First Year Grades

[Trajan]

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I'm an MSII and have, much to my surprise, started leaning heavily towards emergency medicine. A chart published at my school listing the main residency fields stated that a single marginal grade was a fatal flaw on an EM residency application. I find this hard to believe. Nevertheless, I've been wondering about it all day, as I received one marginal pass in a first year theme (not one of the longer ones -- only 10% of MSI by credit hours). Overall, my first year grades were average (I was a humanities major and am in a hypercompetitive class which made for an unremarkable year in terms of grades, which I've never found reason to be overly concerned with until now).

My plan, regardless of whether I ultimately apply for EM, is to take a transitional year in the Navy (I'm HPSP), serve my four years in an operational role (hopefully flight surgeon), and then complete my residency in the civilian world. At that point -- with all of those experiences -- could a first-year marginal mark really be fatal for an EM program (I'd be willing to do a 1-3 program and repeat intern year)?

Thanks for any input.

 

[FoughtFyr]

I'm an MSII and have, much to my surprise, started leaning heavily towards emergency medicine. A chart published at my school listing the main residency fields stated that a single marginal grade was a fatal flaw on an EM residency application. I find this hard to believe. Nevertheless, I've been wondering about it all day, as I received one marginal pass in a first year theme (not one of the longer ones -- only 10% of MSI by credit hours). Overall, my first year grades were average (I was a humanities major and am in a hypercompetitive class which made for an unremarkable year in terms of grades, which I've never found reason to be overly concerned with until now).

My plan, regardless of whether I ultimately apply for EM, is to take a transitional year in the Navy (I'm HPSP), serve my four years in an operational role (hopefully flight surgeon), and then complete my residency in the civilian world. At that point -- with all of those experiences -- could a first-year marginal mark really be fatal for an EM program (I'd be willing to do a 1-3 program and repeat intern year)?

Thanks for any input.

I can't speak as to your plans for military service, transitional year, etc. But whatever your school's administrators are smoking, get them to share. If a single "marginal" first year grade was truly an issue, I doubt many of us would be in any residency. Remember, it is a fact that 1/2 of all doctors were in the lower half of their graduating class. I don't think first year grades are an issue at all in EM (assuming that they are not so poor as to delay your progression). Third year grades are a different story.

Anyway, don't sweat it, I do not think you have positioned yourself outside any field yet.

But in EM the rules are as follows...

#1. Don't sweat the small stuff.

#2. It is all small stuff!

- H

 

[thirteen78]

Anyway, don't sweat it, I do not think you have positioned yourself outside any field yet.

But in EM the rules are as follows...

#1. Don't sweat the small stuff.

#2. It is all small stuff!

- H

I have to definitely agree with you on that one. From the directors that I've talked to, doing well your first 2 years is encouraged, but not honoring every class won't kick you out of the running.

The overall impression that they've given me is that (1) you're a competent student as seen by your ability to pass your courses with a good margin, (2) you do better than average on step1, (3) you kicked butt on your clinical rotations, and (4) that they can work along side you for the next 3-4 years of residency.

I've seen a lot of good candidates on paper not get into programs because they just had conflicting personalities with the faculty.

My advice, study hard and work hard....but take some time and enjoy yourself too. Build your non-academic side too. Plus..that part is more fun than studying.

Just my 2cents.

 

[Sessamoid]

If you're planning on doing a few years as flight surgeon, then all your medical school grades are of little import unless you royally screw them up. For you, the most important thing will be your recommendations from your time in the Navy. A work history completely overshadows an education history. The education history is paramount for most applicants because the vast majority of them have no physician work history, i.e. the residency programs have nothing else to go on.

Similarly, when a physician with former training applies to a new specialty residency, his grades in medical school are almost (but not quite) irrelevant.

 

[doc05]

what sessamoid said. as far as your school's recommendations, don't worry about it. for the most part, grades in ms1/ms2 matter very little, unless of course they get you AOA. I'd worry more about 3rd year grades (esp medicine, surgery, and EM). a marginal grade in these might hurt, but even so, you'll be applying out of the navy so noone will really care.

 

[roja]

I concur. Your one grade is really moot. As long as you do decent, okay on your steps adn have good eval's, you should be fine. your LOR's are very important. You could always consider an active duty residency. BAMC in San Antonio is PHENOMENAL for EM.