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getting mostly passes for third year clerkships
- Thread starter brodaiga
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What's the context? Is your school H/P/F or something where P basically equals D? Are you getting nice evaluation comments or coded passive-aggressive/downright poor ones?
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The passes you've already gotten won't hurt at all. But if you go the entire 3rd year only getting passes, that could potentially hurt your chances. Try studying more or differently for your future rotations and keep getting good comments and you'll be fine.
i dont know how passes will hurt you but just keep in mind that your class rank depends on your 3rd year grades also. On your dean's letter, most people get good comments and sometimes the more subtle bad ones are removed (most deans will edit out those types of things). Really bad comments are harder to remove.
So keeping that in mind, know that the deans letter is a generic letter and one of the key things program directors will want to look at is your class rank as explained by various words i.e. superior, excellent, etc. If your goal is to get into a fairly competitive EM program, obviously those types of things will count - so definitely work harder to figure out how to get higher grades so you don't look back and say "if only"
So keeping that in mind, know that the deans letter is a generic letter and one of the key things program directors will want to look at is your class rank as explained by various words i.e. superior, excellent, etc. If your goal is to get into a fairly competitive EM program, obviously those types of things will count - so definitely work harder to figure out how to get higher grades so you don't look back and say "if only"
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I'm interested in rad onc and i'm anticipating pretty much getting all passes this 3rd year. My school does H/NH/P/F. I'm workin' really hard and I'm getting good evals and comments and I'm doing reasonably well on the shelves. The problem is that the grading is awfully subjective, and I absolutely will not kiss butt. I had one resident that I got along great with, but after I looked at the eval she filled out, I realized she spent ZERO time on it. She checked the middle box straight down the eval and on the back wrote "Student did well on the rotation." It was kinda ridiculous.
So anyway, all of the PD's I've spoken to in rad onc say they pretty much only pay attention to rotations within their own field and letters of rec from other rad oncs. I plan to do as well I can on these away rotations.
I guess I should probably add that I did well enough on step 1 and have an M.S. in nuclear and radiation medical physics with most of my work/research in rad onc, and a number of published abstracts/manuscripts, which is kinda skewing my attitude and approach.
Nonetheless, myself and the deans encourage everyone to work their ass off and do your best always. Just don't sweat the P if that's what you end up getting.
So anyway, all of the PD's I've spoken to in rad onc say they pretty much only pay attention to rotations within their own field and letters of rec from other rad oncs. I plan to do as well I can on these away rotations.
I guess I should probably add that I did well enough on step 1 and have an M.S. in nuclear and radiation medical physics with most of my work/research in rad onc, and a number of published abstracts/manuscripts, which is kinda skewing my attitude and approach.
Nonetheless, myself and the deans encourage everyone to work their ass off and do your best always. Just don't sweat the P if that's what you end up getting.
I am only 3rd year too, so take this with a grain of salt, but from what I have heard from people in the field, it is not too hard to match, which makes sense considering how many spots are available. I think if you pass everything and continue breathing oxygen, you will be fine, assuming you apply to lots of programs that is.
Not hating on EM btw. Actually, I am planning on going into it, I think it looks pretty sweet.
Not hating on EM btw. Actually, I am planning on going into it, I think it looks pretty sweet.
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IS there a common thread that you are missing (i.e., poor exam/shelf performance?).
The most imporant grade you will have is the one you get in EM itself-- work your butt off and make sure to research away rotations carefully as some programs are very stingy about giving out honors and even give passes to students interested in EM and planning to go into the field.
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I agree. Scoring honors in your field of choice is much more important.
I can't see how some EM residency director will turn you down for merely passing everything else. Now failing.......that's a different story.
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I was a little bit down when I got a Pass in my first rotation, but then I thought about it- I was at the top of my class in high school and went to a great college. Then, I was competitive, but not at the very top, and got into a decent med school. Now I'm in medical school and competing against really really smart people who are used to getting awesome grades and being at the top or close to it.
So being "average" or even slightly "below average" where I am doesn't bother me as much anymore.
The subjective grading can be both good and bad. I had an attending write that a presentation on a topic I did was "outstanding." Another attending, referring to another presentation I did, wrote that I was "unprepared" and gave me a few other negative remarks. I'd say that both presentations were mediocre; neither were "outstanding" and I wouldn't go as far as to say I was "unprepared" for either.
So being "average" or even slightly "below average" where I am doesn't bother me as much anymore.
The subjective grading can be both good and bad. I had an attending write that a presentation on a topic I did was "outstanding." Another attending, referring to another presentation I did, wrote that I was "unprepared" and gave me a few other negative remarks. I'd say that both presentations were mediocre; neither were "outstanding" and I wouldn't go as far as to say I was "unprepared" for either.
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I'm in the same position, except I've had most of my rotations and I get grades...
So far, my best grade is an A- in neuro (which is what I want to go into) but B+s in psych and peds, and a B in medicine.
My clinical evals are great but the shelf exam always screws me over. I get about the same score each time. I've tried studying more, using diff resources...to no avail. I don't know what percentage of my classmates gets A's (probably less than 20%) but it's quite disheartening to see your score remain the same. Guess I'm a solid B+ candidate 🙄.
So far, my best grade is an A- in neuro (which is what I want to go into) but B+s in psych and peds, and a B in medicine.
My clinical evals are great but the shelf exam always screws me over. I get about the same score each time. I've tried studying more, using diff resources...to no avail. I don't know what percentage of my classmates gets A's (probably less than 20%) but it's quite disheartening to see your score remain the same. Guess I'm a solid B+ candidate 🙄.
