Is this fear irrational?

[auburnO5]

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I would say that I am a little above average (as far as pre-clerkship grades/overall knowledge goes), but I am terrified that I will bomb Step 1. I'm confident that I will pass, just worried that my score will be on the low side.

Let me preface this by saying I have nothing against Family medicine and primary care doctors, but I am afraid that this will basically be my only option after doing poorly on Step 1. Which will lead to disappointment in myself, disappointment from friends, family, etc.. Not to mention I have a lot of debt, so income is just another worry.

I am very practical, able to think quickly, good critical thinking, etc., and I really think that I will do very well during clerkships. I can just see myself having a very underwhelming Step 1 score.

I mean what happens when you score a 210? Are you forced into pysch or primary care? Are there any other options?



/freakout

 

[VisionaryTics]

I would say that I am a little above average (as far as pre-clerkship grades/overall knowledge goes), but I am terrified that I will bomb Step 1. I'm confident that I will pass, just worried that my score will be on the low side.

Let me preface this by saying I have nothing against Family medicine and primary care doctors, but I am afraid that this will basically be my only option after doing poorly on Step 1. Which will lead to disappointment in myself, disappointment from friends, family, etc.. Not to mention I have a lot of debt, so income is just another worry.

I am very practical, able to think quickly, good critical thinking, etc., and I really think that I will do very well during clerkships. I can just see myself having a very underwhelming Step 1 score.

I mean what happens when you score a 210? Are you forced into pysch or primary care? Are there any other options?



/freakout

While I can't speak to your ability to score above a 210 (you could be an idiot, for all I know), 121 out of 129 US allopathic seniors who applied to anesthesiology with step 1 scores between 200 and 210 matched.

Linky

 

[yohimshe]

I would say that I am a little above average (as far as pre-clerkship grades/overall knowledge goes), but I am terrified that I will bomb Step 1. I'm confident that I will pass, just worried that my score will be on the low side.

Let me preface this by saying I have nothing against Family medicine and primary care doctors, but I am afraid that this will basically be my only option after doing poorly on Step 1. Which will lead to disappointment in myself, disappointment from friends, family, etc.. Not to mention I have a lot of debt, so income is just another worry.

I am very practical, able to think quickly, good critical thinking, etc., and I really think that I will do very well during clerkships. I can just see myself having a very underwhelming Step 1 score.

I mean what happens when you score a 210? Are you forced into pysch or primary care? Are there any other options?



/freakout

no need to worry. assuming you will do avg to poor on step 1, which you can easily avoid with proper preparation, many people still match into their specialty of choice with low scores. the caveat is it my not be your top program/location.

 

[auburnO5]

no need to worry. assuming you will do avg to poor on step 1, which you can easily avoid with proper preparation, many people still match into their specialty of choice with low scores. the caveat is it my not be your top program/location.

Thanks, this is the type of info I am looking for.

What exactly makes a bad program or location?

 

[Phyozo]

I would say that I am a little above average (as far as pre-clerkship grades/overall knowledge goes), but I am terrified that I will bomb Step 1. I'm confident that I will pass, just worried that my score will be on the low side.

Let me preface this by saying I have nothing against Family medicine and primary care doctors, but I am afraid that this will basically be my only option after doing poorly on Step 1. Which will lead to disappointment in myself, disappointment from friends, family, etc.. Not to mention I have a lot of debt, so income is just another worry.

I am very practical, able to think quickly, good critical thinking, etc., and I really think that I will do very well during clerkships. I can just see myself having a very underwhelming Step 1 score.

I mean what happens when you score a 210? Are you forced into pysch or primary care? Are there any other options?



/freakout

There's no magic to doing well on step1, it's just putting the hours of study in. Once you take a few practice tests and really start getting your studying into high gear, these fears will lessen. I attribute a score in the 210 range to some combination of inadequate prep time, studying with the wrong materials (either too in-depth, not in-depth enough, or too much low yield info), not doing enough (high yield) practice questions, being really really bad at English, or some sort of physical/mental illness/handicap.

