got my scores...need help

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
G

giznut12

Senior Member
7+ Year Member
15+ Year Member
20+ Year Member
Joined
Nov 4, 2002
Messages
128
Reaction score
0
Members don't see this ad.
Hey I got my scores back 220/90. I am a little disappointed. Will this score eliminate me from all competitive residencies? I am ranked in the top 10 in my class and have 2 publications. Please help. Thanks.
 
Sort by date Sort by votes
I think that is a very good score. IMO, with a strong appliation, you should be competitive for most all specialties. I think Derm, Rads, and Plastics might be a little risky, but you're in GREAT shape I think.

What were you considering?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
I was considering ortho, ent, and derm. I'm only in my second rotation right now, so its hard to say. I may fall in love with another specialty. I am from a DO school, so I guess I can hope to have an excellent score on comlex if I decide to apply in those specialties. (and apply to osteo programs only)
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
I think trying for those residencies would be a stretch with those scores. You might be able to get them at your own school. Just focus on doing your best in third year, and see what your advisors at your school thinks of your chances.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
I really wouldnt worry too much with your scores.
It is possible to get into any residency you want if you are willing to travel and have an overall good application. Some residency programs at some hospitals have cutoffs but not every hospital does believe me.
Look into the hospitals that have the residency that you are interested in and see which ones didnt fill last year. Finding out which residencies didnt fill may be as simple as doing a search in the forum of your residency of choice and searching "fill" or whatever.
Dont let people scare you, a 220 is a great score.
I know plenty of people who are ecfmg who dont have the great scores and who are in any and all residencies.
As from what you have said so far, I definitely would not be panicing at all.
Again a 220 is a great score, dont be intimidated by the scores in this forum, just believe in yourself and know for yourself if something is unattainable dont rely on people in here who are necessarily going to be biased, especially if they got stellar scores.
Good luck.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Jalby said:
220 is below average.
Click to expand...

Pffffft. It's just 1 point. Which means that, if it's above the cutoff the program sets its search filters on, when an interviewer or residency director looks at the score, s/he will think, "Ahhhh. Average Step 1 score."

Don't give up your hopes! 220 is a decent score, and doesn't necessarily exclude you from the specialties you mentioned. Though the fields are competitive, not all residency programs use score cut-offs to determine who gets an interview and who doesn't. I know a guy who struggled through his basic science years, did average on Step 1, failed his Medicine shelf twice during third year, matched in derm at an academic center, failed Step 3 once, and still just got a job that was perfect for him. 😀
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
scootad. said:
oh please that student must have had a ton of connections.
Click to expand...

Nope. Poor and a immigrant (non-affirmative-action minority), honest guy, not a schmoozer. In retrospect, he admits he probably wasn't as bad as he made himself out to be, just an average guy.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Im sorry but that just doesnt add up. My sister just matched derm she was AOA Step 1 252, she said everyone on interview trail had same stats.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
scootad. said:
Im sorry but that just doesnt add up. My sister just matched derm she was AOA Step 1 252, she said everyone on interview trail had same stats.
Click to expand...


Pure B.S. :meanie: :meanie: :meanie:
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Thanks for all the advice. I have been talking to quite a few residents that I know and they said that 220 is the cutoff at most places for ortho. So I guess that helps a little. They also said that the PD's would rather have a hard working individual with a good personality that scored a 220 as opposed to a student that scored a 250 and can't tie their shoes. I am also a former D2 athlete. That may also be to my benefit if I decide to go into ortho. :laugh: Just kidding.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Jalby just because 220 is below average doesnt mean it isnt a great score.
I got a 217 and I think it is a great score. It is all about perspective and realizing that it is just a score and not anything more.
From this website it seems to say that people in derm had 25-26% of the people with usmle step 1 scores below 230, so I dont believe that everyone in derm has >250 scores.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
MeaCulpa & Iliana,

OK, of course there are those freakishly rare situations in which someone with a 205 or whatever mathes into Derm. at an "academic center," but this is obviously the exception and not the rule. For every success story in Derm., believe me, there are dozens and dozens of disappointments.

Jalby was merely trying to point out the realistic nature of the understanding that even a 250+ is by no means a lock for Derm., and a 220 surely isn't.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
actually, I don't really understand jalby's point is either (aside from playing master of the obvious) ...... additionally, if the person scored 220 on the version w/ a 217 mean, then he/she is actually above avg. Sure..... programs in derm, rads, ortho, etc have their pick of the best ..... and the doors are certainly likely to swing open more readily for the folks that have the higher step one score.... but to think anyone w/ a score below 221 should give up on the competitive rez is absurd. While some PD are more wrapped up in the score avg of their residents, most want someone they can stand spending the next 4/5 years with!!!! does this mean that "joe w/ the lower step one" will have to rotate at more away places to have a shot .... well, duh, yes. does it mean that those w/ high scores can readily get interviews at places they've never rotated.... of course. Should the folks w/ the lower step one score only try to rotate at MGH.. etc... and bank on their charming personality getting them a ortho rez slot.... well, another duh, no. I guess what I'm saying is we have to use a little common sense with all this.... no body taking step one got here by luck alone... committment, hard work, never giving up on your goals, yadda yadda... these are all the same things that can help the <221 get a good/comp rez in a good/strong program...

