Decent Step 1, below-average clerkship grades. Can I match into EM?

[EthylMethylMan]

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MS3 has really been killing my self-esteem; I'd appreciate some unbiased input so I can manage things in an effective way. I've had psych, peds, neuro, and surgery. I passed all of them, but got below the class average each time. My Step 1 score is 235. I have a year-long, decently significant leadership experience involving community service. I also have two research experiences, at least one of which is most likely going to get me a first-author publication. I know Step 2 and AIs are huge in this, but with where I'm at right now, could I be somewhat competitive for EM? What about if I wanted to apply mostly to programs in the downstate NY (NYC/Long Island) area? Is there anything I can do besides crushing Step 2 and my AIs?

 

[Rekt]

MS3 has really been killing my self-esteem; I'd appreciate some unbiased input so I can manage things in an effective way. I've had psych, peds, neuro, and surgery. I passed all of them, but got below the class average each time. My Step 1 score is 235. I have a year-long, decently significant leadership experience involving community service. I also have two research experiences, at least one of which is most likely going to get me a first-author publication. I know Step 2 and AIs are huge in this, but with where I'm at right now, could I be somewhat competitive for EM? What about if I wanted to apply mostly to programs in the downstate NY (NYC/Long Island) area? Is there anything I can do besides crushing Step 2 and my AIs?

You answered your own question. They aren't just huge, SLOEs now matter more than anything once you hit at least average Step 1.

 

[SpacemanSpifff]

MS3 has really been killing my self-esteem; I'd appreciate some unbiased input so I can manage things in an effective way. I've had psych, peds, neuro, and surgery. I passed all of them, but got below the class average each time. My Step 1 score is 235. I have a year-long, decently significant leadership experience involving community service. I also have two research experiences, at least one of which is most likely going to get me a first-author publication. I know Step 2 and AIs are huge in this, but with where I'm at right now, could I be somewhat competitive for EM? What about if I wanted to apply mostly to programs in the downstate NY (NYC/Long Island) area? Is there anything I can do besides crushing Step 2 and my AIs?

Make friends in your home department who will go to bat for you.

 

[Osteoth]

Yes.

 

[theonlytycrane]

quick question for my own knowledge- is matching EM in general much different than matching EM in NY in terms of applicant caliber? OP sounds solid...

 

[EthylMethylMan]

quick question for my own knowledge- is matching EM in general much different than matching EM in NY in terms of applicant caliber? OP sounds solid...

Only reason I asked was because I was being picky with my location. I always hear about NYC programs being competitive, but I dunno about other places in the state.

 

[thatawkguy]

I'm also interested in EM. My step 1 is basically the same as yours, and I also have a few research experiences (a couple which will get published but likely around app time), but I'm getting wrecked on rotations. I havent been able to get anything other than pass, despite my eval comments being good, because grades are curved and others simply perform better than me and I always **** up some assignment. It also doesn't help that my mind is somewhere else because my ex girlfriend refuses to take me back and I have to see her everyday, and I'm trying to get with another girl who I almost never see.

 

[Trollest]

I'm also interested in EM. My step 1 is basically the same as yours, and I also have a few research experiences (a couple which will get published but likely around app time), but I'm getting wrecked on rotations. I havent been able to get anything other than pass, despite my eval comments being good, because grades are curved and others simply perform better than me and I always **** up some assignment. It also doesn't help that my mind is somewhere else because my ex girlfriend refuses to take me back and I have to see her everyday, and I'm trying to get with another girl who I almost never see.

Sorry but what do you mean by you have to see her everyday? And i kind of understand where you are coming from.

 

[Stagg737]

Sorry but what do you mean by you have to see her everyday? And i kind of understand where you are coming from.

Probably a classmate that he's on rotation with. Kind of hard not to see someone when you have to round with them. I had something similar to that happen in UG and it sucked.

 

[thatawkguy]

.

