points system in evaluation

[sport29883]

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Is it true or is it just a rumor that some PDs give points to a candidate's application when they decide on whom to interview? e.g. a waived LoR is given more points than an unwaived, honors, publications,etc? Does anyone have a clear knowledge/experience regarding this?

 

[Winged Scapula]

Is it true or is it just a rumor that some PDs give points to a candidate's application when they decide on whom to interview? e.g. a waived LoR is given more points than an unwaived, honors, publications,etc? Does anyone have a clear knowledge/experience regarding this?

There are probably as many ways to evaluate an applicant as there are programs. I'm sure someone, somewhere, has used a point system with various points allocated to the factors in an application.

Every program has a certain set of criteria by which they may filter applicants. Some may choose to not invite anyone who needs a visa, others anyone who Step 1 score below X. This is no different than assigning points but is a common way to go through the myriad of applications.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

The ERAS program, which is what we use to receive applications, specifically has a points system built into it. You can assign points to any part of the application -- LOR's, dean's letter, PS, transcript, interviews, etc, and you can define your own items if you wish. You can then create a ranking function that calculates a total score using any sort of weighting system you want, and generate a rank list from there.

Personally, I find this a pain and build a rank list on an Excel spreadsheet.

 

[Winged Scapula]

The ERAS program, which is what we use to receive applications, specifically has a points system built into it. You can assign points to any part of the application -- LOR's, dean's letter, PS, transcript, interviews, etc, and you can define your own items if you wish. You can then create a ranking function that calculates a total score using any sort of weighting system you want, and generate a rank list from there.

Personally, I find this a pain and build a rank list on an Excel spreadsheet.

Which is what we always did based on our own in-house weighting/ranks. Forgot about the ERAS points system.

 

[sport29883]

thanks..this is good information

 

[gutonc]

thanks..this is good information

Actually, it's completely useless from the applicants POV.

Program A may base their point system on LORs, MSPE and class rank, while Program B might base theirs on PS, USMLE scores and 3d year grades. You may totally rock Program A's system while flailing wildly on Program B's. But you'll have no idea which criteria either program is using and why you did/not make the cut at a particular program.

You need to maximize all aspects of your app that you can. Nail Step 1 (and Step 2 if you're an IMG). Rock your clerkships and blow whomever you need to in order to get a good eval. Get great LORs. Etc, etc. There are some things you can no longer do anything about (IMG/AMG, preclinical grades, maybe Step 1, etc).

 

[sport29883]

Actually, it's completely useless from the applicants POV.

Program A may base their point system on LORs, MSPE and class rank, while Program B might base theirs on PS, USMLE scores and 3d year grades. You may totally rock Program A's system while flailing wildly on Program B's. But you'll have no idea which criteria either program is using and why you did/not make the cut at a particular program.

You need to maximize all aspects of your app that you can. Nail Step 1 (and Step 2 if you're an IMG). Rock your clerkships and blow whomever you need to in order to get a good eval. Get great LORs. Etc, etc. There are some things you can no longer do anything about (IMG/AMG, preclinical grades, maybe Step 1, etc).

Its useful in certain aspects. But I agree with you. One needs to maximise all aspects of the application. The IMG/AMG thing is always an issue and there is little that can be done about that I guess. Luckily for IMGs, step 1 is something still "maximizable" as we can take it even after we finish our clinical years...