Failed Step1

[nigagreen]

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Hey all,
I was hoping some of you out there can help me out. I failed step one the first time I took it, and scored below 200 the second time. I have not taken step 2, but I assume I will get around the same score for step2 as I am not a great test taker. I am average in my class as far the first two years of med school went. I have done extremely well in my third year clerkships and so far in my fourth year electives. I have worked and volunteered a lot with children, and my passion for peds is clear.
I am worried because I know that I am not a strong applicant on paper. The schools I am looking at are UCSF, OSHU, Texas Childrens, UNC, Duke, and Stanford. How likely am I to match at any of these schools without having any connections? I am doing a Sub I at UCSF.
Any information would be helpful. Thank you.

 

[Marigold]

I can't really speak to how likely you are to match at any of those schools, because I don't really know, and individual situations do vary a lot, but I will say this: keep doing what you're doing. If you have done extremely well in your clerkships and electives, as you said, that's great. And what you've learned in your clerkships/electives is very valuable info for step 2. I thought step 2 was significantly easier than step 1, because it focuses a lot more on clinically applicable stuff as opposed to basic science type stuff (which imho is more fun/easier to study).

Just keep working hard in your rotations, and learning as much as you can, because all that knowledge (and those good grades) will really help for step 2 and for your residency app! 😀

 

[reallyclueless]

Hey all,
I was hoping some of you out there can help me out. I failed step one the first time I took it, and scored below 200 the second time. I have not taken step 2, but I assume I will get around the same score for step2 as I am not a great test taker. I am average in my class as far the first two years of med school went. I have done extremely well in my third year clerkships and so far in my fourth year electives. I have worked and volunteered a lot with children, and my passion for peds is clear.
I am worried because I know that I am not a strong applicant on paper. The schools I am looking at are UCSF, OSHU, Texas Childrens, UNC, Duke, and Stanford. How likely am I to match at any of these schools without having any connections? I am doing a Sub I at UCSF.
Any information would be helpful. Thank you.

I'm a year behind you and I've been wondering the same things...was it hard for you to get a sub-i at UCSF?? those are some amazing programs you want to apply to and i have high hopes also, but i thought there was a general cutoff in step1 scores and class rank to even be considered for a fourth year rotation with certain schools. what other places are you lined up to rotate through this year?

 

[pathfme30]

I'm a year behind you and I've been wondering the same things...was it hard for you to get a sub-i at UCSF?? those are some amazing programs you want to apply to and i have high hopes also, but i thought there was a general cutoff in step1 scores and class rank to even be considered for a fourth year rotation with certain schools. what other places are you lined up to rotate through this year?

There isn't a cutoff at Harvard in other things. I had a friend will low step1 scores that they really liked match in derm at MGH. I know not common, but her audition was key and she got to audition in derm. I would bet there is not a cutoff at children's Boston either. I was a grad student there--Harvard actually is not so numbers rigid. They want stellar folks, but leadership, service, and research is a big focus.

 

[nigagreen]

It was not hard for me to get a Sub I and USCF at all. I also got offered externships at Portland and UNC. I really feel they they offer spots on a first come first serve basis, but I could be wrong. They didn't ask for board scores. They asked for letters and my CV. I hope this helps.

 

[kristing]

I don't know about the places you are applying to specifically. I can say, however, that where I graduated from, a tiny little community program, we wouldn't interview people if they failed a step. It was to help us weed out, as our program got hundreds and hundreds of applications. (Unfair, I know, wasn't my decision). That said, doing a sub-I somewhere will significantly increase your chances at that place, if they like you. I would recommend doing more sub-I's than the normal person, especially if you can get them at the places you want to go, to show your abilities.

 

[nigagreen]

Hey Thanks,
That really helps, and I will do as many as I can