anyone know if these programs have absolute score cutoffs?

[IlianaSedai]

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Hello everyone!

When I get my week of vacation in a month, I'm planning to gather materials in preparation for applying to away EM rotations for the summer of 2005.

One of the sites I've been considering applying to is Highland/Alameda County. It's near where my family lives and, location-wise, it makes a lot of sense to me. The other site - Brigham and Women's.

But... I was wondering whether it has an absolute Step 1 score cutoff. If it does, and mine is below the cutoff, then I don't think I would want to waste a month rotating there unless they're willing to consider people with below-the-cutoff scores.

Input would also be greatly appreciated about whether your own program has a cutoff (and what it is, and how absolute it is). I'm looking at urban cities, namely Northeast / New England or West Coast and planning to include a few Boston programs, and a few New York programs, when I apply.

 

[Strongman]

I know this may cause some controversy...but here it goes. No program will outright admit to cutoffs, even though they exist for some of the "top" program for interview screening or ranking. Why? (1) admission to cutoffs=less but higher scoring applicants=can't brag about being selective from a large pool. (2) There is always the student that may have missed the Step 1 by a couple of points but have an outstanding CV (honors on rotations, outstanding letter, research) otherwise. This would be a disservice to the applicants and the program. I know of one program (where I have done alot of my 3rd rotations as well as EM), where one of the senior residents told me that they "like" to see at least a 225. Keep in mind that those are the same residents that score the highest on the in-service exam and have didactics that focus heavily on in-service exam prep, as well as the usual clinical EM.
In short, yes, if you scored well-below the mean, you should also rotate/apply at a wide variety of places. You may even consider taking Step 2 only if you barely passed or feel that you can ace it. I've talked with residents/faculty extensively about scores. Like in medicine, there is the PC/textbook answer and the real deal of what really happens in the real world.

Hello everyone!

When I get my week of vacation in a month, I'm planning to gather materials in preparation for applying to away EM rotations for the summer of 2005.

One of the sites I've been considering applying to is Highland/Alameda County. It's near where my family lives and, location-wise, it makes a lot of sense to me. The other site - Brigham and Women's.

But... I was wondering whether it has an absolute Step 1 score cutoff. If it does, and mine is below the cutoff, then I don't think I would want to waste a month rotating there unless they're willing to consider people with below-the-cutoff scores.

Input would also be greatly appreciated about whether your own program has a cutoff (and what it is, and how absolute it is). I'm looking at urban cities, namely Northeast / New England or West Coast and planning to include a few Boston programs, and a few New York programs, when I apply.

 

[ERMudPhud]

I suspect that both Highland and the Brigham have some sort of cutoff but even if they do it is worth asking if they, like many other programs, interview everyone who rotates through their ED. If they do and you really want to go there it may be worth doing a rotation as you may do well enough that they won't care about the cutoff. If nothing else you can probably get excellent letters from the faculty at either institution.

 

[IlianaSedai]

Thanks for all of your advice!

I got what I think is a comfortable score (230 < my score < 240), so I plan to apply to a reasonable number of places that I think I could be happy at but I wouldn't apply to, say, 50 programs. So long as the cutoff isn't 240, I'm happy to rotate there.

And if they have a cutoff that's above my score, well, unless there's any chance of an interview and consideration I'd rather rotate a month in Fiji. 😀

 

[Sessamoid]

Thanks for all of your advice!

I got what I think is a comfortable score (230 < my score < 240), so I plan to apply to a reasonable number of places that I think I could be happy at but I wouldn't apply to, say, 50 programs. So long as the cutoff isn't 240, I'm happy to rotate there.

And if they have a cutoff that's above my score, well, unless there's any chance of an interview and consideration I'd rather rotate a month in Fiji. 😀

I feel pretty confident saying that I think >230 will get you past any EM program's cutoff, though it's just my judgment.

 

[roja]

The best way to secure an interview is to do a rotation. They will know you and have a better feel for you.

Of course, you will want to make sure you make a REALLY good impression.


Do your research well in the northeast. There are a ton of programs.... pick your cities and then ask kpeople who are there about those programs.... And give people some idea of what kind of program you want....What are you looking for in a residency?

 

[Scrubbs]

I feel pretty confident saying that I think >230 will get you past any EM program's cutoff, though it's just my judgment.

Agree... Wholeheartedly...

 

[IlianaSedai]

Do your research well in the northeast. There are a ton of programs.... pick your cities and then ask kpeople who are there about those programs.... And give people some idea of what kind of program you want....What are you looking for in a residency?

Thank you for this piece of advice. I'm only two months into my IM rotation, and that's my first, so I'm not really sure I know what priorities to set in choosing residencies other than location. I'll have to read up and ask more people.