normal for PIs to request step 1 score?

[exeunt]

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so I'm currently a MS3 looking to take a year off for research and have been looking for labs, and i've found that some PIs have requested that I send them my step 1 score report... is that normal or a good idea? I've been told it's better to be cautious regarding who you share your scores with...

 

[drizzt3117]

so I'm currently a MS3 looking to take a year off for research and have been looking for labs, and i've found that some PIs have requested that I send them my step 1 score report... is that normal or a good idea? I've been told it's better to be cautious regarding who you share your scores with...

Why? I had mine on my CV.

 

[yuiness]

I've never encountered anything like this, despite having contacted multiple attendings about doing research during 3rd year (I am now doing a research year between my 3rd and 4th years). I can't really imagine what they'd want with it, unless they're really looking to mentor you and help you match in their specialty. Whether or not I'd be willing to give me score out would probably depend on how happy I am with the score. If your score is high, it can only reflect well on you, IMHO.

 

[duckie99]

I don't think sharing your score is a big deal, but I don't see the need for the full score report and I find that to be a little intrusive.

Also, depending on the field you are interested in be ready for the "what's your step 1" question. For example, I know for a fact people who were interested in rad onc were asked that question. That score for some fields is simply the way they screen people. If your score is too low you probably won't have much of a chance no matter what you do so why waste your time? That's probably their logic anyway. It'll be important in the more competitive fields.

 

[peteB]

I think it's legitimate to ask though I've never had any PI ask me for it. The PI probably just wants to know what kind of student you are. A high step 1 score would suggest that you can work hard and efficiently and can learn quickly. On the other hand, a low step 1 score would suggest that you are lazy and slow, like me 🙂

 

[evilbooyaa]

If you're applying for a research year, PIs want to know they're not wasting yours and theirs time. If you try to do rad onc research with a 195, what's the point of the PI helping you? You're not going to get into rad onc 99% of the time anyways.

 

[MrBeauregard]

Why? I had mine on my CV.

You put your score, or just a 'pass'?

 

[peteB]

If you're applying for a research year, PIs want to know they're not wasting yours and theirs time. If you try to do rad onc research with a 195, what's the point of the PI helping you? You're not going to get into rad onc 99% of the time anyways.

on the other hand if you have a 280, then there's also no point in the PI helping you 🙂

the PI can probably do a lot more for the 195's chances than the 280's

 

[evilbooyaa]

on the other hand if you have a 280, then there's also no point in the PI helping you 🙂

the PI can probably do a lot more for the 195's chances than the 280's

Score in the 280s still benefits from research. It keeps him on par with the 260s who have multiple publications.

Score in the 195's doesn't benefit from research because it's almost unfathomable that he wouldn't get insta-screened out of any residency program.

 

[drizzt3117]

You put your score, or just a 'pass'?

My score.

 

[MrBeauregard]

My score.

I contemplated that, but didn't know if it would make me look like a douchebag.

 

[Doctor Bob]

My score.

Your score doesn't really belong on a CV.
And really, writing that you have passed USMLE steps doesn't belong on there either.

It's not really a subset of your education section (although some people put it there erroneously). Between M1-M4 years, that section should reflect your status as a medical student but doesn't need to document the stages you've passed through. Once you graduate medical school, anyone who will be getting your CV (who needs to know your score) will also be getting a score report from NBME. The people getting your CV who don't need to know your score, don't need to know your score.

I mean, ultimately it's your CV and you can include whatever you choose, but it would look odd and out of place to me.

 

[peteB]

I don't think there's anything wrong with putting your USMLE scores on your CV, if you want to. Passing the steps is arguably the most important part of medical education. The step scores are the single most important factors used to judge you as a student. If the person requesting your CV is already getting a copy of the NBME score report, then it would be redundant, but if they're not, then I don't see a problem with displaying a good step score on your CV. It's no different than listing all the awards you received or all the certifications you got. It's actually far more useful information than that.

I don't buy into this culture where we have to keep our scores to ourselves and guard them as if they were our ATM codes. They're just scores, and they are what they are, just like anything else about us. If people hiring or selecting me for something want to know, I have no problem telling them. And I did very poorly on my step 1 too I got a 198. Oh crap, my score's out on the internet for the world to see. Hope the score police don't get me 🙂

Edit: Then again, I'm just a lowly med student, so what do I know?

