How low is a 220 USMLE?

[Burnermed]

Disappointed by my step 1 score (220). I guess its not that bad, but I massively underperformed from my UWORLD sim 1 & 2 tests (243 on both). I never really wanted anything big. FM probably. Maybe IM or psych and I'm thinking I scored too low to specialize which would make FM=IM as far as career options and FM would be less work. Previously thought EM would be cool if I liked it but I think I scored too low for that. Anyways how bad of a score is this for a DO student?
I don't think I'll be able to do any better on step 2. My motivation is gone, and I'm sick of medical school at this point. I just want a residency with the not crazy hours, that lets me stay in the city with my girlfriend. Big midwestern city (want to keep anonymity).

 

[You shall know the Truth]

For FM a 220 is good

 

[DrStephenStrange]

I think a 220 is still fine for IM, EM, and Psych. There are plenty of low tier university and great community IM programs that will accept a 220, and keep your options open for all subspecialties. EM values SLOE and step 2 a lot more than step 1, and from looking at the match data majority (over 70%) of people that had a step 1 ranging from 200-220 matched. For psych, despite all the discussions about increase in competitiveness, which by the way is false, you'd still have a chance if you show real interest in it and do well on aways. Psych is one of those weird specialties where you see people with 240-250 step1 not match and yet other people with 220 do match, result: people think it's crazy competitive because they didn't match with a 250+ when in fact those PDs are actually looking for real interest and good fit for the field.

 

[Hippocrates II]

EM seems to weigh other things more heavily than other specialties, so I wouldn't rule that out if you're interested. You're fine for FM or IM as long as you apply realistically. I know this is SDN where anyone of modest intelligence scores a 240+, but the world is full of practicing docs who scored around what you did.

 

[Isoval]

I’m in a similar position as you; my UWSA1 and 2 were both in the low 240s and I scored a 224 on the real thing. @iforget2 seems like he’s on the same boat.

I’ve been trying to do some research and see where I stand, and the result is that it appears low- to mid-tier university IM, FM, Peds, etc. and a significant majority of community/communiversity are still very much within reach. Ditto with basically any specialty that isn’t hypercompetitive (urology) or surgical.

 

[Prehealth1011]

It's the most common cutoff for a lot of fields.
You can score 270 on Step 1 and still not match EM. SLOE is king. Work hard on your EM rotation and do well on step 2.

 

[Burnermed]

Thanks guys

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

220 is fine for pretty much everything except derm and surgical subs. Might not match an elite program but there will be community programs in lots of fields that will give you a look.

Sub-specialization after IM is more about where you do residency than board scores.