If I screw up Step 1, am I screwed for Rads?

[20172018MD]

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[Residentcool]

Sorry I am a new poster on this forum. I never really considered Rads as a career option for me, because I I don't know how I will do on Step 1. If I am going to a mid-ranked US MD school (ranked 50s-60s), and let say I work hard in rotations and preclinical years and I am ranked middle of my class. Now lets say I end up with a Step 1 score in the 220s, how badly am I screwed?

I read the FAQ and it says that a 220 is the minimum for an interview, but how many actually match in? I got lots of interviews for medical schools but only 2 acceptances.

I came across this link and I **** my pants. http://www.uth.tmc.edu/radiology/radiology-match-guide/index.html


That link said "Only the academically extremely strong should even think about this [Radiology]. USMLE scores must soar well above 230s/mid 90s, transcripts groan under the weight of A's, Honors and applause; accepted publications bend your mailbox from sheer volume; whole communities praise you as their savior; and your letters must make you appear likely to qualify for instant sainthood. On top of that, you must present a sparkling and error-free ERAS, a compelling Pulitzer-level Personal Statement, and project the vivid and charismatic presence of a talk-show host. A successful, articulate one."

I honestly don't care if I have to do residency in podunk places like Kansas/Alaska or in the ghetto areas in major cities. I will take a residency in Radiology anywhere.

Since I wasn't able to get into any good medical schools, I thought that I might as well try to get into the best IM program I can and then do a fellowship in something competitive. I didn't want to go around telling people in medical school that I want to do Rads, because then if I score a 220 on step 1, then I will look like a ****** who wasn't able to match in and then had to do another field...

Dude, look at the charting outcomes in the match. Plenty of people get into rads with 220's. Also way too many what ifs. You may rock everything, you may do terrible. How o you even know you like rads? Make sure you don't pick rads because you looked at some job postings and they have good salaries. We have no clue what will happen with that. It's too early to start with next match's paranoia. You also don't want to take a radiology residency anywhere - some programs suck big time.

Do your best, be open minded, your choices will likely change from now until application time starts, and start some research gig if you feel strongly about it now. I would't be so worried if you are just an M-1.

 

[20172018MD]

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[xrevision]

no affirmative action in residency selection for rads, just the best fit for the program and the perceived best man for the job.

 

[greg1184]

I will post my personal insight on this issue after Match day.

 

[20172018MD]

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[Baller MD]

^ What's your source? Doesn't seem right. Does US seniors include DO students?

 

[greg1184]

Thanks guys for all the responses.

So I pulled out my copy of the charting outcomes from 2011 and this is my take on it and on other very competitive fields.

Rads- Only 23 Percent of US Seniors with a step 1 of lower then a 230 matched.
Dermatology-16 percent of US seniors with a step 1 of lower then a 230 matched
ENT- 11 percent of US seniors with a step 1 of lower then a 230 matched
Plastics- 7 percent of US seniors with a step 1 of lower then a 230 matched
Rad Onc- 25 percent of US seniors with a step 1 of lower then a 230 matched
Ortho-23 percent of US Seniors with a step 1 of lower then a 230 matched
Neurosurg-29 percent of US seniors with a step 1 of lower then a 230 matched.

These other specialties like Neruosurg, Ortho, Rad Onc, are deemed as very competitive. Rads is just in line with those specialties. I don't buy the whole Rads is not as competitive compared to other fields like it once was argument.

I know that step 1 is ONLY 1 factor, but how else can you measure how hard it is for US seniors to get into across different medical schools and how else can one compare it to other fields?.....

Rads is still very competitive, maybe not like its glory days a few years back, but still very competitive. Its not like 30-40 percent of US seniors with a step 1 of lower then a 230 are getting in.....30-40 percent seems like to me that "a lot of people" are getting in with a step 1 in the 220s.

I am not sure which "charting outcomes" you are looking at, but it is certainly not NRMPs.

And that UTH page by Dr. Oldham is old and outdated. She also says on that same page that Radiology fills all their spots. Maybe a few years ago but certainly not the past couple of years. Regardless, it is ONE PD's opinion (which is apparently not set in stone since I have heard of people with "low" scores match at UTH). I too was nearly discouraged by that page... boy I am glad I ignored it.

Again, I will post my insight later.

 

[AlexMorph]

I wouldn't trust that UTH website for 1 second

 

[20172018MD]

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[xrevision]

I think you should spend more time learning how to read papers and how to apply the numbers to your population.

 

[tiger816]

Its very simple on how I calculated the percent of US seniors with particular board scores who matched for each specialty. Yes I used the correct NMRP charting outcomes.

All I did was take the number of US seniors total who matched into radiology (883 in 2011) and then I took the total number of US seniors who matched with a step 1 lower then 230. That means 115+56+24+10+3 = 208. Then 208/883 = Roughly 23 percent.

I did this same exact thing for all the specialties I talked about above.

I got the 883 value as n=883 on page 49 of the NMRP charting outcomes.

you're interpreting your data wrong. You should be comparing how many people matched with less than a 230 versus how many people applied with less than a 230. This is 208/237= 87.7%

So if your step score is less than a 230, you still have an 87 percent chance of matching somewhere. Just apply broadly.

 

[20172018MD]

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[Doctor D]

You will get in somewhere with an average board score if you apply broadly enough. There are lots of good low tier university programs as well as community programs that are within your reach. Your numbers are wrong, underestimating your chances by a lot. Congrats on choosing radiology.

 

[bayou]

^^ Thank-you. All these posts have given me some hope. I guess come Monday, I will finally have the courage to go and talk to the PD at my medical school's Rads Department. I was afraid that if I just went in there without a step 1 score, either the PD would laugh me out of the room or will tell me to come back if and only if I score a 230+ on step 1.

It seems like Dr. Oldham would have laughed at me until I left the room.

There is always hope my friend. Like the other poster said, 87% with less than a 230 find somewhere to go. Obviously, the better you do, the more comfortable you *might* feel (the whole process is crazy and there is always something to be anxious about haha).

I am from UTH, and I just have to say, Dr. Oldham is the best. She met with all the applicants multiple times, provided the food, and then met with each of us individually multiple times. She does have a serious view toward getting the best scores possible (because it really will help), and I guess it's a way of making sure everyone is treating the preparation for the application as seriously as possible. As you read through her info guide, though, rest assured that you really don't have to have a Pulitzer prize or whatever hyperbole was in there. 😀 It really has some good info in there, especially for some of us who felt completely lost in the process at first.

Good luck in your prep, and of course, do the best you can. Go meet with your PD when you can, just to get a feel for it. Surely they will (or should) appreciate a student showing genuine interest in their field.