 1 interview asked "What does this asterisk mean on your transcript?" The print was so tiny nobody else paid any attention to it.

It is still possible to get a residency position at a fairly competitive program even if you have less than genius-level boards or a couple weak points on the transcript. This frequently happens if said medical student spent time at the program and the faculty really enjoyed him/her in person enough to ignore the numbers and take him/her anyway.
 
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