2.991 GPA, will residency care?

[bahdahboom]

Just saw my unofficial transcript..I have a 2.991 GPA. I’m looking into going for internal, peds, or EM. EM is definitely my number 3 option, i don’t have a preference for internal or peds at this point.

Should I be worried?

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[MD-2022]

Nope, Step 1 score bro.

 

[The Knife & Gun Club]

You have a med school GPA? What possible purpose could that serve?

Without knowing a std dev no one will be able to interpret it, and if they did have that info it would be too cumbersome to use in selection.

Step 1 over everythang

 

[Jesus1]

No.

 

[bahdahboom]

You have a med school GPA? What possible purpose could that serve?

Without knowing a std dev no one will be able to interpret it, and if they did have that info it would be too cumbersome to use in selection.

Step 1 over everythang

Yep, It’s evil. we’re one of the only Med schools in the US that has first and second year grades. 🙁

 

[atomi]

That really sucks. I can guarantee you someone at our program world bring that up as a negative during ranking because they don’t understand it. Med students are expected to have a 4.0 to get into med school. Why don’t you have a 4.0?

 

[bahdahboom]

That really sucks. I can guarantee you someone at our program world bring that up as a negative during ranking because they don’t understand it. Med students are expected to have a 4.0 to get into med school. Why don’t you have a 4.0?

Lol I’m assuming you’re being sarcastic in asking why I don’t have a 4.0, seeing how Med students are not expected to have a 4.0 to get into Med school. But long story short, I tried as hard as I was willing to during my first 2 years. I had other life activities going on besides Med school and have no regrets about focusing on those things while balancing Med school.

 

[DubbiDoctor]

What was your step 1 score? I doubt anyone care since med school GPA is super uncommon, and when it exists, it's unstandardized. If you did at least average on step 1, you can say that you focused on independent learning, which preclinical GPA didn't reflect.

 

[The Knife & Gun Club]

Yep, It’s evil. we’re one of the only Med schools in the US that has first and second year grades. 🙁

I wouldn’t worry too much about it - we have preclinical grades too. Every PD or advisor I’ve spoken to says just to pretend they don’t exist, since no residency would be able to use them in selection anyway.

Gotta remember that most of these residencies get hundreds if not thousands of apps a year - each with pages and pages of clinical comments, USMLE scores, grades, and other stuff. It would be time prohibitive to try and understand/reconcile the grading systems of every school.

On top of that who cares how you did in biochem during M1? It has like 0 bearing on if you’d be a good resident/team player/productive researcher/whatever.

 

[bahdahboom]

I wouldn’t worry too much about it - we have preclinical grades too. Every PD or advisor I’ve spoken to says just to pretend they don’t exist, since no residency would be able to use them in selection anyway.

Gotta remember that most of these residencies get hundreds if not thousands of apps a year - each with pages and pages of clinical comments, USMLE scores, grades, and other stuff. It would be time prohibitive to try and understand/reconcile the grading systems of every school.

On top of that who cares how you did in biochem during M1? It has like 0 bearing on if you’d be a good resident/team player/productive researcher/whatever.

Okay, thanks!!! I feel so much better

 

[The Knife & Gun Club]

I would warn you though to look at how you’re scoring compared to your class. Step 1 is very important, and if you’re 2 std devs below the class avg that doesn’t bode well for Step.

 

[Angus Avagadro]

I believe PDs consider class rank more than a med school GPA, since so many schools are P/F, and Honors. I wouldnt take it too seriously as 50% of every med school class will graduate in the bottom 50%. Clinical grades IMO are more useful. Med students who dont show on time and dont prepare the night before are red flags for PDs, who dont want to hire problems. If your clinical grades are excellent and your Step1 is competetive for the field you have targeted, you should be fine. Good luck and best wishes, let us know how it all works out.

 

[Lawpy]

I would warn you though to look at how you’re scoring compared to your class. Step 1 is very important, and if you’re 2 std devs below the class avg that doesn’t bode well for Step.

I believe PDs consider class rank more than a med school GPA, since so many schools are P/F, and Honors. I wouldnt take it too seriously as 50% of every med school class will graduate in the bottom 50%. Clinical grades IMO are more useful. Med students who dont show on time and dont prepare the night before are red flags for PDs, who dont want to hire problems. If your clinical grades are excellent and your Step1 is competetive for the field you have targeted, you should be fine. Good luck and best wishes, let us know how it all works out.