 

[zebalong]

This is an interesting thread, so im applying to a summer research fellowship and they ask for a CV with all your "academic credentials". I'm guessing then putting my step 1 score on my CV isn't toolish?

 

[drizzt3117]

Your score doesn't really belong on a CV.
And really, writing that you have passed USMLE steps doesn't belong on there either.

It's not really a subset of your education section (although some people put it there erroneously). Between M1-M4 years, that section should reflect your status as a medical student but doesn't need to document the stages you've passed through. Once you graduate medical school, anyone who will be getting your CV (who needs to know your score) will also be getting a score report from NBME. The people getting your CV who don't need to know your score, don't need to know your score.

I mean, ultimately it's your CV and you can include whatever you choose, but it would look odd and out of place to me.

I would probably not have it on my CV now (although I probably won't need a CV for awhile) but did during med school.

 

[peteB]

This is an interesting thread, so im applying to a summer research fellowship and they ask for a CV with all your "academic credentials". I'm guessing then putting my step 1 score on my CV isn't toolish?

I don't think it's "toolish". If you put it on your facebook, that would be toolish. Sending it to a program as part of your academic credentials is not at all. In fact, that's what the step 1 is for. The purpose of the score is for programs to evaluate you (mainly residencies, but others can too). It's no different than someone who puts their GPA on their CV.

 

[kjamess]

One of our academic advisors said its in bad taste to include your step scores/GPA in your CV and that it doesnt belong to any particular section.

 

[peteB]

One of our academic advisors said its in bad taste to include your step scores/GPA in your CV and that it doesnt belong to any particular section.

How's it bad taste to provide more accurate information about your education?

I can see how it would be redundant if there's a transcript or score report being sent with the CV, but if not, I don't.

 

[secants]

So what's everyone's opinion on giving your step1/preclinical grade sheet to your LOR writer during third year? Assuming you did well, is there any reason not to include with the other stuff they want?

 

[kjamess]

How's it bad taste to provide more accurate information about your education?

I can see how it would be redundant if there's a transcript or score report being sent with the CV, but if not, I don't.

Do whatever you feel is right. My advisor weighed in, and so did another attending in this thread.

 

[peteB]

Do whatever you feel is right. My advisor weighed in, and so did another attending in this thread.

Of course, I was just curious if you knew the advisor's logic behind it? Is it because it makes you look like a show-off?

 

[kjamess]

Of course, I was just curious if you knew the advisor's logic behind it? Is it because it makes you look like a show-off?

Not sure, but I didnt include my MCAT score in my CV during undergrad, so it makes sense to me. If you have awards to show for your strong academic record (junior AOA, etc) then it would be appropriately listed in the awards section. If you wanted to provide a transcript in addition to your CV, thats cool too. Otherwise I personally wouldnt include it. If the person wanted to know your step score, (s)he would ask. But to each his own.

 

[peteB]

Not sure, but I didnt include my MCAT score in my CV during undergrad, so it makes sense to me. If you have awards to show for your strong academic record (junior AOA, etc) then it would be appropriately listed in the awards section. If you wanted to provide a transcript in addition to your CV, thats cool too. Otherwise I personally wouldnt include it. If the person wanted to know your step score, (s)he would ask. But to each his own.

Ok, that's fair. I guess to get back to the OPs question, it's up to you if you think it's appropriate or not.

 

[VenusinFurs]

Our deans or whatever at our school told us to put our step 1 score in our CV so I did.

I gave it to my letter writers but I don't think it really matters. They aren't going to mention your score in their letter. If it's a matter of it not "fitting" in a particular section, I don't really care. If someone's going to not give me a position or think poorly of me for that then oh well.

But I also am not trying to get into rad onc.

 

[Renaissance Man]

Not sure, but I didnt include my MCAT score in my CV during undergrad, so it makes sense to me. If you have awards to show for your strong academic record (junior AOA, etc) then it would be appropriately listed in the awards section. If you wanted to provide a transcript in addition to your CV, thats cool too. Otherwise I personally wouldnt include it. If the person wanted to know your step score, (s)he would ask. But to each his own.

Thats what I was thinking. I used to have my undergrad GPA on my CV, but never the MCAT score. Now that I am in medical school, the GPA is gone. I think a score from a test on a CV would look sort of out of place. Just my opinion though. We meet with an advisor in November about revising our CV's so I'll be interested to see what he or she says.