Does my score suck or what?

[Doc07]

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So I hate to shame SDN by posting my score...but after working my arse off for the better part of 2 months I ended up with:

220/89. Despite having a Qbank avg of 75%.

I dunno, I'm still geting over this and it has totally taken the wind out of sails for parts of 3rd year. I feel like I have let down my entire first 2 years of effort. Should I take a year off to do some crazy research? Do I even have a remote chance of going for Cardiology? GI? Is surgery a pipe dream? I'd appreciate any advice, good or bad...thanks.

 

[bulletproof]

So I hate to shame SDN by posting my score...but after working my arse off for the better part of 2 months I ended up with:

220/89. Despite having a Qbank avg of 75%.

I dunno, I'm still geting over this and it has totally taken the wind out of sails for parts of 3rd year. I feel like I have let down my entire first 2 years of effort. Should I take a year off to do some crazy research? Do I even have a remote chance of going for Cardiology? GI? Is surgery a pipe dream? I'd appreciate any advice, good or bad...thanks.

first off, congrats!!, you passed comfortably, and beat the mean. Granted it is not the score you hoped for....but relative to everyone taking this test...you did well. Basing your performance on reported SDN scores it is easy to become depressed. The 240+ scores on here are not the norm...although it is easy to see why one might be lead to believe that reading through some of the threads. Cards and GI are obtained through IM, which is easily within your reach. With good LORs, solid third year grades and a good step II score you have an awesome chance of continuing with that route if that is what you decide. As for surgery, I believe you also have a competitive score. As I understand it, it is not that difficult to get a spot these days due to many opting to go into lifestyle residencies instead. At the end of the day a 220 is very respectable. With that score, and some interviewing/people skills you should be able to land a spot you'll be happy with. Congrats again, and good luck.

 

[dynx]

holy crap!!!! 220!?!?!?!?!? Did you have a stroke on the way to the testing site? WTF did you spend 2 months studying? Apparently you thought that school in the carribean was going to be all fun and games. You may think that the Ross name is just gonna open doors for you but with scores like that you're not going anywhere but family Practice in Okalhoma.

 

[indn4ever]

holy crap!!!! 220!?!?!?!?!? Did you have a stroke on the way to the testing site? WTF did you spend 2 months studying? Apparently you thought that school in the carribean was going to be all fun and games. You may think that the Ross name is just gonna open doors for you but with scores like that you're not going anywhere but family Practice in Okalhoma.

Wow, this coming from someone who cant even SPELL Caribbean OR Oklahoma. Get a life, I bet tons of caribbean med students put your score to shame. If you think the caribbean was all fun and games, you shouldve came and checked it out. You would have had your ass handed to you, and I assure you, you will still have your ass handed to you by caribbean med students in your clinicals. Dont believe it? Wait and see. Dont bother replying to this post either, I know what you're gonna say and I will think you're an even bigger loser for posting your childish reply to try to get the last word in(sucks when someone tells you that huh?).

Doc07...congrats on your score. Dont listen to *****s who simply try to boost their ego by bringing yours down. I think you're still competitive for the residencies that you listed. I'm no residency director, but the work you put into your rotations/residency will open doors. Good luck and again, congrats!

 

[wam_256]

So I hate to shame SDN by posting my score...but after working my arse off for the better part of 2 months I ended up with:

220/89. Despite having a Qbank avg of 75%.

I dunno, I'm still geting over this and it has totally taken the wind out of sails for parts of 3rd year. I feel like I have let down my entire first 2 years of effort. Should I take a year off to do some crazy research? Do I even have a remote chance of going for Cardiology? GI? Is surgery a pipe dream? I'd appreciate any advice, good or bad...thanks.

Congrats....you passed!!!! be proud that you passed...wishing you the best!

 

[med10]

A college friend of mine got a 183 on Step I, scored a 99 two-digit on Step II while doing well in clinicals, and got anesthesia residency at one of the better programs. Another friend worked his butt off during clinicals and was offered a surgical residency at the hospital where his rotations were at by the residency director who didn't even know his Step I score. The common thread is that during clinicals, put your game face on, work hard, impress your attending/resident, and think of it as an extended interview process, and with a 220, you can pretty much attain anything.

