How much do preclinical grades correlate with Boards?

[genessis42]

How much do preclinical grades matter for matching, and is there a good correlation with board scores? Will grades matter more since both step and level 1 will be pass/fail?

My school usually tells the bottom half of the class that taking Step 1 is a bad idea. But isn't board studying different than just studying for Systems-based, block-based, or whatever curriculum the school sets?

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[AnatomyGrey12]

Yes there is a correlation between class performance and board score. It can vary how tight that correlation is.

Don't decide to not take Step 1 based on class performance, make that decision based on practice tests.

 

[Cath Up]

Please familiarize yourself with the biannual PD (program director) survey: Main Residency Match Data and Reports - The Match, National Resident Matching Program
That will tell you how important various things are to PDs, sorted by specialty. Preclinical grades are universally less important than things like step scores, letters, clinical grades.

+1 to what AnatomyGrey said. Safe to assume that there is usually a correlation. There was at my school too. That being said, if you think you can take and pass step 1, it will probably open more doors than it closes.

I was a C student. I scored well on step 1. It can be done. You need to study harder than you ever have, though, and listen to what your practice scores tell you, in order to be honest with yourself and decide whether to sit for the exam.

 

[ThatSameGuy]

The people who generally work harder to study class material are also those who generally work harder to study for Step1. Whether the material is relevant or not doesn't matter so much, more the mindset. So though there might be correlation there, I would focus more on the why the same people seem to do similar.

In terms of it matters, plenty of PD's have outright said they'll just look at Step2 now, and historically preclin grades haven't made a huge difference and that won't change.

 

[genessis42]

I've noticed so many DO schools don't want people to take usmle. I get the feeling that some faculty might be on the NBOME

 

[Goro]

How much do preclinical grades matter for matching, and is there a good correlation with board scores? Will grades matter more since both step and level 1 will be pass/fail?

My school usually tells the bottom half of the class that taking Step 1 is a bad idea. But isn't board studying different than just studying for Systems-based, block-based, or whatever curriculum the school sets?

For matching, low priority

As predictors for Boards, they and NBME shelf exams are the best predictors.

Step 2 will be the new screening tool

 

[SurgDoc95]

My pre clinical grades had zero correlation with my boards (thank baby Jesus). I also am someone who struggled with the constant grind of sitting still as a pre clinical student, but was vastly more successful with studying on the go as a clinical student

 

[ohmanwaddup]

Bottom 20% of my class. was usually 10% below average of every exam 1st year. 2nd year I was typically average on exams. Ended up with 231 on Step1 and 523 on Comlex 1.

To a degree its how bad you want it, thought there are always stories of people of varying stats having great or awful test days.

After my dismal first year, I wanted it pretty damn bad. I completed all of zanki during 2nd year which was hell, but it paid off.

 

[genessis42]

Bottom 20% of my class. was usually 10% below average of every exam 1st year. 2nd year I was typically average on exams. Ended up with 231 on Step1 and 523 on Comlex 1.

To a degree its how bad you want it, thought there are always stories of people of varying stats having great or awful test days.

After my dismal first year, I wanted it pretty damn bad. I completed all of zanki during 2nd year which was hell, but it paid off.

It's good to hear. Sounds like you really got your act together for 2 boards.

I never really gunned for a high class rank. But I guess it could matter for someone who wants AOA, or in our case, Sigma Sigma Phi

 

[ohmanwaddup]

It's good to hear. Sounds like you really got your act together for 2 boards.

I never really gunned for a high class rank. But I guess it could matter for someone who wants AOA, or in our case, Sigma Sigma Phi

I gunned hard for class rank in pre clinicals but just could not pull it off. Idk what my deal was but I studied an absurd amount and it never translated to good scores.

oh well. Now I'm in clinicals doing barely any work but doing pretty damn well on shelf exams (nothing under 63rd percentile)

 

[MoTheGreatish]

I've noticed so many DO schools don't want people to take usmle. I get the feeling that some faculty might be on the NBOME

And there are some which make taking USMLE mandatory! 😛

 

[cptsam]

I gunned hard for class rank in pre clinicals but just could not pull it off. Idk what my deal was but I studied an absurd amount and it never translated to good scores.

oh well. Now I'm in clinicals doing barely any work but doing pretty damn well on shelf exams (nothing under 63rd percentile)

teach me these secrets for doing well on shelf exams lmao

 

[ohmanwaddup]

teach me these secrets for doing well on shelf exams lmao

Dorian dorian dorian.

 

[genessis42]

And there are some which make taking USMLE mandatory! 😛

Some DO schools made the Step mandatory?

It does sort of make sense if you look at it. We previously had competitive specialities in the AOA match that only we could apply to. But the post-merger match means MDs applying there too.

 

[Goro]

Some DO schools made the Step mandatory?

It does sort of make sense if you look at it. We previously had competitive specialities in the AOA match that only we could apply to. But the post-merger match means MDs applying there too.

RVU, for one. I'm advocating that my school go this route as well.

 

[ortnakas]

RVU, for one. I'm advocating that my school go this route as well.

LECOM, too (not sure when requirement starts).

 

[SurgDoc95]

teach me these secrets for doing well on shelf exams lmao

Comquest was more than sufficient to snag 100-110 on all the comats. Add in Uworld (which I’d do if I had 3rd year to do over again) and you’d be snagging 105-115

 

[recycledpaper]

3.97 GPA and 240s and 260s Steps. N of 1.

Some people in my class had lower GPAs and did pretty good on Step still. But almost all of the people who had good preclinical grades did well on Step.