People don't have guts to apply to competitive fields these days

[maxxor]

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Your score report lists the average and sd of the specific test you took

This does not matter when applying through ERAS. No administrator is going to cross-check your score with your average and SD.

But the pubs/connections you can make during a whole year may be worth more than the 3-4 point score inflation.

Perhaps. It's a caution though for people who get a borderline Step 1 score and think a year off for research is going to fix everything.

For example, the ortho residency at my home institution has a hard USMLE cut off that rises each year. The program coordinator doesn't even look at the applications if the Step 1 is below the cutoff. Research connections aren't going to help you get over that.

 

[Greenberg702]

This does not matter when applying through ERAS. No administrator is going to cross-check your score with your average and SD.



Perhaps. It's a caution though for people who get a borderline Step 1 score and think a year off for research is going to fix everything.

For example, the ortho residency at my home institution has a hard USMLE cut off that rises each year. The program coordinator doesn't even look at the applications if the Step 1 is below the cutoff. Research connections aren't going to help you get over that.

Good point. I was thinking more along the lines of 250 + 6 publications and a great relationship with the chair and program director at an elite place vs a 255 and none of the latter.

 

[DermViser]

This does not matter when applying through ERAS. No administrator is going to cross-check your score with your average and SD.

Perhaps. It's a caution though for people who get a borderline Step 1 score and think a year off for research is going to fix everything.

For example, the ortho residency at my home institution has a hard USMLE cut off that rises each year. The program coordinator doesn't even look at the applications if the Step 1 is below the cutoff. Research connections aren't going to help you get over that.

I think any program director will tell you that a year of research (with actual productivity - not just goofing around for a year) can mitigate a Step score, but it won't supercede it.

That being said, with a lower Step 1 score other things are brought more into focus - class rank, tier of medical school you go to, etc. I don't think Ortho has postgraduate research fellowships after finishing internship.

 

[Greenberg702]

They are right to a certain extent in that some specialties (most notably cardiology) encroach on imaging turf by reading echos, diagnostic caths, and cardiac MRIs. Sure this problem could be exacerbated if there was a huge shortage of radiologists to read the studies. However that is simply not the case right now, and continuing to saturate the market to prevent future turf wars seems like a poor strategy that happens to benefit those at the top who run large imaging companies or use resident services.

Hopefully this will scare off all the charlatans thinking they can read films. http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/20...radiologist/rbFZ4e94nIeH57r46ixVSL/story.html

 

[chucktown]

This does not matter when applying through ERAS. No administrator is going to cross-check your score with your average and SD.



Perhaps. It's a caution though for people who get a borderline Step 1 score and think a year off for research is going to fix everything.

For example, the ortho residency at my home institution has a hard USMLE cut off that rises each year. The program coordinator doesn't even look at the applications if the Step 1 is below the cutoff. Research connections aren't going to help you get over that.

So what's the ortho cutoff at your place?

 

[ChrisGriffen]

i think people should be free to decide what they want to do. if you care about a prestigious match or location, then you should be allowed to match there

...and I think that if I had wheels I would be a wagon.


The world is not fair

 

[circulus vitios]

...and I think that if I had wheels I would be a wagon.


The world is not fair

Do they ever remove probationary status? You've been on it for like 4 months now.

 

[sazerac]

The last Charting Outcomes was in 2011. Hardly that much of a difference.

Those charting outcomes results are THIRTEEN POINTS below today's applicants. They are based on people who took step 1 in 2009, a world unbelievably different from 2014. No pathoma, no invasion from the great recession, less competition to get in, etc. Today is not 2009.

Any current applicant who thinks there is not "that much of a difference" between Charting Outcomes 2011 and today is seriously going to bend over and pick up the SOAP.

ref: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/thr...score-now-a-days.1085690/page-2#post-15476453

 

[DermViser]

Those charting outcomes results are THIRTEEN POINTS below today's applicants. They are based on people who took step 1 in 2009, a world unbelievably different from 2014. No pathoma, no invasion from the great recession, less competition to get in, etc. Today is not 2009.

Any current applicant who thinks there is not "that much of a difference" between Charting Outcomes 2011 and today is seriously going to bend over and pick up the SOAP.

ref: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/thr...score-now-a-days.1085690/page-2#post-15476453

Actually this is from 2011 for Step 1:

 

[DrZeke]

Replying the original first few posts...
So what? You give it your all... And maybe fail the match and SOAP and have a plan B.

Things happen for a reason. In many other professions including business risks are rewarded. Us medical people are afraid to take risks. Far too often I see the attitude, if we work hard we get what we want and if our hard work only gives us mediocre grades then that's all we deserve, so let's pigeon hole ourselves into an appropriate specialty. That's just not true and life happens **** gets in the way of grades, board scores... Sometimes you gotta take risks if you think you deserve it and have a tactical plan of how you might get it. Sure there are limits depending on the field, but assuming you're an american medical graduate willing to do research, put yourself out there and make connections, I would hardly say a 225-235 means your screwed for most specialties.

Failure builds character. Most of us haven't failed ever.

 

[RJGOP]

Actually this is from 2011 for Step 1:
View attachment 183569

I wonder what the match results are for Family Medicine. It's probably hard not to get in. That's probably a good thing now though.

 

[DermViser]

I wonder what the match results are for Family Medicine. It's probably hard not to get in. That's probably a good thing now though.

 

[Raryn]

Actually this is from 2011 for Step 1:
View attachment 183569

It's from the 2011 match. The people who matched in 2011 took step 1 in 2009.