How Competitive am I for OBGYN?

[DrDummyAccount]

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[ontiquicuo]

Based on the 2020 Charting the Outcome, your Step 1 is near the mean for OBGYN matches, but your Step 2 is well below the mean.

A top 20 program seems like a big reach without some other hook.

 

[Redpancreas]

I agree with above but you never know. Sometimes a reach falls through...I don’t know how much OB prioritizes Step 2 as well.

 

[mrbreakfast]

You probably already knew this, but you're going to be asked about that Step 2 score (about 10th percentile) on every single interview, so make sure you have a good answer prepared. I would say it at least hurts your chances of top programs.

Can't give any specific advice about OBGYN, but I know people who matched into similar procedural specialties with sub-par "numbers" because they got amazing letters via scrubbing extra cases with attendings in their spare time. Might be something to at least consider.

 

[DrDummyAccount]

You probably already knew this, but you're going to be asked about that Step 2 score (about 10th percentile) on every single interview, so make sure you have a good answer prepared. I would say it at least hurts your chances of top programs.

Can't give any specific advice about OBGYN, but I know people who matched into similar procedural specialties with sub-par "numbers" because they got amazing letters via scrubbing extra cases with attendings in their spare time. Might be something to at least consider.

I’ve been stressing over my explanation for my low step 2 score and the truth is: I honestly don’t know. I did everything I was “supposed” to do: uworld, cheesy Dorian, Divine, First Aid, NBME practice questions... I took 5 weeks for dedicated and all my practice exams had me in the high 240s. That Reddit score predictor sheet worked perfectly for step 1, and my step 2 sheet predicted me at 251. I felt really good on test day and performed my best. I’ve been really beside myself with this grade, cause throughout all of med school I’ve put in the work, and saw the results I expected. I have to talk to my advisor still about what to say on interviews...

 

[Lawpy]

Honestly, Charting Outcomes and checking out the OBGYN forums and your advisers are the way to go. I usually think OBGYN is a competitive specialty (although probably influenced by some of their super competitive fellowships), but i can't say how a drop in Step 2 will be viewed

 

[Dr G Oogle]

Top 20 probably isn’t a reach as far as getting an interview, but might need to do something to separate yourself from the pack to actually match. Step scores are falling out of favor, so research and having someone contact those programs on your behalf would be beneficial

 

[obgyny]

I’ve been stressing over my explanation for my low step 2 score and the truth is: I honestly don’t know. I did everything I was “supposed” to do: uworld, cheesy Dorian, Divine, First Aid, NBME practice questions... I took 5 weeks for dedicated and all my practice exams had me in the high 240s. That Reddit score predictor sheet worked perfectly for step 1, and my step 2 sheet predicted me at 251. I felt really good on test day and performed my best. I’ve been really beside myself with this grade, cause throughout all of med school I’ve put in the work, and saw the results I expected. I have to talk to my advisor still about what to say on interviews...

I did worse on step 2 than step 1 and nobody asked me about it on interviews. I wouldn’t stress out about having to explain it. Step scores are usually more of a factor when deciding whether to offer an interview.

It’s always hard to predict anyone’s chances at top residency programs, no matter what your scores are. No harm in applying and seeing what happens.