is class rank important?

[gentamicin]

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hi,

i'm just wondering how important class rank is in your application for gen surg? i have a class rank that is bordering between the 1st half and the 2nd half of the class. this is partly because my preclinical grades weren't that impressive. but my usmle score is mid 230s.

will my class rank hurt my application?

what programs would i still be competitive for?

any advice is appreciated. thanks.

 

[blu]

will my class rank hurt my application?

As far as I know, preclinical grades (and thus class rank) don't matter much in the grand scheme of things. It's a pattern people are looking for, and preclinical grades are only important if the patter holds up. A mid-230s grade should help significantly, but good clinical grades are even better. If you have good step 1 grade and solid clinical grades, preclinical grades won't matter at all.

Many schools don't even give preclinical grades any more (just pass/fail), and many schools shy away from ranking students. In addition, most schools who rank weigh clinical grades much more than preclinical grades in terms of ranking ... so if you're really ranked poorly, is it really just based on preclinical grades?

In any case, point is that there are lots of ways to make up for poor preclinical grades.

 

[Smurfette]

If you are in the middle third of your class with a 230+ USMLE, you are in good shape.

Apply to a broad range of programs (academic and community, blah blah blah, the old standard). I guarantee you will be surprised by some interviews you get, and surprised at some rejections you get....so apply to a range and see what happens. your Step I will open doors for you, and will keep you competitive at most programs. your class rank will hurt you a bit at the top-most programs, but it depends on how the program screens applicants as to whether they give you a shot or not.

Also, LORs are very important in GS. Get strong letters from known faculty if you can. These will only help you, and sometimes a LOR by an old buddy of a PD or a well-respected surgeon is all you need to get an interview.

 

[ILuvScut]

The fact that you are not AOA will hurt and eliminate you from most of the top programs.

If you are in the middle third of your class with a 230+ USMLE, you are in good shape.

Apply to a broad range of programs (academic and community, blah blah blah, the old standard). I guarantee you will be surprised by some interviews you get, and surprised at some rejections you get....so apply to a range and see what happens. your Step I will open doors for you, and will keep you competitive at most programs. your class rank will hurt you a bit at the top-most programs, but it depends on how the program screens applicants as to whether they give you a shot or not.

Also, LORs are very important in GS. Get strong letters from known faculty if you can. These will only help you, and sometimes a LOR by an old buddy of a PD or a well-respected surgeon is all you need to get an interview.

 

[Celiac Plexus]

The fact that you are not AOA will hurt and eliminate you from most of the top programs.

This is an exagerration. A few top programs *may* ding you if you are not AOA. But these same programs might ding you even if you are AOA.

Generally applications will get reviewed in their entirety if they make it past the inital screening criteria which varies from program to program. With a 230s board score and good clinical grades, it is likely the op will obtain interviews at a number of top programs.

Having said this, I know of at least one program that has a de facto cutoff for AOA since this program typically has more AOA applicants than interview spaces available. But with a 230ish board score and an otherwise solid app, it is likely the op will get some attention from top programs.

 

[traumasurgeon]

USMLE scores and honoring in Surgery and Medicine are more important. AOA is a plus.