Failed a pre-clinical exam, how will it affect my chances of getting into ophthal?

[Arkana130]

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Hi guys,

I'm currently in my first year of medical school and I feel really depressed. I just failed an exam, so I wanted to get some serious feedback on my chances of getting into ophthalmology for my residency. My medical school has two portions that you get grades on: the regular exam and the practical portion (this includes various other grades but the main part is the practical). For my cardio module, I failed the practical part. Hopefully, I will be able to remediate and pass but I wanted to ask in the case I pass, how would this affect my chances to get into ophthalmology? If I do I would get a grade that says Pass with Remediation (something to that degree)

I feel like I failed not because I did not know the information but because of other circumstances. I had a seizure the month before that I was recovering from and had surgery the next week following my exam. Due to this, I was under a lot of stress, which I feel resulted in me failing my practical grade by 0.2% (Need a 69.5, got a 69.3). I just wanted to ask how much this will affect me. I know it's really early on and I shouldn't focus on this, but I just want a realistic answer to how bad this is for me.

If I could get any advice, that would be very much appreciated. I know how competitive ophthalmology is, and I'm wondering if I just doomed my chances. Thanks!

 

[Hollow Knight]

I'm not even a resident yet so if a more experienced person contradicts me, believe them.

However, on an otherwise stellar application (high step 2, AOA, research, excellent letters, etc), I don't think this will amount to much of anything to be honest.

Now of course if you're going to have all those things I mentioned you need to figure out how to study differently so that you can pull all that off. But I think you're freaking out for basically no reason. This is a setback, not the final nail in the coffin.

 

[GoSpursGo]

Have you met with your dean RE your seizure and subsequent surgery and discussed your plan going forward?

Sorry this all happened to you. The short answer is that I think your margin for error is gone and you need a stellar academic record going forward. But your immediate concern needs to be figuring out how to move forward and do better, and/or if you need to take an LOA. Having a seizure and then needing surgery does not sound like a situation where you should try to bootstrap your way through this.

 

[Arkana130]

Have you met with your dean RE your seizure and subsequent surgery and discussed your plan going forward?

Sorry this all happened to you. The short answer is that I think your margin for error is gone and you need a stellar academic record going forward. But your immediate concern needs to be figuring out how to move forward and do better, and/or if you need to take an LOA. Having a seizure and then needing surgery does not sound like a situation where you should try to bootstrap your way through this.

I've met with the dean before and I believe I can make it through this alright. The surgery is not tied to the seizure. I have epilepsy which flared up last month, and the surgery is for my right shoulder. I've more or less figured out how to make sure I don't get another seizure so I'm just looking towards the future now. Thanks for the response though.

 

[GoSpursGo]

I've more or less figured out how to make sure I don't get another seizure

...are you actually 100% sure about this? Asking because we have seen more than a few recent posts about people in a surgical residency who had it flare up under the sleep deprivation seen in residency and who are facing a career crisis. Once you're a practicing surgeon, you can't ever have a "flare" again.

Regardless, all paths start with doing well on your remediation. Focus less on getting into ophtho, and instead on succeeding on your remediation.

 

[Arkana130]

...are you actually 100% sure about this? Asking because we have seen more than a few recent posts about people in a surgical residency who had it flare up under the sleep deprivation seen in residency and who are facing a career crisis. Once you're a practicing surgeon, you can't ever have a "flare" again.

Regardless, all paths start with doing well on your remediation. Focus less on getting into ophtho, and instead on succeeding on your remediation.

Yeah, I'm taking a lot of precautions now and the staff have been helping me with regards to keeping myself in check. I'm definitely going to focus on doing well and passing everything!

 

[voxveritatisetlucis]

Depends on school tier and whether your school has AOA that includes preclinical

 

[medschoolaspirant]

Ophthalmology pgy 1 here. My take. Ophthalmology is very small field. People work with people they like and know. So while you pass gates of grades and step, then all that matters is your connections. Make solid connection at home an aways. You will be good.