Class Rank-Matching-Debt

[docscience]

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I know this subject has been beat to death...but does Class Rank really matter?

I am a first year student
I am doing fairly well...77% in gross anatomy, 80% in histology, 70% embryo (yuck..lol), 80% neurology, and I am anticipating 80s in my current physiology and biochem class.
But students in my class are high achievers....lots in the 90s...so I would GUESS that I am in the middle of my class to lower half in terms of rank.

I hope to do well on my USMLE step I as I hear that it is the number one "weed out" factor.

I don't want to do anything super competitive such as ortho or derm. But I don't want rads, anesthesiology, or optho to be out of my reach...

Will I be ok to match in those residencies if I continue my average class pace and rock out on the USMLE?

Should I do research over the summer??? or enjoy my last summer ever?? lol

Oh yeah, anyone manage to contribute to paying their loan back when they were a resident? Financially doable?

Thanks for answering questions and being supportive!

 

[yaah]

Many med schools don't rank their students. Mine didn't. We did have deans letters at which point we were categorized into "tiers" of applicant (outstanding, excellent and potentially outstanding, fair, etc), so that's sort of a class rank. Generally though as long as you pass all your first and second year courses (with maybe an honors or two) and pass clerkships with some high pass/honors you will get "excellent" at least, I would say.

These things matter more the more competitive residency you are trying to match into.

 

[docscience]

These things matter more the more competitive residency you are trying to match into.

What do you mean more competitive residency? As in at a more well known program? or a more desirable residency?

So these "catch phrases" do make a difference...I mean, what if someone else had a similar USMLE score but had an outstanding compared to my fair....would they secure the spot?

Anyone for the debt questions? Summer research?
Thanks again.

 

[Blade28]

Oh yeah, anyone manage to contribute to paying their loan back when they were a resident? Financially doable?

Not unless you're moonlighting, or have a significant other who's also working.

 

[docscience]

Not unless you're moonlighting, or have a significant other who's also working.

Thanks

How much is the repayment approx. after you finish residency...monthly payments..??

 

[Blade28]

Thanks

How much is the repayment approx. after you finish residency...monthly payments..??

It all depends how much you've borrowed, and what the interest rate was when you consolidated.

I think you're worrying yourself a little too much now. 🙂

 

[yadayadadude]

How much is the repayment approx. after you finish residency...monthly payments..??

Questions like this blow my mind. YOU signed the master promissory note. YOU accepted your first year's loans. How is it possible that you, a presumably intelligent person, never bothered to run a quick calculation estimating your total borrowing and ball-park monthly payments?

Look, this is not rocket science. Take a few minutes to play around with the calculators on www.finaid.com or similar.

 

[OldPsychDoc]

Look, this is not rocket science.

No, but it does involve an exponential function! 😀

 

[pgg]

Questions like this blow my mind. YOU signed the master promissory note. YOU accepted your first year's loans. How is it possible that you, a presumably intelligent person, never bothered to run a quick calculation estimating your total borrowing and ball-park monthly payments?

Once upon a time, I assumed that even the guy who collects shopping carts in the Target parking lot would understand that an "adjustable rate mortgage" has an adjustable rate ... and that he couldn't afford a $500,000 house with his minimum wage paycheck. But look at all the innocent victims who think they need to be bailed out of their unfair mortgages.

Sometimes I wonder why I picked medicine, and not a field that made it easier to exploit people who can't add.

 

[yaah]

What do you mean more competitive residency? As in at a more well known program? or a more desirable residency?

Yes. Competitiveness has many faces. Pick your poison.

So these "catch phrases" do make a difference...I mean, what if someone else had a similar USMLE score but had an outstanding compared to my fair....would they secure the spot?

People like to use these "all things being equal" arguments which are silly. All things are never equal. Doing better and having better grades is always helpful. But how helpful is impossible to answer. It would vary from program to program and applicant to applicant. All you can do is apply. If they grant you an interview, you're competitive for their program. If they don't, you aren't. You can't change your past grades, so don't worry too much about them. Do the best you can in the future, many times "average" preclinical students exceed others in clinical years. Many times they don't. It depends on the individual. All you can do is put in your effort, what other people do is less relevant.

 

[drtx]

Will I be ok to match in those residencies if I continue my average class pace and rock out on the USMLE?

Most likely you will be fine if you score well and get good LORs.

Should I do research over the summer??? or enjoy my last summer ever?? lol

You can do both. I did a summer research fellowship in surgical oncology during the summer of my 1st year and it was enjoyable, paid 2000 dollars, and was something that added to my CV.

Oh yeah, anyone manage to contribute to paying their loan back when they were a resident? Financially doable?

Yes, but.....the person I knew who did this bought a 3 bedroom house in a very undesirable part of the city (I would keep making sure my car was outside when I visited). He rented out the 2 rooms and lived with a total wack job. This paid his mortgage, he paid back a lot of loans and then sold his house for a profit of 50 K.👍

It should also be noted that he was so cheap he reused Ziploc bags, ate the dog food (aka free call room food) the hospital cafeteria supplied the residents' lounge at night, and tolerated this crazy roommates cat that would chew on wires, hang out in the sink, etc.

Not for the weak of heart🙂