Boards

[Raheem]

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Just some encouragement to anyone feeling intimidated by everyone saying, "You need XXX to match at XXX."

1. For most programs, board scores mean very little once an interview is granted. Therefore, if a program has a 230 cutoff, a person with a 235 and a person with a 250 are on nearly equal footing. I say this after speaking to the residency director at my school, and after looking at the UCSF site.

2. Not to bring up zebras, but I do know of two people who matched in rads at very prestigious East Coast schools with scores below 220. So, it can be done.

Boards are only one component of the overall application. And, if your scores are less-than-desirable, then you should focus on improving other areas of your application -- don't count yourself out!

 

[wclubin]

lkajdsf

 

[JA_Perez]

What are boards? Dude, where do you live!!!!!!

 

[ckent]

Originally posted by wclubin
what are boards? Are they tests that you take in order to get into a specialty?

The boards that they are talking about is actually the USMLE licensing exams (step I, II, and III). It does get pretty confusing, since you have those exams and then you also have actual board exams put out by the different specialty organizations to make you "board certified". Passing USMLE step I-III does not equal board certification in any specialty, it only equals licensing for most states.

 

[Teufelhunden]

Here's my question: How much can I overcome a so-so COMLEX Step 1 score with stellar Step 2 & 3 scores? Before you answer, realize that I am Navy HPSP, and will have completed Steps 2 & 3, my internship and a GMO tour...so when I finally apply for residency, they'll be more to my application than a Step 1 score and med school grades.

Hypothetically, if someone were to score in the 51st percentile on Step 1, but then turned around and scored in the >90th percentile on Steps 2 & 3...would that make up for the crappy Step 1 score?

At this point, as an MS-III, I'm trying to decide what's even realistic in terms of possibilities, i.e. should I just give up on competitive fields like radiology now? Did my Step 1 score (and being a D.O.) pretty much already put the nail in the coffin?

 

[rad_one]

As a recent DO interviewee, I was told that board scores got applicants (MD/DO) in the door and the playing field was level. From that point on, it was your interview performance that determined how you were to be ranked. USMLE scores are a must.