Is evaluating a program by their board pass rate sensible?

[guacamoley]

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It seems to me that board pass rates are a reasonable metric of a program's curriculum and ability to train proficient pediatricians. I was surprised to see the published board pass rates for some of the programs I am looking at. For example:

Boston Combined Residency Program: 87%

as compared to lesser known programs

University of Virginia: 97%
Oregon Health and Science: 98%
UCLA: 95%

Any reasons for this discrepancy, or is this within the margin of error?

 

[twilightdoc]

It seems to me that board pass rates are a reasonable metric of a program's curriculum and ability to train proficient pediatricians. I was surprised to see the published board pass rates for some of the programs I am looking at. For example:
Boston Combined Residency Program: 87%
as compared to lesser known programs
University of Virginia: 97%
Oregon Health and Science: 98%
UCLA: 95%
Any reasons for this discrepancy, or is this within the margin of error?

If UCLA is a "lesser-known program", you must have a most impressive match list....
There are few metrics available for comparing programs, and none are perfect. It may be that some programs will preferentially "match" applicants with strong research credentials, and those don't necessarily translate into doing well on clinically-based standardized examinations. And it may be that, in some smaller "lesser known (sic)" programs, the program directors and other faculty have a better sense of how the residents are progressing in their clinical training and readiness to take the ABP exam. UCLA does have a strong tradition of excellence in medical education, and I am not surprised that their residents do so well. But I don't think that I would sweat a small difference in pass rate. You should look at the "big picture" when interviewing and evaluating a program and decide which ones seem like the best fit for your personality, your learning style, and your career aspirations.

 

[michigangirl]

it's within the margin of error, and you shouldn't pick a program based on board pass rate unless there's a huge difference. I have a theory that sometimes the residents at these "top" programs get lulled into a false sense of security for the boards since they're at an "awesome" program--seen this happen first-hand-- to be honest, you can be the smartest, most well-trained pediatric resident and still fail the boards easily-- it's a high yield exam which requires proper high-yield studying-- you can't just do three years of training and expect to sail in and pass. Requires a lot of high yield review, reading, and questions. There's a lot of threads out there about study formulas.

 

[guacamoley]

Thanks for the thoughts.

Certainly didn't mean this as a dig to any programs, I know all of these programs provide outstanding training. I was just curious about these numbers.

 

[babel]

I agree with twilightdoc and michigangirl - scores aren't everything, and a 10 point spread isn't something that should make or break a program for you. That being said, I used the pass rates back in August when I was deciding on which programs to apply to, and ended up weeding out a few places based on low scores (<67%).

And, another plug for UCLA (coming from a former west coaster looking to return) - it is quite a strong program, from what I can gather. But, it's a regional thing, I know - I am sure there are some CA applicants who automatically think that MGH is stronger program than BCRP, based on name recognition alone.

 

[generic]

I agree. From what I've heard about my own program, the rate is high-ish, but not 97%. Our PDs say that the people who fail do so because they didn't prepare adequately--most often they felt like they were already in good shape and could get by on their clinical experience. In reality, it sounds like (as with USMLE), the test will cover a bunch of things that you may not have learned even being a great resident in a busy hospital.

I remember interviewing at UCLA (and CHLA) and hearing about these awesome board pass rates, and noting that they did a really good job of preparing PGY-3's with review courses and semi-mandatory practice sessions and such.

 

[JMMH]

I think it's reasonable to use it as one of the factors in deciding but not let it overshadow other aspects of the program.

I also think it's more up to the individual to do well on the boards versus which residency they do--meaning if you are motivated to prepare and study, you'd probably pass the boards regardless of which program you go to.

 

[GiardiaLOOMBlia]

does anyone have the list of pass rate by program? the abp website had a pdf not too long ago but it's no longer there and i never saved it. thanks!

 

[Allergy]

https://www.abp.org/ABPWebStatic/#m....html&surl=/abpwebsite/resident/passrates.htm