Did anyone else get <240 on the boards??

[Clair de Lune]

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Just wondering...I'm starting to feel a little inadequate with my 233 🙂

 

[CANES2006]

I'll be bouncing off the walls if I get that score.

 

[Molly Maquire]

yeah, most of America got below a 240.

 

[GeneGoddess]

Just wondering...I'm starting to feel a little inadequate with my 233 🙂

Well, you are still higher than me. But I wonder if scores are different now, since I took mine in 1998 (Step 1). Average back then was 205 or so, and I'm above average, but not that much. What is average now?

 

[Clair de Lune]

I don't know what it is for this year, last year I think it was a 217. Sorry if my question came across as snooty, I was just wondering b/c it seems like all these SDN people got really high scores (250's-260's). Congrats all!

 

[KyGrlDr2B]

It's because they are the only ones with the balls to post their scores.

 

[maugham]

Yes, there are plenty out there. Me for one, with a decent but not stratospheric 229. I don't think it takes a lot of balls to post high scores; some may even draw the opposite conclusion.

 

[Stinger86]

Just wondering...I'm starting to feel a little inadequate with my 233 🙂

There's nothing inadequate about it. The average this year is 217, so you're ahead of the game. 🙂

 

[GeneGoddess]

There's nothing inadequate about it. The average this year is 217, so you're ahead of the game. 🙂

WOW! They must have really changed the scoring! When I took it, passing was 176 (or so), average was 205, and I was very happy with my 219! Now my "good" score is average! I sure hope the residency programs compare me with my "class".

 

[bigfrank]

Just wondering...I'm starting to feel a little inadequate with my 233 🙂

233 is very, very, very good!!! You're higher than roughly 75% of the country!!!

At most, you're seeing scores of 100 people, which is a negligible fraction of all US-MD/DO testtakers.

Celebrate!!!

 

[Blade28]

It's definitely a self-selecting group that decides to post their score here on SDN. National average for my year (last year) was 217, standard deviation of 24, yet all I saw posted were 230s+. Well, most of the posts, anyway. 🙂

 

[kinetic]

Just wondering...I'm starting to feel a little inadequate with my 233 🙂

You should.

 

[GeneGoddess]

yeah reading this is quite frustrating. Just got my score, and am happy I passed, but not so happy with the score at all...190...which is a solid 50 points or so lower than these people on here who post their scores.
I know 190 is not good, but does it ruin me? Can good 3rd year grades and a good step 2 offset it at all, or can I pretty much now limit myself to a handful of possible residency options?? Any info out there?

Well, I'm dumb enough to be applying to most of the top 20 programs in Pediatrics (a "less" competitive specialty, but not when you are only applying to places like Boston Children's, CHOP, and Hopkins). The guy I spoke to at Penn said that my score was "ok" (above ave in 1998, but "ave" right now, so he prob thought I was ave). He suggested taking step 2 only if I felt that the score would improve my overall appearance. So, if you think that you will do well on step2, you might want to consider taking it this fall/winter. But if you are AOA and otherwise stellar, it might not be that big a deal. I'd talk to some of the people in the specialities you are interested in. I'm not taking step2 until spring because (a) I don't think that my step2 will be stellar, as I'm MD/PhD and totally out of practice, and (b) I don't think that the usmle score is any indication of how good of a physician you are. I think that the minimum passing standard is there for a reason. As long as you PASS and are competent, I'd trust you as a physician. A friend of mine failed physiology his first year, but I would send anyone in my family to him because I know he's a good doctor. And I know someone who made an insane MCAT score (99.9th percentile or something and I'm sure made a similar USMLE score) that I wouldn't let touch me with a ten foot pole. Just my opinion...
😉

 

[VALSALVA]

I should be getting my score report tomorrow, but I can guarantee that I'll be getting less than 240. In fact, I'd be happy if I was within one SD of the mean.

 

[Mystique]

Oh, add me to the list.
I haven't received my score yet, but I know I was not one of the stellar performers.

 

[Pril]

I got a 233/94 and very happy with that very happy! congrats to all

 

[bigfrank]

Plus, guys/gals, if you feel that your score isn't good enough for your field/program, you could take the Step II early.

Also, don't forget that our applications are SO MUCH more than our Step I score. Personality, grades, LORs, etc. all play a major role!!

Best wishes!!

 

[alphazan]

and was happy to get it, given the family health issues going on during studying time. 230/93, posting and proud 🙂