Bad step 1 score

[Maya omar diab]

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Hi,
I'm a IMG with bad step 1 score of 202 🙁
I have passed CS
Can I retake step 1?
And if I do better in step 2, does it really matter regarding being accepted in IM residency program? Or the main concern is step 1?
Do I have a chance?!
Thank you

 

[cyanide12345678]

It definitely can't be retaken once you've passed. You'll have to do something spectacular in step 2 (250+ atleast) to have a shot as an IMG honestly.

 

[J ROD]

You passed Step 1 so you do not get a redo. You can only move on and do better on Step 2.

You need a strong Step 2. Not exceptional but 230+.

Being an IMG it is hard to say for sure what your chances are. I would think you could get an IM spot somewhere.

 

[Phloston]

I'd actually agree with cyanide. I know an IMG who had a 210 Step 1 and 235 2CK who got zero interviews having applied to 80+ places in emergency.

 

[Maya omar diab]

I'd actually agree with cyanide. I know an IMG who had a 210 Step 1 and 235 2CK who got zero interviews having applied to 80+ places in emergency.

Do you know anybody who applied for internal medicine?

 

[J ROD]

I'd actually agree with cyanide. I know an IMG who had a 210 Step 1 and 235 2CK who got zero interviews having applied to 80+ places in emergency.

Keyword there is Emergency Medicine. It is very competitive. IM is average and has plenty of spots. I bet the OP can get a spot somewhere. With an above average Step 2 or right at it.

 

[EazyE1907]

Keyword there is Emergency Medicine. It is very competitive. IM is average and has plenty of spots. I bet the OP can get a spot somewhere. With an above average Step 2 or right at it.

Yes keyword is ER med. cyanide and phloston, I have to disagree with you guys on this one. I am an IMG as well and know students who have failed step 1 once or even twice and have gotten IM residencies. Yeah, they are the bottomest of the bottom of residency selections, but for an IMG, you really can't complain if you get a 3 yr residency (granted if you are scoring in the low 200's). Maya, you just need to be smart when applying to residencies. There are IMG friendly hospitals mostly all community programs (university programs are much much harder for IMGs) that accept more IMG students mainly because these programs do not fill or are on the very bottom of the list for US allopathic students. You can do a google search and you will find ALOT of info on that. You're chances for IM are hindered but they are not completely shot. No you don't NEED a 250+ on step 2 but you do need a pretty solid score so shoot for 250+ and hope to land somewhere around there. good luck

 

[shb08]

I agree with previous posts that you have to have great scores on step 2, but more important is an experience in the USA, like an observer-ship, research experience, volunteering....

 

[ketosisevangelist]

Yes keyword is ER med. cyanide and phloston, I have to disagree with you guys on this one. I am an IMG as well and know students who have failed step 1 once or even twice and have gotten IM residencies. Yeah, they are the bottomest of the bottom of residency selections, but for an IMG, you really can't complain if you get a 3 yr residency (granted if you are scoring in the low 200's). Maya, you just need to be smart when applying to residencies. There are IMG friendly hospitals mostly all community programs (university programs are much much harder for IMGs) that accept more IMG students mainly because these programs do not fill or are on the very bottom of the list for US allopathic students. You can do a google search and you will find ALOT of info on that. You're chances for IM are hindered but they are not completely shot. No you don't NEED a 250+ on step 2 but you do need a pretty solid score so shoot for 250+ and hope to land somewhere around there. good luck

Thank you for being a human being.

 

[Prince090]

Keyword there is Emergency Medicine. It is very competitive. IM is average and has plenty of spots. I bet the OP can get a spot somewhere. With an above average Step 2 or right at it.

Yes keyword is ER med. cyanide and phloston, I have to disagree with you guys on this one. I am an IMG as well and know students who have failed step 1 once or even twice and have gotten IM residencies. Yeah, they are the bottomest of the bottom of residency selections, but for an IMG, you really can't complain if you get a 3 yr residency (granted if you are scoring in the low 200's). Maya, you just need to be smart when applying to residencies. There are IMG friendly hospitals mostly all community programs (university programs are much much harder for IMGs) that accept more IMG students mainly because these programs do not fill or are on the very bottom of the list for US allopathic students. You can do a google search and you will find ALOT of info on that. You're chances for IM are hindered but they are not completely shot. No you don't NEED a 250+ on step 2 but you do need a pretty solid score so shoot for 250+ and hope to land somewhere around there. good luck

I have heard that IM is more competitive than EM. Am I wrong to believe that ?

