I know its competitiveness is going to rise, but even with that, what kind of step score should I aim for, and what extracurriculars should I engage in? Would psych-specific research help? Let's just assume that I stick with this interest.
I'm about to enter an MD school and I'm strongly interested in psych. What should I do?
- Thread starter scrapy
- Start date
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2014
- Messages
- 425
- Reaction score
- 129
You know nothing Jon snow
- Joined
- Oct 20, 2015
- Messages
- 2,531
- Reaction score
- 5,864
Just based on the 2018 charting outcomes stuff, the mean step 1 was 226 and mean research bucket was 4.8 (posters/presentations/abstracts/pubs).
1. I would shoot for 230+ on step... very doable. You’d be in a good spot for matching into psych with that
2. Look at your current research pedigree, how does it match up? A few extra projects won’t hurt but are not really necessary just to match in psych
3. ECs - no one cares, just do something you like to do if that’s what you want to do. Just make sure you don’t overload yourself, because the PD survey clearly indicates that test scores, grades, and evals are all >>>>>>> than ECs.
1. I would shoot for 230+ on step... very doable. You’d be in a good spot for matching into psych with that
2. Look at your current research pedigree, how does it match up? A few extra projects won’t hurt but are not really necessary just to match in psych
3. ECs - no one cares, just do something you like to do if that’s what you want to do. Just make sure you don’t overload yourself, because the PD survey clearly indicates that test scores, grades, and evals are all >>>>>>> than ECs.
- Joined
- Mar 5, 2015
- Messages
- 10,952
- Reaction score
- 22,510
Do well in school
Do well on step
Build relationships with Home program
Express interest early
Do research
The above is true for most if not every specialty.
Do well on step
Build relationships with Home program
Express interest early
Do research
The above is true for most if not every specialty.
Would you say there’s some kind of big risk in preparing for psych early?
- Joined
- Mar 5, 2015
- Messages
- 10,952
- Reaction score
- 22,510
What do you mean risk ?
No one has ever said, you should have done poorly in school and on board exams to qualify for this residency.
Nor will anyone say you shouldnt have published research in psych.
And as far as relationships and interest is concerned, People change their minds all the time.
The only risk is the opportunity cost in the sense that if you decide you want to do something else you could have spent that time doing something else. But how would you know that until you get to that point? Just go for it.
I think a lot of entering med students think that there is some sort of bias against psych in med school. Meanwhile it's become one of the most popular specialties and everyone goes through a phase where they consider it. There is no risk to psych.