 

[W19]

My friend who applies this year with 221 in step and 244 in step 2 has done surprisingly well. From what he told me, he has strong SLOEs. He has invites from Yale, UVa, Emory, UT-Dallas and other strong programs. He applies to 68 programs and got over 32 invites. He over applies in retrospect.

I must add that he has decent ECs and good grades.

 

[Waterlover]

Does having a Pass in a major clerkship (IM, Peds, Surgery) really hurt you if your SLOEs are good and have the average STEP score for EM and an above average Step 2?

 

[Redpancreas]

MS3 has really been killing my self-esteem; I'd appreciate some unbiased input so I can manage things in an effective way. I've had psych, peds, neuro, and surgery. I passed all of them, but got below the class average each time. My Step 1 score is 235. I have a year-long, decently significant leadership experience involving community service. I also have two research experiences, at least one of which is most likely going to get me a first-author publication. I know Step 2 and AIs are huge in this, but with where I'm at right now, could I be somewhat competitive for EM? What about if I wanted to apply mostly to programs in the downstate NY (NYC/Long Island) area? Is there anything I can do besides crushing Step 2 and my AIs?

Sounds like this is more of a WAMC question than a “Will I Match?”. I’m sorry to hear about your clerkship grades but even worst case (all Ps) won’t be a major red flag for EM (probably won’t look good though). As you and others have said your SLOEs/Step 2 are major factors and honestly your EM cake is not even half baked so get off SDN and come back to prognosticate when those two factors are in the books. Nonetheless, to speak to competitiveness, unlike IM, good EM programs are not necessarily in the big fancy cities. The more competitive ones tend to be in the midwest and lesser sought after places to live (Detroit, Philly, Cincinnati, Denver,). Notable exceptions is LA but that’s like 2 programs. If you just want to match a decent EM program in NYC, nothing you’ve failed to do so far will be a major obstacle.

 

[jcorpsmanMD]

My friend who applies this year with 221 in step and 244 in step 2 has done surprisingly well. From what he told me, he has strong SLOEs. He has invites from Yale, UVa, Emory, UT-Dallas and other strong programs. He applies to 68 programs and got over 32 invites. He over applies in retrospect.

I must add that he has decent ECs and good grades.

What constitutes decent ECs? good grades but low step?

 

[W19]

@jcorpsmanMD

Military background... Working in rural Guatemala, Peru, Panama etc...during med school breaks... 3.7+ GPA in med school. 221 is ok for EM in general, but not good for program like Yale, UVa etc...

 

[Tenk]

You need to get great SLOEs and do very well on step 2. That’s the academic part. On the social part you need to start getting close to your PD and the PDs of the programs you rotate at and are interested in. Your step is good for most but probably average or so for most east coast NY programs. You’ll need every advantage you can get and be sure to apply broadly. You can live anywhere for three years and besides the insides of EDs pretty much all look alike, aka your new home.

 

[alpinism]

You'll be fine.

Just focus on aways and step 2 next summer.

Unless you're a rockstar you really don't have the luxury of only focusing on a specific region for EM. The match is already competitive enough and its only going to get worse in the next few years. That being said you're lucky since the NYC region has tons of programs so overall you have good shot at staying near the city.

 

[Strider_91]

I'm also interested in EM. My step 1 is basically the same as yours, and I also have a few research experiences (a couple which will get published but likely around app time), but I'm getting wrecked on rotations. I havent been able to get anything other than pass, despite my eval comments being good, because grades are curved and others simply perform better than me and I always **** up some assignment. It also doesn't help that my mind is somewhere else because my ex girlfriend refuses to take me back and I have to see her everyday, and I'm trying to get with another girl who I almost never see.

stop trying to get her back, a relationship is almost always doomed after a break up and getting back together just prolongs the pain down the road a bit. Your best bet is to take the pain now, and move one. Only time heals these things.

 

[Frazier]

Try hard. EM is it.

I'm 6 months into residency and I haven't regretted any of it. Not a single day... this is coming from someone that occasionally regretted med school.

Best specialty for me. Maybe best specialty for you too.