And yes, people can match into all sorts of specialties with low step1 scores...just likely not Derm or Rad/Onc.

 

[jlimback]

What exactly makes a bad program or location?

This is largely biased, based on your preferences. Essentially, if you're not a fan of rural, then a rural program would be a bad one. If you're not into long hours, research, and teaching, a program with an academic focus may not be what you're looking for.

As was said earlier, put in the time now, so you won't have to worry about settling. If push comes to shove, and you aren't confident about matching where you want to match, focus your application on programs that have the most of those things that made you like your top choices. It's not common to hear of doctors "forced" into any field.

 

[upright]

 

[auburnO5]

As was said earlier, put in the time now, so you won't have to worry about settling. If push comes to shove, and you aren't confident about matching where you want to match, focus your application on programs that have the most of those things that made you like your top choices. It's not common to hear of doctors "forced" into any field.

Interesting. Well, I have exactly 2 months until Step 1, hopefully that is enough time.

 

[Valadi]

I've heard of people matching plastics with scores around there. Again, they're the exception, but know doors don't shut everywhere. If you don't do great on your steps kill your clerkships and research and you'll still have plenty of choices.

A 210 is the bottom 16-20% of step 1 scores. I doubt that all 20% are winding up in South Dakota for FM.

 

[JWP07]

So let me get this straight. For anesthesiology, ALL 89 DO students (AOA membership?) that applied matched to a residency? It says 0 were unmatched, so I don't get why they say DO students have such a hard time to matching.

 

[FSU2013]

Take that anxiety - use it - study harder.

You get 1 shot, so do your best and cross that bridge when you come to it.

Good luck.

 

[NickNaylor]

So let me get this straight. For anesthesiology, ALL 89 DO students (AOA membership?) that applied matched to a residency? It says 0 were unmatched, so I don't get why they say DO students have such a hard time to matching.

I believe AOA in this context is referring to Alpha Omega Alpha, an honor society. I didn't look at the report, though.

 

[JWP07]

I believe AOA in this context is referring to Alpha Omega Alpha, an honor society. I didn't look at the report, though.

That makes sense. Thanks!

 

[dd128]

You get 1 shot, so do your best and cross that bridge when you come to it.

Step 1 isn't the end all be all it use to be. Of course it is still extremely important and a great step 1 can make your life a lot easier when applying, but step 2 is becoming much more important. And rightly so, at least in my opinion (It's a much better indicator of clinical knowledge). So a not so great step 1 can have some ground made up with step 2 if necessary.

 

[drizzt3117]

Disagree about step 2 being that useful. A lot of people don't even take it before match and residency programs couldn't care less (except UCSF, who only wants you to pass before they rank you).

 

[dd128]

Disagree about step 2 being that useful. A lot of people don't even take it before match and residency programs couldn't care less (except UCSF, who only wants you to pass before they rank you).

The vast majority of our class took it early in the season. We were highly encouraged by student affairs to take it early. Everyone I know was pretty much done with CK by christmas time. And residency programs do care about it.

 

[Valadi]

I believe AOA in this context is referring to Alpha Omega Alpha, an honor society. I didn't look at the report, though.

Pretty sure how AOA was used in the report with the DO students was American Osteopathic Association...

Could be wrong.

 

[eagle34]

Disagree about step 2 being that useful. A lot of people don't even take it before match and residency programs couldn't care less (except UCSF, who only wants you to pass before they rank you).

Our IM residency director told us that he views step 2 now as more important than step 1, because it shows whether the applicant can think clinically versus knowing the glycosis. Step 2 is also important when Step 1 is below average. He was also saying how many residencies (at least IM, that's what he was talking about) want to see Step 2 scores before inviting for an interview.

 

[Phyozo]

Our IM residency director told us that he views step 2 now as more important than step 1, because it shows whether the applicant can think clinically versus knowing the glycosis. Step 2 is also important when Step 1 is below average. He was also saying how many residencies (at least IM, that's what he was talking about) want to see Step 2 scores before inviting for an interview.

