How important are clinical grades for residency?

[XxTargaryenxX]

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I am in another debate about the importance of clinical grades for residency (not basic science grades, just clinical, I already know basic science grades mean almost nothing). I think they are the most important after step 1,2, and LORs. Basically its a major hit if you fail a clinical rotation. Please answer poll below.

 

[alprazoslam]

Read PD survey

 

[JW2020]

Failing a clinical rotation is definitely bad. In terms of grade, schools don't all use the same grading system and additionally weigh the shelf exam to a different percentage. This means you're often comparing apples to oranges when seeing a student got High Pass vs a student who got Honors Pass from a different school. You don't want to do the bare minimum and Pass every rotation (unless you're at a school that is only Honors or Pass), you absolutely should not fail a rotation, but apart from that I personally don't think there is valued difference.

 

[OrthoTraumaMD]

When I applied, an honors in surgery was a must for the surgical subspecialties. We will definitely look twice if you “pass” (unless just a pass/fail school) or if god forbid, you fail.