I got a 215 on Step 2. I was applying for psychiatry and IM. Should I just apply to FM and give up.

[Anonymous2399]

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I am a US MD at a low tier medical school. was scoring in the 230s. And I got a 215. I also took a year long LOA to take care of my dad dying of alcoholic cirrhosis. I have no failures. I have passed all my clinicals and pre clinicals. I really hate OBGYN and don’t want to apply FM.
I feel like I can’t even apply for fellowships for IM.
I feel like I should just drop out of medical school and do engineering. This has been a waste of my 5 years.

Please some encouragement would be nice. Or a plan for applying, my uworld usa2 was a 236 I am completely destroyed.

 

[Anonymous2399]

If I apply to 300 programs will that be enough?

 

[Anonymous2399]

This isn’t a troll post.

 

[EthylMethylMan]

Here’s the most recent NRMP data I could find:

https://www.nrmp.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Charting-Outcomes-MD-Seniors-2022_Final.pdf

Based on this, your score for IM and psych is below average. But most of the applicants with a score in the 211-220 range did match. How are your clinical grades? Do you think you can secure good letters? Do you have any publications? Does your home institution have programs you can apply to? These are all big factors.

 

[Anonymous2399]

I am getting good letters. My home programs does not like me because I am Latina. I was told I was a token for medical school and they choose differently for residency. They usually only take white males into their programs. I have 9 poster presentations 2 oral presentations and 2 publications (pending but accepted). I got all passes but two high passes and got all good comments.

 

[Anonymous2399]

I am fine with doing something in IM like endocrinology, rheumatology, heme/onc, or infectious disease . I am not gunning for cards or GI. I think I could be happy in either of those specialities and do not want to take another year off.

 

[Anonymous2399]

I was told that PCCM and heme/onc was not out of the running since I am a US MD too. I know cards and GI are long shots

 

[GoSpursGo]

I'm sorry you're going through this disappointment. While it may seem like it now, this is not the end of the world.

I'll actually be the voice of optimism here. Psych is increasingly competitive, but it is not like a surgical subspecialty or rads or derm. Even with your score range, the odds of acceptance per charting outcomes is >85%. Importantly, they seem to really value your commitment to the field and networking--in that vein, assuming these are all or mostly serious, psych-focused presentations and publications, you stand out at the top of the bell curve. The match percentage is >95% for applicants with 5+ abstracts/presentations/pubs. There is some selection bias in here, as it only includes applicants who chose to apply and who likely were encouraged to do so by their home institution, but if you want to be conservative I'd say you probably have a >70% chance of matching psych if you give it a shot. It is unfortunate that you seem to have a terrible home program, but still, it would be worth talking to your mentors at your home program and get their honest assessment of whether they could advocate for you given your demonstrated commitment to the field.

Notably, I probably would not ask for a research year given that you've already taken on LOA.

If you choose to apply IM, you will certainly match, and possibly at an academic program. But if your heart is set on psych and you're willing to accept some risk, I'd give it a go. Regardless, you should speak with your school now and figure out what your options would be if you fail to match--can you delay graduation and reapply again as a graduating senior more broadly to IM and FM programs? Would you be forced to SOAP into whatever is available? Knowing your options in case of a worst case scenario are crucial in order for you to decide how to approach your applicaiton.

 

[Anonymous2399]

My home program told me I need to SOAP into whatever is available. They even did that with my friend last year who got a 250 on Step 2. I am currently going to apply to 350 programs, psych/IM/peds. Hopefully that’s enough programs to match somewhere.

 

[mrbreakfast]

Even with your score range, the odds of acceptance per charting outcomes is >85%.

Respectfully, I think you may be citing the chart that demonstrates an applicant's odds of matching based on Step 1 score. A 215 on Step 1 would've been ~30th percentile; on Step 2 it is 2nd percentile. By standard deviations, statistically equivalent Step 1 score to a 215 on Step 2 would've been a 188.

OP stated their home program isn't going to take them. That removes the end left tail from those charting outcome acceptance-by-score charts.

OP also previously posted that they are at the bottom of the class academically and that LOA will officially be listed as being for academic reasons (failed pre-Step 1 test). Are those correct?


I would echo everyone else's comments to apply broadly, but if you are certain your home program won't take you in any program, unfortunately I would also recommend you consider apply to FM programs in addition. Not trying to be doom and gloom, but without FM programs in the mix, there is a possibility you may have to SOAP. If you're OK with that, then you can leave out FM.

Other than that, I would really practice your interview skills. That might be your secret weapon to getting into somewhere you otherwise wouldn't.

Good luck.

 

[Anonymous2399]

Why can’t I just match into IM if I apply to enough programs. I thoguht IM wasn’t that competitive

 

[Anonymous2399]

Also my class rank will not be in my MSPE, I have never failed anything. It will be an academic leave of absence but I will explain that my dad almost died in the hospital. I think most programs will be reasonable about it. I really don’t want to have to do a OBGYN rotation again.

 

[Anonymous2399]

I have no med school debt. Is there anyway if I have to go FM, I could do my FM residency and then do another residency?

 

[Anonymous2399]

Can we just delete this thread somehow. I think all the feedback is not helping. Thanks

 

[GoSpursGo]

Respectfully, I think you may be citing the chart that demonstrates an applicant's odds of matching based on Step 1 score. A 215 on Step 1 would've been ~30th percentile; on Step 2 it is 2nd percentile. By standard deviations, statistically equivalent Step 1 score to a 215 on Step 2 would've been a 188.

I was reading the chart correctly. I can't speak to the other pieces of information in the posting history. I took the information provided and it appears to me that the student was doing fine academically, had a non-academic LOA, and has a strong record of research productivity (for psych). If any of that is not accurate, that would impact my recommendation.

I would echo everyone else's comments to apply broadly, but if you are certain your home program won't take you in any program, unfortunately I would also recommend you consider apply to FM programs in addition. Not trying to be doom and gloom, but without FM programs in the mix, there is a possibility you may have to SOAP. If you're OK with that, then you can leave out FM.

Other than that, I would really practice your interview skills. That might be your secret weapon to getting into somewhere you otherwise wouldn't.

Good luck.

Why can’t I just match into IM if I apply to enough programs. I thoguht IM wasn’t that competitive

I still stand by what I said that the OP can certainly match IM.

OP, we don't delete threads on request but you can choose to lock the thread to further replies

 

[Redpancreas]

Can we just delete this thread somehow. I think all the feedback is not helping. Thanks

Deleted my posts. OP, I feel everyone here though has tried to help or at the very least offered an honest take. All the best. I would stay off Reddit/SDN. Nothing said will make you feel that much better. Overall your chances aren't shot, but you have a uphill battle.

 

[Anonymous2399]

yea can we lock the thread please. I feel like this is something I just need to figure out on my own. Thanks for all who replied

 

[GoSpursGo]

yea can we lock the thread please. I feel like this is something I just need to figure out on my own. Thanks for all who replied

Also take some time to breathe and figure out your plan. You don't have to figure it all out in one day.

Locking per the request of the OP