Low step 1 - Chance at top programs in less competitive fields?

[stillfiguringitout]

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[Slack3r]

Even "less competitive" fields are competitive at the top. Better start studying for step 2.

 

[JP2740]

That score would probably get you screened out of most top IM programs. That's all I could really attest to.

 

[Ashley_Green1988]

Hi, I've been a regular follower and occasional contributor on SDN for several years but created a new account for anonymity.

Medical school: Top 40 MD
Pre-clinical: School is P/F, had to retake 2 exams as a first year (on my transcript it'll show up that I failed and then passed)
Step 1: 209 🙁
Clinical: Honors in psych and family, high pass in pediatrics and ob/gyn (due to shelf score, clinical score of honors)

I'm wary of saying too much more and thereby identifying myself. I know this doesn't mean much without examples, but the rest of my application will be strong, especially in regards to LOR, ECs, research, and general life experiences.

I've loved all of my rotations thus far and am still deciding on a field. I will most likely be choosing between family, psych, or peds. I know my numbers aren't the greatest, but I'll be applying into less competitive fields. I know I will match so long as I apply broadly.

Here's my question, do I have a chance at top academic programs particularly in the northeast?

First of all I want to say that I think it is absurd that a single theory exam basically dictates the path your medical career takes but that's another issue and won't help you here.

I was at a medical conference recently and had a chance to have a long chat with a physician who sits on the selection committee for one of the big tertiary centre hospitals in the northeast. I won't give too many details as I don't want to identify him on a public forum out of courtesy.

I'm an Australian student hoping to eventually practice in America as my boyfriend is American, but anyway the advice he gave me was general and applies to both IMGs and domestics. He said (at the prestigious hospitals especially) you get so many applications that the very first thing you generally do is look at their USMLE Step 1 score. If it doesn't pass a hurdle he doesn't bother reading on to see if other things make up for it - it just goes in the bin. So idk ..given that your Step 1 score is quite low - on the face of it I don't think your chances are that great, unfortunately. But that's just one anecdotal story and I don't live in America so take it with a bucket-load of salt. For what it's worth I think the USMLE is a lousy assessment of how good you will be as a doctor.

 

[alpinism]

Hi, I've been a regular follower and occasional contributor on SDN for several years but created a new account for anonymity.

Medical school: Top 40 MD
Pre-clinical: School is P/F, had to retake 2 exams as a first year (on my transcript it'll show up that I failed and then passed)
Step 1: 209 🙁
Clinical: Honors in psych and family, high pass in pediatrics and ob/gyn (due to shelf score, clinical score of honors)

I'm wary of saying too much more and thereby identifying myself. I know this doesn't mean much without examples, but the rest of my application will be strong, especially in regards to LOR, ECs, research, and general life experiences.

I've loved all of my rotations thus far and am still deciding on a field. I will most likely be choosing between family, psych, or peds. I know my numbers aren't the greatest, but I'll be applying into less competitive fields. I know I will match so long as I apply broadly.

Here's my question, do I have a chance at top academic programs particularly in the northeast?

Agree with everyone else.

Top academic programs in any field (including Family, Psych, and Peds) are still very competitive.

Even though its Peds for example, top programs (CHOP/Boston/Cincinnati) will recruit the best applicants with high steps and grades comparable to ortho and plastics.

To be brutally honest, your step 1 score and 1st year retakes will probably get you screened out.

That being said, if you apply broadly you should still be able to get into a solid mid-tier academic program in a specific region such as the northeast.

Focus on studying for step 2 if you want to improve your chances.

 

[J ROD]

just remember being on the bottom is not always a bad thing and being in the middle can feel just as good.

 

[Psai]

just remember being on the bottom is not always a bad thing and being in the middle can feel just as good.

am a bottom, can confirm

 

[ace12345]

This is an immensely broad question, but what is the point of attending these large research institution aside from 1) Research opportunities for those that are interested (I think many more apply than are actually interested in this) and 2) Lay person prestige? Certainly it can't be money, as academic doc's make quite a bit less than their more-clinically oriented counterparts. I've heard a lot, but I'm still confused on this one.

 

[Instatewaiter]

Hi, I've been a regular follower and occasional contributor on SDN for several years but created a new account for anonymity.

Medical school: Top 40 MD
Pre-clinical: School is P/F, had to retake 2 exams as a first year (on my transcript it'll show up that I failed and then passed)
Step 1: 209 🙁
Clinical: Honors in psych and family, high pass in pediatrics and ob/gyn (due to shelf score, clinical score of honors)

I'm wary of saying too much more and thereby identifying myself. I know this doesn't mean much without examples, but the rest of my application will be strong, especially in regards to LOR, ECs, research, and general life experiences.

I've loved all of my rotations thus far and am still deciding on a field. I will most likely be choosing between family, psych, or peds. I know my numbers aren't the greatest, but I'll be applying into less competitive fields. I know I will match so long as I apply broadly.

Here's my question, do I have a chance at top academic programs particularly in the northeast?

I can really only speak for IM but it seems to be similar for peds. The top programs in the northeast like Columbia, MGH and the Brigham tend to take people who have essentially flawless academic records (basically all honors, AOA, Step 1~240s). Psych is a little more foregiving but you need to have done something spectacular to make up for your tarnished academic record.

You had to retake 2 courses and then your step 1 score is lack luster. All you can do is take step 2 early and knock it out of the park and apply broadly

 

[operaman]

You have quite an uphill battle. I think your only shot would be away rotations and then being a rockstar while you're there.

Your step 1 is not the limiting factor, the failures are. Med students only fail for a handful of really big reasons. Hiring someone with these red flags is a huge risk for a program.

 

[Greenberg702]

This is an immensely broad question, but what is the point of attending these large research institution aside from 1) Research opportunities for those that are interested (I think many more apply than are actually interested in this) and 2) Lay person prestige? Certainly it can't be money, as academic doc's make quite a bit less than their more-clinically oriented counterparts. I've heard a lot, but I'm still confused on this one.

If its peds or IM, a top academic program would help you match into a desired subspecialty (like GI, which is hyper competitive). For other specialties, a big name can open doors around the country (bigger name attendings calling for you) and for fields that are very saturated, like rads, having a huge name will absolutely help you break into a coveted group or location (at least that's what they say on the rads forums). It seems as though the more saturated a field is, the more your training pedigree matters.