228 and MD-PhD: competitive for top IM and/or peds programs?

[wuba]

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Just got my Step 1 score: 228. I'm in an MD-Phd (MSTP) program. I was really aiming for a 240, so a tad bit disappointed. Will this score rule me out of any IM or Peds programs? I'm especially concerned about the "top-ranked" programs that are particularly competitive for obvious reasons - do you folks know of any residency programs in these fields that rule people out based on Step 1 scores? And does my score fall in that zone?

Thanks, folks.

 

[jhamaican]

I don't think you will meet the numerical cutoff for interviews at any "top" programs for any specialties with that low step 1 score.

 

[alternatego]

I don't think you will meet the numerical cutoff for interviews at any "top" programs for any specialties with that low step 1 score.

Average Step 1 score for Internal Medicine for US Seniors is a little below 230, and scores fall between 240 and 210. This is according to that charting outcomes pdf released by the NRMP.

 

[wuba]

alternatego: thanks. So I fall somewhere in the middle; makes sense. I'll look more into that pdf.

jhamaican: that's disappointing to hear, but nothing I can do about it now. Just gotta get the rest of my application in top shape, I guess.

I know of super-competitive specialties that use strict Step 1 score cut-offs, but do IM programs do this as well? Somehow I was under the assumption that they try to evaluate the application as a whole rather than using strict cut-offs. Is that not true?

 

[VisionaryTics]

alternatego: thanks. So I fall somewhere in the middle; makes sense. I'll look more into that pdf.

jhamaican: that's disappointing to hear, but nothing I can do about it now. Just gotta get the rest of my application in top shape, I guess.

I know of super-competitive specialties that use strict Step 1 score cut-offs, but do IM programs do this as well? Somehow I was under the assumption that they try to evaluate the application as a whole rather than using strict cut-offs. Is that not true?

Although IM has an average score around the mean, there are a huge number of applicants, and there are plenty of applicants with outstanding scores. In 2011, there were 365 IM applicants with scores greater than 250. So the "top programs" can set a pretty high cut-off and still interview a ton of people.

 

[lstone13]

http://www.nrmp.org/data/chartingoutcomes2011.pdf

This link might help you answer your question. Of course, it doesn't give specific numbers for "top" programs, but it gives you an idea of the distribution.

 

[futuredoctor10]

I know of super-competitive specialties that use strict Step 1 score cut-offs, but do IM programs do this as well? Somehow I was under the assumption that they try to evaluate the application as a whole rather than using strict cut-offs. Is that not true?

I have actually heard that IM programs were in general some of the most notorious for using Step 1 cut-offs outside of the ultra-competitive specialties (which of course also use rigorous cut-offs).

I do not know much about the application process, being in 3rd year, but I would say just work hard on the rest of your application and still try to apply to a wide range including the comp. programs you are interested in