Anyone else feeling discouraged?

[bluebirdie]

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hi there,
Not to be a whiner, but I'm getting a bit discouraged. I am currently in the bottom 1/4 of my class after finishing my second year...got a 198 on step I...although I am quite relieved that I passed. Anyone else getting tired of sucking at everything they do in medical school? I feel like I'm on my way to becoming a quack doctor!

 

[dynx]

then stop sucking. Anybody who puts the effort in can break a 215 on Step 1, how hard are you really working for it?

 

[bruinmojo]

heh. I know what you mean. I am pretty much in the bottom half of my class also (though my school doesnt rank anyone in the first 2 years). I was hoping I was better prepared for the step 1, and i ended up getting 203. Sometimes, the stress keeps adding up. I have always been performing in the top percentile all throughout college, and I feel that medical school has just humbled me so much.

Even though i believe I would like to enter into cardiology, my score prevents me into getting a top residency program for internal medicine or pediatrics.

I can only hope that I will be strong enough to fight the mediocrity and hope to shine again in the future.

I would say that the majority of medical students are all very bright, and it becomes a shock when half of the class are ranked below the average.

🙄

 

[lingula05]

I know how you feel. I just went to the registrar's office to find out my step 1 score. 203 as well. I nearly fainted. I studied for 6 weeks straight, 8-10 hours a day, got around 70% on Qbank (i finished all of it). I'm very disappointed and disheartened. I'm beginning to think I'm not cut out for this.

I don't understand what's wrong. I did fine throughout high school and college. I went to a great college, did fine on my MCAT, got into a great med school, and now I feel like I'm floundering.

 

[tatabox80]

then stop sucking. Anybody who puts the effort in can break a 215 on Step 1, how hard are you really working for it?

Sorry not everyone is a genius like you dynx...and apparently 50% of the medical students taking step I aren't "really working for it" Anyways to all the rest of the mere mortals who are "slacking off" and not in the top 10 in their class, and not scoring 240+ like everyone else here on SDN....keep your heads up! Everyone finds their way to specialty that fits them and their goals. Work hard and take whatever you see here with a grain of salt...You still have 3rd year, step II, and 4th year to shine. Being a doctor isn't all about how well you take standardized tests and how well you can answer strange questions about molecular bio, and the like.

 

[YouDontKnowJack]

you say you studied 6 weeks x 8hrs/day.

but were you in the top 25%, middle 50%, or bottom 25% of your class?

 

[omarsaleh66]

hi there,
Not to be a whiner, but I'm getting a bit discouraged. I am currently in the bottom 1/4 of my class after finishing my second year...got a 198 on step I...although I am quite relieved that I passed. Anyone else getting tired of sucking at everything they do in medical school? I feel like I'm on my way to becoming a quack doctor!

i wouldnt worry about it. Step 1 is a random test, who knows? maybe u could have gotten 20-30 points better if u took it on another day and got different questions. Just be glad u passed, and know that u are gonna be set in the long run. Medicine is full of great jobs, there are alot of things that u can still do and be pretty happy.

I know of one guy w a 195 that got a pretty competitve residency at an ivy league school cuz of his research.

I know of someone else who got into Baylor anesthesia w a 198.

There are some pediatricains in my family that are doing very well, I have some Pain specialists (through PMNR) and a neurologist that are banking, their patients love them, and they have great lives. As far as i know, these specialities can be achived with your score pretty easily if u do well in other things. That's why i wouldnt worry too much about your score. I told myself the same thing when i was studying for the USMLE and i guess when we are all doctors we will laugh at how worried we were when it came to scores.

One of my boys just passed w in the 190's. That fool was happy as hell!! and he is smart as hell too, and I know he is not worried cuz he is smart and he will make money, treat patients, be successful in whatever he gets. SO dont worry; no one cares about USMLE scores or your grades when u can do the job.

holler at this baller

 

[dynx]

Sorry not everyone is a genius like you dynx...and apparently 50% of the medical students taking step I aren't "really working for it" Anyways to all the rest of the mere mortals who are "slacking off" and not in the top 10 in their class, and not scoring 240+ like everyone else here on SDN....keep your heads up! Everyone finds their way to specialty that fits them and their goals. Work hard and take whatever you see here with a grain of salt...You still have 3rd year, step II, and 4th year to shine. Being a doctor isn't all about how well you take standardized tests and how well you can answer strange questions about molecular bio, and the like.