 

[dynx]

Wow, this coming from someone who cant even SPELL Caribbean OR Oklahoma. Get a life, I bet tons of caribbean med students put your score to shame. If you think the caribbean was all fun and games, you shouldve came and checked it out. You would have had your ass handed to you, and I assure you, you will still have your ass handed to you by caribbean med students in your clinicals. Dont believe it? Wait and see. Dont bother replying to this post either, I know what you're gonna say and I will think you're an even bigger loser for posting your childish reply to try to get the last word in(sucks when someone tells you that huh?).

Whoa...little defensive about being in the carribean there eh dude? Don't worry the US needs family practice docs, you'll find a job. I don't know how to respond to your broad unsupported generalizations that a ton of caribean students put my score to shame, and that a ton will "hand my ass to me" in clinicals other than to say...maybe next time I'll "came" and check it out myself. Your last line is just to clever for words, if you knew what I was going to say you would have fixed your grammar genius.

I suppose the response I was supposed to give was....

"GOOD JOB WOW 😱 A 220!!!!!! thats WAY above average 🙂 ! don't you KNOW HOW GOOD THAT IS? Sure tons of people in caribean schools put your score to shame and will hand your ass to you in your clinicals but thats what caribean students are known for. All in all, let me say that you can do any residency you want...you're super smart despite your score and all the good things your mom says about you are true." Is that better?

Im tired of this...."oh I only got a *insert good score here*" fishing for compliments bullsh*t.

 

[bulletproof]

Whoa...little defensive about being in the carribean there eh dude? Don't worry the US needs family practice docs, you'll find a job. I don't know how to respond to your broad unsupported generalizations that a ton of caribean students put my score to shame, and that a ton will "hand my ass to me" in clinicals other than to say...maybe next time I'll "came" and check it out myself. Your last line is just to clever for words, if you knew what I was going to say you would have fixed your grammar genius.

I suppose the response I was supposed to give was....

"GOOD JOB WOW 😱 A 220!!!!!! thats WAY above average 🙂 ! don't you KNOW HOW GOOD THAT IS? Sure tons of people in caribean schools put your score to shame and will hand your ass to you in your clinicals but thats what caribean students are known for. All in all, let me say that you can do any residency you want...you're super smart despite your score and all the good things your mom says about you are true." Is that better?

Im tired of this...."oh I only got a *insert good score here*" fishing for compliments bullsh*t.

..while you are on the subject of correcting grammer I believe that should read " your last line is just TOO clever for words." ( notice the period, as you have concluded one sentence.) At this stage you could proceed to include the ironic genius remark.

 

[dynx]

Ah! you found my intentional grammer mistake, good job! you have passed the test.

 

[bulletproof]

Ah! you found my intentional grammer mistake, good job! you have passed the test.

you were intentionally trying to make yourself look foolish?
🙄 Anyone can use that juvenile, highly dubious comeback.
Disclaimer: Heretoforth, anytime I make a mistake in syntax, prose, grammer etc., I am merely testing the intelligence of the rest of you.


The reason your response is particularly offensive is because many people come to this site reporting scores in the 240s etc. , posing questions such as "what are my chances...". When a carribean student with a 220 does something similar you pounce on him/her. As your behavioural science class should have taught you this reaction reveals far more about you than it does about the caliber of the OP. In any event, if you had nothing constructive ( critical or otherwise) to add, then perhaps you should have retreated from the keyboard. We are all aspiring professionals. If you cannot at least be civil, then your education has been wasted on you, irrespective of your board scores. In a final ironic twist, the career in which you plan to spend the greater part of your days purports as its flagstones, empathy, compassion and understanding. I am relieved to see that the essence of these ideals is not lost on you. Good day sir.

 

[care bear]

grammar. (fyi)

 

[bulletproof]

grammar. (fyi)

you caught my intentional mistake. Zzzzzzzzzzzzz
😉

 

[dynx]

you were intentionally trying to make yourself look foolish?
🙄 Anyone can use that juvenile, highly dubious comeback.
Disclaimer: Heretoforth, anytime I make a mistake in syntax, prose, grammer etc., I am merely testing the intelligence of the rest of you.


