How do internal medicine residency programs interpret “independent study”?

[journey2medicine25]

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I’m a rising MS3 and need to extend my step 1 dedicated study time in order to get a good Step 1 score 230+. My school allows the extension at the price of dropping the first 2 rotations. This would have me starting 3rd year in August. They also note the period between dedicated study and the first rotation (in August) as independent study. I would like to know how this will be interpreted by residency programs?

 

[libertyyne]

I’m a rising MS3 and need to extend my step 1 dedicated study time in order to get a good Step 1 score 230+. My school allows the extension at the price of dropping the first 2 rotations. This would have me starting 3rd year in August. They also note the period between dedicated study and the first rotation (in August) as independent study. I would like to know how this will be interpreted by residency programs?

some might see it and think, huh this person needed extra time to prep for step. Others might not even notice. I dont think it will make a huge difference unless you are trying to match MGH.

 

[LyMed]

Depends largely on what specialty you are interested in and if this is your only red flag. If it is, and you are aiming towards less competitive specialties it should be fine.

 

[NickNaylor]

My guess is that most programs will know exactly what this is and what it's being used for, regardless of what it's called on your transcript - especially if you're from a medical school that is at least somewhat well-known and/or produces a lot of medical students each year.

Why do you think you need to extend your study time this early? Just a word of advice, you are likely going to feel somewhat unprepared no matter how much you study for. Barring some kind of extraordinary issue (personal emergency or some other one-off event), my own opinion is that it is unlikely that extended study time is likely to be helpful.

Why not start building in a little studying now?

 

[journey2medicine25]

some might see it and think, huh this person needed extra time to prep for step. Others might not even notice. I dont think it will make a huge difference unless you are trying to match MGH.

Thanks for your input.

 

[751866]

I haven't seen the match go well for people who take extra study time for Step 1 or 2 unless it's a family emergency or something like that. The people I know who just needed more time didn't fare well.

 

[journey2medicine25]

My guess is that most programs will know exactly what this is and what it's being used for, regardless of what it's called on your transcript - especially if you're from a medical school that is at least somewhat well-known and/or produces a lot of medical students each year.

Why do you think you need to extend your study time this early? Just a word of advice, you are likely going to feel somewhat unprepared no matter how much you study for. Barring some kind of extraordinary issue (personal emergency or some other one-off event), my own opinion is that it is unlikely that extended study time is likely to be helpful.

Why not start building in a little studying now?

Thanks for your input. It's not necessarily "feeling unprepared/test taking anxiety/nerves", but the fact that I didn't start studying early on. I thought I could've saved step 1 studying for dedicated (~ 4.5 weeks). I'm ~2 weeks in and took an nbme and got a 184. I think I could pass with the dedicated time I have remaining, but I'll always think "what could have been?" had I given myself more time to prepare and get a higher score.

I should have worded my original question better. What I'm really asking is what will give me the better outcome during residency applications: A low score on Step 1 with no delay vs. a higher score step 1 (230+) with delay?

 

[751866]

Thanks for your input. It's not necessarily "feeling unprepared/test taking anxiety/nerves", but the fact that I didn't start studying early on. I thought I could've saved step 1 studying for dedicated (~ 4.5 weeks). I'm ~2 weeks in and took an nbme and got a 184. I think I could pass with the dedicated time I have remaining, but I'll always think "what could have been?" had I given myself more time to prepare and get a higher score.

I should have worded my original question better. What I'm really asking is what will give me the better outcome during residency applications: A low score on Step 1 with no delay vs. a higher score step 1 (230+) with delay?

Have you thought of a research year where you use the first couple months to supplement Step study but then produce a bunch of research to make it look like you weren't just padding your Step study time? This could help in my opinion but it's a year off (and that's typically done after 3rd year in my experience).

 

[journey2medicine25]

I haven't seen the match go well for people who take extra study time for Step 1 or 2 unless it's a family emergency or something like that. The people I know who just needed more time didn't fare well.

I think I’ll just have to take my chances. I think a 194-210 would close way more doors than a 230 with delay. I know it’s not ideal but I’m just going to have to bear with it.

