Any Residency Program Directors Out There? Transcript Question

[tco]

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I'm going to try to make this as quick and easy as possible. I'm currently a PSF in my medical school's pathology department. Recently, it has come to my attention that there have been a few clerical errors on my transcript that are most troubling to me. I currently have a "W" and two "F's", neither of which are deserved. My school is working with the registrar to have the F's changed, but the W is something that will likely remain on my transcript forever. They're telling me to not worry about it because program directors are aware that these errors occur, through no fault of the student, and that I might be questioned about it during the interview, but it won't keep me from getting an interview.

So, to explain the "W" - it's basically a fake course that the university stuck me in to keep track of me while I do my PSF. It's a way to keep me legally obliged to the professional standards, and to keep me from having to explain that I'm "sorta" a medical student. Because of this class, I'm still a medical student. The problem comes in when the admin removed me from the "original" course to put me into a different section after the time frame had passed to do so, and thus my "W."

In my short time as a PSF, I've seen a few transcripts and NONE of them have a W. Naturally, I'm worried that this might impact my chances of interviewing and matching at a highly competitive program. Can anyone speak out to calm my nerves? Is this something that I should continue to be a pest about, and do everything I can to get it removed from my record, or is it not worth the effort? If you're curious about the rest of my application, I can clue you in on everything but my clinicals since they haven't happened yet (obviously).

Thanks in advance.

 

[tco]

For the record, it doesn't necessarily have to be someone that is a PD who responds. If anyone has any experience with a similar situation, I would appreciate the input.

 

[mlw03]

Maybe someone with more insight will respond, but I would NOT just let it go. Withdrew is not a common grade on an application, and it will raise eyebrows. Your explanation may or may not be believed, but the W may prevent you from getting the interview in the first place at some places. Your registrar is just trying to get you off their backs I think. Do not be complacent about this, in my opinion.

 

[KCShaw]

If it's not explained prominently somehow somewhere else in your application, it could certainly affect your chances of getting an interview. Granted, many programs I don't think look much beyond your Step I when screening for interviewees, but grades/transcripts can play a role -- particularly when the only thing someone may be looking for are failures and oddities. Any real error on one's transcript needs to be fixed or some notation needs to be placed right beside the 'grade' as part of the official transcript, explaining why they were too stupid or lazy to come up with some other way to code it. Barring that it should be explained in the dean's letter, but that's also an embarassingly stupid way out for any self respecting institution.

That said, any erroneous 'fails' obviously must be fixed. An isolated miscoded 'withdraw' I think is less likely to raise eyebrows..but still should be fixed.

Ain't it great how med schools like to promote maniacal paranoia so people try to kill themselves and one another to achieve some idyllically perfect residency applicant or YOU'LL NEVER GET IN!, but if -they- happen to screw up...eh, no problem, happens all the time, everyone will just ignore it...