ICU LoR

[mossyfiber12]

---

Members don't see this ad.

how important is a letter from ICU attending in getting into a good IM program? Is it more important than my step 2 score or my shelf exam score?

I have an average step 1 and I need to decide whether to take a month off for step 2 and not do an ICU rotation before interviews or to take step 2 in about 2 weeks and move on to ICU rotation and get a letter from the attending.

Thanks in advance!

 

[OveractiveBrain]

how important is a letter from ICU attending in getting into a good IM program? Is it more important than my step 2 score or my shelf exam score?

I have an average step 1 and I need to decide whether to take a month off for step 2 and not do an ICU rotation before interviews or to take step 2 in about 2 weeks and move on to ICU rotation and get a letter from the attending.

Thanks in advance!

For IM, Step 2 can erase a bad Step 1 score on the books.

For IM, they like people better. If this is "some ICU guy" who "might write you" a "medicore to good letter" you should obviously get the Step 2 score. If instead, you want to do Pulm/CC, you know the guy is awesome and is going to give you a stellar letter because you're a rockstar on the wards, just not on some stupid MCQ test, get the letter.

Unfortunately, most higher-end programs screen by Step score and pedigree. There's no hard number for step 1 (*cou230gh*), but the higher you get, the better you are. Tough choice.

Be extra rockstar. Do both

 

[mossyfiber12]

You are right on point. Thanks!