average schools from different schools

[iunci]

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Hey, I'm currently applying to medical school, and am looking for some useful information to help my decision. I was wondering if anyone knew where there were any statistics on what the average board scores are out of different schools? Thanks!

 

[iunci]

Any by the way, that was supposed to say "average scores from different schools", whoops...

 

[TommyGunn04]

I've never come across a list of average board scores but I'm sure there's one out there. I imagine top-tier schools have higher averages, as expected. Why do you think this is important though? There are so many other ways to differentiate between medical schools, many of which are very personal, making certain schools good "for you" and perhaps not as good for others. The unusual curriculum at Duke is a great example; I absolutely LOVE it, but it's definitely not for everyone. What I'm saying is, I'd be VERY cautious about choosing a medical school on the basis of USMLE score averages, or even using it to somehow "inform" a decision. Think of it this way, if you're unhappy for your first two years of medical school, does a good Step 1 score really make up for being miserable? And then you'd still have two years left!

I don't mean to be rude, I just don't see how this type of question will be productive in any meaningful way in informing your choice of medical schools. Spend your time talking to students who actually live and learn at these places, and ask lots of tough questions on interview days...THAT'S how you'll figure out where you'll be happy.

 

[mpp]

I disagree with TommyGunn. I think you should consider the average USMLE score when deciding between schools. Like it or not, Step 1 is an important test that can open and close doors to your future. And although the results of the test are of course up to you, average scores are somewhat telling of both the type of students the school chooses and how well the curriculum is at preparing people for the test.

Unfortunately there is no list of average scores for schools. You should ask schools this question when you interview and/or after you are accepted. If they refuse to give you this information then that might also factor into your decision.

There are many other important factors when choosing a medical school but there is nothing wrong with using average Step 1 score as one of those factors.

 

[automaton]

mayo - 0 failures in past several (10+?) years
michigan - average ~5 failures per year

for what it's worth.

michigan's average last year was said to be ~233 though.

 

[Fantasy Sports]

michigan's average last year was said to be ~233 though.

I'll believe it when I see it. I've heard Penn and Baylor are around there, but that is probably because they're on that weird 1.5-year system where they can take the USMLEs after some rotations at their leisure.

 

[automaton]

i really don't give a rat's ass if you believe it or not

 

[bigfrank]

rrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

 

[BaylorLion]

The last Penn/Baylor average I heard was 235 (tied) and Mayo was at 236 apparently that year. This may have changed, though, and this is just hearsay... so take it with a grain of salt...

 

[fourthyearmed]

This information is not released and most likely every school will embellish a little.

 

[doc05]

there's no reason to believe that Penn, Baylor, Michigan, et al, would have to "embellish a little." Given the caliber of students at those institutions, it entirely likely that they averaged over 230, and there are probably dozens with >250.

don't pick your school based on step 1 average. pick your school based on match list.

 

[Fantasy Sports]

i really don't give a rat's ass if you believe it or not

Chill out. The score you provided is different than the one I heard from a current MS4 there. I would post it, but until I know which of us is right, I would just be posting heresay. Relax.

 

[automaton]

my bad about going off. anyway, i heard my info from an m3 there, who got the info from the school. my bad, the average was 233, not 235. is that what you heard? if not oh well.

 

[WatchingWaiting]

my bad about going off. anyway, i heard my info from an m3 there, who got the info from the school. my bad, the average was 233, not 235. is that what you heard? if not oh well.

The average does vary from year to year... I know at Stanford we were told that the 2004 avg was 233, the 2003 average was 228, and the 2002 average 230, with 100%, 98%, and 99% pass rates during those years. It is pretty silly to be arguing whether the mean is 233 or 235 at a particular school, as this is not exactly a major difference. I think everyone in the top-10 is probably in the low to mid 230s for Step I, with maybe slight variation based on curriculum, matriculant MCAT, and random variation.

 

[automaton]

we were both talking about the 2004 average. the "arguing" of 235 vs 233 was not about whether one is significantly better, but whether what we're reporting is official or heresay. but yeah, who cares.

 

[klite]

Well if that'syour concern go to the school where the students have the highest MCAT and study the most, bec/step one is almost totally a function of those two. The only exception being non-tradional curriculums which tend to do poorly. Anything like problem based learning might make you a good dr but won't get you good board scores (on average)