not even avg for anesthesia

[badman]

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hello all,

just got my score for step 1 last night...217. The avg. for anesthesia last I saw was 220, does this mean I should kiss goodbye to my dream?? Also how are the chicago programs in competition UIC/Loyola/Nwestern etc. Any word about their competitiveness.

thanks and pls. don't hate, I'm bummed as it is already

 

[militarymd]

The pediatricians and family practitioners I know all seem really happy.

 

[militarymd]

and in this particular case....I'm just kidding.

 

[Southpaw]

hello all,

just got my score for step 1 last night...217. The avg. for anesthesia last I saw was 220, does this mean I should kiss goodbye to my dream?? Also how are the chicago programs in competition UIC/Loyola/Nwestern etc. Any word about their competitiveness.

thanks and pls. don't hate, I'm bummed as it is already

Congrats on passing Step 1. You should be proud of yourself as it's an accomplishment that only the extreme minority in the world can claim. You're right around the national mean, which is also something to be proud of. I'm a 4th year so I can't speak from experience, but being 3 off the mean for anesthesia won't take you out of the running for the large majority of programs. Work hard in your 3rd year rotations and get good grades, make a good reputation for yourself and lay the groundwork to get a good letter from someone of influence in IM or Surgery. If you have any time in anesthesia then work hard and make that time worth it. Enjoy third year...it can be extremely frustrating at times but you can also learn an absolute ton and have fun while you're at it.

I can't speak to the competitiveness of the Chicago programs, but hopefully someone else can.

Congrats!😀

 

[Arch Guillotti]

hello all,

just got my score for step 1 last night...217. The avg. for anesthesia last I saw was 220, does this mean I should kiss goodbye to my dream?? Also how are the chicago programs in competition UIC/Loyola/Nwestern etc. Any word about their competitiveness.

thanks and pls. don't hate, I'm bummed as it is already

Assuming you are not a complete fool or a troll you should be fine. You may not get interviews at some programs that have a cutoff but if you apply widely and to a good mix of programs you shouls be fine - presuming you can tie your shoes and are not a psychopath.

 

[radslooking]

ddakdjfa;jkfdaj;sdaj;

badman, a 220 mean is the average of all scores. Therefore, assuming a normal distribution, half would be above, and half below. It's not a normal distribution, but between you and me, let's assume it's close. If nearly 1/2 people are above 220 and half below, I think it means you 'still have a chance'.

 

[Bertelman]

Let me remind you what an average is, exactly. Without getting too complicated, it represents the number which splits the pool of test takers in half. That means half the folks matching into anesthesia scored above a 217, and half scored below. (Note that this number may be skewed by extremely high or low test scores, but we needn't worry about that today).

Which group does that place you into? The second.

Do you think everyone scoring above a 220 seeking an anesthesiology position was granted one? No.

At this time I'd like to refer you to the threads describing how anesthesiologists look bored/calm during cases. I have no doubt you will match into anesthesia if you possess other traits sought after in anesthesia residencies. Embrace those traits, and forget about your Step 1 scores. Try your hardest to destroy that little part of your personality that believes a score 3 points below the mean spells the end of your career. That's the Pre-Med inside you, and it has no place in the personality of a practicing physician.

 

[Bluemirage]

hello all,

just got my score for step 1 last night...217. The avg. for anesthesia last I saw was 220, does this mean I should kiss goodbye to my dream?? Also how are the chicago programs in competition UIC/Loyola/Nwestern etc. Any word about their competitiveness.

thanks and pls. don't hate, I'm bummed as it is already

Just to make you feel better badman, I am currently doing summer research at a tier 1 anesthesia program in the midwest. One of the CA-1 residents matched here with a score of 210 with no research and non-stellar grades. It can be done!

 

[radslooking]

Just to make you feel better badman, I am currently doing summer research at a tier 1 anesthesia program in the midwest. One of the CA-1 residents matched here with a score of 210 with no research and non-stellar grades. It can be done!

Inspiring! Thank you!

 

[GassiusClay]

Chicago programs are competitive because of location, not necessarily academic rigor. They are good no doubt and I'm sure you will learn a lot. The following is just my take based on hearsay and observation on interview. The residents are not 240 folks and certainly not flooded with AOAs. Compared to Brigham, Mass Gen, Hopkins, Stanford, UCSF, UPenn, you don't have to worry. 217 is quite feasible. Remember, you're not going for derm. Just make sure you work with the anesthesia attendings early on maybe some shadowing or research.

For UIC, my roommate says that Dr. Laureto (please spellcheck that) is good attending to work with and writes awesome letters. He is the pain guy there.

