I'm a 2nd year, and I have horrible grades (I've failed one of my basic science courses - cardio/pulmonary/endo/ENT core, which I will be remediating this summer). My class rank is subsequently pretty low.
While I've yet to take Step 1, I've always had this pattern of sub-par grades and extremely high scores on standardized tests (always >90th %ile, including the MCAT). This has been true since junior high and carried me into medical school. I taught Kaplan so I know there is a pretty high correlation between MCAT and USMLE scores, and so on, so I figure I have a fair shot, with appropriate preparation, to score above average on Step 1. From my friends who are M3's and M4's they've told me that largely clerkship grades at my school place more importance on how well you interact with the team, that you care for your patients, that you show a willingness to learn, and not necessarily how much you know (other than the shelf exams, which are still important - but again, standardized tests I tend to do well on).
I'm 100% sure that whatever I go into I want to work with pediatric populations and I'm 95% sure that I want to go into a pediatric residency, and eventually a fellowship. My main concern is getting a fellowship - how competitive are they in pediatrics? Assuming that I have even just above average USMLE scores on all steps, will my pre-clinical grades matter?
I've searched the forums, and saw some of the data that suggests that other than EM, most fellowship fields have fewer US applicants than spots, so it would seem that would be an advantage. I'm most interested in cardio right now, but that can and probably will change over the next two years.
Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!
While I've yet to take Step 1, I've always had this pattern of sub-par grades and extremely high scores on standardized tests (always >90th %ile, including the MCAT). This has been true since junior high and carried me into medical school. I taught Kaplan so I know there is a pretty high correlation between MCAT and USMLE scores, and so on, so I figure I have a fair shot, with appropriate preparation, to score above average on Step 1. From my friends who are M3's and M4's they've told me that largely clerkship grades at my school place more importance on how well you interact with the team, that you care for your patients, that you show a willingness to learn, and not necessarily how much you know (other than the shelf exams, which are still important - but again, standardized tests I tend to do well on).
I'm 100% sure that whatever I go into I want to work with pediatric populations and I'm 95% sure that I want to go into a pediatric residency, and eventually a fellowship. My main concern is getting a fellowship - how competitive are they in pediatrics? Assuming that I have even just above average USMLE scores on all steps, will my pre-clinical grades matter?
I've searched the forums, and saw some of the data that suggests that other than EM, most fellowship fields have fewer US applicants than spots, so it would seem that would be an advantage. I'm most interested in cardio right now, but that can and probably will change over the next two years.
Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!