The reason your response is particularly offensive is because many people come to this site reporting scores in the 240s etc. , posing questions such as "what are my chances...". When a carribean student with a 220 does something similar you pounce on him/her. As your behavioural science class should have taught you this reaction reveals far more about you than it does about the caliber of the OP. In any event, if you had nothing constructive ( critical or otherwise) to add, then perhaps you should have retreated from the keyboard. We are all aspiring professionals. If you cannot at least be civil, then your education has been wasted on you, irrespective of your board scores. In a final ironic twist, the career in which you plan to spend the greater part of your days purports as its flagstones, empathy, compassion and understanding. I am relieved to see that the essence of these ideals is not lost on you. Good day sir.

LOL...and good day to YOU sir.

1. Clearly it wasn't an intentional test, I was joking, way to pick up on that. You're super smart.
2. I don't even know if the OP goes a caribean school.
3. I have never taken a behavioural science course, but my behavioral science courses have taught me that people who get offended easily generally suck and have self esteem issues.
4. If I retreated from the keyboard what would you do with your day? Layig on the beach chewing chiclet and listening to the chickens cluck has to get old.
5. If I cant laugh at things I find funny then my life is wasted, thats far worse than a wasted education...and something tells me Im gonna be okay.
6. I have empathy and compassion for people who have been delt a ****ty hand, not schmucks in tropical climates crying about an above avg. board score and the odds of getting into a field that pays 200k+

 

[bulletproof]

holy crap!!!! 220!?!?!?!?!? Did you have a stroke on the way to the testing site? WTF did you spend 2 months studying? Apparently you thought that school in the carribean was going to be all fun and games. You may think that the Ross name is just gonna open doors for you but with scores like that you're not going anywhere but family Practice in Okalhoma.

If you don't know that the OP goes to a carib. school, then what exactly was the above in reference to?
Secondly, I was educated formally under the british system , and occasionaly I lapse back into their spelling ie. organise vs. organize, anaesthesia vs. anesthesia etc. hence my spelling behavioral as behavioural.
As to what I do with my days...currently studying...this pretty much is just a 5 minute indulgence every so often.
Finally, I do 'get' humor ( Humour-british). If I did not, med. school and life in general would be pretty much unbearable. Perhaps I am just unaccustomed to your particular brand of humor. Hold on wait...."I am a ******* from the caribbean, with a lousy 220, forsaken for all eternity to practice medicine in the back of the beyonds...ie. oklahoma. " oh wait..haha..now I get it..or do I? Hmmmm. I love sarcasm/sardonic wit/ humor noir. For the life of me I cannot put a finger on the genre you subscribe to. Not that it matters in the grand scheme of things. Back to Goljan ( far away from the clucking hens, and the chiclets, and the incessant roar of the beach that I have not heard in quite some time.)

P.s. the "good day sir" was from a simpsons episode...an intentional pompous overindulgence ( imagine me slapping you across the face with a glove challenging you to a dual type thing) twisted humor..but humor nonetheless.

 

[indn4ever]

LOL...and good day to YOU sir.

1. Clearly it wasn't an intentional test, I was joking, way to pick up on that. You're super smart.
2. I don't even know if the OP goes a caribean school.
3. I have never taken a behavioural science course, but my behavioral science courses have taught me that people who get offended easily generally suck and have self esteem issues.
4. If I retreated from the keyboard what would you do with your day? Layig on the beach chewing chiclet and listening to the chickens cluck has to get old.
5. If I cant laugh at things I find funny then my life is wasted, thats far worse than a wasted education...and something tells me Im gonna be okay.
6. I have empathy and compassion for people who have been delt a ****ty hand, not schmucks in tropical climates crying about an above avg. board score and the odds of getting into a field that pays 200k+

I'm sorry, didnt I already say you're an even bigger loser for replying? Why dont you go back to whatever it is that you do, attending some school that doesnt even teach behavioral sciences. Oh yes, you are DEFINITELY brighter than me. While we are all "laying" on the beach sipping our pina coladas and using our Robbins as pillows, you are here, sitting in front of a computer everyday trying to boost your own ego. As for your belief that all caribbean medical students go into family practice...wow, your intelligence blows me away. I guess people going into EM at Duke from my caribbean medical school fall under your "Family Practice" umbrella. If you did any research instead of sitting here trying to find comebacks with your 100+ posts on SDN loser, maybe you wouldnt look like such a clown right about now. And...right now you're thinking "okay, I have to go through his entire post so I can find comebacks, after which I need to give myself a pat on the back by finding someone else who scored lower than I did. Damn, I'm awesome!" You'll be doing this for the rest of your medical career, if not on SDN then through some other means. And that my friend, is extremely cool.