 

[scotchnwater]

hello all,

just got my score for step 1 last night...217. The avg. for anesthesia last I saw was 220, does this mean I should kiss goodbye to my dream?? Also how are the chicago programs in competition UIC/Loyola/Nwestern etc. Any word about their competitiveness.

thanks and pls. don't hate, I'm bummed as it is already

Last year Northwestern even stated on their page that their cutoff was 215. Looks like you're fine. 👍

 

[fascinoma]

The pediatricians and family practitioners I know all seem really happy.

to address the initial post, have you ever seen the movie Gattaca? You can either live life based on statistics or you can live life. I'd suggest the latter.

A 217 is a good score and, as Arch mentioned, so long as you're not awkward beyond words, you should match somewhere. I'd suggest transferring the feeling of sadness and turn it into motivation to do even better on the step 2, as well. good luck.

 

[Trisomy13]

and in this particular case....I'm just kidding.

yeah, they don't really seem that happy to me.

 

[Bougie]

Being on the recruitment board at my program, I can tell you that this is how to get into a program:

1. Get decent numbers. Forget averages, etc. Just don't have numbers that raise an eyebrow.

2. Get involved with anesthesia related stuff; i.e. research, externships, shadowing, etc. Let them know you really enjoy the field.

3. Pick your favorite program and let them get to know you very well. Do a rotation or two there. Hang out with the residents. Shadow a resident. Spend a weekend day on call with the call team. Let faculty and residents feel that you fit in well, are amenable to learning, and have a good work ethic. Make them believe that you are already part of the team. Make it apparant to the right people that this is where you want to be.

This will work for the majority of programs, provided you're not a dork and don't seem annoying when you're doing number 3.

 

[Jack S]

Let me remind you what an average is, exactly. Without getting too complicated, it represents the number which splits the pool of test takers in half. That means half the folks matching into anesthesia scored above a 217, and half scored below.

No, you are describing the median not the average (mean) score. In theory there could be many more people above the average than below (or vice versa).

 

[Bertelman]

No, you are describing the median not the average (mean) score. In theory there could be many more people above the average than below (or vice versa).

I understand, which is why I prefaced my statement by "without getting too complicated". I supplanted "average" for the definition of median, as the two tend to be approximate when an equal distribution is expected, such as the bell curve expected with standardized exams.

As the OP has made it through much of medical school without understanding the concept of average, I though I should start small.

 

[Gern Blansten]

This will work for the majority of programs, provided you're not a dork and don't seem annoying when you're doing number 3.

Also, don't seem annoying when you're doing number 2... and for goodness sake, light a match!

 

[jetproppilot]

hello all,

just got my score for step 1 last night...217. The avg. for anesthesia last I saw was 220, does this mean I should kiss goodbye to my dream?? Also how are the chicago programs in competition UIC/Loyola/Nwestern etc. Any word about their competitiveness.

thanks and pls. don't hate, I'm bummed as it is already

Here's how I see your chances, Dude.

And wanna my best friends is a Chair of an anesthesia program.

Your chances are GREAT if you are

1)willing to endure a residency without making alotta waves

2) a people person who has an innate ability to produce calm when encountered with a storm

3)good with your hands, can emulate deft attending moves

4)able to take heat from surgeons and reply eloquently, or forcefully when warranted

5)devoid of personality deficiencies, since anesthesia requires people skills

6)able to maintain a heart rate of 60 when your wife/husband/S.O. is screaming at you

7)able to block out the world when the chips are down and you are the only one that can accomplish the task at hand

8)able to think critically under pressure


THOSE EIGHT THINGS ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOUR BOARD SCORE IF YOU WANNA BE AN ANESTHESIOLOGIST, DUDE.

Bring your board score to the table.

It aint so bad.

And bring the eight things as well.

They're more important than the stupid weed-out test we all compare ourselves by.

 

[radslooking]

Here's how I see your chances, Dude.

And wanna my best friends is a Chair of an anesthesia program.

Your chances are GREAT if you are

1)willing to endure a residency without making alotta waves

2) a people person who has an innate ability to produce calm when encountered with a storm

3)good with your hands, can emulate deft attending moves

4)able to take heat from surgeons and reply eloquently, or forcefully when warranted

5)devoid of personality deficiencies, since anesthesia requires people skills

6)able to maintain a heart rate of 60 when your wife/husband/S.O. is screaming at you

7)able to block out the world when the chips are down and you are the only one that can accomplish the task at hand

8)able to think critically under pressure


THOSE EIGHT THINGS ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOUR BOARD SCORE IF YOU WANNA BE AN ANESTHESIOLOGIST, DUDE.

Bring your board score to the table.

It aint so bad.

And bring the eight things as well.

They're more important than the stupid weed-out test we all compare ourselves by.

thanks jet. these are things i've suspected about the field but never seen specifically put in print.

 

[yancantcook]

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