Never said I was a genius but thanks. And yes apparently 50% arent really working to break a 215...Many just want to pass and they achieve that goal. Many slack off and don't hit 215. My point however, is that the OP is apparently unhappy with his performance thus far, and he can take one of two routes:
1. He can say "damn this is hard...it's not that im not trying, this is just my level and I should accept it" (which you seem to be advocating)
or
2. He can say, "I can to better than this" and take a hard look at himself and decide whether or not he really is putting in the effort.

Im suggesting he does the later, it'll help him more in the long run then the whole sour grapes "it's not about board scores or actually knowing stuff" approach.

 

[tatabox80]

Never said I was a genius but thanks. And yes apparently 50% arent really working to break a 215...Many just want to pass and they achieve that goal. Many slack off and don't hit 215. My point however, is that the OP is apparently unhappy with his performance thus far, and he can take one of two routes:
1. He can say "damn this is hard...it's not that im not trying, this is just my level and I should accept it" (which you seem to be advocating)
or
2. He can say, "I can to better than this" and take a hard look at himself and decide whether or not he really is putting in the effort.

Im suggesting he does the later, it'll help him more in the long run then the whole sour grapes "it's not about board scores or actually knowing stuff" approach.

Step I is a very difficult test, not sure if you've taken it or not, but I really don't think what the op needs is someone telling them they're a slacker. It takes a lot of effort just to get through and just to pass step I. Plus judging by your signature, I'm thinking the only reason you bothered replying to this post is just to be rude and hurt the op's feelings.... 🙄

 

[p53]

then stop sucking. Anybody who puts the effort in can break a 215 on Step 1, how hard are you really working for it?

Surprisingly since Dynx is low on people that I respect on SDN, he is ABSOLUTELY right.

I truly believe anyone that starts 1st day in medical school at any M.D. program in America has the potential to score at least the national average if they studied hard with discipline. The only reason I put M.D. program is because traditionally these schools have a higher MCAT average and Step 1 is also a standardized test. (As an aside, if you measured the top twenty students at a M.D. program and a D.O program there really isn't that much difference in the caliber of students)

Potential is a double edged sword. It gives you a high ceiling, but it also reminds you of your failures. If you are at a top twenty medical school and someone with a below 26 MCAT beats you on Step 1, you should feel personally accountable because you didn't fulfill your potential. No one likes to point a finger to themselves, but who else is there?

Still, the great equalizer is interest in learning, not MCAT scores. A student with average MCAT scores (27-30) and academic drive will outperform a student with 33+ MCAT with little academic drive EVERY single time on Step 1. Step 1 measures how much you know, and how you applied this knowledge. This is where interest comes into play. If you don't have interest in basic science and clinical science this will be exposed on your Step 1 score.

Lastly, I agree with omarsaleh 100%. At the end of the day it is just a score. Go through your rotation and be cognizant of any specialty that you find interesting. Greatness and fulfilling your potential only comes after you have found your interest. Once you have found interest, work ethic and discipline will not be far behind.

One more thing, Rock Step 2. People say practice makes perfect. That is BS. Practicing perfect makes perfect. What this means is to set up an effective gameplan after you talked to people that scored at or above your targeted goal for Step 2. Don't just blindly study 10 hours a day for 4 weeks without a compass.

Keep in mind, your situation is really a non-issue. Keep your head up, because the signature pieces for your ERAS application is coming up. Therefore, you need to rebound with a clear mind. The top two things that will be on your residency applications are 3rd year clerkship grades/evaluations, and Step 2 (since you will take this early). If you have Step 2 and Step 1 scores on file. Step 2 has greater weight. Don't be proud to ask people on SDN that rocked Step 2 and get their insight.

Good Luck

 

[ForceField]

Never said I was a genius but thanks. And yes apparently 50% arent really working to break a 215...Many just want to pass and they achieve that goal. Many slack off and don't hit 215. My point however, is that the OP is apparently unhappy with his performance thus far, and he can take one of two routes:
1. He can say "damn this is hard...it's not that im not trying, this is just my level and I should accept it" (which you seem to be advocating)
or
2. He can say, "I can to better than this" and take a hard look at himself and decide whether or not he really is putting in the effort.

Im suggesting he does the later, it'll help him more in the long run then the whole sour grapes "it's not about board scores or actually knowing stuff" approach.

I agree with your latter suggestion, although you seem to explain it pretty harshly, but perhaps what the OP is getting at is what if he doesn't know what he's doing wrong. What if he has already taken a "hard look" at himself over his first 2 years of medical school and still doesn't know what to do in terms of studying more effectively and retaining information. Then where would somebody go from there? Yes they can reevaluate their circumstances and try new study methods out, but if nothing seems to be allowing one to achieve their full potential, then yeah, that is very frustrating, and yeah, perhaps they do need to complain.

