Need advice on Low step 1 score

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zuzu08

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Hi Everyone,

I'm new to SDN and I really wanted to get some input on what my chances are of getting into a good residency program in either Michigan or Florida with a step 1 score of 225. I am a US medical student and I do have a CV filled with volunteer activities, tutoring, and student org positions. Unfortunately I do not have any research for med school, except for the work I've done in undergrad, which was not medically related.

I would just like to know how competitive programs in these areas are for surgery, OB/GYN, or internal.

Thanks!
 
Why dont you see if you can do some research? In my opinion, the volunteering, tutoring and student org things are way lower on the importance scale than your class rank(along with associated medical school accolades), step 1 and research.
 
Depends which programs in Surgery, OB-Gyn, or Internal Medicine you're aiming for. It's not one size fits all with respect to board scores.
 
PL198 said:
Why dont you see if you can do some research? In my opinion, the volunteering, tutoring and student org things are way lower on the importance scale than your class rank(along with associated medical school accolades), step 1 and research.
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I've gotten involved with 2 projects, each of which didn't go through so I am kind of at a point where I've almost given up on finding a project. However, I think you're right and it is very important. If I don't end up finding another research project, do you think I will be at a major disadvantage? How much will you think research will help my application?
 
DermViser said:
Depends which programs in Surgery, OB-Gyn, or Internal Medicine you're aiming for. It's not one size fits all with respect to board scores.
Click to expand...

I know U of M is out of the question, but do you know how competitive it is in some of the hospitals in Detroit or in Florida (I'm more familiar with Detroit). Like for example, St. Johns, DMC, Henry Ford etc.
 
zuzu08 said:
Hi Everyone,

I'm new to SDN and I really wanted to get some input on what my chances are of getting into a good residency program in either Michigan or Florida with a step 1 score of 225. I am a US medical student and I do have a CV filled with volunteer activities, tutoring, and student org positions. Unfortunately I do not have any research for med school, except for the work I've done in undergrad, which was not medically related.

I would just like to know how competitive programs in these areas are for surgery, OB/GYN, or internal.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Honestly, you shouldn't have a problem at all getting a medicine or OB/Gyn spot in Florida or Michigan. Top programs are probably out of reach, but those scores are definitely good enough for some program.

General surgery will be a bit harder, but it should also be doable in either state.
 
zuzu08 said:
I know U of M is out of the question, but do you know how competitive it is in some of the hospitals in Detroit or in Florida (I'm more familiar with Detroit). Like for example, St. Johns, DMC, Henry Ford etc.
Click to expand...

Honestly, just apply to them if that's where you want to go. If you're really interested in any of them, do an away, and that's likely to give you much more information.
 
zuzu08 said:
I know U of M is out of the question, but do you know how competitive it is in some of the hospitals in Detroit or in Florida (I'm more familiar with Detroit). Like for example, St. Johns, DMC, Henry Ford etc.
Click to expand...
Your score is probably close to average St John or St Joe in any of the 3 specialties. We had a guy match into GS at HFH last year with a "low" score, don't know what it was exactly sub-220 I think.
 
General surgery at UM would be a tough haul with that score. But medicine and OB would likely still be in reach.

I'd also point out that outside of SDN world 225 is within a couple of points of the national average so I don't think it's fair to label yourself as "low"
 
southernIM said:
General surgery at UM would be a tough haul with that score. But medicine and OB would likely still be in reach.

I'd also point out that outside of SDN world 225 is within a couple of points of the national average so I don't think it's fair to label yourself as "low"
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Why is that? I could understand Neurosurg or Ortho but why General Surgery?
 
southernIM said:
General surgery at UM would be a tough haul with that score. But medicine and OB would likely still be in reach.

I'd also point out that outside of SDN world 225 is within a couple of points of the national average so I don't think it's fair to label yourself as "low"
Click to expand...

That's true, I think that because I've been hanging out with people who's score were like 240+, I guess I felt like my score was low in comparison. Plus the scores on this website and what people have been labeling as a low score were still higher than mine lol. I feel much more reassured that I will at least have decent chances of getting an interview

tantacles said:
Honestly, just apply to them if that's where you want to go. If you're really interested in any of them, do an away, and that's likely to give you much more information.
Click to expand...

That's a good idea, I initially wasn't sure about doing them at the institution that I want to apply to because I've heard rumors ( and take this with a grain of salt) that unless you are completely amazing, many residency programs "prefer" to choose candidates that haven't done a rotation at their site. I have gotten a dozen crazy reasons as to why, but I was wondering if you guys have heard the same thing?
 
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DermViser said:
Why is that? I could understand Neurosurg or Ortho but why General Surgery?
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I thought that surgery is competitive and because I don't have research experience and/or a publication, I feel like that puts me at a major disadvantage 🙁
 
DermViser said:
Why is that? I could understand Neurosurg or Ortho but why General Surgery?
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General Surgery at the U of M is extremely competitive and academically focused. Also, 2 mandatory research years make it just as long as the Neurosurgery residency and joyfully longer than Ortho. It's designed for people who are dedicated to becoming academic surgeons, and top-performing ones at that. They want a high Step score, they want high clinical grades, and they want lots of research. Very unusual for GenSurg programs as far as I'm aware.
 
zuzu08 said:
I thought that surgery is competitive and because I don't have research experience and/or a publication, I feel like that puts me at a major disadvantage 🙁
Click to expand...
I'm just surprised that General Surgery is competitive (in comparison to Neurosurgery, Ortho, ENT, Urology, etc.). U Michigan, in general, is competitive regardless of specialty.
 
CrimsonKing said:
General Surgery at the U of M is extremely competitive and academically focused. Also, 2 mandatory research years make it just as long as the Neurosurgery residency and joyfully longer than Ortho. It's designed for people who are dedicated to becoming academic surgeons, and top-performing ones at that. They want a high Step score, they want high clinical grades, and they want lots of research. Very unusual for GenSurg programs as far as I'm aware.
Click to expand...
Yes, I figured it was more an institutional thing of being at U of M.
 
DermViser said:
I'm just surprised that General Surgery is competitive (in comparison to Neurosurgery, Ortho, ENT, Urology, etc.). U Michigan, in general, is competitive regardless of specialty.
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Them surgeons is saving lives, man. Oh, also, they get to cut people up and put 'em back together again.
 
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