clinical rotation grading is so subjective...what to do?

[crystalgreen]

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hey guys, i need help.

1. is it true that attendings compare you to your classmates? b/c i feel like we are always in competition with each other as to see who is better...b/c the weaker one gets the lesser grade. how do you guys deal with this??? my classmate this rotation happens to be very very smart...he seems to catch on soo quick and knows everything...he is super smart even amongst the medstudents...in cases like this, how do i shine at all?

2. since your grade is based on the opinion of someone else about you, how do you relax? i constantly feel so stressed out and nervous and in fear of making a mistake....its like third year is about putting on a show rather than learning.

i really need some insight and advice...thanks!!

 

[alwaysaangel]

hey guys, i need help.

1. is it true that attendings compare you to your classmates? b/c i feel like we are always in competition with each other as to see who is better...b/c the weaker one gets the lesser grade. how do you guys deal with this??? my classmate this rotation happens to be very very smart...he seems to catch on soo quick and knows everything...he is super smart even amongst the medstudents...in cases like this, how do i shine at all?

2. since your grade is based on the opinion of someone else about you, how do you relax? i constantly feel so stressed out and nervous and in fear of making a mistake....its like third year is about putting on a show rather than learning.

i really need some insight and advice...thanks!!

1. They compare you to your classmates, yes. But not in the way you are thinking. In general, they don't sit there and judge you next to the person you're actually working with. They judge you next to your classmates IN GENERAL. How does this person compare to his/her class overall? Top? Middle? Bottom? Thats the only way to grade someone - are they where the rest of their peers are or not? Better than being compared to your interns or residents 🙂

So don't worry about outshining the classmate you're on with. Its not about that. Do the best YOU CAN and work hard. You'll be fine.

2. This I cannot help you with, its more of a personality thing and something you will have to get over on your own. The best thing you can do is get over it. You can't do anything about how others view you. Be professional, work hard, BE HELPFUL, and be your fun friendly self - that is all you can do. Being helpful and fun and friendly are the best things you can do.

From what I've seen of my classmates - those who do the above tend to get excellent evaluations. Then there are those who are lazy - they do worse. There are those who have bad attitudes - they do even worse. And there are some with naturally abrasive personalities - they tend to do worst of all.

 

[crystalgreen]

1. They compare you to your classmates, yes. But not in the way you are thinking. In general, they don't sit there and judge you next to the person you're actually working with. They judge you next to your classmates IN GENERAL. How does this person compare to his/her class overall? Top? Middle? Bottom? Thats the only way to grade someone - are they where the rest of their peers are or not? Better than being compared to your interns or residents 🙂

So don't worry about outshining the classmate you're on with. Its not about that. Do the best YOU CAN and work hard. You'll be fine.

2. This I cannot help you with, its more of a personality thing and something you will have to get over on your own. The best thing you can do is get over it. You can't do anything about how others view you. Be professional, work hard, BE HELPFUL, and be your fun friendly self - that is all you can do. Being helpful and fun and friendly are the best things you can do.

From what I've seen of my classmates - those who do the above tend to get excellent evaluations. Then there are those who are lazy - they do worse. There are those who have bad attitudes - they do even worse. And there are some with naturally abrasive personalities - they tend to do worst of all.

thank you so much for ur advice. however, on this rotation, its only me and the my classmate and no one else....this person is so smart that he knows things the residents dont even know.

 

[Perrotfish]

hey guys, i need help.

1. is it true that attendings compare you to your classmates? b/c i feel like we are always in competition with each other as to see who is better...b/c the weaker one gets the lesser grade. how do you guys deal with this??? my classmate this rotation happens to be very very smart...he seems to catch on soo quick and knows everything...he is super smart even amongst the medstudents...in cases like this, how do i shine at all?

2. since your grade is based on the opinion of someone else about you, how do you relax? i constantly feel so stressed out and nervous and in fear of making a mistake....its like third year is about putting on a show rather than learning.

i really need some insight and advice...thanks!!

1) As a previous poster mentioned, you are being compared with a historical average of your classmates rather than the one standing next to you. Help each other out and you can all honor.

2) How do you relax? You learn to care less about honors and focus on learning. If there's another system that works I haven't found it. Of course, if you actually NEED to honor for some reason (ex: you want to do the rotation you're on, or you want an uber competitive specialty) then you don't relax much.

 

[alwaysaangel]

thank you so much for ur advice. however, on this rotation, its only me and the my classmate and no one else....this person is so smart that he knows things the residents dont even know.

I get that its you and him - but your evaluators will compare you to the peers who have come before. Thats what I meant by you are compared to everyone in your class. Its not like they're just comparing you to him. Maybe you're both above average compared to other classmates in the past, maybe you're both below. Do your best - thats all you can do.

And if youre classmate is showing up your residents then he likely will NOT receive positive evaluations. You aren't supposed to gun your peers or superiors and people will notice and grade him/her down for not being a team player.

 

[CardiacIntensivist]

1) As a previous poster mentioned, you are being compared with a historical average of your classmates rather than the one standing next to you. Help each other out and you can all honor.

2) How do you relax? You learn to care less about honors and focus on learning. If there's another system that works I haven't found it. Of course, if you actually NEED to honor for some reason (ex: you want to do the rotation you're on, or you want an uber competitive specialty) then you don't relax much.

In regards to the quote above
1) I absolutely agree with this. If you are working in a team, all a resident/attending really wants is efficiency and to get things done. Medical students that are a joy to teach will be a bonus. If you work with your fellow student, you will both likely do well. Remember, it's not always about how much you know. It's really about letting them know how much you know in a way that will allow them to respect and praise you. Sounds tricky doesn't it? If you and your fellow classmate get along, joke around, get things done, work out all the minor squabbles amongst yourselves (i.e. never let the higher ups see you fight or argue) they will think more highly of you. I have quite a few teams disintegrate because of their one weak link who is only out for themself.

2) As for #2, this is really hard to change. I think telling someone to just relax is about as helpful as giving someone gasoline to put out a fire. The first step is always to identify the problem so at least you've done that. If you can, try to think in the attending's shoes. Or, even better, think of a time you saw another anxious student and what you would've done if you were in their place. That exercise might help prepare you for your own situation. Finally, as the old cliche goes - fake it till you make it. Speak with confidence, make eye contact, talk to your team and not to the floor, and NEVER LIE.

 

[OveractiveBrain]

Everyone has offered some pretty sound advice. Just keep in mind that all of this is how it should go. You will likely have one attending, or one rotation, which is run by a crappy attending or a crappy coordinator who will judge you. You really should NOT worry about this.

People are people. They judge based on their emotions and feelings. Even if some one tries to be objective, their memory is sparse, and most medical students meld together. Does the attending really remember that on the third and fifth day of the rotation you didnt know the answer, but on the fourth your partner did? No. They get a sense from the team.

The better the team works the higher your evaluation will be. Look interested, act interested, help the team (which means don't show up residents), contribute positively. I often wondered if residents and attendings could see through disinterested parties or identify obnoxious gunners. I can safely say that through talking with some of my friends who are attendings or residents, and as an educator myself, most people see right through the crap you're worried about.

You will likely get "good team member, do more reading" (what you are supposed to get)

Your partner will get "great knowledge, poor team player" (hurtful)

Now, everyone is different, and some people might identify with the nerdy know-it-all, be impressed they know so much and give them a high mark. It happens.

Bottom line, you are in medical school to learn, not to show how much you've learned. Educators get that. Evaluators get that. Except the bitter ones.