 

[bluebirdie]

I agree with your latter suggestion, although you seem to explain it pretty harshly, but perhaps what the OP is getting at is what if he doesn't know what he's doing wrong. What if he has already taken a "hard look" at himself over his first 2 years of medical school and still doesn't know what to do in terms of studying more effectively and retaining information. Then where would somebody go from there? Yes they can reevaluate their circumstances and try new study methods out, but if nothing seems to be allowing one to achieve their full potential, then yeah, that is very frustrating, and yeah, perhaps they do need to complain.

Thank you, that's the thing. I've taken many hard looks at myself...and have tried different things....and things don't seem to work out....which is why this is frustrating. Maybe some of you don't understand because you're always used to excellence, but after two years of trying to figure things out...it is discouraging and I'm starting to feel that I will always be piss poor no matter what I do!! 😡 I didn't do stellar on the mcat...I only got a 26 the second time I took it...which should be a non-issue because I know people who have done worse and have done well on step I.

 

[p53]

I agree with your latter suggestion, although you seem to explain it pretty harshly, but perhaps what the OP is getting at is what if he doesn't know what he's doing wrong. What if he has already taken a "hard look" at himself over his first 2 years of medical school and still doesn't know what to do in terms of studying more effectively and retaining information. Then where would somebody go from there? Yes they can reevaluate their circumstances and try new study methods out, but if nothing seems to be allowing one to achieve their full potential, then yeah, that is very frustrating, and yeah, perhaps they do need to complain.

You are missing the whole point again.

You and BlueBirdie are focusing on How.
How do I score better, how do I retain information, how do I become a better medical student. How do I score high on Step 1. The question that you should be asking is Why?

Why am I not motivated? Why do I want to score high. Why do I not have a passion for medicine. If you don't like studying, or memorizing stuff, it is because you lack interest.

You cannot lie to yourself. Your problem is motivation. You are not motivated. To become motivated, you have to find interest and something you are passionate about. This could be academic learning, money, prestige, or just to become a great physician.

The best students have a passion to learn medicine, to get a top residency such as ENT/Derm residency, or to learn as much as they can to become a top notch doctor.

Motivation and Academic Drive are fueled by passion and interest. You need to do some soul searching to find the latter two.

 

[dynx]

Thank you, that's the thing. I've taken many hard looks at myself...and have tried different things....and things don't seem to work out....which is why this is frustrating. Maybe some of you don't understand because you're always used to excellence, but after two years of trying to figure things out...it is discouraging and I'm starting to feel that I will always be piss poor no matter what I do!! 😡 I didn't do stellar on the mcat...I only got a 26 the second time I took it...which should be a non-issue because I know people who have done worse and have done well on step I.

Without knowing your situation too well I have seen some people having trouble in my class and they generally fall into one of two catagories:

1. People who alter thier previously effective study methods once they get to medical school because they see everybody else doing something...for example going to class everyday because everybody else does and they feel like they need to as well, even though they have never been a good learner in a lecture format

or the exact opposite:

2. People that are doing EXACTLY what they did as an undergrad. The increased volume requires slight modification of learning style, or at least it did for me. I found that I could cover a subject in the same amount of time I did in undergrad but that I needed to add an element of repetition that it seemed i could succeed without before.

See if you are doing either of these things. If its number one the solution is easy...go back to what works for you. If its number two its a little harder, find a student that learns like you and look for modifications in his study method that may help you. This is of course way oversimplified but I think its a place to start. All esle fails talk to a academic advisor.

 

[ForceField]

Without knowing your situation too well I have seen some people having trouble in my class and they generally fall into one of two catagories:

1. People who alter thier previously effective study methods once they get to medical school because they see everybody else doing something...for example going to class everyday because everybody else does and they feel like they need to as well, even though they have never been a good learner in a lecture format

or the exact opposite:

2. People that are doing EXACTLY what they did as an undergrad. The increased volume requires slight modification of learning style, or at least it did for me. I found that I could cover a subject in the same amount of time I did in undergrad but that I needed to add an element of repetition that it seemed i could succeed without before.

See if you are doing either of these things. If its number one the solution is easy...go back to what works for you. If its number two its a little harder, find a student that learns like you and look for modifications in his study method that may help you. This is of course way oversimplified but I think its a place to start. All esle fails talk to a academic advisor.

