Mentioning Test Anxiety During Residency Interviews

[DrGhunda]

Hey, guys I'm a 4th year med student at an American medical school. Throughout my medical school career exams have been very hard to come by, during my first two years I barely passed most of my classes, I never failed one though. During third year, I missed passing my surgery shelf by one point, I made it up and passed though. I als passed all my other shelf exams with lower scores, just like in my first and second years.

I also got a low passing score (195) on Step 1 and took Step 2 recently and am awaiting my score, but to be honest I think it's gonna be more of the same (low passing). The thing is though, when I'm on the wards I do really well. My preceptors and my patients really like me. A lot of my classmates don't know the exam struggles that I've been through because they see me as this baller during rounds. I honestly think my exam problems have a TON to do with pre-test anxiety, it's ridiculous how tense I get, and I manage to make dumb mistakes on exams ALL the time.

Anyway, what do you guys think of me mentioning this during my residency interviews (provided I get any). I'm very interested in what you advice you have and I thank you in advance. Oh, and sorry for the long post.

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[mediumwhitecoat]

i'd be interested to hear some answers to this as well. i am in a similar boat (200 step 1, taking step 2 in a week, usually a few points below median in class/clerkship grades, but good evals) and trying to match into a speciality which seems to be getting more competitive by the year.

 

[SoundofSilver]

I probably wouldn't mention it. The people here who have had experience applying to residencies will give you a better answer than I can, but my gut instinct just says don't mention it.

 

[Wordead]

Why don't you look at this from the interviewer's standpoint - what's the first thing that's going to run through someone's mind when they say I know the material really well, I swear, everyone on the wards loves me - I just don't take tests well!

 

[link2swim06]

Why don't you look at this from the interviewer's standpoint - what's the first thing that's going to run through someone's mind when they say I know the material really well, I swear, everyone on the wards loves me - I just don't take tests well!

If this was backed by awesome LORs and rotation grades I think the interviewer might agree with you. If your rotation grades are poor too, then...

 

[DrGhunda]

If this was backed by awesome LORs and rotation grades I think the interviewer might agree with you. If your rotation grades are poor too, then...

Thanks for the replies. As far as my rotations go, I've actually gotten "Honors" or "High Pass" for most of my subjective evaluations, but I tend to barely pass the shelf the exams, so my overall grade for the rotations drop down to just "Pass." This has happened with all of my rotations except for one, in which I managed to do well enough on the exam to get a "High Pass."

 

[Wordead]

If this was backed by awesome LORs and rotation grades I think the interviewer might agree with you. If your rotation grades are poor too, then...

Even then...I mean, to get into med school you had to take the MCAT. I really don't think that's going to fly at residency interviews. You're an adult. If you have anxiety problems that are that debilitating, you should probably have had looked into that sometime in the last 4 years not bring it up during residency interviews, you know?

And it's not as though standardized tests suddenly disappear...you still have to do tests in residency, certification, re-certification...

I don't know, if even your clinicals are just passes...it sounds like a major uphill battle to me. You also never said what you were trying to match in. You'd probably be fine for some residencies.

 

[link2swim06]

Even then...I mean, to get into med school you had to take the MCAT. I really don't think that's going to fly at residency interviews. You're an adult. If you have anxiety problems that are that debilitating, you should probably have had looked into that sometime in the last 4 years not bring it up during residency interviews, you know?

And it's not as though standardized tests suddenly disappear...you still have to do tests in residency, certification, re-certification...

I don't know, if even your clinicals are just passes...it sounds like a major uphill battle to me. You also never said what you were trying to match in. You'd probably be fine for some residencies.

I am not saying it would give him "a free pass"...what I am saying is that standardized tests don't precisely measure your knowledge base. There is a some amount of variation based on how good of a test taker you are...

OP I wouldn't even bring it up unless they ask you in an interview. Show off your strengths not your weaknesses.

 

[Wordead]

I am not saying it would give him "a free pass"...what I am saying is that standardized tests don't precisely measure your knowledge base. There is a some amount of variation based on how good of a test taker you are...

OP I wouldn't even bring it up unless they ask you in an interview. Show off your strengths not your weaknesses.