(With that, I'm ready for another unintelligent comeback from the comeback kid himself. Lets hear it, eventually you'll get to 1000+ posts, dont ever forget your goal. Go get laid.)

 

[indn4ever]

Correction, 1000+ lame posts have already been reached. The sky's the limit, keep on chugging.

 

[VincentAdultman]

I just wanted to say that the USMLE board is by far the best on sdn.

OP: You got a 220. You are ABOVE AVERAGE. So basically in a population ful of the most competitive, Type-A, anal retentive douchebags, you rank better than most. You should be happy.

The world is yours.

 

[dynx]

You're supplying much needed comic relief while I sit here pounding out H&Ps so first off I must thank you. Secondly, you apperently missed the allusion to poor spelling when I mentioned my school didn't teach behavioural science...you have to read all the posts, otherwise you're out of the loop and you don't make sense.
Actually this doesn't do anything at all for my ego, I just find it very ammusing, notice how sensitive you are for no good reason, it seems like you're gonna bust a vessel in your cranium (thats your head-bone Ross) trying to defend the quality of caribean students. But if it makes you feel better you can ascribe whatever motive you like. I look forward to more cannon fodder. Try some more go get laid jokes, they bring me back to the good-ol-days of grade school but I guess american trends always hit a little later in the third world...I hear you're gonna get Bennie Babies pretty soon...they bust dude, don't buy them.

Later Ross.
DYNX 🙂

I'm sorry, didnt I already say you're an even bigger loser for replying? Why dont you go back to whatever it is that you do, attending some school that doesnt even teach behavioral sciences. Oh yes, you are DEFINITELY brighter than me. While we are all "laying" on the beach sipping our pina coladas and using our Robbins as pillows, you are here, sitting in front of a computer everyday trying to boost your own ego. As for your belief that all caribbean medical students go into family practice...wow, your intelligence blows me away. I guess people going into EM at Duke from my caribbean medical school fall under your "Family Practice" umbrella. If you did any research instead of sitting here trying to find comebacks with your 100+ posts on SDN loser, maybe you wouldnt look like such a clown right about now. And...right now you're thinking "okay, I have to go through his entire post so I can find comebacks, after which I need to give myself a pat on the back by finding someone else who scored lower than I did. Damn, I'm awesome!" You'll be doing this for the rest of your medical career, if not on SDN then through some other means. And that my friend, is extremely cool.

(With that, I'm ready for another unintelligent comeback from the comeback kid himself. Lets hear it, eventually you'll get to 1000+ posts, dont ever forget your goal. Go get laid.)

 

[dynx]

Hold on wait...."I am a ******* from the caribbean, with a lousy 220, forsaken for all eternity to practice medicine in the back of the beyonds...ie. oklahoma. " oh wait..haha..now I get it..or do I? )

See...here it is, this is clearly NOT the case, the OP knows that this is not the case yet felt the need to ask anyway so everybody could tell him how well he did, so I answered his idiotic question in an idiotic manner. Then some people who are oversensitive *coughROSScough* took offense and felt the need to defend the honor of all things tropical against an imagined affront on an anonymous forum.

 

[YouDontKnowJack]

yeah. shiet happens. This forum shows that people with similar qbank scores can get step 1 scores all across the board.

i guess it's luck of the draw.


but what were your shelf scores and school grades like?

 

[DOCTORSAIB]

holy crap!!!! 220!?!?!?!?!? Did you have a stroke on the way to the testing site? WTF did you spend 2 months studying? Apparently you thought that school in the carribean was going to be all fun and games. You may think that the Ross name is just gonna open doors for you but with scores like that you're not going anywhere but family Practice in Okalhoma.

