Hey need your help

[Reconstruction]

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Really good student....honored all 3 rd year rotations...have about a 3.8 GPA...HERE is the Problem

Currently 4 th year student...Interested in an ultra-competitive specialty...had a horrible day for step 1....bombed it...almost 30-40 points below what is the average for the specialty I am seeking (surgical sub-specialty)

From what you have heard would an incredible step 2 score....lets say 250 make up for that one poor performance...or is it all step 1...can you get interviews to these competitive specialties with a good step 2 or is the step 1 what they use to filter irregardless of your step 2 scores???

I hate to think that everything is based on one day and one test...that would really suck!!!

all advice and comments are appreciated, even if harsh as long as realistic

 

[bbtbay]

Unfortunately, it seems that Step1 seems to be weighed more heavily than Step2 (especially for the non-Internal Medicine specialties). The very academic programs often use Step1 as a screen, but this does not to be said for all the programs. If you are dead set on the specialty you are speaking of, you shouldn't let just this one score hold you back. However, just be prepared for a possible rough road---but it still can be done.

My buddy matched in Radiology, with a Step1 score in the low 200s at a pretty good program in New York. He did a month of research, and showed his interest in the field. There are always exceptions to "board score screening" and "cut-offs."

If you are sure about this field, try and build up other aspects of your application (research, away rotations, letter of recs). Doing extremely well on Step2 I'm sure would not hurt, but at the same time I don't think it would balance a subpar Step1 score (simply because programs put more emphasis on Step1) --- I don't know why....

Good luck!

 

[premiergator]

i actually wouldnt agree with sayin step 1 is given more weight. i have met with a few program directors and they all say that actually step 2 is a more important test b/c it is more clinically relevant. but the reason step 1 is the marker is cuz everyone takes it. but they have said that if you do improve on ur step 2 than it looks better for you and in some ways can even it out. but i think that depends on each specialty and each program.

 

[lord_jeebus]

It will vary from program to program.

For these smaller surgical subspecialties, who you know can be very important.