Scouts Out!
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
My thoughts:

No score eliminates you from all residency programs. If you want it, try it and see. Do not count yourself out of anything without a fight. Luckily a lot of the "holy grail" residencies have early matches (January). If you are borderline, come up with a backup plan in case you do not match in January, so you can decide if you want to hold out a year, or try for something less competitive in the normal match in March. In the meantime, contact the residency directors for these programs at your school now and ask them what they like to see in their applicants. That way, they will know youre interested and will hopefully give you some advice on buffing up other areas of your applications.

Also, if your step 1 score is low, work your butt off in preparing for Step 2. A good score on Step 2 with a solid academic record at your school will make it easier for programs to overlook a borderline Step 1 score.

Keep your head up, be confident, and good luck!
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
My point being that if you are applying to a competative residency, with a 220, you will be 400-500th in line (if arranged by board scores) for the competative residencies. You have a ton of ground to make up, and I personally don't believe it is possible to make up that ground. And I also personally believe that the personailities of the 500 people in front of you can be just as great (or worse) as yours. Just pointing out the obvious.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
i guess i'll just listen to jalby and become a family practice doc. what a joke...hahahhaha
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
If you don't play the game, you never know if you had a chance to win it. Kick butt in your third year, keep working towards your goal, and if it happens great, but if it doesn't I'm sure things will still work out in the end.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
when students find out their school averages - post them
i will post mine as soon as i know it
good luck all
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
asianpride said:
when students find out their school averages - post them
i will post mine as soon as i know it
good luck all
Click to expand...

yeah, we'll get a thread going on this one. I talked to our dean today and our school is still missing THIRTEEN people's scores!!! (And our class is very small too)
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
The doc's in ortho here say you need at least a 220, while 230 should guarantee your interview. The fact of the matter is communication, if you get to know them, and they get to know you ? there should be no problem. 😉 Anyway, in ortho, many programs do not interview without knowing you, so start making phone calls and get out there to follow somebody... You'll be fine, and get anything you'd like.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
giznut12 said:
Hey I got my scores back 220/90. I am a little disappointed. Will this score eliminate me from all competitive residencies? I am ranked in the top 10 in my class and have 2 publications. Please help. Thanks.
Click to expand...

I don't know much about your score and the comments here are pretty contradictory. Your classrank is excellent and 2 publications will defnitely help!
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Actually, the NBME sent out an email to all test takers saying that the mean had been calculated on an incomplete set data and that there really is only one mean that was 217 with a SD of 23. Although there has been another thread about this, hope this clears things up. cheers.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
merlin said:
Actually, the NBME sent out an email to all test takers saying that the mean had been calculated on an incomplete set data and that there really is only one mean that was 217 with a SD of 23. Although there has been another thread about this, hope this clears things up. cheers.
Click to expand...

They actually did not send out an email to all test takers, because i did not get one. The early thread also made me believe that the real mean was 221/SD 21, but it doesnt really matter.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
giznut12 said:
I was considering ortho, ent, and derm. I'm only in my second rotation right now, so its hard to say. I may fall in love with another specialty. I am from a DO school, so I guess I can hope to have an excellent score on comlex if I decide to apply in those specialties. (and apply to osteo programs only)
Click to expand...

a guy from my school w 220 step 1 matched into general surgery at harvard. He didnt get ortho but he was saying that even during general surgery residency, it is possible to switch into ortho after first year or something like that. Or after general surgery u could subspecialize and do same procedures that orthos do.. This is what he told me. I think one of the reasons he matched at harvard was cuz he was md/mba and he did a good job at the away rotation. He also emphasized how he was into academics during his interviews.
hope this help. My point of this is that just cus ur USMLE score isnt what u wanted; there are still ways to get what u want at the end.


Also maybe ur comlex score is the awesome and u can get ortho or whatever thru that.



peace
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Idiopathic said:
Its just semantics, but remember the two means. (221 and 217).
Click to expand...

Idiopathic, of course I remember that there was the scandal regarding the 2 means. I just thought that Jalby's cold post of "220 is below average" was rude and, ultimately, "rudely incorrect." I was merely trying to encourage the OP.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
bigfrank said:
Idiopathic, of course I remember that there was the scandal regarding the 2 means. I just thought that Jalby's cold post of "220 is below average" was rude and, ultimately, "rudely incorrect." I was merely trying to encourage the OP.
Click to expand...