Is it just me or does this tool need some major attention. He/she was trying to bust on D.O.'s in another thread. Real winner, I tell ya.

To the OP, congrats on your score...now try to rock Step II and 3rd year.

 

[dynx]

Is it just me or does this tool need some major attention. He/she was trying to bust on D.O.'s in another thread. Real winner, I tell ya.

I was telling a true story, if the truth upsets you then thats a personal problem you have. I was not generalizing to all DO's (I don't think, I don't really remember the post) if you took it that way, look inside yourself and ask yourself if you're really comfortable with who you are.

 

[bulletproof]

See...here it is, this is clearly NOT the case, the OP knows that this is not the case yet felt the need to ask anyway so everybody could tell him how well he did, so I answered his idiotic question in an idiotic manner. Then some people who are oversensitive *coughROSScough* took offense and felt the need to defend the honor of all things tropical against an imagined affront on an anonymous forum.

Assuming you are indeed correct, what is the big deal with congratulating someone? Seriously, what is the whole point of the step one results thread? I can relate to the OP. I am a Ross student ( not overly sensitive, but not the slightest bit ashamed of it. ) I am currently studying for the step and admittedly , yes, I would be disappointed with a 220 ( not because it is not a good score, but just because perhaps as a med. student I strive for the best in terms of my own potential.) Surely, as a reasonable person you can relate to this. I believe the frustration inherent to the OPs post is representative of a great many student who does "less well" than they had anticipated. Airing this frustration on an anonymous forum, seeking perhaps consolation, perhaps advice, is not an invitation for insult ( to add insult to injury as it were.) For many the USMLE is the culmination of two years of hard work. Have you so little regard for your fellow student doctor that you cannot throw them a simple "hey, good job, good luck etc."? Even if they are fishing for compliments so what? Do you really think the people who post "just got my score back...245/99" are any different? You blatently attacked the OP for no apparent reason, and then proceeded to attempt to undermine a caribbean school. I am not a mouthpiece for Ross, and I no insecurites about eventually having a diploma from there...truly. I would have defended the OP had they gone to any school, stateside or otherwise. In any event believe what you will. It is the mark of someone desperately unhappy with their own life to have to bring down the life of another. Good luck.

 

[bulletproof]

See...here it is, this is clearly NOT the case, the OP knows that this is not the case yet felt the need to ask anyway so everybody could tell him how well he did, so I answered his idiotic question in an idiotic manner. Then some people who are oversensitive *coughROSScough* took offense and felt the need to defend the honor of all things tropical against an imagined affront on an anonymous forum.

Assuming you are indeed correct, what is the big deal with congratulating someone? Seriously, what is the whole point of the step one results thread? I can relate to the OP. I am a Ross student ( not overly sensitive, but not the slightest bit ashamed of it. ) I am currently studying for the step and admittedly , yes, I would be disappointed with a 220 ( not because it is not a good score, but just because perhaps as a med. student I strive for the best in terms of my own potential.) Surely, as a reasonable person you can relate to this. I believe the frustration inherent to the OPs post is representative of a great many student who does "less well" than they had anticipated. Airing this frustration on an anonymous forum, seeking perhaps consolation, perhaps advice, is not an invitation for insult ( to add insult to injury as it were.) For many the USMLE is the culmination of two years of hard work. Have you so little regard for your fellow student doctor that you cannot throw them a simple "hey, good job, good luck etc."? Even if they are fishing for compliments so what? Do you really think the people who post "just got my score back...245/99" are any different? You blatently attacked the OP for no apparent reason, and then proceeded to attempt to undermine a caribbean school. I am not a mouthpiece for Ross, and I have no insecurites about eventually having a diploma from there...truly. I would have defended the OP had they gone to any school, stateside or otherwise. In any event believe what you will. It is the mark of someone desperately unhappy with their own life to have to bring down the life of another. Good luck.

