Barely passing courses, should I be concerned about not being able to do well on boards??

[libraryismyhome]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hello,

I am a first year who just finished arm/leg anatomy, biochemistry, and neuroscience blocks. but I just parley passed them.
If these were letter grades, they would be C.

Thankfully, our school is pure pass/fail which means we don't have honors pass or LORs with coded words during preclinical years.

Should I be concerned if I am barely passing all my first year courses? Do I need to review extensively over the summer break?

 

[organdonor]

You are passing and that is what matters. Studying for the step exams is always a good thing. Use your summer/down time to study with high yield sources such as USMLE world and First Aid. That is the identical advice I would offer to anyone.

 

[Jabbed]

The only question that is important: Do you feel that you mastered the material?

 

[J ROD]

depends on how well you do on standardized exams.

We have a guy that is a C student but 95+% on standardized tests

 

[giantswing]

Second year is more high yield for step one, but is there an outside factor? Lack of study time? Personal problems?

If you're still in, say, the low 70s second year you kight have an issue if you want to go in to something competitive.

For me, i was below average first year, average second, and above average third. My board scores reflected that. I would imagine it would be the same for most.

While step 2 is being weighed more and more, do not under estimate the importance of step one.

 

[libraryismyhome]

The only question that is important: Do you feel that you mastered the material?

I don't think I know much especially the neuro block.

 

[cbrons]

I'm sure you are not "just barely passing." If you are getting "C"'s that means you are getting something 70%s on exams, which is perfectly fine.

 

[organdonor]

For me, i was below average first year, average second, and above average third. My board scores reflected that. I would imagine it would be the same for most.

Probably most people would be average the first year, average the second year, average third year and average on boards. That's how averages work.

I'm just being an ass. I had to do it.

I'll also leave one of my favorite quotes here. Do you know what they call the girl who graduated last in her med school class?

Doctor.

I don't think I know much especially the neuro block.

Do not go spend significant time pouring over your class notes now that the class is over. That is a sure fire way to waste your time. If there is a topic you feel like you need to improve go to a high yield resource like first aid or usmle world. If after their explanations you still don't grasp a concept that would be the only time your text or notes would be appropriate.

 

[BrooklynBulls]

You should be concerned if you feel your effort is maximal. You seem to have identified your problem; you don't feel you know the material well. Evaluate your study habits and your effort. Change your study methods. Find friends who did well and find out what worked for them. I would advise against reviewing the material. Its not really the material that's important-- it will be reinforced 2nd-4th year, and a lot of it is really useless minutiae in the big scheme. Focus much, much more on study method, amount of passes through material, speed of passes, method (anki versus notes versus passive reading versus listening versus quizzing), and find out what works for you. That's what I'd focus on, because otherwise, yeah, my findings have been that those who do not feel they can master the material tend to struggle on boards.

 

[giantswing]

[QUOTE="organdonor, post: 16068098, member: 276797

I'll also leave one of my favorite quotes here. Do you know what they call the girl who graduated last in her med school class?

Doctor.
.[/QUOTE]

Yup.

But theydon't call an average student a plastic surgeon, a dermatologist, ent, optho, ortho, and so on.

So there's that.

 

[Jabbed]

I don't think I know much especially the neuro block.

It sounds like you're problems are 1. Difficulty with studying/test taking in general and 2. Anxiety over the fact that you already have a knowledge gap. As far as 1 goes, have you identified the flaws in your existing habits? I.e. are you spending enough time studying efficiently? Can you see the big picture and then focus in on and retain the details? Do you get distracted/depressed? Do you have an efficient study plan? You're plan for the future will vary depending on the particular issues that you're dealing with. As far as 2 goes, relax. You will see this information again and again. With that said, if you've identified a weakness in your knowledge base (neuro) it will help if you dedicate some time to patching it. However, I would NOT recommend reviewing your course material as it is likely too dense and you already have indicated that it was an effective strategy to learning. Consider using a well regarded textbook (like Blumenfeld's neuroanatomy through clinical cases-- highly readable) or review book (HY neuroanatomy) with a reference source.

 

[FIREitUP]

I'm sure you are not "just barely passing." If you are getting "C"'s that means you are getting something 70%s on exams, which is perfectly fine.

at my school, below 68% is failing, so if the OP is getting low 70's he/she is pretty close to failing, IMO.