ITE and Step scores

[NY172]

Now that the match is over, what is the consensus on CA1 ITE and step scores needed to be competitive in this environment? I honestly cannot find any data on this other than charting outcomes but that doesn’t address ITE.

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[gaspasser127]

The problem with pain fellowship is that applicants from a wide variety of specialties can apply. Even if you consider the most common specialties to go into pain, anesthesia and PMR, using ITE scores to compare the two applicants is extremely difficult because it is not comparing apples to apples. That’s why some programs do resort to using step scores as a marker of someone’s test taking ability and ability to pass board exams. I don’t think you need to have stellar step scores in order to have success with pain fellowship interviews but I think poor step scores will definitely hurt you. In terms of ITE scores only a few programs, the very competitive ones, tend to ask for them.

 

[jsammi245]

I still think pain programs will use step scores to filter. Unless things have changed from when I applied 2 years ago there is no way to upload your ITE scores on ERAS. However, some programs will ask you for both CA-1 and CA-2 scores via email but they are the minority. One told me to bring it on the day of the interview but didn't even bother to look at the scores. I also want to add at the time I did email the programs if they needed a copy of my ITE scores and some didn't even want them.

 

[NY172]

Any idea what the step score cutoff is for majority of programs?

 

[gaspasser127]

Any idea what the step score cutoff is for majority of programs?

Impossible to know. Huge variation - some MAY have step cut offs while others (most?) probably just factor in step scores as part of the complete review of your application. At this point there’s nothing you can do about your step scores (whether good or bad) so no point in stressing about it.

 

[gotosleep1098]

i think they still matter very much and do play a role as a cutoff for some places, that said i think you can still get some decent interviews if you do well on the ITE's at-least based on the data seems like some people got top name programs even w lower step scores.

Also i think in general its better to have higher scores, it seems like the old days of having 8 interviews or so was enough for a match and the you'll match your top 5 or not at all is long gone. Just my assumptions based on what we saw this cycle, many more people having tons of interviews for same number of spots. I know of people with 14+ interviews and good ITE who did not match last cycle, although its hard to say what other factors were at play. maybe they dont do well on zoom? who knows ?

 

[jqueb29]

I think ITE scores definitely play a big role. I had elite Step scores vs pretty much exactly average ITE scores (everything else on my application was at least above average, including letters), and my interview/match process overall was more reflective of an average applicant as opposed to an elite one. Granted, this is in an even more competitive than usual pain cycle, but I had a ton of residency interviews at “big name” institutions, and definitely not the same situation for fellowship. Still quite happy with my match, but it was very different.