grade changes third year

[fang]

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Anyone's grades rise or fall significantly in the 3rd year? Or did they stay about the same? If they changed, why?

 

[Geronimo]

There you have it.

 

[fang]

hmm... looks to be tied so far. The reason I'm asking this is because I read that grades 1st and 2nd year seem to be good predictors of board scores, but not of clerkship grades. I think that's interesting because it seems to me that if people worked hard the 1st 2 years they'd continue to work hard in the clinical years, and grades should reflect that. There are a few possibilities--
1. Hard work doesn't buy you a better grade, it's all about skill
or
2. People who work hard burn out and don't do as well later on, or people who slack off a bit in the beginning can get motivated 3rd and 4th year.
or
3. People who did well in the basic sciences are still working hader and it helps their score, but in general they're not as good at the clinical aspect of medicine so their hard work only brings them up to average.

 

[cytoskelement]

many people that do well during basic sciences are not necessarily hard workers... some are just darn brilliant. many students also work extremely hard to maintain B's and C's. those students will continue to work hard... and this in noticed. i've heard many of times that attending and residents would much rather have a harder working student than a brilliant lazy one.

also, much of the third year grade is subjective and thus it sometimes becomes a bit of a "popularity contest" -- ie. if the residents like you (for whatever reasons), you are more likely to receive a better grade. maybe this is a good thing... i mean, who wants to work with a "scrooge" anyway.

this is just my take from talking with many of the third years at my school - not from personal experience.

 

[tom_jones]

hmm... looks to be tied so far. The reason I'm asking this is because I read that grades 1st and 2nd year seem to be good predictors of board scores, but not of clerkship grades. I think that's interesting because it seems to me that if people worked hard the 1st 2 years they'd continue to work hard in the clinical years, and grades should reflect that. There are a few possibilities--
1. Hard work doesn't buy you a better grade, it's all about skill
or
2. People who work hard burn out and don't do as well later on, or people who slack off a bit in the beginning can get motivated 3rd and 4th year.
or
3. People who did well in the basic sciences are still working hader and it helps their score, but in general they're not as good at the clinical aspect of medicine so their hard work only brings them up to average.

Let's get it straight. Getting good grades third year is about kissing poeples ass. Some people just dont have the constitution for brown nosing.