Question

[nr1]

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Hi...
I'm a 3rd year - just got my step 1 score back - got a 240. I thought that was okay until I read some of the other threads on this site about scores rising and I'm concerned that my score isn't that competetive. I've been a pretty good student so far - honored most of my 2nd year courses and some of my 1st year courses. I only recently became interested in ophtho and so I don't have any particular research background in it. What I want to know is whether I should take some time off at the end of my 3rd year and do some research in the field? Is my score enough for me to match into some of the less competetive programs?

Thanks in advance...

 

[mjl34]

nr1:

Congratulations on a great board score! You'll have to look at your report, but your score last year would put you at about the 85th percentile nationally (using the mean score and standard deviation). In addition, since the average step one score of the ACCEPTED candidate last year was 228, I'd say you should be very hopeful.

The most important thing for you to do now is give your third year your best effort. Honors in all your third year classes will go a long way in helping your application - regardless of what residency you apply for. Look for opportunities this year to meet some of the faculty in your ophtho dept. Take an elective if your school will let you. Contact the department secretary and see if there are any faculty members that are looking for students to help out.

Most programs understand the time constraints medical students have and just want to see you make the effort. You don't have to publish your own basic science research in Nature, Science or Cell, just do what you can and most programs will understand.

Anyway, that's a long answer to a short question.

Good luck

 

[Andrew_Doan]

Originally posted by nr1
Hi...
I'm a 3rd year - just got my step 1 score back - got a 240. I thought that was okay until I read some of the other threads on this site about scores rising and I'm concerned that my score isn't that competetive. I've been a pretty good student so far - honored most of my 2nd year courses and some of my 1st year courses. I only recently became interested in ophtho and so I don't have any particular research background in it. What I want to know is whether I should take some time off at the end of my 3rd year and do some research in the field? Is my score enough for me to match into some of the less competetive programs?

Thanks in advance...

240 is a strong score. Just work on making your application well-rounded with supportive letters, grades, ophthalmology electives, and if possible, research.

 

[Primate]

Hi,

Quick follow up question. In other competitive fields (most notably Derm), having a PhD is considered a huge advantage in the application process. While I know it won't hurt at academic institutions (and will hurt at a place like Wills, where they routinely don't even interview CDs), is it considered as positively in Ophtho as it is in other fields? Is it totally program dependent?

P

 

[Andrew_Doan]

Originally posted by Primate
Hi,

Quick follow up question. In other competitive fields (most notably Derm), having a PhD is considered a huge advantage in the application process. While I know it won't hurt at academic institutions (and will hurt at a place like Wills, where they routinely don't even interview CDs), is it considered as positively in Ophtho as it is in other fields? Is it totally program dependent?

P

This is program dependent. Having a PhD, however, will help at the large academic institutions.

One thing to keep in mind. A PhD will help, but you must also demonstrate that your first and foremost goal is patient care. Our chairman, who is MD-PhD trained, advised me that before I become a researcher, I need to have a strong fundamental knowledge of clinical ophthalmology. Be a clinician first, then be a scientist second. After you finish residency, then you can pick which direction you would like to go.

Good luck!

 

[GlaucomaMD]

This is my take on the Step 1 score.

Yes, the scores seem to be rising. Last year at Baylor, there were many applicants who had scores above 250 and 260. Having said that, what you want is "good enough" score so that you will not be weeded out by the programs even before they had chance to look at your complete application.

I have been told that some programs get so many applications that they simply cannot look at every single application with detail it requires. Consequently, some sort of initial screening has to be done; unfortunately, Step 1 score is frequently used.

Now, I think score of 240 is certainly good enough to clear this "screening."

My belief is that once you have obtained an interview, the program pretty much thinks you are "academically qualified" and now want to find out if you would be a good match for the program.

With ophth being such a small residency in size, a program can ill afford to have even a single "bad apple."

So once you get an interview, don't fret about what your board score is compared to the interviewee sitting next you; show your best colors during the interview itself!