eaten alive
- Thread starter dragerII
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dragerII said:
You may have some interviews but your chances might have taken a hit. In speaking with my former program director, this year is expected to be an even tougher year to get in at most programs.
Take Step 2 and nail it and you will greatly improve your outlook. Also never hurts to make connections with your school's anesthesia department for some hook ups.
I spent a month rotating at a highly regarded program and was told by the residency coordinator, "Normally our cut-off for interviews is 200 on Step 1. However, we will make an exception for students who did a rotation in our program."
I'm still in the application process, same as yourself, but I got the feeling that even selective programs will give you the benefit of the doubt if you did a rotation there and left them with a positive impression.
I'm still in the application process, same as yourself, but I got the feeling that even selective programs will give you the benefit of the doubt if you did a rotation there and left them with a positive impression.
you know I dont understand what your step 1 score or step 2 score has anything to do with how good you are as a resident.. If I were a program director.. which i certainly am not.. I would be looking at 1) ability to get along with others.. surgeons.. 2) clinical evaluations from 3rd year and the letter of recommendations.. especially from anesthesiologists( professors) I wouldnt even care what you got on step 1.. as long as you passed..
Just as a side note.. there was a person in my program who was a ca-1 with me and had not even passed her step 2 boards.. she was an american graduate.. she passed step 2 like at the beginning of ca 2 year.. when the program asked if she took step 2 she checked the box yes.. and thats all they asked her.. she finally passed step 2 after like 3 times and step 3 after one try.. she was a really conscientious and hard worker.. she is now an attending in california somewhere
Just as a side note.. there was a person in my program who was a ca-1 with me and had not even passed her step 2 boards.. she was an american graduate.. she passed step 2 like at the beginning of ca 2 year.. when the program asked if she took step 2 she checked the box yes.. and thats all they asked her.. she finally passed step 2 after like 3 times and step 3 after one try.. she was a really conscientious and hard worker.. she is now an attending in california somewhere
I would not even consider a program who stated that you have to have a certain number on usmle to be considered..
dragger..never count yourself out. i know of four people from a certain school that matched into respectable anesthesia residencies with scores of 195, 197, 198, and 198. dont let people discourage you. while board scores are important, its not the whole picture. and res. directors realize this.
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Will you get interviews at top programs? probably not. Doesn't mean you shouldn't apply. Will you get interviews at good programs? absolutely... assuming your clinical grades/evals are good. Apply broadly.dragerII said:
Reading what gets posted on this board would make one think that you need to be AOA, step 1 of 240+, honored everything, and done research to get interviews at even community programs. Not true. Apply broadly, get good letters, and let it rip.
Justin4563 said:
Yeah, but knowing that most all LOR's are glowing and plenty of people who otherwise would be miserable bastards can still compose themselves for a few hours on an interview experience. What is there to go on? At least Step scores are an objective way to look at someone, in a process that seems to become more subjective by the minute.
With that said, I believe that it is much easier to overcome an average Step score rather than a poor rotation or LOR.
