Failed USMLE Step 1 on first try

[katelyn030]

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I failed USMLE Step 1 with a 178. I had scored a 204 on my CBSSA. What are the specialties I can have a chance at matching into? I am interested in radiology (maybe interventional), pediatric cardiology (interventional), anesthesia, emergency medicine. How badly will this hurt me? Please, I need help.

 

[el_duderino]

Well right now you have a zero percent chance of matching into anything.

Focus on passing Step 1, then think about specialties.

Also, pediatric cardiology isn't a specialty you match into out of medical school.

 

[MEN2C]

No one can tell you anything right now. Study and pass first. See what number you get. Then ace your third year clerkships, shelf exams, and step 2. It will be an issue - how much of one isn’t to be determined.

As the poster above said, right now you have a zero percent chance of matching into anything.

 

[Oso]

Like the above users mentioned, your priority right now is to focus on passing step 1. Do not take the exam until your practice exam score is fairly strong (ie. NOT 204) to give yourself some wiggle room.

- don't just aim to pass, but try to actually do well on step 1
- work as hard as you can on third year clerkships
- ACE step 2

 

[ciestar]

It is going to hurt, a lot.
Failing is worse than a low score. Some programs won’t take people who failed boards.

Id probably count rads out, especially IR.

Community programs in FM, IM, and Peds are still attainable.

 

[evilbooyaa]

Focus on passing Step 1 for now. If you seriously studied before the first test, going from 178 to 220s-230s will be very, very unlikely.

Specialties that you have a realistic shot of matching with a Step 1 failure are maybe less competitive community diagnostic radiology (not direct IR), pediatrics, IM (cardiology would be dependent on your performance in residency), anesthesia. EM I believe is getting more popular and would be an uphill battle. Integrated IR residencies are incredibly competitive and not a realistic option for you.

*EDIT* - Merging duplicate threads as well.

 

[W19]

If you are a US student, pathology, peds, FM and possibly IM are still options you can think of. You are basically DOA if you are not a US student.

 

[Orka]

I failed USMLE Step 1 with a 178. I had scored a 204 on my CBSSA. What are the specialties I can have a chance at matching into? I am interested in radiology (maybe interventional), pediatric cardiology (interventional), anesthesia, emergency medicine. How badly will this hurt me? Please, I need help.

You gotta retake it at this point, that's definitely too low. At my school, there's a few people who failed and bounched back up to 230+. They ended up matching but you gotta work hard, good luck!