I've been hearing this as well in internal medicine and it may be a unique phenomenon to this particular field. A lot of other specialties emphasize step 1 scores though and barring huge drop-offs in step2, don't really take much note of it.

 

[MilkmanAl]

A 210 is the bottom 16-20% of step 1 scores. I doubt that all 20% are winding up in South Dakota for FM.

The average when I took it was 221 with a SD of 24. That'd put a 210 at about 30th percentile or so. That actually reinforces your point

 

[eagle34]

I've been hearing this as well in internal medicine and it may be a unique phenomenon to this particular field. A lot of other specialties emphasize step 1 scores though and barring huge drop-offs in step2, don't really take much note of it.

Agreed, he did make it seem like IM cares a lot more about Step 2 than other fields. No matter what, if you do poorly/below average on Step 1, you need to make it up with Step 2, no matter what field you're going into.

 

[2012mdc]

The vast majority of our class took it early in the season. We were highly encouraged by student affairs to take it early. Everyone I know was pretty much done with CK by christmas time. And residency programs do care about it.

It varies by specialty. Radiology programs didn't care at all about Step 2 but I had a few prelim programs ask about it.

I can understand why Step 2 would be seen as important by IM but overall Step 1 is still the most important, especially when you do well. Almost every program commented on my Step 1 and no one even asked about Step 2. The range of programs includes top 5 academic programs and smaller community programs.

 

[Mr Cookie Pants]

Don't stress too much. Stress enough. A 210 still gets you in to a ton of mid range specialties and programs. Yes, Neurosurgery, Plastics, Ortho, Derm, Rad Onc are out, but you can do IM, Surg, Rads, Gas, FM, OB. You still get to be an American doctor. Life could be worse. And here in SD land where eveyrone is special, just realize that 30% of people would trade you for that 210. And 90+% of America would trade to be in your shoes. You can ameliorate the situation by doing better though.

 

[Longshanks]

Pretty sure how AOA was used in the report with the DO students was American Osteopathic Association...

Could be wrong.

In the NRMP report, it is absolutely referring to Alpha Omega Alpha honor society members. DO applicants are referred to as non-LCME U.S. applicants or independent applicants. The pie chart at the beginning has them listed separately, but in the rest of the graphs I believe the are grouped with independent applicants.

 

[drizzt3117]

I've been hearing this as well in internal medicine and it may be a unique phenomenon to this particular field. A lot of other specialties emphasize step 1 scores though and barring huge drop-offs in step2, don't really take much note of it.

I got ~285 on step 2, and not a single interviewer at a single radiology program mentioned anything about it. Many of my friends haven't even taken it. The only reason I even took the test before match was because UCSF requires it to rank you. I wouldn't generalize and say it's becoming more important everywhere because in my experience and those from trail acquaintances, that's not true. Two of my friends doing neurosurg just took it, and one doing IM. Apparently Hopkins, Wash U, BWH, MGH, and UCSF were cool with the IM guy just having taken step 1 before offering him interviews.

 

[Phyozo]

I got ~285 on step 2, and not a single interviewer at a single radiology program mentioned anything about it. Many of my friends haven't even taken it. The only reason I even took the test before match was because UCSF requires it to rank you. I wouldn't generalize and say it's becoming more important everywhere because in my experience and those from trail acquaintances, that's not true. Two of my friends doing neurosurg just took it, and one doing IM. Apparently Hopkins, Wash U, BWH, MGH, and UCSF were cool with the IM guy just having taken step 1 before offering him interviews.

Read my post again - I didn't say step2 it's becoming more important everywhere...I said it tends to be more valued in internal medicine but that most other specialties (including radiology) tend to just look at step1.

Anyway my point is that we agree. Also, I want to underscore that UCSF requires step2 to rank you so if you're gunning for that one, make sure you take step2 earlier.

 

[drizzt3117]

Read my post again - I didn't say step2 it's becoming more important everywhere...I said it tends to be more valued in internal medicine but that most other specialties (including radiology) tend to just look at step1.

