Noncompetitive residencies at competitive places

[thebluesteye]

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Hi guys,

I'm currently an M1 attending med school out of state (originally from northern California) and looking to hopefully go back for residency (as of now) in pediatrics. I've heard from upperclassmen that preclinical grades don't mean a whole lot in this process, especially for something relatively noncompetitive like pediatrics

However, I'm wondering whether, even at more competitive programs, its still your clinical grades and Step I that are most relevant, or if other grades could come back up? While if I feel like I'm studying all the time, I've been hitting the pass/high pass range on exams so far ... and in the event thats where I end up at the end of the class, I'm wondering how much that could come back to haunt me

I went to undergrad at Stanford and did a few years of research at UCSF before coming here, and would love to go back to either place (though, really, anywhere in northern California would be amazing..)

Thanks so much!

 

[Valadi]

Your undergrad won't matter for residency.

Your third year grades and step scores are the most important factors. Then LORs and auditions. The more competitive a place you apply to, the more they start looking at everything else. For a place like Stanford residency, even in peds, I'd expect most people to have a bunch of honors and strong step 1 scores. If you walk in with the same, they're going to be looking for other ways to differentiate you from the pack. Moreover, your preclinicals will count to AOA, which does affect your matching at highly competitive places.

For competitive universities or fields, everything matters. The preclinicals just matter less.

 

[liveoak]

coho, or treehouse?

 

[DoctwoB]

Hi guys,

I'm currently an M1 attending med school out of state (originally from northern California) and looking to hopefully go back for residency (as of now) in pediatrics. I've heard from upperclassmen that preclinical grades don't mean a whole lot in this process, especially for something relatively noncompetitive like pediatrics

However, I'm wondering whether, even at more competitive programs, its still your clinical grades and Step I that are most relevant, or if other grades could come back up? While if I feel like I'm studying all the time, I've been hitting the pass/high pass range on exams so far ... and in the event thats where I end up at the end of the class, I'm wondering how much that could come back to haunt me

I went to undergrad at Stanford and did a few years of research at UCSF before coming here, and would love to go back to either place (though, really, anywhere in northern California would be amazing..)

Thanks so much!

Clinical grades, step1, and recommendations are always bay far more important than pre-clinicals. Its just that at the very top programs or in very competitive specialties there are enough applicants with those things that other factors, including pre-clinicals can come into play, especially as pre-clinicals factor into AOA and class rank. In the long run, pass/high pass for pre-clinicals won't hurt you much, but a low step score will. Just focus on doing the best you can while keeping an eye towards being well prepared for step1 and getting some research under your belt.

It's also unfortunately true that even in a non-competitive residency like IM or peds, the top places within that field will be extremely competitive.

 

[DoctwoB]

Ahh, Valadi beat me too it

coho, or treehouse?

Treehouse, no question. Teriyaki bowls, burritos, and beer > pastries, panini, and wine

 

[Law2Doc]

... Its just that at the very top programs or in very competitive specialties there are enough applicants with those things that other factors, including pre-clinicals can come into play...

people on SDN like to think this, but having a little inside exposure to the process, it's not really true. First even amongst the top candidates it's rare for multiple people to be "equal", even on paper. And even If they are close, the tie breaker is inevitably going to come down to the interview, away-audition rotations or other subjective personal contacts. It's simply not possible to meet two people and not form an opinion as to which one you find "better". So it's pretty safe to say that preclinical grades won't factor in, although Step 1 grades will, and there is some correlation between preclinical grades and step 1. I'd take a good step 1, good clinical evils and a dynamic personality over the former two plus preclinical honors any day.

 

[Valadi]

Ahh, Valadi beat me too it

Lol it looks like we posted the exact same thing! And at the exact same time.. Scary

*looks behind him*

 

[Valadi]

people on SDN like to think this, but having a little inside exposure to the process, it's not really true. First even amongst the top candidates it's rare for multiple people to be "equal", even on paper. And even If they are close, the tie breaker is inevitably going to come down to the interview, away-audition rotations or other subjective personal contacts. It's simply not possible to meet two people and not form an opinion as to which one you find "better". So it's pretty safe to say that preclinical grades won't factor in, although Step 1 grades will, and there is some correlation between preclinical grades and step 1. I'd take a good step 1, good clinical evils and a dynamic personality over the former two plus preclinical honors any day.

Post-interview/AI, I agree. I think Doc and I were referring to what matters to get you the interview. To that end, AOA carries a bunch of weight.

 

[DoctwoB]

The residency may not take you because you got an Honors in Biochem, but they may take you because you're AOA or because your dean's letter talks about how you've demonstrated excellence and been in the top "x" of your class across all four years.

 

[45408]

The residency may not take you because you got an Honors in Biochem, but they may take you because you're AOA or because your dean's letter talks about how you've demonstrated excellence and been in the top "x" of your class across all four years.

This is probably true.

 

[2012mdc]

Ahh, Valadi beat me too it





Treehouse, no question. Teriyaki bowls, burritos, and beer > pastries, panini, and wine

Treehouse FTW