202 on Step 1, what can I actually do?

[HelpPlsThanks]

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Title says it all I guess.

Before this I wasn't leaning towards any real competitive specialties (family, peds, emergency), but this score obviously makes everything a uphill battle.

Are the above 3 specialties out of the question, even with good research, clerkships, and Step-2? Should I just drop out and join the Navy? Any advice is appreciated.

 

[Anicetus]

Family med and peds are obtainable. Will you be in Boston, LA, SF? Probably not. But you can always move somewhere later in life after residency chains you to a less than ideal location for a few years.

EM probably isn't going to happen, unless you do something majorly game changing.

 

[Chillbo Baggins]

No.

Last year, 79 out of 109 EM applicants matched with a score of 201-210. For FM, 199 out of 215 matched with a score in that range. Peds, 180 out of 188 matched in that range.

Granted, you should make the rest of your app as competitive as possible, but this in and of itself doesn't disqualify you.

 

[Redpancreas]

Family med and peds are obtainable. Will you be in Boston, LA, SF? Probably not. But you can always move somewhere later in life after residency chains you to a less than ideal location for a few years.

EM probably isn't going to happen, unless you do something majorly game changing.

Anicetus, in agreement but respectfully I've seen EM take steps ranging from 200-220 and saw someone in that range go to an Ivy (not the best program but it's an ivy).

OP, sounds like you want EM because otherwise you wouldn't be distraught. Be grateful too, 202 vs 199 is a huge difference. If you really want EM, you have to do very well in IM and Surgery and pick up as many other honors as possible, then kill your SLOEs/Emergency SubI (there's an exam) and 230+ Step 2 CK is a must.

 

[Anicetus]

Anicetus, in agreement but respectfully I've seen EM take steps ranging from 200-220 and saw someone in that range go to an Ivy (not the best program but it's an ivy).

OP, sounds like you want EM because otherwise you wouldn't be distraught. Be grateful too, 202 vs 199 is a huge difference. If you really want EM, you have to do very well in IM and Surgery and pick up as many other honors as possible, then kill your SLOEs/Emergency SubI (there's an exam) and 230+ Step 2 CK is a must.

Oh, maybe I'm listening too much to the 4th years talking about how "insanely" competitive it's getting now due to the shift-style work. But if people are still matching with those scores than OP can probably match it given other aspects being good on their app.

 

[Redpancreas]

Oh, maybe I'm listening too much to the 4th years talking about how "insanely" competitive it's getting now due to the shift-style work. But if people are still matching with those scores than OP can probably match it given other aspects being good on their app.

Make no mistake I've heard it too, but I don't see them really hyperfocusing so much on Step 1 and even I'm not positive, but it doesn't seem like a difficult match if you're not aiming for Henry Ford, Cincy, Temple, and other places you wouldn't expect to be competitive programs.

 

[Lexdiamondz]

FM and Peds are definitely attainable if you're personable, have good clinical grades and LORs.

EM...well, it's possible, but you'll have to apply very broadly and kill your away rotations to have a solid shot. Plenty of people have done it in the past, but the # of applicants in EM with >240 Step 1 scores has tripled between 2011 and 2016, so you're competition may be stiffer by the time you're applying for residency. Networking and good clinical performance, as well as a much better Step 2 performance will be necessary.

 

[bannie22]

Dont let anything hold you back. Keep striving for what you truly wanna do and at least give it a shot. Nothing is impossible, just look at this year's recent match list and keep pushing!