Grade in Surgery

[pjkim76]

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I'm thinking about doing IM for residency, but I'm a bit concerned that I received a "C" grade for Surgery. The program evaulator really didn't like me because of personal reasons and decided to play down on my grade. Would this clinical grade matter at all when applying for the match next year?

 

[jamie]

I'm thinking about doing IM for residency, but I'm a bit concerned that I received a "C" grade for Surgery. The program evaulator really didn't like me because of personal reasons and decided to play down on my grade. Would this clinical grade matter at all when applying for the match next year?

Would you study less for your other shelf exams and step 2 if you'd done better? I am guessing no. Will this change where you apply for residency? Probably, at most, you may add more "safety" programs. Get good letters (possibly one from surgery?), think of a good, politically-correct way to explain the grade in case someone actually brings it up in an interview, and do well otherwise. I don't think a pass, especially with other high-passes and honors, is a catastrophe.

 

[alhkim]

i agree with jamie....if your step I scores are good (for IM, >220 or so will be good), then you have a little less to worry about in terms of selecting residencies. word of advice...be weary about bringing up the "personal reasons" for surgery grade during the interviews...this may indicate to them that you can be difficult to work with (not saying you are....this is just the perception people will have after a 15-30 minute conversation). it is almost better to say that you didn't study right for that shelf.