So to clarify, if someone has strong Step scores and excelled in clinical years, it’s okay to have a below average performance for preclinical years?

This type of case is odd but it has happened and some long time SDNers have reported this. The reason is they have very strong test taking skills (and studied hard during dedicated) and thrive in a clinical environment.

 

[Chibucks15]

So to clarify, if someone has strong Step scores and excelled in clinical years, it’s okay to have a below average performance for preclinical years?

This type of case is odd but it has happened and some long time SDNers have reported this. The reason is they have very strong test taking skills (and studied hard during dedicated) and thrive in a clinical environment.

Is it that odd though? I completely agree that most people who excel in preclinical excel in clinical, but there are definitely ones that are a whole new person once they hit the wards. For me personally, I can't stand rote memorization and the BS that comes along with the preclinical years for the most part. But put me clinical and I'm lovin it.

I'm not saying every person in the bottom half will go on to be in the first quartile for clinical stuff and kill step, but for some people, they just don't do memorization well. But throw them in an environment that lets them learn (kinda) by doing and have the ability to put patient stories to the facts and there are for sure people that thrive in that environment. I've heard plenty of stories of this, but maybe that's just who I've associated with, and they've gone on to match fine (the caveat being not uber competitive stuff, with the exception of two people).

 

[Angus Avagadro]

So to clarify, if someone has strong Step scores and excelled in clinical years, it’s okay to have a below average performance for preclinical years?

This type of case is odd but it has happened and some long time SDNers have reported this. The reason is they have very strong test taking skills (and studied hard during dedicated) and thrive in a clinical environment.

Not OK to have below avg performance in pre clinical, but Step1 is I think most important, clinical evals are 2nd. They reveal punctuality, professionalism, and problem solving skills. This IMO is more important than class rank or preclinical GPA. PDs, as I have said before, dont want to hire problems, even intelligent problems.

 

[VincentAdultman]

lol preclinical grades don’t matter

 

[The Knife & Gun Club]

So to clarify, if someone has strong Step scores and excelled in clinical years, it’s okay to have a below average performance for preclinical years?

This type of case is odd but it has happened and some long time SDNers have reported this. The reason is they have very strong test taking skills (and studied hard during dedicated) and thrive in a clinical environment.

It’s not that uncommon actually. People who are heart set on a competitive speciality from early on often prioritize step 1 prep and research productivity over class grades.

Of the 9 people my school matched into ortho this past year 7 of them were in the bottom 50% in pre-clinical grades.

 

[getdown]

It’s not that uncommon actually. People who are heart set on a competitive speciality from early on often prioritize step 1 prep and research productivity over class grades.

Of the 9 people my school matched into ortho this past year 7 of them were in the bottom 50% in pre-clinical grades.

Now I know why ortho turfs "sick" pts to medicine all the time for "management". Bone must hammer, no understand blood pressure.

/s

 

[takeurmeds02]

It’s not that uncommon actually. People who are heart set on a competitive speciality from early on often prioritize step 1 prep and research productivity over class grades.

Of the 9 people my school matched into ortho this past year 7 of them were in the bottom 50% in pre-clinical grades.

You must be an ortho bro, how the hell did you figure that out haha

 

[The Knife & Gun Club]

You must be an ortho bro, how the hell did you figure that out haha

I was - I dropped it about 6 months before step. Realized it was a cool field but not cool enough to justify the insane level of competition that is required.

I remember talking to the PD and she told me that even if my app was perfect - 250+, tons of research, and all the right connections - an LOR with anything less than effusively stellar comments would sink my chances of matching.

 

[takeurmeds02]

I was - I dropped it about 6 months before step. Realized it was a cool field but not cool enough to justify the insane level of competition that is required.

I remember talking to the PD and she told me that even if my app was perfect - 250+, tons of research, and all the right connections - an LOR with anything less than effusively stellar comments would sink my chances of matching.

There are so many pathways to being happy...I just don't think the competitive specialties are those ways haha. Good for you man. Hope rotations aren't kicking your butt too much