3rd year grades don't matter much other than IM? Help...

[RosenthalFiber]

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Not enjoying this whole extremely subjective 3rd year thing. So far I've rocked both finals (Psych and FM), got exceptional face-to-face feedback...only to get a Pass and HP in them. WTF? I asked multiple times during the clerkship if there were thinks I could improve on...they always said "No you're doing great!". Wtf man....

Anyways I'm going IM so w/e. Not terribly concerned about going to a "top" program other than somewhere I can have a shot at fellowship. Step 1 is high 230s and I go to a top 10.

I'm almost over stressing about it....not like I can do much

 

[bubblez128]

Applying this cycle for IM, and at least what I've seen from personal experience that it is the narratives from your Deans Letter and Letters of Rec that seem to mean more than grades. Our school is still letter grades, and many other schools are pass/fail, etc. It makes it harder for people to sometimes interpret what those grades mean. But, the narratives provide concrete info for them to go by. If I were you, I'd keep doing what you're doing an just aim to get strong letters. Sounds like your attendings love you. So don't worry too much 🙂

 

[TKib]

Just keep working hard, some of your grades will wind up being H. You have a huge step up for IM being from a top 10 school (i.e. you don't need to be AOA or have step scores in the 260s to be competitive at the top programs). As long as you can mix in a few Hs and you can do at least as well on step 2 as step 1, you will still be very competitive at very good programs. They key is not to lose hope or to become bitter and wind up barely scraping through the rest of your clerkships. And the comments in the MSPE will be important as well, so you don't want to pick up any negative ones, even if you are mainly getting Ps.

 

[Deferoxamine]

I'd say most of the above is true.

If you're not at a "Top 40/50" medical school, however, it will come down to how many 3rd year H's you accumulated (total, showing versatility), +/- AOA, significant research, and significant extracurriculars.

So for folks who were coming from schools like I came from EVERY H in 3rd year matters. Don't just shoot for H, shoot for best-in-show to guarantee an H.

 

[mercaptovizadeh]

Unfortunately, third year grades outside of IM do matter quite a bit, as they feed into written evaluations and AOA. I attend an MD/PhD at a top 15, and have a fellow classmate who is applying now, also MD/PhD, had his own research grant to fund his PhD, got his PhD in 3 years, multiple first and secondary author publications (including in a well known journal: PNAS).

He has honors in IM, peds, and neurology/psychiatry. I think HP in everything else except FM (which was P). No AOA. I don't know his board scores, but assumably good enough (I'm sure over 240). He has not gotten interviews at UCSF, BWH, or MGH. The one unknown is that he had a bad relationship with his PhD mentor, so I don't know if that guy put in a lukewarm letter.

Would that extra AOA push him over the cusp? Probably...

 

[RosenthalFiber]

Just keep working hard, some of your grades will wind up being H. You have a huge step up for IM being from a top 10 school (i.e. you don't need to be AOA or have step scores in the 260s to be competitive at the top programs). As long as you can mix in a few Hs and you can do at least as well on step 2 as step 1, you will still be very competitive at very good programs. They key is not to lose hope or to become bitter and wind up barely scraping through the rest of your clerkships. And the comments in the MSPE will be important as well, so you don't want to pick up any negative ones, even if you are mainly getting Ps.

Thank you for the advice TKib. Yeah I definitely feel like my comment section of my deans letter will be strong. They are specific and talk about cases/patients I dealt with that impressed the staff.

I'm honestly not a super gunner or anything...I just want to end up at an IM program that is
1) Middle rank or better
2) Will set me up for good fellowship opportunities
3) Is not malignant.

Trust me, I'm not your typical SDN gunner lol. Appreciate your advice.

 

[bubblez128]

The last poster has a good point. If you're aiming for schools like MGH and UCSF, then your clerkship grades matter a ton. But, if you have a good board score (which you do) and middle to high clerkship grades, you can bank on getting interviews at places like BMC, Tufts, GW, Emory, etc. Just depends on how competitive you want to be. Seems like a lot of people on these forums really want the MGH's of the world - have to realize that you may be much happier at a place that is still middle to upper tier, but not as competitive. Either way, good luck!!!

 

[RosenthalFiber]

I'd say most of the above is true.

If you're not at a "Top 40/50" medical school, however, it will come down to how many 3rd year H's you accumulated (total, showing versatility), +/- AOA, significant research, and significant extracurriculars.

So for folks who were coming from schools like I came from EVERY H in 3rd year matters. Don't just shoot for H, shoot for best-in-show to guarantee an H.

Good advice.

As for EC's...I have a lot of research but nothing published- this is a major downside. I am contacting several docs in hopes of pumping out a case report by my ERAS...

If it's worth anything- I feel like if I can make it to the interview I will have a good shot. I am not extremely impressive on paper- but I like to hope that my interview skills and personality help too (Went 9/9 on med school interviews with avg stats etc)

 

[RosenthalFiber]

The last poster has a good point. If you're aiming for schools like MGH and UCSF, then your clerkship grades matter a ton. But, if you have a good board score (which you do) and middle to high clerkship grades, you can bank on getting interviews at places like BMC, Tufts, GW, Emory, etc. Just depends on how competitive you want to be. Seems like a lot of people on these forums really want the MGH's of the world - have to realize that you may be much happier at a place that is still middle to upper tier, but not as competitive. Either way, good luck!!!

MGH is not even on my radar- I respect those that strive to get into places like that but I don't think its in the cards for me.

I don't know a ton about which programs are good- however I am interested in UTSW due to personal reasons (Prob a reach?). Thx again for the insight guys