For ranked schools, rank trumps CBSE score

[Prehealthwhatever]

I'm reopening this discussion because I think a lot of students/residents here are over-exagatterating the idea that CBSE trumps everything else, including rank, externships, etc. I've seen countless people here who have had to do a non cat year due to their being below 30-40% while their CBSE score's have been around 70 old score. I'm bottom of the class with an old score of around 70 and have told my rank to 2 PD's and they've told me point blank that it will be difficult for me to match straight out of school. I just wanted to write this post to those who think they can tank their rank to focus more on CBSE: that is definitely not the way to go. It's more rewarding to spend more time on your rank, as a good CBSE score can be attained by merely going through a qbank and a read of first aid thoroughly. Another fact is that CBSE can be taken multiple times...

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[LegendaryPanda]

i agree with your message of “don’t trash your rank for a good CBSE,” but I come from a rank school and your argument couldn’t be further than the truth. Top 5% applicants essentially got no interviews if they had a CBSE in the 50% (old 60-68 ish). Rank 20-40% that had a 65%+ got at least a handful of interviews. That’s why the common consensus is aim for top 30% at least then aim for as high as you can for CBSE.

 

[IndifferentOsteoblast]

Written or not, standards/cutoffs likely exist for both. They exist for a reason, the integrity of the speciality. Entering the speciality is a privilege, not a right. Also, there has to be some way to compare applicants. The best anyone can do is strive to be well-rounded in all categories. Just my 2 cents.

 

[deleted923283]

around 70 old score.

They probably had to do non-car years because I’m not sure that’s a competitive score nowadays

 

[Allsmiles!]

This is not that complicated…OMFS speciality is very competitive. PDs, Chairs, rising chiefs (they tend to be allowed to have an opinion in the process) are looking for a total package…high rank (if your school don’t rank you will need a very good GPA), good CBSE (at LEAST a 70+ old score) yes, people get in a residency with a lower score but people have not with a higher score there are always exceptions/outliers to all of this. Very strong letters, and some leadership roles. If/when you get an interview hopefully you are/come across as a genuine, and easy to get along with type of person. Say you have the above and unfortunately fall short of matching a non-cat will definitely help your chance of matching the following year. I guess the main take away is a strong candidate will be good in all these variables and don’t sacrifice a high rank for a good CBSE score or vice versa.

 

[Gustavo dos Santos]

as a good CBSE score can be attained by merely going through a qbank and a read of first aid thoroughly

If it was this easy, everyone would have a good score.

The advice of focusing on the CBSE and it being more important than everything else is not an invitation to tank your rank. It’s more permission to get a couple B’s one semester so you can spend more time studying and hopefully pull off an above average CBSE score. Slip out of the top 10%, land around top 25-30% but end up with 75+.

Your goal should be high rank, high GPA, high CBSE, good leadership. If you are sacrificing one of these things, dropping a little in rank while scoring highly on the CBSE is going to be better for you than being in the top 5 but having a mediocre CBSE.

Option 1: Rank #1/100 and a 60
Option 2: Rank #25/100 and a 80

I would imagine most applicants would choose option 2.

That’s what people mean