Clerkship grades affect on residency.

[ella umbrella]

I decided I want to apply to several pediatric residency programs next year but I just found that I made a B on that clerkship. Am I screwed for life? How will this affect me getting into programs next year??? My Step 1 score was below the average Peds residency score (strike 1), I made a B on the clerkship (strike 2), now I know I have to nail step 2 in order to prevent strike 3. I know it's important to do really well especially in the area you want to go into, so I'm really worried that I just shot my chance to get into a good, if any, residency program. Anybody know anything?

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[ZagDoc]

Your sub-i grade is more important than your core clerkship grade for a chosen field. A B/NH in the core clerkship won't close doors, but you need to make sure you honor your sub-i and get good letters. There was 2,392 peds residency spots in the nation last year. Of the 1,723 US seniors who applied, only 92 didn't match. If you really want to do peds, you'll find a spot. But you'd go a long way to helping yourself if you honor your sub-i and get good letters.

 

[jsong812]

Your sub-i grade is more important than your core clerkship grade for a chosen field. A B/NH in the core clerkship won't close doors, but you need to make sure you honor your sub-i and get good letters. There was 2,392 peds residency spots in the nation last year. Of the 1,723 US seniors who applied, only 92 didn't match. If you really want to do peds, you'll find a spot. But you'd go a long way to helping yourself if you honor your sub-i and get good letters.

While I understand this logic, I've also heard many people say that most people end up getting an A/outstanding/honors in their Sub-i's just because no one in your field wants to compromise your chances at matching at your dream program. This may be just true at my school but for a lot of the competitive fields such as ortho, ENT, and derm, mostly everyone who rotates through their career elective (sub-i) ends up getting a very good grade. Thus, they look at other means to separate their applicants such as board score, clerkship grades, etc.. Of course LOR may be a little more telling of how good a student was because it's more personal than your sub-i grade but all in all, I'm not really sure how much weight should be given to it..

 

[ZagDoc]

While I understand this logic, I've also heard many people say that most people end up getting an A/outstanding/honors in their Sub-i's just because no one in your field wants to compromise your chances at matching at your dream program. This may be just true at my school but for a lot of the competitive fields such as ortho, ENT, and derm, mostly everyone who rotates through their career elective (sub-i) ends up getting a very good grade. Thus, they look at other means to separate their applicants such as board score, clerkship grades, etc.. Of course LOR may be a little more telling of how good a student was because it's more personal than your sub-i grade but all in all, I'm not really sure how much weight should be given to it..

Sure, I buy your argument. But the OP seems to be of the opinion that since he/she didn't get an A/honors in their peds core rotation and had a Step 1 score below the mean, they won't be able to match into peds. Which is just silly. There's TONS of peds spots out there.

As far as things the OP can do to improve his or her chances at getting into one of their higher-preferred peds programs, I don't know if an improved Step II score will go as far as honoring the sub-i and getting a couple really well written LORs.

 

[SouthernSurgeon]

Your sub-i grade is more important than your core clerkship grade for a chosen field.

Disagree with this. From all the advice I've gotten it is core clerkship grades > sub-I or other 4th year grades (for exactly the reason outlined above)

 

[Mental Gymnast]

Disagree with this. From all the advice I've gotten it is core clerkship grades > sub-I or other 4th year grades (for exactly the reason outlined above)

Yup. This may actually be true. While on the interview trail for IM this year, heard rumors that Hopkins, UCSF, MGH, BWH may have screened by honors in third year IM. Not sure if its entirely true or how it relates to other fields though.

Good luck and bottom line is - always try to do better on your next clerkship/sub-I. No use crying over spilt milk.

 

[rachmoninov3]

Does when you take your core clerkships matter? Let's say the OP took peds as their first or second clerkship and got a B, but honored everything else just because they had more experience?

 

[SeminoleFan3]

Does when you take your core clerkships matter? Let's say the OP took peds as their first or second clerkship and got a B, but honored everything else just because they had more experience?

Not really sure if the program is going to know, or care to look that much into it to find out.

 

[molossus]

Not really sure if the program is going to know, or care to look that much into it to find out.

they matter



to op, whats done is done.. peds isnt that competitive, so the good news is, you can work hard on your sub-i , if you honor it and get a great letter, that will more than make up for it. also, if you have a family med rotation, try to honor that too(they do treat kids as well), see if you can do peds electives like picu, nicu or peds gi/cards/hemonc etc

 

[SouthernSurgeon]

Not really sure if the program is going to know, or care to look that much into it to find out.

Agree - I can't even figure out how the programs would find out what order you took your clerkships in.

 

[JPmamd09]

To OP:
FWIW I know a couple of people from my class last year who high passed (equivalent of a B) their peds rotations as JMSs and still ended up at their #1 choices. My understanding is that sub-i performance is crucial and strong letters from faculty can be important as well. My advice would be to study hard for step 2 (as you've indicated you will) and rock your sub-i, since most people seem to think it's a good estimation of how you'll do as an intern. Good luck to you.

 

[sendwich]

how crucial is it to honor surgery of you're considering gsurg? our school only has pass or honors, with honors only given out to people who honor both clinical and shelf. I ended up with a pass, since it was one of my first rotations (went in not really expecting to like it, but ended up otherwise). Can't do anything now, but will it act against me?

 

[Whats_up_doc]

how crucial is it to honor surgery of you're considering gsurg? our school only has pass or honors, with honors only given out to people who honor both clinical and shelf. I ended up with a pass, since it was one of my first rotations (went in not really expecting to like it, but ended up otherwise). Can't do anything now, but will it act against me?

I kinda have the same question but regarding Internal Medicine. Let's suppose you have all High Passes in 3rd Year except honors in medicine and your sub-i... how do residency directors look at this during the Match? I just don't simply want to "match" but try to be at a mid-tier place like Emory or any good programs along east coast. Thank you.

 

[McGillGrad]

how crucial is it to honor surgery of you're considering gsurg? our school only has pass or honors, with honors only given out to people who honor both clinical and shelf. I ended up with a pass, since it was one of my first rotations (went in not really expecting to like it, but ended up otherwise). Can't do anything now, but will it act against me?

If you didn't like surgery as a rotation, then why would you consider it for residency?

I kinda have the same question but regarding Internal Medicine. Let's suppose you have all High Passes in 3rd Year except honors in medicine and your sub-i... how do residency directors look at this during the Match? I just don't simply want to "match" but try to be at a mid-tier place like Emory or any good programs along east coast. Thank you.

According to the NRMP data, the three most important factors for IM PDs are Step 1, Honours in IM/sub-I, and letters of recommendation from influential people.

 

[sendwich]

If you didn't like surgery as a rotation, then why would you consider it for residency?

sorry...mustve said it wrong. i LOVED it (went in expecting to hate it) and was so surprised, that I'm considering it as one of the possibiles.