Thanks Dynx.

It really has nothing to do with my motivation, but moreso with my methods, and I appreciate your suggestions. 🙂

 

[dynx]

Surprisingly since Dynx is low on people that I respect on SDN, he is ABSOLUTELY right.

Somehow I feel good about this.

You are missing the whole point again.

You and BlueBirdie are focusing on How.
How do I score better, how do I retain information, how do I become a better medical student. How do I score high on Step 1. The question that you should be asking is Why?

Why am I not motivated? Why do I want to score high. Why do I not have a passion for medicine. If you don't like studying, or memorizing stuff, it is because you lack interest.

You cannot lie to yourself. Your problem is motivation. You are not motivated. To become motivated, you have to find interest and something you are passionate about. This could be academic learning, money, prestige, or just to become a great physician.

The best students have a passion to learn medicine, to get a top residency such as ENT/Derm residency, or to learn as much as they can to become a top notch doctor.

Motivation and Academic Drive are fueled by passion and interest. You need to do some soul searching to find the latter two.

I think this is an important point as well. Without the motivation to learn there is no alteration to study methods that will do you any good. Should have included this in my response above.

 

[passthebiscuits]

You guys need to get a grip--passion for medicine so that you can make better grades...better board scores? What a load of crap.
Be the best person, husband, wife, father, mother, advocate for a cause that you can be. Most of you have no perspective at all.

 

[tatabox80]

You guys need to get a grip--passion for medicine so that you can make better grades...better board scores? What a load of crap.
Be the best person, husband, wife, father, mother, advocate for a cause that you can be. Most of you have no perspective at all.

Amen

 

[p53]

You guys need to get a grip--passion for medicine so that you can make better grades...better board scores? What a load of crap.
Be the best person, husband, wife, father, mother, advocate for a cause that you can be. Most of you have no perspective at all.

You have just illustrated the #1 rationalization made by an underachieving medical student.

There are some excellent students that are devoted husbands, wives, fathers, and/or mothers in medical school. These people have perspective and still excel in medical school. The common denonminator is intellectual drive. If you had it, you would know what I am talking about.

One more thing, it is a shame someone like you is wasting a spot to become a physician. Just think someone else could be in your very spot that would kill to study all night to become a fine physician for their future patients. If your main goal is to become a great family man, do yourself and your future colleagues a favor and get the hell out of medical school. The last thing we need are people that are not dedicated to their profession. Too bad you will never understand, and will always accept being average coupled with "perspective" so you can justify your failures.

 

[tatabox80]

You have just illustrated the #1 rationalization made by an underachieving medical student.

There are some excellent students that are devoted husbands, wives, fathers, and/or mothers in medical school. These people have perspective and still excel in medical school. The common denonminator is intellectual drive. If you had it, you would know what I am talking about.

One more thing, it is a shame someone like you is wasting a spot to become a physician. Just think someone else could be in your very spot that would kill to study all night to become a fine physician for their future patients. If your main goal is to become a great family man, do yourself and your future colleagues a favor and get the hell out of medical school. The last thing we need are people that are not dedicated to their profession. Too bad you will never understand, and will always accept being average coupled with "perspective" so you can justify your failures.

Too bad you missed the note that being a total douche will not make you a great physician...

 

[p53]

Too bad you missed the note that being a total douche will not make you a great physician...

I didn't miss the note, I tend to ignore gibberish from people with a 4th grade vocabulary that use the word "douche".

 

[tatabox80]

I didn't miss the note, I tend to ignore gibberish from people with a 4th grade vocabulary that use the word "douche".

If you're ignoring my gibberish why are you responding to my post?? 😀

 

[GoodMonkey]

You have just illustrated the #1 rationalization made by an underachieving medical student.

There are some excellent students that are devoted husbands, wives, fathers, and/or mothers in medical school. These people have perspective and still excel in medical school. The common denonminator is intellectual drive. If you had it, you would know what I am talking about.

One more thing, it is a shame someone like you is wasting a spot to become a physician. Just think someone else could be in your very spot that would kill to study all night to become a fine physician for their future patients. If your main goal is to become a great family man, do yourself and your future colleagues a favor and get the hell out of medical school. The last thing we need are people that are not dedicated to their profession. Too bad you will never understand, and will always accept being average coupled with "perspective" so you can justify your failures.

oh fer chrissakes it's my job, not my life.

