preclinical grades and clinical performance

[epsilonprodigy]

What do you guys think- do preclincal grades predict who actually does well on rotations? What about how people do in residency and beyond?

Lots of my classmate complain that their clinical grades aren't great, they "know" they'll be stars on the wards. Maybe this is wishful thinking, but I'm kinda hoping they predict something. I do well academically (I'm a second year) but get reminded what a greenie I am every time I shadow. Durrrr.

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[link2swim06]

I'm sure you could draw correlations. However, there are many exceptions both ways.

Please note that for many schools the shelf exam basically determines your grade on a rotation. Therefore, people who are good at taking tests will score well and ultimately have the higher rotation grades.

 

[Wordead]

Doing well on the wards is 70% being personable and 30% knowledge base.

 

[alpinism]

What do you guys think- do preclincal grades predict who actually does well on rotations? What about how people do in residency and beyond?

Lots of my classmate complain that their clinical grades aren't great, they "know" they'll be stars on the wards. Maybe this is wishful thinking, but I'm kinda hoping they predict something. I do well academically (I'm a second year) but get reminded what a greenie I am every time I shadow. Durrrr.

The difference between an A and B grade at many schools is often a few questions on clinically irrelevant minutiae.

I'm sure you could draw correlations. However, there are many exceptions both ways.

Please note that for many schools the shelf exam basically determines your grade on a rotation. Therefore, people who are good at taking tests will score well and ultimately have the higher rotation grades.

Depends on the school and the rotation. I've seen it as high as 60% shelf /40% clinical evals and as low as 30% shelf/70% clinical evals.

 

[physicsnerd42]

Not really. I took four years off after my preclinical years to do a PhD and did very well in clinical rotation despite having forgotten a lot of preclinical material. The skills required to do well in clinical rotations are much different from the skills required to do well pre-clinically. That being said, knowing how to study (required to do well pre-clinically) will help with shelf exams in third year, which will be some portion of your grade.

 

[WFMD17]

The correlation is definitely there, but not that strong if you ask me. I am an M1 getting in the range of average to just above average grades for my class (even though thankfully we are P/F). That being said, I had 9 years of experience prior to starting medical school working in an ER on the Trauma Team. That experience is what is going to drive me in 3 & 4, not the fact that I memorized some GI metabolic pathway. Out of all the Residents I worked w. over the last decade, the best ones were the men/women who were extroverted, able to communicate efficiently, and who worked well with the nurses, techs, attendings, etc - they still had to know their stuff, but as a physician once told me; (at least ER) is 70% people skills, 30% medicine.

Edited to add: Didn't even notice someone dropped the 70/30 thing a few posts higher.

 

[mvenus929]

I did far better clinically than I did in pre-clinical in terms of raw grades, but that may have been the way the grades were set up. In terms of position in the class, I was probably about the same through the clinical years.

 

[Wordead]

What do you guys think- do preclincal grades predict who actually does well on rotations? What about how people do in residency and beyond?

Lots of my classmate complain that their clinical grades aren't great, they "know" they'll be stars on the wards. Maybe this is wishful thinking, but I'm kinda hoping they predict something. I do well academically (I'm a second year) but get reminded what a greenie I am every time I shadow. Durrrr.

I HAVE found that ****ty preclinical students are ****ty on the wards as well. I don't think I ever saw someone who was a poor student suddenly become a superstar.

There were, however, plenty of excellent preclinical students that got crapped on in the hospital because they couldn't navigate the attendings' expectations.

 

[SouthernSurgeon]

What do you guys think- do preclincal grades predict who actually does well on rotations? What about how people do in residency and beyond?

Lots of my classmate complain that their clinical grades aren't great, they "know" they'll be stars on the wards. Maybe this is wishful thinking, but I'm kinda hoping they predict something. I do well academically (I'm a second year) but get reminded what a greenie I am every time I shadow. Durrrr.

I posted this on another thread a while back:

It's one of the most common excuses/cop-outs seen on SDN. And just like I said earlier in this thread, it's an ego defense for students who can't handle being average.

First and second year when they are getting average grades on their pre-clinicals it's "Oh, well I was studying the High Yield material for Step I since that's what really matters"

After Step I comes back and they still got beat by the same people it's "Oh, well just wait til third year when social skills and practical knowledge matter more"

Then when third year grades come back and those other people are getting AOA it's "AOA is SO political at my school it is ridiculous"

Then when match day rolls around it's "I really just never thought derm was that interesting"

The list goes on...

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/just-got-served-a-slice-of-humble-pie.1039115/page-2