Board scores and career options

[JohnnyDoc]

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Hi, I got my STEP 1 score back and I got a disappointing 235. What are my career options now with no research involvement and minimal extracurricular activities? I got a flat 600 on my comlex, but I figured no residencies are going to look at that.

 

[DrWhozits]

Hi, I got my STEP 1 score back and I got a disappointing 235. What are my career options now with no research involvement and minimal extracurricular activities? I got a flat 600 on my comlex, but I figured no residencies are going to look at that.

These are the kind of posts that make people hate SDN.

As an answer to your question, please go look at Charting Outcomes for Osteopathic students

 

[Roxas]

 

[Black Coffee 24/7]

Hi, I got my STEP 1 score back and I got a disappointing 235. What are my career options now with no research involvement and minimal extracurricular activities? I got a flat 600 on my comlex, but I figured no residencies are going to look at that.

Suck to be you.

FM at Alaska would be challenging for those numbers.

 

[WorldChanger36]

Hi, I got my STEP 1 score back and I got a disappointing 235. What are my career options now with no research involvement and minimal extracurricular activities? I got a flat 600 on my comlex, but I figured no residencies are going to look at that.

Door is still wide open with the scores you have there. You can do most things

 

[JohnnyDoc]

The main thing I am worried about is the lack of research. I would really like to match into a popular city such as Chicago, LA, SD, Seattle, etc. Can I do that with just a step score?

 

[ERWINSHRODINGER]

FREIDA is a good start. Charting outcome is there but it doesn’t tell you the specific programs people matched to. Then you can always talk to the upperclassmen/alumni at your school with similar situations

 

[PapaStill]

Honestly that's so bad I'd withhold USMLE scores if possible. Don't bother taking Step 2 and get at least a 6000 on Level 2 to be competitive for peds in North Dakota

 

[shadowlightfox]

I hope to avoid people like you like the plague come residency time.

Sadly, it's unavoidable.

 

[Black Coffee 24/7]

I hope to avoid people like you like the plague come residency time.

Don’t worry. Surgery is going to chop him up. I already know it.

The one thing that I love about surgery is that people in that field literally can smell insecurity from a mile away and will go at you hard.

It takes a surgeon personality to not gaf, maintain focus, and play back in return to gain respect.

 

[BorntobeDO?]

Hi, I got my STEP 1 score back and I got a disappointing 235. What are my career options now with no research involvement and minimal extracurricular activities? I got a flat 600 on my comlex, but I figured no residencies are going to look at that.

Lol, its a great day when an above average score is 'disappointing'. Chin up, you can still do vascular surgery as a fellowship after general, if the horror of a non-surgical sub-specialty is lingering in your mind.

 

[shadowlightfox]

Chin up OP, not everyone gets to be lucky enough to have your score. I can only dream of getting a lower score like yours and further limiting my options.

 

[popopopop]

You guys are harsh. Everyone's expectations are different.

 

[deleted610572]

You guys are harsh. Everyone's expectations are different.

No. It is a douche move to do that. It’s a low key brag and people are sick of it

 

[sab3156]

The main thing I am worried about is the lack of research. I would really like to match into a popular city such as Chicago, LA, SD, Seattle, etc. Can I do that with just a step score?

So let me get this straight. You did zero research and are trying to figure out what specialties are open for an osteopathic student? And you are bitter about your Step 1? You should be bitter that you failed to accomplish any research in a field that you found interest in during school. You don't even have any interest in anything specifically? You just want to go to whatever big city? Man this thread sucks.

 

[Neopolymath]

So let me get this straight. You did zero research and are trying to figure out what specialties are open for an osteopathic student? And you are bitter about your Step 1? You should be bitter that you failed to accomplish any research in a field that you found interest in during school. You don't even have any interest in anything specifically? You just want to go to whatever big city? Man this thread sucks.

My favorite threads are about people who want to do residency in a "big city" but don't give a **** about anything else or the rest of their careers. Like you don't have any idea what you want to do but your life will end if you aren't in ****hole NYC? Yeah, bro, Boston IS THE ONLY PLACE TO LIVE and everywhere else only has Applebee's and discount clothing stores?

I won't rag on the dude for what he said about his score because as previous poster said it is perspective. It's like if I told my friend I was disappointed I got an 85 when I normally get A's or something. The person who gets C's isn't going to get it but they shouldn't get butthurt about it either.

 

[QueenJames]

Damn son.

No research?

I'll trade my 210 for your 235.

Otherwise...

WELCOME TO PRIMARY CARE BIATCH!!!

 

[cgk]

My favorite threads are about people who want to do residency in a "big city" but don't give a **** about anything else or the rest of their careers. Like you don't have any idea what you want to do but your life will end if you aren't in ****hole NYC? Yeah, bro, Boston IS THE ONLY PLACE TO LIVE and everywhere else only has Applebee's and discount clothing stores?

I won't rag on the dude for what he said about his score because as previous poster said it is perspective. It's like if I told my friend I was disappointed I got an 85 when I normally get A's or something. The person who gets C's isn't going to get it but they shouldn't get butthurt about it either.