 

[VincentAdultman]

Assuming you are indeed correct, what is the big deal with congratulating someone? Seriously, what is the whole point of the step one results thread? I can relate to the OP. I am a Ross student ( not overly sensitive, but not the slightest bit ashamed of it. ) I am currently studying for the step and admittedly , yes, I would be disappointed with a 220 ( not because it is not a good score, but just because perhaps as a med. student I strive for the best in terms of my own potential.) Surely, as a reasonable person you can relate to this. I believe the frustration inherent to the OPs post is representative of a great many student who does "less well" than they had anticipated. Airing this frustration on an anonymous forum, seeking perhaps consolation, perhaps advice, is not an invitation for insult ( to add insult to injury as it were.) For many the USMLE is the culmination of two years of hard work. Have you so little regard for your fellow student doctor that you cannot throw them a simple "hey, good job, good luck etc."? Even if they are fishing for compliments so what? Do you really think the people who post "just got my score back...245/99" are any different? You blatently attacked the OP for no apparent reason, and then proceeded to attempt to undermine a caribbean school. I am not a mouthpiece for Ross, and I no insecurites about eventually having a diploma from there...truly. I would have defended the OP had they gone to any school, stateside or otherwise. In any event believe what you will. It is the mark of someone desperately unhappy with their own life to have to bring down the life of another. Good luck.

Perhaps the thing I shall cherish the most from med school are the people who fall over themselves trying to act offended over every percieved slight.

A 220 is a fantastic score. Above average, as I already pointed out. Going onto a message board and saying "boo hoo I just got a 220 I am truly a medical pariah" is going to register big time on a lot of people's tool-o-meters. I wonder how those who got say, a 202 would say in response.

Sometimes this place reminds me of one of some upscale supermodel party. A girl who is above-average in the looks department walks in, thinks "OMG I'M SO F'ING FAT" and proceeds to the bathroom for vigil before the porcelain goddess.

Sorry if any found that offensive.

 

[dynx]

Well I hate to be serious about this crap but here goes:
I can understand where you are coming from, assuming the OP put in a full fledged effort and still fell far short of the mark he felt he put in the time and effort to attain I feel bad that it happened to him. That said, I find it amazing and amusing that people have such a warped perspective of what constitutes a tragedy that a mere few points above the average score of some of the smartest students in academics seems to them the death knell of thier aspirations. The question he had was silly...two minutes of research would have turned up information revealing that his score is in no way the end of the road towards cardiology. With the obvious nature of the question he asked I can't help but be annoyed, its my personality, or maybe its years of being surrounded by meds and pre-meds where this kind of crap is expected if not encouraged on a daily basis, neediness in the absence of any real problem strikes me as profane and so...No, I don't think he deserved any more of a response than I gave him.

The point of the step one results thread as I understand it is to correlate a score with a particular study scheme and resource list.

I have nothing agaist Ross or any student who attends Ross or any other caribean school, admissions is a crap shoot and what matters is how well you dedicate yourself to the material...However if I can use a stereotype to dig my point in deeper I will. This has been misconstrued as racism, sexism, and anti-semitism at various points in my life...Oh well.

Take my posts as you will, bottom line is...if this guy doesnt start to use an internal meassure of his own self worth he's gonna have a tough go of it.

Assuming you are indeed correct, what is the big deal with congratulating someone? Seriously, what is the whole point of the step one results thread? I can relate to the OP. I am a Ross student ( not overly sensitive, but not the slightest bit ashamed of it. ) I am currently studying for the step and admittedly , yes, I would be disappointed with a 220 ( not because it is not a good score, but just because perhaps as a med. student I strive for the best in terms of my own potential.) Surely, as a reasonable person you can relate to this. I believe the frustration inherent to the OPs post is representative of a great many student who does "less well" than they had anticipated. Airing this frustration on an anonymous forum, seeking perhaps consolation, perhaps advice, is not an invitation for insult ( to add insult to injury as it were.) For many the USMLE is the culmination of two years of hard work. Have you so little regard for your fellow student doctor that you cannot throw them a simple "hey, good job, good luck etc."? Even if they are fishing for compliments so what? Do you really think the people who post "just got my score back...245/99" are any different? You blatently attacked the OP for no apparent reason, and then proceeded to attempt to undermine a caribbean school. I am not a mouthpiece for Ross, and I have no insecurites about eventually having a diploma from there...truly. I would have defended the OP had they gone to any school, stateside or otherwise. In any event believe what you will. It is the mark of someone desperately unhappy with their own life to have to bring down the life of another. Good luck.

