216 on Step 1...Are my options feasible?

[m1lktea]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hey all,

I know it's only the beginning of my third year, but I'm seriously trying to stay ahead of the game.

Briefly.. I attend a state school in NY. So far, I've managed to pass all of my preclinical classes (only 2 HP). If I keep working hard and doing the right things, I should be able to manage 3rd and 4th year. I received my Step 1 scores today and missed my target of 230. Although I'm glad I passed... I'm still quite disappointed with a 216 after all the hours I put in. In hindsight, I definitely could have studied more efficiently. This is a lesson learned that will be useful when it's time to study for Step 2. With that said, I intend on taking Step 2 early. As of now, I'm hoping to get into (in that particular order):::

EM
IM
Peds

***Hope to stay in NYC for residency and practice. I'm okay if the residency site is within commutable distance from NYC (e.g. Jersey and stuff)***

Of course, I'm still trying to keep an open mind since I'm in my 3rd year. But with the board scores I have... I know my options are limited. Any advice or suggestions?

 

[J-Rad]

Moving to Allo.

 

[mossyfiber12]

I don't you will have much trouble matching into medicine or peds. Since you are from the area, don't think matching in NYC/jersey area will be an issue either.

EM is a bit more competitive from what I hear. But I am an M4 so take everything I say with a grain of salt.

 

[Perrotfish]

Hey all,

I know it's only the beginning of my third year, but I'm seriously trying to stay ahead of the game.

Briefly.. I attend a state school in NY. So far, I've managed to pass all of my preclinical classes (only 2 HP). If I keep working hard and doing the right things, I should be able to manage 3rd and 4th year. I received my Step 1 scores today and missed my target of 230. Although I'm glad I passed... I'm still quite disappointed with a 216 after all the hours I put in. In hindsight, I definitely could have studied more efficiently. This is a lesson learned that will be useful when it's time to study for Step 2. With that said, I intend on taking Step 2 early. As of now, I'm hoping to get into (in that particular order):::

EM
IM
Peds

***Hope to stay in NYC for residency and practice. I'm okay if the residency site is within commutable distance from NYC (e.g. Jersey and stuff)***

Of course, I'm still trying to keep an open mind since I'm in my 3rd year. But with the board scores I have... I know my otptions are limited. Any advice or suggestions?

Your options will vary wildly depending on the grades you get and your ability to churn out research.

 

[OveractiveBrain]

Hey all,

I know it's only the beginning of my third year, but I'm seriously trying to stay ahead of the game.

Briefly.. I attend a state school in NY. So far, I've managed to pass all of my preclinical classes (only 2 HP). If I keep working hard and doing the right things, I should be able to manage 3rd and 4th year. I received my Step 1 scores today and missed my target of 230. Although I'm glad I passed... I'm still quite disappointed with a 216 after all the hours I put in. In hindsight, I definitely could have studied more efficiently. This is a lesson learned that will be useful when it's time to study for Step 2. With that said, I intend on taking Step 2 early. As of now, I'm hoping to get into (in that particular order):::

EM
IM
Peds

***Hope to stay in NYC for residency and practice. I'm okay if the residency site is within commutable distance from NYC (e.g. Jersey and stuff)***

Of course, I'm still trying to keep an open mind since I'm in my 3rd year. But with the board scores I have... I know my options are limited. Any advice or suggestions?

If you want to be a doctor then you're in good shape. IM and Peds are fillers for sure. EM may be a little more challenging with your record. Keep in mind great IM programs are harder than most EM programs, but poor IM programs (hey, you're still a doctor) are easier than most EM programs. Basically, you're an allo from the US with a passing board score. You wont go to a top school, but you're probably not going to fail either.

If you want awesomeness then yeah, you'll have to do excellent on clinical years and churn out research, or you are SOL. You will probably be dismissed before your application is reviewed based on Step score alone (mythical 230 cut off), and probably by your class rank (which I imagine is low). You'll have to curb stomp Step2 and do extremely well on clerkships to balance you into competitive, but its doable.

Apply broadly, accept weaker residencies, work through their nonesense, come out the other side a practicing physician.

 

[m1lktea]

Thanks for the replies.

Regarding research, it is unlikely that I'll be able to churn some out. I hate doing it too! I'm definitely not aiming high on terms of recognition and prestige. I just want to be a good doc and be able to make a decent living.

When you guys mentioned the lower tier programs in IM, can you name some programs that fall into that group in NYC? Not sure if this changes much, but I'm seriously considering a career as a hospitalist.

