This is the story... I can never finish standardized tests on time and end up doing badly on them. I didn't have any difficulties in my first two years of med school but have failed step 1 on first attempt and got a 215 on the second attempt. On my clinical rotations we have to get a certain number on the NBME in order to pass the course and I failed two of my nbme's. I retook them and passed and passed the overall rotation but the fact that I failed the test will show up on my mpse probably. My question is do I even have a chance at surgery. I don't care what program I go to or how low tier it is but will I even have a chance at those programs. My second choice would be internal medicine but I would really prefer to do surgery. Does anyone know of anybody in the same situation or advice.
To be an excellent surgeon you have to have shown evidence of having mastered medicine, i.e. have "good fundamentals" like good board scores. Now, I know many students who had just "average" board scores, i.e. who never failed any of the licensing examinations and they were still worried about matching in surgery and many did not.
Realize that most entering third years in your shoes would go gung-ho on clinicals and try to honor them to "redeem" themselves . . . apparently however you failed two shelf exams and only got pass in most clerkships I am guessing. So you haven't show that you can do excellent work yet, just that you can scrap by and pass. I don't see surgery in your future as it has, sadly for you, become very competitive with the 80-hr work rule attracting a lot of higher quality candidates each year. Maybe if you got honors in the surgery clerkship you could possibly apply to surgery residencies with a better chance, but absent that I would say you chances are very slim.
If you only got a pass in surgery then I would consider applying to other specialties such as family practice which has some surgical procedures. A LOT of brainiacs go into internal medicine and you would most likely be at a lower-tier place for internal medicine which if it isn't your first choice might be painful, i.e. there is a big difference between being in the OR each day and doing endless rounds in internal medicine.
I would apply to a large number of family practice residencies in your shoes as FP's can do a lot of outpatient procedures, . . . Most people I have met who were successful with surgery were gung-ho about surgery and did what was necessary to secure a surgical residency, i.e. get excellent board scores and great evaluations/honors on the surgery rotation, I haven't seen many surgery residency applicants who talked about a "second choice" as most wouldn't be happy not doing surgery. I.e. if you really wanted surgery you would be planning to do a surgery preliminary year if you don't get a categorical surgery spot, instead you are talking about internal medicine residency and asking if it is time to think about things other than surgery . . .
Of course, I would see if WingedScapula has any advice as she is a surgeon at a surgical residency program and can give advice about how competitive it is these days and what to do to "redeem" yourself . . .