 

[journey2medicine25]

Have you thought of a research year where you use the first couple months to supplement Step study but then produce a bunch of research to make it look like you weren't just padding your Step study time? This could help in my opinion but it's a year off (and that's typically done after 3rd year in my experience).

This sounds worse than a delay to me. Thanks for the input though.

 

[journey2medicine25]

Depends largely on what specialty you are interested in and if this is your only red flag. If it is, and you are aiming towards less competitive specialties it should be fine.

Thanks for your input. It’s my only red flag (assuming I don’t get horrible 3rd year grades or low step 2 scores!). I’m not gunning for the competitive specialities.

 

[751866]

This sounds worse than a delay to me. Thanks for the input though.

How so? The students with a few months off cycle had hard times explaining that extra study time in a good way. At least with a research year you can get some meat on your application and look a lot stronger and it's more plausible you took off to do research. If you're worried about your score, this could be beneficial, too, unless you just want to match somewhere, then I wouldn't see your situation as needing to cover up the extra months for step 1 study.

 

[Splenda88]

If you are not gunning for competitive specialties, don't take a year off. Take an extra 2 months to study for step1. You can start 3rd year two months late and still graduate on time at most US med schools. Either way, you will be fine even if you take a year off to do research. My friend is off cycle (class of 2018 who is graduating this year). Step1 <220, but don't know what her step2 is and still matched Neurology at a University program.

 

[751866]

If you are not gunning for competitive specialties, don't take a year off. Take an extra 2 months to study for step1. You can start 3rd year two months late and still graduate on time at most US med schools. Either way, you will be fine even if you take a year off to do research. My friend is off cycle (class of 2018 who is graduating this year). Step1 <220, but don't know what her step2 is and still matched Neurology at a University program.

I'd only add that if OP doesn't want a non competitive specialty at a mid-tier or better program, then a year off probably won't be valuable. My point is like you said a research year can actual help in the sense it'll cover up the time spent on step 1 in addition to what everyone else got, and the OP can be productive with research/volunteering. But agreed, if you just want to match somewhere in something, then just take an extra month or two.

 

[journey2medicine25]

How so? The students with a few months off cycle had hard times explaining that extra study time in a good way. At least with a research year you can get some meat on your application and look a lot stronger and it's more plausible you took off to do research. If you're worried about your score, this could be beneficial, too, unless you just want to match somewhere, then I wouldn't see your situation as needing to cover up the extra months for step 1 study.

I see your point about the additional benefits of a research year for someone interested in a more competitive residency. I'm interested in primary care, so hopefully I'll have a better time explaining the delay. Maybe I can find a research project to join when I have time off after my test and then reduce my hours throughout 3rd year.

 

[journey2medicine25]

If you are not gunning for competitive specialties, don't take a year off. Take an extra 2 months to study for step1. You can start 3rd year two months late and still graduate on time at most US med schools. Either way, you will be fine even if you take a year off to do research. My friend is off cycle (class of 2018 who is graduating this year). Step1 <220, but don't know what her step2 is and still matched Neurology at a University program.

Thank you for your response. I've definitely learned my lesson and will make sure I give myself more time to prepare for step 2 so as not to be in this situation next year.

 

[751866]

I see your point about the additional benefits of a research year for someone interested in a more competitive residency. I'm interested in primary care, so hopefully I'll have a better time explaining the delay. Maybe I can find a research project to join when I have time off after my test and then reduce my hours throughout 3rd year.

Gotcha! Even better if you can start a project before then and basically you don't have to compromise study time but you can work a bit on it or submit it during that period so you can really focus. I think primary care will be more amenable to hearing explanations but it still needs to be legit and good. Good luck!

 

[journey2medicine25]

Gotcha! Even better if you can start a project before then and basically you don't have to compromise study time but you can work a bit on it or submit it during that period so you can really focus. I think primary care will be more amenable to hearing explanations but it still needs to be legit and good. Good luck!

Thank you! I'll get started on looking for a project!