Applying for General Surgery

[gensurg91345]

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Simply put, Got a problem.

The demographics:
US 3rd Med student
Low step 1 score. 209. Honestly had a bad day. Anxiety got the best of me. Took that test on like 2 hours of sleep. Anyways, whats done is done. 🙁
Haven't taken step 2 yet.

I just finished surgery rotation and loved it. Got honors.
Just finished my second research project. Got one publication.
I do some volunteer work here and there when I can. I plan on doing 3 aways in August, Sep, and Oct.

I really need some advice on how to recover from this.

I've been studying for step 2 and plan on taking it Mid-July.

What do you guys think is the best approach to this situation?
Do I even have a shot? I am getting mixed answers. Some say I'll be fine, others tell me to change to something else.

Need some honest opinions.

Thanks a lot.

 

[atomi]

Simply put, Got a problem.

The demographics:
US 3rd Med student
Low step 1 score. 209. Honestly had a bad day. Anxiety got the best of me. Took that test on like 2 hours of sleep. Anyways, whats done is done. 🙁
Haven't taken step 2 yet.

I just finished surgery rotation and loved it. Got honors.
Just finished my second research project. Got one publication.
I do some volunteer work here and there when I can. I plan on doing 3 aways in August, Sep, and Oct.

I really need some advice on how to recover from this.

I've been studying for step 2 and plan on taking it Mid-July.

What do you guys think is the best approach to this situation?
Do I even have a shot? I am getting mixed answers. Some say I'll be fine, others tell me to change to something else.

Need some honest opinions.

Thanks a lot.

Just based on your step 1? You'll be fine if you apply broadly and don't have any other red flags. You can't change it, so just go forward. Your score isn't low enough for you to walk away from it. If you failed it, it may be a different story, but you got a solid pass by 20 points. You honored surgery and that is huge. Focus on your aways and getting good LORs. Don't sweat step 1. You'll probably want to have step 2 scored by the time you submit eras. Programs will be hesitatnt to interview a lower step 1 candidate without a step 2 score. Even if you don't have enough study time to do awesome on it, it's better to apply with a passing score than without otherwise programs will consider you a risk for failing step 2.

 

[evilbooyaa]

You have a low step 1, so you should take Step 2 early and rock it as hard as you can.

Besides your marginal step 1, you're fine. Apply broadly (including community programs) and you'll match just fine, especially with the H in surgery. You say US 3rd year, and I'm going to assume in an allopathic school.

 

[Bancrofti]

In addition to the above, you'll probably want to plan your aways well. i.e. if you were thinking of trying to match a competitive location before, you may want to shift your focus to doing an away at a site that falls more in line with the step I score. At least you're aware of your situation though. You already took the first right step by honoring the rotation and research is another +.

 

[xenotype]

Look at the 2011 NRMP statistics by step 1 for general surgery. You'll feel better about your chances. As a US grad with honors in surg and a pub and no red flags, I'd be surprised if you didn't match somewhere. Just based on statistics alone at ~210 as a US grad you have a 75% chance of matching GS, and you're already in a better position than many of those.