board score vs class rank/ent

[medstudent2005]

hey ya'll

just posted the same q on the radiology board, but wondering about how ENT feels about board scores vs class rank...my board score is 243, and according to my counselor, that's pretty adequate. Last year, i was in the top 20 (17) of my class, but I feel like this year (3rd yr of medical school) my rank may drop. I did pretty well in surgery (only because of the exam, i seem to have sucked in my general surgery rotation, which i completely despised) and psychiatry, but didn't do so hot in ob/gyn and am still waiting to see how i did in family med, and how will do in peds and internal medicine. anyway, that's just extra junk, but bottom line is, this year may drop my rank instead of helping it and i'm just concerned how that would affect an application to ENT.

also: i seem to develop an anxiety disorder and shaky hands when an attending or resident is breathing down my neck...is this something that will hopefully improve? i don't want to practice on anyone's face with trembling hands.

gracias seniors y senioras

NT

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[neutropeniaboy]

Originally posted by medstudent2005
hey ya'll

just posted the same q on the radiology board, but wondering about how ENT feels about board scores vs class rank...my board score is 243, and according to my counselor, that's pretty adequate.

Your board score is wholly adequate and above the mean for those accepted into ENT residencies.

Last year, i was in the top 20 (17) of my class, but I feel like this year (3rd yr of medical school) my rank may drop. I did pretty well in surgery (only because of the exam, i seem to have sucked in my general surgery rotation, which i completely despised)

Practically speaking, if you did well (grade-wise) in surgery, then nothing else matters to the program directors about your core surgery rotation, unless any letters of recommendation from surgeons state something contrary to your grade performance.

If you "sucked," then you should ask yourself whether surgery is something you really want to do.

and psychiatry, but didn't do so hot in ob/gyn and am still waiting to see how i did in family med, and how will do in peds and internal medicine.

Although all grades are important, these are less important to ENT program directors.

also: i seem to develop an anxiety disorder and shaky hands when an attending or resident is breathing down my neck...is this something that will hopefully improve? i don't want to practice on anyone's face with trembling hands.

Would you feel more comfortable, then, operating on someone's carotid? eyes? ductus deferens? a neonate's bowel? Maybe thoracic is your bag then.

Everyone trembles a little bit. In most cases it's only a problem when you operate under a microscope...and you will as an ENT resident. So, you'll have to ascertain whether you tremble a lot.
gracias seniors y senioras