 

[bulletproof]

Well I hate to be serious about this crap but here goes:
I can understand where you are coming from, assuming the OP put in a full fledged effort and still fell far short of the mark he felt he put in the time and effort to attain I feel bad that it happened to him. That said, I find it amazing and amusing that people have such a warped perspective of what constitutes a tragedy that a mere few points above the average score of some of the smartest students in academics seems to them the death knell of thier aspirations. The question he had was silly...two minutes of research would have turned up information revealing that his score is in no way the end of the road towards cardiology. With the obvious nature of the question he asked I can't help but be annoyed, its my personality, or maybe its years of being surrounded by meds and pre-meds where this kind of crap is expected if not encouraged on a daily basis, neediness in the absence of any real problem strikes me as profane and so...No, I don't think he deserved any more of a response than I gave him.

The point of the step one results thread as I understand it is to correlate a score with a particular study scheme and resource list.

I have nothing agaist Ross or any student who attends Ross or any other caribean school, admissions is a crap shoot and what matters is how well you dedicate yourself to the material...However if I can use a stereotype to dig my point in deeper I will. This has been misconstrued as racism, sexism, and anti-semitism at various points in my life...Oh well.

Take my posts as you will, bottom line is...if this guy doesnt start to use an internal meassure of his own self worth he's gonna have a tough go of it.

I absolutely agree that this individuals score meets none of the criteria for a tragedy ( listed right next to the risk factor criteria for HTN in the JNC-VII) albeit a personal dissapointment. No argument there. And yes, the neediness of medical students is overwhelming at times. It is here that I believe tact and intuition come into play. Clearly on reading the post, I felt like reacting " you did well, although obviously you are personally disappointed", whereas you approached " WTF dude?, you got a 220" As for who is right well...who knows. Difference of opinion I guess. So I suppose in conclusion the lessons learned are:
1. you passed, well done, you can literally walk into IM ,and if you work hard get cards/GI
2. Medical students are very difficult to please, even when they do well ( which is why they sometimes need to be reminded that they have done well to begin with.)
3. Humor is important
4. Spelling is not as important ( unless prescribing meds)
5. Every post on SDN eventually turns into a pissing contest
6.Different people read things differently, and as med. students we constantly feel the need to be right. Given that, then 5.

Peace.

 

[Quixotic]

220 is fine unless you want to go into something competitive like Derm, Rads, Ortho or Optho. Surgery is not that competative anymore because noone wants the crappy lifestyle. Trust me, you could match into surgery with a 210. As far as Cardio and GI, for those you have to do IM first which again is not competitive unless you want to go to an academic program. What you will need for those is research, especially once in residency. If you are still worried just rock Step II and discuss it during the interview.

Q

 

[DOCTORSAIB]

I was telling a true story, if the truth upsets you then thats a personal problem you have. I was not generalizing to all DO's (I don't think, I don't really remember the post) if you took it that way, look inside yourself and ask yourself if you're really comfortable with who you are.

Dude, you're already get slammed by others on this thread. I don't even know where to begin with your comments. Its really silly knocking on non-ivy league allopathic students, osteopathic students, and/or caribbean students. Who cares where you go to school. Work hard. Score well. Prove yourself. The sky is the limit.

 

[bulletproof]

Perhaps the thing I shall cherish the most from med school are the people who fall over themselves trying to act offended over every percieved slight.

A 220 is a fantastic score. Above average, as I already pointed out. Going onto a message board and saying "boo hoo I just got a 220 I am truly a medical pariah" is going to register big time on a lot of people's tool-o-meters. I wonder how those who got say, a 202 would say in response.

Sometimes this place reminds me of one of some upscale supermodel party. A girl who is above-average in the looks department walks in, thinks "OMG I'M SO F'ING FAT" and proceeds to the bathroom for vigil before the porcelain goddess.

Sorry if any found that offensive.

220 is a very good score. My response ( and the defense thereafter) was written with respect to getting the residencies the OP wanted, not purely in defense of a 220 as it were. I guess I could not justify attacking the OP even though, as you rightly point out, bemoaning a 220 could rightly tick many people off. In any event, med students are those upper class models, and the USMLE does appear to be the 'mirror mirror on the wall'. Sad, but true.