 

[KeyzerSoze]

If you want to be a doctor then you're in good shape. IM and Peds are fillers for sure. EM may be a little more challenging with your record. Keep in mind great IM programs are harder than most EM programs, but poor IM programs (hey, you're still a doctor) are easier than most EM programs. Basically, you're an allo from the US with a passing board score. You wont go to a top school, but you're probably not going to fail either.

If you want awesomeness then yeah, you'll have to do excellent on clinical years and churn out research, or you are SOL. You will probably be dismissed before your application is reviewed based on Step score alone (mythical 230 cut off), and probably by your class rank (which I imagine is low). You'll have to curb stomp Step2 and do extremely well on clerkships to balance you into competitive, but its doable.

Apply broadly, accept weaker residencies, work through their nonesense, come out the other side a practicing physician.

OFFS. Only on SDN does a 216 get the backhanded insult of "you're an allo from the US with a passing board score". In the real world, that descriptor applies to a 190, while a 216 is seen as "an allo from the US with a board score which is about average". The average board score for US students who matched into EM was 221 in the most recent report, or in other words almost identical to the OP's score. Obviously very few EM programs have cutoffs of 220, let alone 230. His Step 1 score is perfectly fine for all the specialties he named, although some individual programs in any of them will probably be out of reach.

To the extent that his record is in any way problematic, it's because of his (presumably) below average clinical grades.

 

[demh23]

Buffalo?

 

[mdquestion]

OFFS. Only on SDN does a 216 get the backhanded insult of "you're an allo from the US with a passing board score". In the real world, that descriptor applies to a 190, while a 216 is seen as "an allo from the US with a board score which is about average". The average board score for US students who matched into EM was 221 in the most recent report, or in other words almost identical to the OP's score. Obviously very few EM programs have cutoffs of 220, let alone 230. His Step 1 score is perfectly fine for all the specialties he named, although some individual programs in any of them will probably be out of reach.

To the extent that his record is in any way problematic, it's because of his (presumably) below average clinical grades.

Agreed.

 

[gravitywave]

average Step 1 score below which programs do not generally grant interviews: 203.

average match rate to EM for us seniors with your Step score: 90%+

surprise, surprise: letters and grades in your EM AI will be more important to programs than your Step 1 score.

in short, you look good, esp. if you aren't picky. less sure about your competitiveness for NYC programs, but that doesn't mean you aren't.

of course, planning to stomp Step 2 and then doing so probably isn't going to hurt either 🙂

 

[KeyzerSoze]

To the extent that his record is in any way problematic, it's because of his (presumably) below average clinical grades.

Sorry, I misread the OP. He doesn't have clinical grades yet, and his below average preclinical grades shouldn't be a major problem.



Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

 

[Perrotfish]

OFFS. Only on SDN does a 216 get the backhanded insult of "you're an allo from the US with a passing board score". In the real world, that descriptor applies to a 190, while a 216 is seen as "an allo from the US with a board score which is about average". The average board score for US students who matched into EM was 221 in the most recent report, or in other words almost identical to the OP's score. Obviously very few EM programs have cutoffs of 220, let alone 230. His Step 1 score is perfectly fine for all the specialties he named, although some individual programs in any of them will probably be out of reach.

To the extent that his record is in any way problematic, it's because of his (presumably) below average clinical grades.

+ 1. I don't think that a 216 closes many doors: Derm and Plastics (exempting fellowship plastics) yes, but most of medicine is still open depending on how the rest of your resume looks.

 

[Doctor4Life1769]

OFFS. Only on SDN does a 216 get the backhanded insult of "you're an allo from the US with a passing board score". In the real world, that descriptor applies to a 190, while a 216 is seen as "an allo from the US with a board score which is about average". The average board score for US students who matched into EM was 221 in the most recent report, or in other words almost identical to the OP's score. Obviously very few EM programs have cutoffs of 220, let alone 230. His Step 1 score is perfectly fine for all the specialties he named, although some individual programs in any of them will probably be out of reach.

To the extent that his record is in any way problematic, it's because of his (presumably) below average clinical grades.

👍

 

[J ROD]

You can reach all of those with a 216. Just do well on your clinicals and especially on those you want. As well as get good letters....

 

[naus]

SDN is hugely biased and negatively skewed when it comes to Step 1 scores.

216 is a totally respectable score. You will have no real problems matching into any of your specialties listed above, as long as you are a generally nice and normal person.

Do well in third year (get a few honors) and do better on Step 2 and you will be even better off.

 

[m1lktea]

Thanks for the encouragement. Appreciate all of the feedback!