Pre-clinical grades for path?

[SimianCrease]

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Hi-
I know it's probably early to be worrying about this in some regards (just nearing end of first year), but I read somewhere on this forum a while back that "someone heard" that pathology residencies look more at your pre-clinical grades than other specialties would. I am wondering how much truth is in that statement? It seems like everybody says that residencies (regardless of specialty) care more about 3rd year grades, but then again, I could maybe see how path might be interested in the basic sciences more than most.
If pre-clinical grades DO matter more, how much so? Over the past year I'm now sitting with mostly B's/A-'s, with a few A's, (nothing less than a B though). I know those aren't terrible grades, and I don't want to seem overly neurotic here. I guess I am just wondering if I do decide I want to go into path, am I already at any kind of disadvantage? Thanks for any advice!

 

[2121115]

... but I read somewhere on this forum a while back that "someone heard" that pathology residencies look more at your pre-clinical grades than other specialties would.

Not so much in my experience. Clinical rotation grades speak volumes about many things, not the least of which is professionalism, what kind of co-worker you are going to be, and what kind of broad general medical knowledge base you may have. Pre-clinical grades are important too, but not as much as the Step I score in my experience (of course good pre-clinical grades usually predict strong Step I scores, but not always).

In short, all residencies are looking for 2 main things. 1) Are you a low risk for them when it comes to passing their specialty boards (i.e. how well have you done on board exams in the past, Step I etc) which is important for pathology because we have a difficult board exam that emphasizes some pretty esoteric facts. 2) Are you going to be a professional co-worker who will be pleasant to work with under stressful situations (some believe clinical grades are a good indication of this).

If you apply to a residency in any field with an application that says "I am easy to work with, I have a high degree of professionalism, and I am a low risk for you when it comes to the boards" then you will be good to go.

 

[yaah]

Preclinical grades may matter "more than for other specialties" at some programs, but this is still a pretty minor component (especially since a large number of med schools are pass/fail for the first two years). It is also relative. Even if it matters "more" it still doesn't matter very much, and as said above, other factors are far more important.

I would say it matters if you fail a course, but the rest of the grades are not as important.