Anyway my point is that we agree. Also, I want to underscore that UCSF requires step2 to rank you so if you're gunning for that one, make sure you take step2 earlier.

I quoted your post but I was more replying to the other guy.

 

[eagle34]

I got ~285 on step 2, and not a single interviewer at a single radiology program mentioned anything about it. Many of my friends haven't even taken it. The only reason I even took the test before match was because UCSF requires it to rank you. I wouldn't generalize and say it's becoming more important everywhere because in my experience and those from trail acquaintances, that's not true. Two of my friends doing neurosurg just took it, and one doing IM. Apparently Hopkins, Wash U, BWH, MGH, and UCSF were cool with the IM guy just having taken step 1 before offering him interviews.

I was only talking about IM because that's what I heard from our RD. Also, as he said, if you did well in Step 1, then they expect you to do as equally well on Step 2 so Step 2 then becomes not important if you haven't taken it yet. The other possibilities when Step 2 becomes more important is when you did average or below average on Step 1 - then, they want to see an improvement on Step 2 and that new score is more important.
As I said, this is from one RD talking about trends that he has seen in IM programs over the last few years, so don't try to generalize this to every program and every specialty.

 

[VenusinFurs]

Stop freaking out about your step 1 score before you've even started practicing for it. You are a silly.

 

[auburnO5]

Stop freaking out about your step 1 score before you've even started practicing for it. You are a silly.

What is this even supposed to mean?

Right now I'm consistently scoring below 50% on UWorld.... family medicine here I come

 

[bamtuba]

What is this even supposed to mean?

Right now I'm consistently scoring below 50% on UWorld.... family medicine here I come

Hey! Me too! Save me a seat at the interview table...

Seriously though, I've noticed a huge difference in my ability to get more answers correct on these questions as I've done more and more of them to get the "style" of them down.

Most of the questions aren't really that tough once you start seeing how they are asking them. It has also helped me to figure out what I need to start reviewing; it seems to help with studying more efficiently, IMO.

Just keep going and we'll all get through this one way or another.

 

[Chakrabs]

Holy Christ dude. Get a grip. Uworld questions are hard, and you're months away from the real deal. Keep hitting the books and doing questions and you'll see your score rise. You're not Athena springing from Zeus' head fully formed. It takes time and perseverence. At this rate you're going to burn out.

 

[VenusinFurs]

What is this even supposed to mean?

Right now I'm consistently scoring below 50% on UWorld.... family medicine here I come

Well, maybe I was a dumbo for waiting to start UWorld until AFTER I'd finished Path and Pharm.

If you're scoring close to 50% ALREADY you're going to get a tremendous score.

 

[mybubbles14]

What is this even supposed to mean?

Right now I'm consistently scoring below 50% on UWorld.... family medicine here I come

I feel the same way...because I'm interested in a specialty that has an incredibly high average. However, there is still time! Just keep doing questions, reviewing and reading the explanations. I felt like I was bombing exams with scores in 50%, but I'm not finished with M2 coursework and I also haven't started any solid reviewing. I put in about a day and a half of solid micro review w/ questions because I was freaking out by my abysmal scores (30-40% anytime there was a ton of micro like with the pulmonary section)...only got through about half of the FA section with Kaplan, but my percentages went up to like 65-67%. Sooo +1 to what another poster said. Use that anxiety and channel it into motivation to study your butt off. I know I still have a long way to go, but I'm slowly getting more confident that I will get to where I need to be if I continue to put in the work. It's extremely difficult for me to recognize that at times, because I'm still juggling coursework. However, despite my low percentages I know that I am learning. I won't move on to the next question until I understand the correct answer, all the wrong answers, and clues/keywords in the question stem that should've helped me arrive to the correct answer. Continue reviewing old courses and things should get better.

 

[2012mdc]

What is this even supposed to mean?

Right now I'm consistently scoring below 50% on UWorld.... family medicine here I come

Your UW% means little right now. It should be used as a learning tool and not an assessment. Obviously there is more material for you to learn but practice test taking strategy/skills as well.