How about a DO student with COMLEX 451 and USMLE 211, what residency options are realistically available... just FM or community IM?

 

[Neopolymath]

How about a DO student with COMLEX 451 and USMLE 211, what residency options are realistically available... just FM or community IM?

I encourage you to read the Charting Outcomes document thoroughly and think about the information presented and how it applies to your specific situation. I would also remind you that there are a lot of specialties that aren't competitive beyond FM and bad IM programs. You need to explore. You are also at an advantage with a 211 USMLE believe it or not. That is a lot better than just a 451 useless comlex. Read up, dude.

 

[Blunt Dissection]

Is there some reason in particular that people completely omit the fact that there's still Step 2/Level 2? If you didn't do so hot on Step 1, I'm sure a killer Step 2 won't go unnoticed. It's not like a low Step 1 score means the PDs will just ignore your Step 2.

 

[ERWINSHRODINGER]

Is there some reason in particular that people completely omit the fact that there's still Step 2/Level 2? If you didn't do so hot on Step 1, I'm sure a killer Step 2 won't go unnoticed. It's not like a low Step 1 score means the PDs will just ignore your Step 2.

Many programs set a screen for step 1. Step 2 is not required by the time of application in many programs. I am sure a good step 2 will help if you pass the screen

 

[cgk]

I encourage you to read the Charting Outcomes document thoroughly and think about the information presented and how it applies to your specific situation. I would also remind you that there are a lot of specialties that aren't competitive beyond FM and bad IM programs. You need to explore. You are also at an advantage with a 211 USMLE believe it or not. That is a lot better than just a 451 useless comlex. Read up, dude.

Not sure I can see where a DO, who needs a higher USMLE than MD counterparts, is in good shape with a below average, even for DO"s USMLE score. Any other specialties you think are realistic to explore? Thanks!

 

[shadowlightfox]

You guys are harsh.

If he's smart enough to get a 230+ on USMLE and 600+ on COMLEX, he was smart enough to know exactly what he was posting.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

WELCOME TO PRIMARY CARE BIATCH!!!

Haha I know you are being facetious but for all the other readers no a 235 without research does not mean you have to do PC.

How about a DO student with COMLEX 451 and USMLE 211, what residency options are realistically available... just FM or community IM?

Not sure I can see where a DO, who needs a higher USMLE than MD counterparts, is in good shape with a below average, even for DO"s USMLE score. Any other specialties you think are realistic to explore? Thanks!

Dude... you keep asking this as if you are going to get a different answer. There is a specific DO charting outcomes that shows how many people matched into listed specialties with your step score. You have a good chance at EM, Gas, FM, IM, Path, etc. based on your 211 alone. Go do your own research instead of asking the same question over and over.

 

[JohnnyDoc]

A simple question gets so much criticism. My practice exams were all 240s and above, so getting a mid 230 is disappointing. Sorry to make you all feel insecure.

 

[sunshinefl]

I mean, what are you interested in? Start there and see if your score is realistic.

 

[JohnnyDoc]

I don't think people feel insecure in as much as you come off as a complete douche bag.

I'm sorry my post affects you strongly enough for you to call me a douchebag. I hope you feel better.

 

[Obnoxious Dad]

I don't think people feel insecure in as much as you come off as a complete douche bag.

His initial post isn't nearly as bad as these "where should I go posts" from posters who have been accepted to med school at Penn, Harvard, Stanford and Yale. Those people are vomit material.

There are some fields where he probably does not have a chance at a longstanding ACGME residency. ENT, Urology and Ortho are good examples. He's disappointed. Cut the OP a little slack.

 

[shadowlightfox]

A simple question gets so much criticism. My practice exams were all 240s and above, so getting a mid 230 is disappointing. Sorry to make you all feel insecure.

I don't know if you already started rotating at your hospital or not, but you will soon find out that how you word your statements is just as important as the statements themselves, and it will have a HUGE impact on your attendings' evaluations of you. You might have had a genuine question, but the way you worded it was bad and thus came off as a prick. In medicine, when you're gonna be talking a lot to not just patients, but also nurses and physicians, you wanna make sure you don't accidentally come off as a snarky person, because you will have doors of opportunity permanently closed on you in an instant moment without you even realizing it. I've witnessed this several times already despite me only beginning 3rd year recently.

Instead of accusing us of feeling insecure, maybe you should focus on taking this advice to heart and not trying to be a prick after accidentally making yourself look like a prick.

 

[deleted610572]

A simple question gets so much criticism. My practice exams were all 240s and above, so getting a mid 230 is disappointing. Sorry to make you all feel insecure.

Yes, insecurity. That’s it.

As. @sab3156 said above, you should be more worried that you didn’t do any research than to be upset about a 235. A 235 is only going to screen you out of the most competitive specialties. It’s hard to get DO medstudents to understand that. We all have ingrained in our mind that if we score a 250 then we can match whatever we like. It’s not true. The 250 will open the door but research and other extracurriculars is what will allow you to pass through the door. Our CVs don’t look the same, that’s why we don’t match as well, not because we don’t have similar scores.

