261 Step 2 CK Score, Did I Open Some Doors?

[saywhaaaaa]

Received my Step 2ck score last week (261) and want to know whether this opened some doors for me regarding categorical residency placement at top ~25 programs.

Input, opinions, scathing comments, pleasantries, and insults will be appreciated (maybe).

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[deleted171991]

You betcha!

 

[Yo GabbaPentin]

No. Consider FP. Or maybe go back and get an RN.

 

[Docuronium]

Apply to every where you'd want to go---no reason to hold back (within reason---just don't think your scores keep you out of of anywhere)

 

[gasp]

No. Consider FP. Or maybe go back and get an RN.

Stop being so harsh dude. U dont need to apply for RN, that guy is just being a ****. I'm sure you will match FP during the scramble..

 

[saywhaaaaa]

Thanks for the replies. Especially for those hilarious and original references to FP in response to a "what are my chances"-type post.

 

[Yo GabbaPentin]

Thanks for the replies. Especially for those hilarious and original references to FP in response to a "what are my chances"-type post.

Sometimes stupid questions get.... 😉

You know the answer. You did well. But people focus too much on board scores. I know this from interviewing more applicants than I've cared to. The importance of being a normal human being on an interview is drastically underestimated. You got your foot in the door. Now make sure that you master the second and most important part.

 

[saywhaaaaa]

Sometimes stupid questions get.... 😉

You know the answer. You did well. But people focus too much on board scores. I know this from interviewing more applicants than I've cared to. The importance of being a normal human being on an interview is drastically underestimated. You got your foot in the door. Now make sure that you master the second and most important part.

I appreciate that. And to be honest, I know my step 2 score is good, but I don't know really how it affects my chances at a great program (yes, the correlation between great program and ranking is a whole separate conversation). I've heard that 2ck doesn't matter, slightly matters, and matters more than step I. I was just trying to gauge the impact that a singular data point (well, I guess in the context of my other stats) might have on my likelihood for being interviewed at the more competitive programs. Your advice is well taken though, as was the sarcasm in your first response. I can take it.

 

[vector2]

The thing about great programs is that they have so many applicants with great scores that they are able to rank the ones with normal personalities and not the ones who spend most of their time pontificating on message boards about whether their possibly great, moderately great, or exceptionally great step 2 CK score gives them a 2.6839 odds ratio of receiving a top 25 interview.

 

[saywhaaaaa]

deleted.

 

[jw3600]

Yeah, true. I probably just screwed myself over big time by making this post. Do you think program directors have already emailed each other about it and are in the process of black balling me from interviews? Do you think I should apologize in my personal statement?? Ugh, I'm sure they're just going to totally overlook every unique aspect of my application because of this now. I'm freaking out, man. Do you know anyone I can call about this to try to salvage my chances of going to a possibly great, moderately great, or exceptionally great program? You seem to know so much, I could really use your help. I'm sure I could have spent more time being normal rather than writing the 11 or so comments that I've ever made on this website in my life. Is the time you spend on this website normal? Because I should probably just try to do what you're doing because you seem to be really dialed in to what's best for residency applicants. Is there any way I can hire you as a residency advisor? Money is no object. Name your price.

I have a hard time believing this post was made sober.

 

[vector2]

Yeah, true. I probably just screwed myself over big time by making this post. Do you think program directors have already emailed each other about it and are in the process of black balling me from interviews? Do you think I should apologize in my personal statement?? Ugh, I'm sure they're just going to totally overlook every unique aspect of my application because of this now. I'm freaking out, man. Do you know anyone I can call about this to try to salvage my chances of going to a possibly great, moderately great, or exceptionally great program? You seem to know so much, I could really use your help. I'm sure I could have spent more time being normal rather than writing the 11 or so comments that I've ever made on this website in my life. Is the time you spend on this website normal? Because I should probably just try to do what you're doing because you seem to be really dialed in to what's best for residency applicants. Is there any way I can hire you as a residency advisor? Money is no object. Name your price.

Don't worry man, you'll get plenty of interviews with your scores. It's likely the passive-aggressive subclinical aspergers that'll actually prevent you from being ranked as highly as you could be. But hey, what do I know? I've only actually matched into an anesthesia residency (my #1, granted, not top 25 but I was/am an exceptionally happy resident), fellowship at an ivy, and met about 80 applicants and innumerable MS4's over the course of three years worth of interview dinners and sub-i's.

 

[saywhaaaaa]

deleted.

 

[Doctor4Life1769]

Lol, I'd met plenty of passive-aggressive asperger types in the form of anesthesia attendings. You'll do just fine.

 

[GatorBait1548]

Normal person factor >>>>> step 2 score

 

[deleted171991]

Normal person factor >>>>> step 2 score

There are many "normal" people among the high scorers, too. 😉

 

[Doctor4Life1769]

There are many "normal" people among the high scorers, too. 😉

I like that you prefaced normal in parenthesis.

 

[deleted171991]

I like that you prefaced normal in parenthesis.

Because it's relative (one person's normal is another one's [adjective]). I personally prefer smart nice people to "normal" ones, especially if "normal" means average. I enjoy watching beautiful minds at work, and learning from them.

But many PDs want trainable not-too-smart puppies, not geniuses. So @GatorBait1548 is right: a very high score can become a question mark.

 

[Nivens]

But many PDs want trainable not-too-smart puppies, not geniuses. So @GatorBait1548 is right: a very high score can become a question mark.

I agree with this in theory but the reality is there arent that many unmatched 275s in anesthesiology. I met some weirdos on the interview trail with amazing scores that matched into very desirable programs. How I break it down for people is this: scores and grades help you move vertically through the tiers of programs (however you define them). The intangibles like personality, leadership potential, good looks, extracurriculars, etc give you options horizontally, within the tiers your scores make you eligible for. It isnt a perfect description but it more or less describes what Ive seen and experienced so far.

 

[repititionition]

I agree with this in theory but the reality is there arent that many unmatched 275s in anesthesiology. I met some weirdos on the interview trail with amazing scores that matched into very desirable programs. How I break it down for people is this: scores and grades help you move vertically through the tiers of programs (however you define them). The intangibles like personality, leadership potential, good looks, extracurriculars, etc give you options horizontally, within the tiers your scores make you eligible for. It isnt a perfect description but it more or less describes what Ive seen and experienced so far.

I quite like the analogy, though I might just say it's akin to elevators (#s) and stairs (everything else in your application).

 

[deleted444089]

I love the humblebrag; that is a great score, though -- sure you opened some doors, but you are most likely going to apply to "top-25" programs anyway and find out whether you did or not. Why do you need validation from SDN of all places?