Has anyone heard of derm programs overlooking a poor Step 1 performance?

[oreo2004]

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If a person has a VERY legitimate reason for a poor Step 1 performance do derm programs give them the benefit of the doubt if the rest of the application is strong?
In all fairness, it IS only one test and one lucky/unlucky day and there is no possibility for retake if you pass, so is there any wiggle room if something is mentioned in the Dean's letter?

 

[reno911]

If a person has a VERY legitimate reason for a poor Step 1 performance do derm programs give them the benefit of the doubt if the rest of the application is strong?
In all fairness, it IS only one test and one lucky/unlucky day and there is no possibility for retake if you pass, so is there any wiggle room if something is mentioned in the Dean's letter?

If you make it to the inteview stage, then I suppose a program may take your explanation into account. Problem is that at many programs you may not even get that far because you'll be filtered out before anyone reads your application (which presumably explains your mitigating circumstances)


On the bright side, there are numerous instances of people with abysmal step 1 scores, who end up matching somehow. Obviously, in these cases, something causes the program to look past the poor score. There's no reason you can't be one of these people, so don't give up hope.

 

[asmallchild]

Some will overlook this but unfortunately in a field this competitive, many programs also won't go through that hassle

 

[N-Surge]

You WILL be filtered by most. And those who invite you for an interview WILL be looking way past the STEP 1 score. However, there must be something they are looking at that trumps the score. Believe me... 🙂

As said, do not give up hope.

 

[sensitive skin]

Yes. But these people usually end up at the program they rotated at. And *usually* it's a program that has 2 residents per year or less.

Anybody hear otherwise?

 

[N-Surge]

Yes. But these people usually end up at the program they rotated at. And *usually* it's a program that has 2 residents per year or less.

Anybody hear otherwise?

My program had 3 spots this year (rotated at). Another place I was ranked to match at had 5 spots (did not rotate at).

 

[moinmoin]

Yes. But these people usually end up at the program they rotated at. And *usually* it's a program that has 2 residents per year or less.

Anybody hear otherwise?

Just curious about this statement. Do most people not prefer matching at places with 2 residents or less? There seem to be several of these on the West (UW, OHSU).

 

[Renova]

Most of the people I've heard of who've managed to match with relatively poor board scores had PhD's and tons of research. In those cases, it seems that sometimes even surprisingly prestigious programs are willing to look past mediocre test scores.