 

[passthebiscuits]

but i think that's my point...p53, judging from your previous posts I think this IS your life. I'm not here to get in a pissing match with you, I just think that you need to lighten up a bit and find something more meaningful in life. Whatever we do, whether we're physicians, firefighters, librarians, or garbagemen is important to us, and of course we should do our best to perfect our jobs. But in the end, it's just a job...it's not who we are.

That's my only point, and as you might want to go back and read about the topic of this post (feeling discouraged), I think that it is a valid one.

Good day and farewell--

 

[MDgonnabe]

it seems as though we have one camp who excels on standardized tests and swears that if you don't do well on step 1 you're a failure as a physician. the other camp does poorly on these sorts of exams and cannot see why they do poorly. to me, the fact remains that step 1 is just one random test from one random day in your life. several medical students could try extremely hard, be extremely motivated, but still wind up with a poor score because of several factors apart from motivation alone: illness, family situations, getting tested on material you don't find as easy as other material you excel in... the list could go on and on. but even were motivation the main issue, people and their priorities change. i failed the boards the first time around because i didn't find the first two years of med school to be particularly appealing. i learn by doing, not reading. if i found the material on step 1 all that fascinating, i would've become a freakin' phd somewhere. it was only when i hit my final rotation of 3rd year that i discovered how much i love psych and how that was the fit for me. that in turn GAVE me newfound motivation to try harder on at least my rotations. will it show in my application? no, because the step 1 damage is already done. but i still have step 2 and, much more importantly, the rest of my life to express my new passion for a career i can finally work towards happily... i've also heard of excellent attendings who've failed the boards in the past. one amazing attending at my school actually failed the boards five full times. is he out there killing patients left and right? no. why? because some people just don't think in multiple choice format. in reality you can read up on research as you go along in order to back your clinical decisions. so give the "motivation" theory a rest. just because a person happens to be good at memorizing extraneous info and filling in the right bubbles doesn't mean they'll be a great doctor. they also need a heart.

 

[p53]

but i think that's my point...p53, judging from your previous posts I think this IS your life. I'm not here to get in a pissing match with you, I just think that you need to lighten up a bit and find something more meaningful in life. Whatever we do, whether we're physicians, firefighters, librarians, or garbagemen is important to us, and of course we should do our best to perfect our jobs. But in the end, it's just a job...it's not who we are.

That's my only point, and as you might want to go back and read about the topic of this post (feeling discouraged), I think that it is a valid one.

Good day and farewell--

That's where we disagree. You think being a physician is a "job". I think being a physician is a privilege. I hold this position in very high regard. It is one of the few careers that hold such a strong influence over people in society. People hold physicians in high regard, and generally follow their advice. It is a career that is most defined by responsibility, commitment to learning, and dedication to people.

The other careers you mentioned have a role in society but they don't have the responsiblities that a physican holds. The ability to influence, treat a patient, and at times help cure a patient, carries great responsibility. Learning medicine is a privilege, we must drive ourselves as hard as we can to acquire information. This is a commitment to our craft.

Wouldn't you want your mother to have the most knowledgeable, and dedicated physician possible if she was stricken with a medical condition. Even a radiologist or pathologist that have little patient contact require dedication to knowledge to best help diagnose a disease. When you are a member of the healthcare team you will be diagnosing, and treating other people's mothers, and fathers. How's that for "perspective"?

Physicians should have higher standards than other professions because it is field that has knowledge based responsibility. This means you have to constantly keep up with the latest evidence based treatment to best care for your patients. I don't mean to pick on you but if you truly feel that being a doctor is just another job, you really need to find another job. Your future patients need a dedicated, competent physician that gives an honest effort to become one of the best physicians in his/her field.

 

[ermonty]

You have just illustrated the #1 rationalization made by an underachieving medical student.

There are some excellent students that are devoted husbands, wives, fathers, and/or mothers in medical school. These people have perspective and still excel in medical school. The common denonminator is intellectual drive. If you had it, you would know what I am talking about.

One more thing, it is a shame someone like you is wasting a spot to become a physician. Just think someone else could be in your very spot that would kill to study all night to become a fine physician for their future patients. If your main goal is to become a great family man, do yourself and your future colleagues a favor and get the hell out of medical school. The last thing we need are people that are not dedicated to their profession. Too bad you will never understand, and will always accept being average coupled with "perspective" so you can justify your failures.

I would bet anything that this cat is the kind of student that hid practice exams during the first 2 years, and reports on his fellow student's patients during rounds in the 3rd year. i.e. TOOL! The kind that attendings see right through and grade down, because even though he may know more facts, he lacks any interpersonal skills. Now, no one reply to this tool's comments, and instead laugh at him and realize that he will never understand why he has no friends and why his genes will not be passed on to the next generation.

