Less reputable programs in competitive fields?

[yangster1996]

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Hey folks, are less reputable programs in competitive residencies (derm, Nsurg) more likely to take students with lower than average board scores? Or are all of these programs only open to top of the line scorers?

 

[PhillyMed777]

For derm it is not necessary that the highest scorers end at the best programs. Often times research and prestige of med school factor much more, as does connections and a touch of luck. As a result it's quite a mix. Some low ranking programs match extremely high scoring individuals that whatever "top" program would not interview.

 

[ndafife]

Hey folks, are less reputable programs in competitive residencies (derm, Nsurg) more likely to take students with lower than average board scores? Or are all of these programs only open to top of the line scorers?

Lowe than average meaning...? Lower than the average for the specialty, sure. That's why it's an average. Some are below and some are above. And I don't think it's too unreasonable to suggest that the people with below average Step 1 and research (again for the specialty itself) are at the less competitive programs.

But below average in general compared to all applicants? No. Unless you have some sort of compelling reason (aka a powerful friends/family or pretty significantly significant research)

 

[CidHighwind]

Depends. Many of the “less competitive” programs just take their own med school applicants. It’s not like rads where there’s a lot of less prestigious programs, even getting a derm spot in well-loved North Dakota (or any remote area) would be impressive.

 

[ndafife]

Depends. Many of the “less competitive” programs just take their own med school applicants. It’s not like rads where there’s a lot of less prestigious programs, even getting a derm spot in well-loved North Dakota would be impressive.

Especially considering there isn't a derm spot in North Dakota!

 

[longhaul3]

Even the top applicants can only take one spot each. Most people match in their desired specialty. Given these two facts (truisms, really) one can do the math.

 

[libertyyne]

resdency selection for competitive programs depends on much more than just step 1 scores. By the time you get an interview you have already passed the step 1 bar for being screened. I would say people that get in with low step scores have stellar applications besides that one data point in terms of letters/ research etc and it is hard to pin point if they ended up at MGH or state school U or somewhere in between.

 

[aldol16]

I would say people that get in with low step scores have stellar applications besides that one data point in terms of letters/ research etc and it is hard to pin point if they ended up at MGH or state school U or somewhere in between.

Yeah but there's a point where low is too low. PDs apply filters that automatically screen out by Step 1 score and if you're below that threshold, no matter how amazing your subjective components are, they likely won't be seen.

 

[libertyyne]

Yeah but there's a point where low is too low. PDs apply filters that automatically screen out by Step 1 score and if you're below that threshold, no matter how amazing your subjective components are, they likely won't be seen.

Yes, I am talking about low in terms of standards for competitive specialities. Like the applicants with 230's applying to derm with a 70% match rate. Did all of these applicants cluster into the bottom quartiles of derm programs? Probably not, they likely had pedigrees and research portfolios with phone calls made by influential people on their behalf to carry them over the line. Or the handful of people with <200-229. These applicants likely matched at their home programs or places where other aspects of their application or connections carried them.