Do 1st two year grades matter?

[Transformers]

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do preclinical grades matter for derm? I guess at a top 20 school, where I'm at, its p/f 1st year and honors/p/f 2nd year but its pretty competitive + I've focused more on boards prep than the minutia my course tests so im expecting just passes...all in all, just curious how much pre-clinical grades really matter in the end and whether research pubs, LORs, 3rd year grades, and step scores end up being the 90+% burden of the weight in the end.

 

[Dharma]

www.nrmp.org/data/programresultsbyspecialty2012.pdf

Give it a looksie and see what the PDs are saying. Your preclinical grades don't seem to hold much weight, but then again your class rank does. Doesn't AOA depend on this as well?

 

[Transformers]

Not sure if my school ranks...we just have Aoa....but im sure 3rd year matters the most...more importantly do u think class rank matters a lot for trying to match at ur home institution

 

[Dharma]

Not sure if my school ranks...we just have Aoa....but im sure 3rd year matters the most...more importantly do u think class rank matters a lot for trying to match at ur home institution

did you check out that survey? i'm really not sure, but i was under the impression that students have a bit of an advantage at their home institution, unless the student bombs out on a rotation.

 

[hawk126]

It all matters. If your preclinical grades preclude a top quarter (at minimum) class rank and/or aoa then yes, they matter. If not, then I guess they're not that big of a deal. Also, doing well during years one and two is the best board studying you can do. Good luck.

 

[molmol]

junior aoa?

 

[dermathalon]

do preclinical grades matter for derm? I guess at a top 20 school, where I'm at, its p/f 1st year and honors/p/f 2nd year but its pretty competitive + I've focused more on boards prep than the minutia my course tests so im expecting just passes...all in all, just curious how much pre-clinical grades really matter in the end and whether research pubs, LORs, 3rd year grades, and step scores end up being the 90+% burden of the weight in the end.

If preclincal grades go into class rank and AOA, then it matters. Otherwise, NO. You'll need to talk to senior med students to figure out the answer since every school is different.

If you have 2nd year honors/p/f (bascially, you are graded your second year), then this might count for class rank and AOA consideration.

It's hard to know what each residency looks at to grant an interview. It's a black box. I think the personal statement goes a long way and is totally underestimated.

 

[hawk126]

I would tend to agree with you regarding the extent to which a personal statement can help. However, it can also really hurt if you go out on a limb, so I wouldn't recommend taking any risks in order to craft what, you feel as an applicant, might be a clever or unique personal statement (I recognize dermatholon wasn't advocating this approach). I had something like 15 people (inside the field and out) read my statement and I felt like I had a terrific one after months of revisions. For as many type A folks as we have applying to this field, I feel like people really sell their ps short for no reason at all. Work hard on it and it can really set you apart.

 

[dermathalon]

I would tend to agree with you regarding the extent to which a personal statement can help. However, it can also really hurt if you go out on a limb, so I wouldn't recommend taking any risks in order to craft what, you feel as an applicant, might be a clever or unique personal statement (I recognize dermatholon wasn't advocating this approach). I had something like 15 people (inside the field and out) read my statement and I felt like I had a terrific one after months of revisions. For as many type A folks as we have applying to this field, I feel like people really sell their ps short for no reason at all. Work hard on it and it can really set you apart.

Agree with you hawk. Don't be talking about the voices in your head on this thing. BUT, an engaging and personal statement means a lot. It has to be personal. Something that you can't just get off anything else in the application. If you list off your CV items, how boring...if you tell me something personal that sits with me...wow. Something that only you could tell me that I could never learn from reading an application.

Some schools don't care and just go off strict numerical criteria/honors/etc...so be it....i wouldn't want to go to a program like that...my two cents...i've always liked the residents at programs that look at who you are rather than what your numbers and scores are. They are way better drinking buddies and seem to do a better job of taking things as they come (at the risk of overgeneralizing here)