Low Step 3 score....fellowship chances?

[Throwawaywoop]

So I just received my Step 3 score report, and while I'm grateful that I passed, it was by the skin of my teeth (score was 20x). For reference, Step 1 and Step 2 were both in the 240s. I had heard a million times that "as long as you pass you're okay," so while I wish I could have studied more than I had (about 2 months) for my exam at the end of February, I did not see the sense in delaying it because I had two months of difficult off-service rotations coming up after my exam during which I have little to no time to study at all. I am ultimately hoping to do a child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship, which I understand from threads on this forum is not at all competitive, but I would like to end up at a top academic program if possible. Would my very low Step 3 score hurt me considerably and shut me out of the top programs, and if so, what can I do about it? I have had good evals so far (though my intern class is very strong so I imagine everyone gets good evals), am well-liked by my PD, and am involved in a couple of research projects already.

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[SmallBird]

So I just received my Step 3 score report, and while I'm grateful that I passed, it was by the skin of my teeth (score was 20x). For reference, Step 1 and Step 2 were both in the 240s. I had heard a million times that "as long as you pass you're okay," so while I wish I could have studied more than I had (about 2 months) for my exam at the end of February, I did not see the sense in delaying it because I had two months of difficult off-service rotations coming up after my exam during which I have little to no time to study at all. I am ultimately hoping to do a child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship, which I understand from threads on this forum is not at all competitive, but I would like to end up at a top academic program if possible. Would my very low Step 3 score hurt me considerably and shut me out of the top programs, and if so, what can I do about it? I have had good evals so far (though my intern class is very strong so I imagine everyone gets good evals), am well-liked by my PD, and am involved in a couple of research projects already.

It won’t matter 🙂

 

[dassie]

So I just received my Step 3 score report, and while I'm grateful that I passed, it was by the skin of my teeth (score was 20x). For reference, Step 1 and Step 2 were both in the 240s. I had heard a million times that "as long as you pass you're okay," so while I wish I could have studied more than I had (about 2 months) for my exam at the end of February, I did not see the sense in delaying it because I had two months of difficult off-service rotations coming up after my exam during which I have little to no time to study at all. I am ultimately hoping to do a child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship, which I understand from threads on this forum is not at all competitive, but I would like to end up at a top academic program if possible. Would my very low Step 3 score hurt me considerably and shut me out of the top programs, and if so, what can I do about it? I have had good evals so far (though my intern class is very strong so I imagine everyone gets good evals), am well-liked by my PD, and am involved in a couple of research projects already.

I had similar step 1/2 scores as you and dropped about the same amount for my step 3. Still matched at my #1 for child. Literally nobody brought up my step scores or the drop.

 

[notdeadyet]

I literally forget Step 3 isn’t pass/fail until threads like these.

I’d consider fellowships that care about Step 3 scores to be on my to-avoid list. If it comes up in your job interview, I’d likewise shake their hand and ask if they validate for parking.

 

[MacDonaldTriad]

I have placed a little less than 100 residents into fellowships and only a hand full of times has someone asked me if I had their step III scores because they didn't have a copy. This tells me that only a small percentage of fellowships are anal enough to care. I don't even ask to see my resident's step III scores, I just need a copy of your license and I'm good. If they fail it becomes a thing, but what am I supposed to do with a low pass? Kick them out of the program or just feel disappointed in them?

 

[MedMan80]

Similar situation and matched #2 for child

 

[SourceOfDenial]

Didn’t have a single question about step 3 on interviews, and in recruiting applicants/reviewing for rank list Scores have never come up. Step I/Step 2(primarily that you pass on first try) does.