boards in match app?
Started by anon729
The Steps play some role, how important they are will depend on specialty and program. They are nowhere near as important as they are in residency apps. There are some cards and GI programs that don't care about them and some ID and Endo programs that will toss your app for a Step 1/2 <230.
And since the vast majority of people applying for fellowship haven't taken their IM boards, nobody cares about that.
Generally as long as you passed on your first try, no one will care too much - which is not to say that top programs may use them as one more screening tool (what are you supposed to do when you get 100's of apps for 3-4 spots?).
It will be your LORs and Research Creds that generally get your foot in the door for fellowship interviews.
I'm gonna slightly amend that statement. If you're already out of residency and have taken ABIM boards and failed, that IS going to reflect badly on your application. If you have taken ABIM boards and passed, it may actually be a slight plus as programs dont need to worry about that for you anymore, probably not a HUGE difference though. There are no scores, it's just pass vs fail to my knowledge.
And I'll amend your amendment and say OK. But there is a score (for reasons that are unclear to me) and nobody cares about it. P vs. F is something people will care about. So don't take it until you Match for fellowship (most jobs give you a 2-3 year board pass grace period, why potentially screw things up?) and you'll be fine.
😀
That's probably good advice. I personally was undecided for a while about what (if any) fellowship I wanted to do, and wasn't going to be working clinically as much for a couple years after i finished residency, so I did want to take the ABIM ASAP. As I was studying, i did make up my mind to apply for fellowship, and yes it was a bit nerve-wracking to know that I better pass or my plans for fellowship are null. I did end up passing so all is well, and it's nice to have them over with, but yeah it was a risk.
p.s. really? there's an ABIM score?? how come we never find out what it is?
Really? IM Boards are easy and have a high pass rate. I would never have wanted that test hanging over me any longer than necessary.