Sure, there's variation, and I'm sure some students don't test well. But how is a PD going to differentiate between that and someone who slacked off and is lying?

But yeah I agree with your advice.

 

[jdh71]

I am not saying it would give him "a free pass"...what I am saying is that standardized tests don't precisely measure your knowledge base. There is a some amount of variation based on how good of a test taker you are...

Irrelevant. Doesn't matter.

What matters to a program director is 1) can this kid pass step three?? (in some states you have to pass step three in order to continue residency, some you do not) and 2) can this kid pass boards, or will he screw up the program's outstanding board pass rate because he can't get his **** together??

All things being equal his spot goes to someone else. Why risk it when you don't have to.

OP I wouldn't even bring it up unless they ask you in an interview. Show off your strengths not your weaknesses.

OP does need to bring it up. It needs to be addressed and OP needs to tell those interested parties why he's not going to **** up the next few sets of important standardized tests - what his plan is, how it has worked, and why he thinks it will continue to work.

 

[link2swim06]

Irrelevant. Doesn't matter.

What matters to a program director is 1) can this kid pass step three?? (in some states you have to pass step three in order to continue residency, some you do not) and 2) can this kid pass boards, or will he screw up the program's outstanding board pass rate because he can't get his **** together??

All things being equal his spot goes to someone else. Why risk it when you don't have to.



OP does need to bring it up. It needs to be addressed and OP needs to tell those interested parties why he's not going to **** up the next few sets of important standardized tests - what his plan is, how it has worked, and why he thinks it will continue to work.

Statistically the chance of failing step 3 after passing step 1, 2 and every shelf first try is extremely low.

Heck, there are alot of specialties he IS NEARLY AVERAGE. According to your advice half of the family med/psych interviews should be people proactively explaining their plan not to fail?? I don't agree with this.

Obviously your last point is true, scores do matter in ranking applicants...but its not like he has failed anything or even for that matter was within a few points of failing anything. Also per program director surveys LOR do have a significant impact on ranking too...if he was awesome in clinic and had appropriate letters to support that, then his ranking would be helped.

My opinion is bringing up the step 1 score is a poor use of interview time...the scores will speak for themselves. If you "made a plan" it will be obvious in your most recent score (step 2?). Otherwise, it seems a little fake to me to say "well I passed a dozen tests in the past two years but here is my new plan to not fail future boards..."

 

[DrSnips]

As those above said, do not bring it up. Saying that you get test anxiety that negatively affects your performance only raises the question of what will happen in other high-pressure situations? Will the anxiety of leading a code prevent you from doing an effective job?

It sounds like you passed almost everything on the first try, I doubt most interviewers will force you to "explain yourself". Your scores are what they are, hopefully some kick-ass evals from 3rd year will make up for it. Good luck.

 

[jdh71]

Statistically the chance of failing step 3 after passing step 1, 2 and every shelf first try is extremely low.

Heck, there are alot of specialties he IS NEARLY AVERAGE. According to your advice half of the family med/psych interviews should be people proactively explaining their plan not to fail?? I don't agree with this.

Obviously your last point is true, scores do matter in ranking applicants...but its not like he has failed anything or even for that matter was within a few points of failing anything. Also per program director surveys LOR do have a significant impact on ranking too...if he was awesome in clinic and had appropriate letters to support that, then his ranking would be helped.

My opinion is bringing up the step 1 score is a poor use of interview time...the scores will speak for themselves. If you "made a plan" it will be obvious in your most recent score (step 2?). Otherwise, it seems a little fake to me to say "well I passed a dozen tests in the past two years but here is my new plan to not fail future boards..."

Your points are all irrelevant but . . .

Ok.

I've only sat on residency and fellowship review committees.

I don't know what I'm talking about.

Please disregard my advice and do it your way.

Good job.

Continue.

Signing off.

 

[link2swim06]

Your points are all irrelevant but . . .

Ok.

I've only sat on residency and fellowship review committees.

I don't know what I'm talking about.

Please disregard my advice and do it your way.

Good job.

Continue.

Signing off.

Irrelevant?? If you say so... 🙄