 

[DermViser]

I'd actually agree with cyanide. I know an IMG who had a 210 Step 1 and 235 2CK who got zero interviews having applied to 80+ places in emergency.

That's bc it's Emergency Medicine. Emergency Medicine is a competitive specialty for U.S. medical students.

 

[Brain Bucket]

It definitely can't be retaken once you've passed. You'll have to do something spectacular in step 2 (250+ atleast) to have a shot as an IMG honestly.

seconded.

 

[J ROD]

I have heard that IM is more competitive than EM. Am I wrong to believe that ?

On average, yeah. EM is much harder. Less programs and much more interest in %. The average at my home school which is not that great a place....not a big name or anything was a 240.

 

[mcloaf]

On average, yeah. EM is much harder. Less programs and much more interest in %. The average at my home school which is not that great a place....not a big name or anything was a 240.

😱

 

[J ROD]

Yeah, I was shocked too. I was expecting at most a low 230. Never would have guessed that high.

 

[notbobtrustme]

On average, yeah. EM is much harder. Less programs and much more interest in %. The average at my home school which is not that great a place....not a big name or anything was a 240.

How many residents did they take? If it's like 2-3, then one high score can throw the entire class off. If it's like 10, then you might have an argument.

 

[J ROD]

How many residents did they take? If it's like 2-3, then one high score can throw the entire class off. If it's like 10, then you might have an argument.

10 in each class.

 

[cyanide12345678]

First of all, whoever thinks that EM is less competitive than IM, go look at the residency numbers at NRMP (oor whatever the organization is called).

Secondly, anyone saying that you can somehow fail step1 and then still get into a residency spot is obviously going by some n=1 example. That would be plain simple lucky, and definitely not the norm. Latest NRMP numbers say that 35,000 applicants and 25,000 residency spots in total. 10K people do NOT match, and MOST of them are IMGs. If a person gets a sub 200 score and is an IMG, I honestly think that is game over for them. I mean they can spend a few thousand dollars and try their luck and see if they can be the exception to the rule, but it isnt going to be likely.

Here is the math for why it's ridiculously hard to get a spot if your numbers are not good.

Total IM spots = 6000 ish
50% of the spots are taken by IMGs so thats 3000 (with 7500 IMGs competing for those 3000 IMG spots).

There were a total of 12500 IMGs applying this cycle (12500 is the total no. while 7500 IMGs applied to IM). 50% of all IMGs did not get matched. 50% is a big number 🙂 I mean sure there are IMG friendly places out there, but you're competing with all the other IMGs for those spots. If your score is 20th percentile out of your peer IMG group, that's pretty much game over too. Sorry if this is harsh, but just google NRMP residency match data and look for yourself. 50% don't get matched, you just dont want to be applying as a "below average" student. And that's why if you have a below average step 1 score, you realy have to have a super high step 2 score.

 

[cyanide12345678]

Yeah, I was shocked too. I was expecting at most a low 230. Never would have guessed that high.

I dont think it's surprising. EM is decently competitive. A lot of lazy smart people who want a life outside of medicine like the idea of working 3 days a week (3 12 hr shifts) and taking home 300k.

 

[J ROD]

Well, the last charting outcomes had the EM average in the 226 range I believe. Most folks I have been talking with were arguing with me that even low 230's was too high an estimate. But, I can see plenty of folks with 240+ Step 1's not getting in. I was just shocked it was all the way up to a 240 at my school. It is a solid program but not a huge name. That means the average overall is probably pretty close to their average. I was even told you have to have the preclinical grades, extras, and of course not be a douche. The PD mentioned a couple of years ago you had a shot with a decent Step 1 but now there are just so many outstanding apps they have their pick.

I know we had as many folks in our interest group as IM. It is one of the first things that roles out of people's mouths when asked what they want to do until Step 1 time. Then, reality steps back in.

 

[BestDoctorEver]

Wouldn't it be better for OP to apply only to FM? The last charting outcome showed that IM is the 220s... FM is more in line with OP step 1 score, though his score is about a standard deviation below the mean for FM. I think OP should apply to FM residency only... My friend from carib has had trouble matching FM with a low step 1 score.

@Maya omar diab

 

[cyanide12345678]

Agreed with the above. OP is more likely to get family. But even family had 4000 IMG applicants fight for the 1500 spots that were given to IMGs. A spectucular Step 2 score is still needed I think to make up for the subpar step 1 score.