Figure out what specialty you like and get research. Enough about your 235. It’s a good enough score for anything moderately competitive. It can certainly land you gen surg, OB, a decent IM which will give fellowship opportunities. You are truly complaining about a 235 when your bigger problem is you CV has nothing else on it

 

[deleted610572]

Haha I know you are being facetious but for all the other readers no a 235 without research does not mean you have to do PC.





Dude... you keep asking this as if you are going to get a different answer. There is a specific DO charting outcomes that shows how many people matched into listed specialties with your step score. You have a good chance at EM, Gas, FM, IM, Path, etc. based on your 211 alone. Go do your own research instead of asking the same question over and over.

Also Neuro, PMR, peds

 

[Black Coffee 24/7]

His initial post isn't nearly as bad as these "where should I go posts" from posters who have been accepted to med school at Penn, Harvard, Stanford and Yale. Those people are vomit material.

There are some fields where he probably does not have a chance at a longstanding ACGME residency. ENT, Urology and Ortho are good examples. He's disappointed. Cut the OP a little slack.

His initial post is not that bad. I probably sound like a whiny punk at some point in my life after a disappointment.

However, his F/U posts are cringe worthy - pure d-bag mode.

 

[JohnnyDoc]

Didn't call you one. Read my post again. This time slowly

Still getting the same impression, don't know what you're trying to get at here. Please think before responding.

 

[JohnnyDoc]

This thread is full of judgey people. You soon-to-be doctors are definitely shining role models.

 

[shadowlightfox]

This thread is full of judgey people. You soon-to-be doctors are definitely shining role models.

If you can't handle the heat, get out of the kitchen.

 

[JohnnyDoc]

If you can't handle the heat, get out of the kitchen.

We are not the kitchen, hotshot 😉

 

[JohnnyDoc]

Just looking for helpful responses, but receive these sad responses from sad people. Yawns. Thanks guys, I got all I need.

 

[ortnakas]

Ignoring the debate about humble bragging-

OP, you’re a third year still right? If not having research is your biggest worry, keep your eyes and ears open for case report opportunities and do a few of those.

 

[Jinxapotato]

Hi, I got my STEP 1 score back and I got a disappointing 235. What are my career options now with no research involvement and minimal extracurricular activities? I got a flat 600 on my comlex, but I figured no residencies are going to look at that.

This is really disappointing. Your best bet would be setting up away rotations in community FM programs in Wyoming, and get a few letters from there so hopefully they can offer you an interview. Otherwise please consider a career in research/teaching, clinical career is likely impossible.

But I mean seriously?! This is like some dude asking if a 260/260 AOA from top 20 school should apply some low tier IM community program, what did you expect the response would be? And no I am not insecure about your 235, many of us did better than that and we didn't make a thread humble bragging. It's a well above average score and nobody will be mad at you if you just simply asked "which university programs am I competitive for"

 

[Peach Newport]

My favorite threads are about people who want to do residency in a "big city" but don't give a **** about anything else or the rest of their careers. Like you don't have any idea what you want to do but your life will end if you aren't in ****hole NYC? Yeah, bro, Boston IS THE ONLY PLACE TO LIVE and everywhere else only has Applebee's and discount clothing stores?

I won't rag on the dude for what he said about his score because as previous poster said it is perspective. It's like if I told my friend I was disappointed I got an 85 when I normally get A's or something. The person who gets C's isn't going to get it but they shouldn't get butthurt about it either.

Gotta be honest, I agree with OP. I personally first and foremost just wanted to be a *doctor*, I didn’t really care what specialty I ended up in. However, I know I can’t stand the boonies. I need to be around educated people in an environment with real culture, and preferably near my family. Practicing in Trump country where only 40% finished high school would drive me nuts, even if I was a dermatologist making $600k/year.

 

[Neopolymath]

Gotta be honest, I agree with OP. I personally first and foremost just wanted to be a *doctor*, I didn’t really care what specialty I ended up in. However, I know I can’t stand the boonies. I need to be around educated people in an environment with real culture, and preferably near my family. Practicing in Trump country where only 40% finished high school would drive me nuts, even if I was a dermatologist making $600k/year.

Contrary to popular opinion, there are cities between NYC and ****hole, USA.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

Contrary to popular opinion, there are cities between NYC and ****hole, USA.

No no, the country is divided like this: SF/****hole/NYC

Can’t be letting everyone know there are cities between the coasts, because then my future salary will be lower.

 

[Lawpy]

Man this thread is toxic.

 

[MightBeACylon439]

A simple question gets so much criticism. My practice exams were all 240s and above, so getting a mid 230 is disappointing. Sorry to make you all feel insecure.

 

[shadowlightfox]

I'm no psychiatrist, but I think OP accusing us of being insecure after making a very insecurely worded post about his board scores qualifies as a classic case of projection.