Competitive USMLE for Pediatrics

[makesomerheum]

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Hi everyone,

I know pediatrics is not as competitve as some fields, but what is a good safe USMLE I score to be considered competitive at a top 15 program? I am trying to set a goal. I know USMLE I is not the only consideration, but I want to know what will prevent my app from being discarded due to "number" cut-offs. THANKS to anyone who responds.

 

[jennie 21]

This is just a guess...but based on what our school has told us, I'd say anything above a 230 is pretty safe to keep you from getting your app thrown out because of "cut-offs". If it were a really competitive programs such as Derm at Stanford or something, they might use a cut-off of 240, but most programs if they use number cut-offs at all set the cut-off no higher than 230, at least according to what our dean of students said at the USMLE panel for second-years. Hope that's somewhat helpful to you...

 

[bigfrank]

A "very, very safe" score for Peds would be >220. Peds will likely not even screen based on the Step I score. Making honors in M-3 rotations, especially Peds, will be key in landing a great spot.

 

[GeneGoddess]

Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill list a "cut-off" of 210 and CHOP doesn't like anything under 220 (though they interviewed me with a <220).

But it seemed that grades and LORs were MUCH more important.