 

[dynx]

Dude, you're already get slammed by others on this thread. I don't even know where to begin with your comments. Its really silly knocking on non-ivy league allopathic students, osteopathic students, and/or caribbean students. Who cares where you go to school. Work hard. Score well. Prove yourself. The sky is the limit.

Allright, so we agree...good.

 

[DOCTORSAIB]

Allright, so we agree...good.

😀

 

[Paws]

To the OP, I say congratulations! and that I agree with those who posted about how to work through the clinical years. I am just about to start second year (Monday!) and here I am already freaking out about my score in 12 months. I feel like you did, and I haven't even started school yet. 🙁 But, I will take the awesome advice given here by others and remember it as I study this year.

As for the others who have hijacked this thread, I ask: why? maybe go start your own thread all about your own argument. This guy's thread was a good one -

 

[kcumbDO]

A 220 on Step 1 is a solid score. No test can trully measure your full knowledge of 2 years of medical knowledge. Remember just like the NBME states on the score report, your performance is determined by both your knowledge and the specific set of items selected for the test. In essence it is a luck of the draw. You either get stuff you know or stuff you don't. You can always make up for an unstellar score with excellent clinical performance. I don't think anyone will ever judge a medical applicant by just a number because that is not doing justice to that person. Again a 220 may not be spectacular but it does show significant effort and dedication to a level of being above the avg medical student in the US. Goodluck in the future.

 

[NIQ]

Good score. 220 will easily land you an IM res, and from there just do tons of research for cards/GI.

 

[kaos]

I really wish I had a >220! Or a >200 for that matter. 👍 👍

 

[Doc07]

Well I am amazed at the responses that I got. I want to say that I really did not intend to "fish for compliments." I'm a recent member of SDN and I was under the impression that people are pretty dead honest with each other and really did want to know what the opinions of my peers are. I'm sorry that some people seem to think that I'm some kinda poor sap that needs a shoulder to cry on, that was not my intention.
I do appreciate the encouragement that I got though - my biggest fear was that my efforts during 3rd year would always be held in the light of my score and thus somehow diminished. I'm glad to see that's not that case.
I do have one more Q...what do residency programs think about taking a year off? I've always wanted to pursue an MPH but am now thinking about research in cards or GI. I figure this would further help me to branch off of my score and help with interviews. Thanks for your input.

 

[lattimer13]

So I hate to shame SDN by posting my score...but after working my arse off for the better part of 2 months I ended up with:

220/89. Despite having a Qbank avg of 75%.

I dunno, I'm still geting over this and it has totally taken the wind out of sails for parts of 3rd year. I feel like I have let down my entire first 2 years of effort. Should I take a year off to do some crazy research? Do I even have a remote chance of going for Cardiology? GI? Is surgery a pipe dream? I'd appreciate any advice, good or bad...thanks.

your score really "sucks." 🙄

 

[YouDontKnowJack]

your score really "sucks." 🙄

yeah. it's pretty good for family medicine. 🙂

 

[DOCTORSAIB]

what do residency programs think about taking a year off? I've always wanted to pursue an MPH but am now thinking about research in cards or GI. I figure this would further help me to branch off of my score and help with interviews. Thanks for your input.

Research is definetly a plus (almost a must!) for competitive residencies. Yet, don't underestimate the power of an MPH, especially one in Epidemiology/Biostatistics. Most physicians don't understand/appreciate public health. Mediocre teachers and limited instruction time devoted to epi/biostats in med school doesn't help the matter either.

I get several emails a week (sometimes at least one/day) from my public health schools list serve posting jobs for people with training in epi/biostats. Most people who do research hire someone to do the statistical analysis part of the paper. If you're good at SAS (stats software), which they'll teach you when you do your MPH, it'll score you major "cool points" when applying for residency. This is something I've heard from several residents in ophtho. G'luck!

 

[VincentAdultman]

yeah. it's pretty good for family medicine. 🙂

You know Family DOES serve a pretty valuable role in healthcare. Just as important, if not moreso than the sexy high paying specs.