Monty

 

[p53]

I would bet anything that this cat is the kind of student that hid practice exams during the first 2 years, and reports on his fellow student's patients during rounds in the 3rd year. i.e. TOOL! The kind that attendings see right through and grade down, because even though he may know more facts, he lacks any interpersonal skills. Now, no one reply to this tool's comments, and instead laugh at him and realize that he will never understand why he has no friends and why his genes will not be passed on to the next generation.

Monty

A broad generalization indeed. Actually, you are right I only have 3 people in medical school that I consider true friends and the rest are acquaintances. Then again, I hold the term friend very strictly. These 3 people I can call at 3 am if I need a ride, and they will get out of bed to pick me up, no excuses or questions. From my experience, most medical students tend to be self absorbed, and geeky. If you have been out for drinks with these folks all they talk about is pathology exams, what's on the quiz next week, or the current guidelines for CABG.

Most have no perspective for the real world because they jumped into medical school after undergrad. For me, most of my peeps are outside of medical school because they have broader interests, and the last thing I want to do is talk about medical school when I am at home. I prefer to go out and have dinner or go out for drinks on weekends excluding people from medical school. Some of my friends don't even have college degrees but our conversations tend to be more substantial, and meaningful. Then there are times I like to go club hopping or strip clubs with them. I couldn't imagine going out to a night club with anyone from medical school.

Actually if you look at my previous posts, I mentioned that a nurse (with 20+) years of experience treating patients told me that I have one of the best bed side manners of any student she has ever seen. In fact, on my first evaluations I received honors for interpersonal communication, getting along with the healthcare team, initiating patient contact. My weakness so far is relaying assessment and treatment. The physician didn't give a rat's arse that this was my first rotation as a third year. He expected me to know every assessment and treatment for all the patients that I saw. Therefore, I only received a high pass for assessment, and a pass for treatment 😡 . That's alright, I've read 3/4 of Washington Manual (I read it at home) and I'm concurrently memorizing trade names in Tarascon's Pharmacospoie as we speak. Okay, which SSRI is Lexapro again?

Good luck to you, it sounds like you are using displacement because someone in your class is doing the things that you mentioned. That is the funny thing about life, if you are holding a hammer everyone looks like nails.

 

[Gumshoe]

You have just illustrated the #1 rationalization made by an underachieving medical student.

There are some excellent students that are devoted husbands, wives, fathers, and/or mothers in medical school. These people have perspective and still excel in medical school. The common denonminator is intellectual drive. If you had it, you would know what I am talking about.

One more thing, it is a shame someone like you is wasting a spot to become a physician. Just think someone else could be in your very spot that would kill to study all night to become a fine physician for their future patients. If your main goal is to become a great family man, do yourself and your future colleagues a favor and get the hell out of medical school. The last thing we need are people that are not dedicated to their profession. Too bad you will never understand, and will always accept being average coupled with "perspective" so you can justify your failures.

P53 is harsh at times, but I can't disagree with his main concepts in this thread. However, he does come off as a bit overbearing in the quote above. First off, you are right, motivation/ability to do the crazy things to score high enough on step 1 is a matter of interest. However, who said that in being a doctor you need to be interested in all the things you study? Isn't that why we go through 3rd year and figure out which PART of medicine we're interested in? It's a joke to look back on step 1 scores as determining a medical career or defining a "lazy" or "motivated" person ...

Seeing how stuff actually works in a hospital, you can see why people poo-poo things like step 1. First off, it's all about the training you get with other people and working as a team (step 1 isn't about this). Being a doctor is either a) hearing algorithms craploads of times till you remember them and then integrating them through experience, or b) watching and studying mechanical things (as in surgery) in order that you may be able to fix them.

In summary, yes it does matter that you do studying outside on your own, but to use step 1 as an example of how motivated one might be is remiss. If I'm not interested in IM, then I can't be as motivated in it, that's just a fact. Does that mean I won't be a good doctor? Only if I stay in IM.

I'm not hating on the tests at all. They serve their purpose. Should I have done better on something like step 1? Yes. But that's only to fulfill my ego and my supposed place among colleagues that I have in my own mind. Do I feel inferior to my colleagues who scored better? No way. Do I realize some worked harder for that all encompassing test? Yes. I never made excuses ... but only if you are getting certified in a specialty can a score be made a big deal out of ...

G