Future Internist Needs your help- Failed Surgery Shelf Exam

[MedStud1984]

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Hey all,

I just have a quick post here. Average Step I score, passed all of my year 1 and 2 classes. Unfortunately, I was at a pretty malignant site for my surgery rotation, essentially 8 weeks of downtown trauama. 90-100 hour weeks were standard. I even ended up getting pneumonia and going to the hospital. I told my counselor about the situation downtown, but as we know administration can't do jack

Needless to say, I didn't pass my surgery rotation. I found out today, and I am crushed. To be honest, I have a ton of respect for surgeons. However, at my site, it seemed like there was a superabundance of pr*cks and people who hated their lives and wanted to make mine miserable as well.

Am I screwed for an internal medicine residency now? Im not looking for First tier schools here, but I'd like to be at a good place...maybe second tier?

I know there will be a lot of well wishing, but if I was a residency coordinator, I would be very concerned about a student who didnt pass a required clerkship. Please let me know thoughts/experiences. Thanks!

 

[iatrosB]

Can you retake the shelf?

 

[NotAProgDirector]

Well, failing a clerkship is never a positive.

However, the universe does not come to an end.

Failing a clerkship because of a shelf is not uncommon, and is MUCH better than failing a clerkship because of other issues.

As long as you fix the problem (i.e. retake the shelf or whatever your school requires), and as long as you do well in the other clerkships, you should be fine.

In addition, I would consider taking Step 2 early. A solid score there would help argue that this was a fluke.

 

[TexasTwoStep]

Not sure how it is a your school, but at our program, you are allowed one retake. In the scenario where you also fail the retake, then it will be reported on your records.

 

[dragonfly99]

well that sucks.
I am sorry.
I agree with APD.
If they know you failed surgery only b/c of the shelf exam and being ill, it likely will be held against you less. You will have to explain it.
If this makes you feel any better, many IM docs didn't like their surgical rotation, and some didn't do well either...some harbor secret grudges against the surgical field and may feel a bit sympathetic toward you.

My advice is try to honor your medicine subI and as many other clerkships as you can, take the step II fairly early (at least by December or so), do what you need to to pass surgery, and just forge ahead. I don't think medium tier medicine programs are out at all...and you can still try for higher up ones that you want (but would ditch ideas of Harvard,UCSF, Duke, etc.).

 

[mig26x]

look at it this way at least you didnt fail IM shelf exam, that my friend is in another league if you are applying to IM.

 

[VandyMed2009]

I had a friend who failed a clerkship due to a shelf, and once he passed the shelf on the second try, the failure was deleted from his transcript.

You should talk to your administrators and try to see if they will not put your grade on your transcript until you retake it, or if they will remove the failure after you pass.

If they will not and you do end up applying with a failure on your transcript, you can make it less painful by the way you talk about it in your interviews. I would strongly advise you to NOT blame other people, i.e. "The surgeons were pricks who wanted to make my life miserable". No one will respect that. Take personal responsibility and admit you had an issue with time management/balance in the setting of a mitigating circumstance (the pneumonia). Say what you learned from it and why it will never happen again. You may even consider addressing it in your personal statement to just get it out there.

 

[skypilot]

I had a friend who failed a clerkship due to a shelf, and once he passed the shelf on the second try, the failure was deleted from his transcript.

This is how it was at my school too. You get a couple of cracks at the shelf and they will wipe the slate clean.

 

[IMdilemma]

i agree with all the good advice already given to you; make sure to scan the previous threads on good books to use for the shelf (if you're taking the traditional shelf exam, there are plenty of good books out there including casefiles). at our program, 1 retake is allowed. make sure you're ready to rock it when you sit for that retake. good luck!

 

[Lasclalo]

Another technique I have found to be useful for improving scores on the shelf exams is to do as many practice questions as possible. There are a number of books to use (Pre-test, etc.) and you can check the previous threads for reviews. I actually activated my Step2 Qbank early (we get it free at my institution) to practice for the medicine shelf and it really helped a lot. In your case, there is a box you can check with "surgery" specific questions, but if I remember correctly there was a lot of random medicine-type questions on the surgery shelf, too (e.g. electrolyte abnormalities, etc.). Could be wrong though, as its been awhile since I took that exam.

Also, I failed an exam during my time in medical school and just completed interviewing. I didn't get an interview at every program I applied to, but I got interviews at the "top" places (however you define "top"). Some programs will ask you about it, others won't. Just keep your head up. Medicine isn't too crazy competitive (e.g. derm), so I am sure you will find a great program. I know if feels crappy now, but in the end you will be fine.

 

[panopticon1]

IF this ends up as a mark on your permanent record, you should be prepared to explain it on an IM interview. Sounds like this was probably a brutal time and many factors were stacked against you but you should think of ways in which you would do things differently if you got the chance to do it all over again (would have studied harder, done more practice questions, sought help earlier, etc.). Mention that you were hospitalized for pneumonia (very casually) and that you were working over 100 hours per week (even more casually) but DO NOT blame the situation on the prick surgical staff; rather take responsibility and describe how you learned from it. This will highlight your skills at critical self-reflection and show that you are open to learning from your mistakes, of which there will be plenty in your IM training and career. Offer this information only if you are asked about the mark on your transcript/dean's letter OR if you are asked by the interviewer to describe a challenging situation in med school.

 

[MedStud1984]

An update

Thank you all for your responses. I just checked with the guidance office today. Apparently I didnt fail the shelf exam, just the clinical part of the rotation. I have been so torn up about this. It's the first time my performance as a student has ever come into question.

Thing is, I learned sooo much during my surgery rotation...how to present a patient, etc. that I feel that even though I may have not been up to the level of other students I have learned a number of valuable skills. Keep the responses coming