need advice bad step 1 score

[zempa]

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I've already posted this before in the general allopathic section but again am unsure if that was the right place to post it. Not sure if this is where it goes, but basically I'm wondering what my options are with a subpar USMLE step 1 score (<210). I'm looking for any suggestions on how to improve my chances of landing IM in NYC. Does that score make my chances pretty much impossible? Any tips/advice would be appreciated.

I'm basically trying to get a general feel for my situation so I can plan accordingly.

 

[zempa]

Anybody have any experience with this/ knew someone who went through a similar situation? I would love any info/thoughts

P. S. If I'm posting in the wrong section can somebody please point me to the correct one

 

[GTP]

Maybe you can try posting in the resident/intern IM section

 

[ipizzy]

I think general SDN wisdom in situations like this would be 1) nail your clerkships (if you have not yet finished 3rd year) and 2) study hard for step 2 to show residencies that you can improve. I don't think you're out of the running at all places in NYC if you can do these things

 

[Tiburon]

I've already posted this before in the general allopathic section but again am unsure if that was the right place to post it. Not sure if this is where it goes, but basically I'm wondering what my options are with a subpar USMLE step 1 score (<210). I'm looking for any suggestions on how to improve my chances of landing IM in NYC. Does that score make my chances pretty much impossible? Any tips/advice would be appreciated.

I'm basically trying to get a general feel for my situation so I can plan accordingly.

I would get in contact with the IM NY programs you're interested in and ask them how Step 1 factors into their selection of residents.

If you're paranoid and think that'll hurt you, just call from a phone that's not yours and don't give them your name.

I don't know if they'll give you any info, but that seems to be a logical option if you aren't getting any more help on here and have no contacts in the IM NY world that can further assist.

 

[ohyeahbaby]

Dude, honestly, if you're a US MD student who passed step 1 on his first try, then there is literally not a single reason in the world why you shouldn't be able to land an IM spot in NY. Yes, it might not exactly be a top program, yes, it might be in the middle of nowhere, but who the hell cares? Even if you want to subspecialize, most people who end up getting into a subspecialty will flat out tell you that they would have landed a spot whether they were in a good program or not.

You just can't assume that the step 1 scores you see people throwing around here on SDN are anywhere close to being representative of the real US MD students. Hell, half the people I know took their exam after studying for less than 2 weeks, because they only had 3 weeks to study for it, but wanted a few days of a vacation before they hit the wards. Residency directors know that. Be happy with your score. Do well on your rotations. Meet people. Make connections. Work hard. What you can do will surprise you.

 

[StressedMedStud]

OP - What did you do to prepare

 

[zempa]

hey guys thanks for the responses, I guess I'm just super stressed about it all.

I prepared the completely wrong way. I read a lot of review books did only 50 %of U world and only read FA once. Pretty much I overestimated how long everything would take and just ran out of time.

In retrospect I wish I had started by reading FA and doing pharm (I used Lange flashcards which are excellent btw), micro flash cards from lippincott's. That way I could have had a great general overview to start with and could have at that point just reviewed flash cards for micro/pharm everyday.

 

[smq123]

Cross posted in the allopathic section. Please go there to comment.

Closing.