Thanks for taking my quote out of context (not saying that the mean was reported as a 221). Pretty dirty there. But you have a point. Maybe we should be overly optomistic and make sure that giznut tries his hardest to get into ortho and pass up countless opportunities to progress into a more realistic residency and not match and spend a year doing research and end up in a gen surg or something like that when he could have done that a year ago.

http://www.orthogate.com/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=1661&highlight=match+result

If you look at the posted results from the ortho match list, there are like 5 people with 225-230 scores (none under 225) 4 of them were in top 25 schools. I just don't think it is realistic to try and get orthopedics with a 220 from an osteopathic school (outside of getting ortho at your own school). Feel free to disagree with me, but it sure looks like the stats are on my side.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
I am finding out that when applying to some competitive specialties, you may be better off with a 220 and publications than a 250 without (I am unfortunately in the latter category). Of course it would be better to have a 250 AND research. They really get off on having research on your application, no matter how insignificant.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Pretty funny Jalby. I just rotated in ENT and was for the most part offered a position at the institution where I rotated (i.e. allopathic). They told me my scores were fine. I guess there is more to it than just board scores. Thanks for your helpful advice Jalby. ... It only motivated me more.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Jalby is just being realistic. Sometimes what people on this board do (bigfrank, myself, etc) is tell everyone that they can do 'whatever they want, as long as they work hard,etc...' This is absolutely untrue. Most people, with a score of 220, would have lots of trouble matching ortho/ent/derm/rads, especially if they were DO looking for MD spot. You have a nice anecdote, but it certainly doesnt apply to everyone, right? I have to believe that I can do it!! just because if I dont, then I will get discouraged, but in all honesty, my chances of succeeding are probably as good as my chances of failing, even with good board scores.

For instance, 60% of applicants matched in allo neurosurgery last year, and none of those were DO's. SO, it would be difficult for me to say that any osteopath, no matter what your board scores, could get a spot. Ortho is much more DO-friendly, but surgery will always be harder to break into for us. Your scores are not low, but they hover under the average, and you will have to make up for it in other places. Sounds like you are well on your way.

👍
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Thanks idio. I agree with you 100%. All we can do is work hard and do our best and see what happens. Good luck man.

Oh by the way, I was just ABOVE the ave. (217). Didn't you get the email??? 🙂

Later on.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Who said that the avarage for Step 1 was 221?!!!!!!!!!!!

I took the test in August 2003, and the avarage on my score report was 215!!!!!!

Again, the avarage was 2-1-5.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
giznut12 said:
Pretty funny Jalby. I just rotated in ENT and was for the most part offered a position at the institution where I rotated (i.e. allopathic). They told me my scores were fine. I guess there is more to it than just board scores. Thanks for your helpful advice Jalby. ... It only motivated me more.
Click to expand...

Congrats giznut!!!!!!!!! Don't let anyone deter you. The Step I is just an exam.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Leukocyte said:
Who said that the avarage for Step 1 was 221?!!!!!!!!!!!

I took the test in August 2003, and the avarage on my score report was 215!!!!!!

Again, the avarage was 2-1-5.
Click to expand...

Some people had 217 as their mean and others had 221 as their mean. It was likely test-specific, but since the NBME sets the mean arbitrarily, they decided to put the mean at 217. It was 217 when you took it too, according to them.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Because, I hate uncertainty I?m one of those that would be very realistic when applying for residencies. So I see where jalby is coming from but also understand big franks et al?s optimism, that?s cool. But guys sometimes we have to make smart realistic decisions. We need to assess our own resume and act accordingly. I don?t even think I am applying for any top 20 ortho program?if I don?t get any quality research going in time for the match (I have 0 research, non in college, non in highschooll? ?.unless the science fair crap I did in the 8th grade will count?.loool).
Of course the nice rhetoric would be ?.?go for your dreams? blab la bla?.but that?s easy to say when we are not in the other person?s shoes.

and congrats giznut on the ENT thingy....thats hot.

wouldnt it be funny if i actually include my 8th grade sci project on my eras....loool
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
giznut12 said:
Pretty funny Jalby. I just rotated in ENT and was for the most part offered a position at the institution where I rotated (i.e. allopathic). They told me my scores were fine. I guess there is more to it than just board scores. Thanks for your helpful advice Jalby. ... It only motivated me more.
Click to expand...

Just be careful with that. It is well known that some program directors will pretty much offer a position to a lot of people, never intending to rank them highly at all. Not trying to be discouraging, but just take everything that is said by PDs with a grain of salt.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Leukocyte said:
Who said that the avarage for Step 1 was 221?!!!!!!!!!!!

I took the test in August 2003, and the avarage on my score report was 215!!!!!!

Again, the avarage was 2-1-5.
Click to expand...

You're a year behind, man. Average for '04 is 217 w/ a SD of 23.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
What does two and three digit score really mean? What do residency programs look at more. Thanks
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Two digit score is just to comply with state regulations for having a 75% or more to get licensure. There is obviously correlation with scores, but the 3 digit scores are probably more precise and are what residencies look at. Passing with the two digit score is 75 and above.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

D
Need 25 people for Sketchy Discount code
Replies
0
Views
992
doconstandby
D
Transposony
Official 2024 Step 1 Experiences and Scores Thread
Replies
0
Views
2K
Transposony
Transposony
ongogablogian
Will a decent step 1 score help an MD/PhD when applying to residency in 2026?
Replies
0
Views
2K
ongogablogian
ongogablogian
J
USMLE Step 1 Anatomy HELP!!!
Replies
0
Views
1K
jstargirl17
J
B
COMLEX Hello i failed Comlex Step 1 three times and dismissed from the university. I am thinking of changing my career to investment banking.
Replies
0
Views
1K
badwalj
B
Top