2014 NRMP PD Survey- Step 1 cutoffs

[premed67783]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I was wondering if anybody could answer a question I had about interpreting the 2014 NRMP PD survey. There is a section where it graphs the minimum step 1 score cutoffs for granting interviews, but it also graphs the step 1 scores where programs "almost always grant interviews". Does this mean that if you hit that step 1 score, you can expect to be interviewed by most of the programs you apply to? For example, if the survey has a step 1 score of 230 as the "almost always grant an interview", does that mean if I have a 244, I can expect to be interviewed by almost everywhere I apply to?

Thoughts on how to interpret this?

 

[Psai]

Your application is more than your step 1 score. A cutoff means that people below that score most likely will not receive an interview. There's no guarantee for getting an interview, even with a good score.

 

[Donald Juan]

I was wondering if anybody could answer a question I had about interpreting the 2014 NRMP PD survey. There is a section where it graphs the minimum step 1 score cutoffs for granting interviews, but it also graphs the step 1 scores where programs "almost always grant interviews". Does this mean that if you hit that step 1 score, you can expect to be interviewed by most of the programs you apply to? For example, if the survey has a step 1 score of 230 as the "almost always grant an interview", does that mean if I have a 244, I can expect to be interviewed by almost everywhere I apply to?

Thoughts on how to interpret this?

I promise you a 244 will not get you an interview everywhere no matter what the specialty is. It is true that if you are in that range and are going for something like family, you will get a ton of interviews.

Bigger programs and bigger specialties like IM/Peds/Family where they might interview hundreds of people are more likely to send out automatic invites based on whatever criteria they select (which is probably more than just step). These are the specialties where people start getting invites the same day they submit their application. Of course, I'm sure not every program does this, but some of them get thousands of applications and they do need some ways to filter applicants. Smaller specialties will almost always go through all applications above whatever cut off they want (if any), which means a 260 may not be some big advantage over a 250 if the lower step score is backed up by a better application.