Real Importance Of Step 3

[chemamr]

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HI THERE, 🙂 WHAT´S THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS STEP TO GET INTO A RESIDENCY? DOES IT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE?

WHAT'S THE IMPORTANCE IF YOU'RE PURSUING A FELLOW/SUBSPECIALTY?? DOES IT MATTER THE SCORE FOR THESE PURPOSES?? SOMEBODY TOLD ME YOU NEED A GOOD SCORE IN STEP 3 IF YOU WANNA DO A FELLOW, BUT I'M NOT SURE ABOUT IT BECAUSE ONLY THIS PERSON TOLD ME THAT.

MAYBE THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN DISCUSSED IN THE PAST BUT I'M STILL CONFUSED. 😕

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR REPLIES. I REALLY NEED THEM. 😕

 

[CANES2006]

HI THERE, 🙂 WHAT´S THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS STEP TO GET IN TO A RESIDENCY? DOES IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE?:

No, only if you are a foreign grad maybe. Got into residency already and have not taken Step 3. But, of course, I'm a U.S. grad.

WHAT'S THE IMPORTANCE IF YOU'RE PURSUING A FELLOW/SUBSPECIALTY?? DOES IT MATTER THE SCORE FOR THESE PURPOSES?? SOMEBODY TOLD ME YOU NEED A GOOD SCORE IN STEP 3 IF YOU WANNA DO A FELLOW, BUT I'M NOT SURE ABOUT IT BECAUSE ONLY THIS PERSON TOLD ME ABOUT IT. :

Step 3 does not factor into fellowship placement from what I've heard. Just pass the freaking thing and move on. Don't stress about aceing the exam.

 

[kbrown]

HI THERE, 🙂 WHAT´S THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS STEP TO GET IN TO A RESIDENCY? DOES IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

WHAT'S THE IMPORTANCE IF YOU'RE PURSUING A FELLOW/SUBSPECIALTY?? DOES IT MATTER THE SCORE FOR THESE PURPOSES?? SOMEBODY TOLD ME YOU NEED A GOOD SCORE IN STEP 3 IF YOU WANNA DO A FELLOW, BUT I'M NOT SURE ABOUT IT BECAUSE ONLY THIS PERSON TOLD ME ABOUT IT.

MAYBE THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN DISCUSSED IN THE PAST BUT I'M STILL CONFUSED. 😕

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR REPLIES. I REALLY NEED THEM. 😕

you don't need step 3 to get into residency. only step 2. you take step 3 sometime before the end of your 1st year of residency. of course, there are a few crazy gunners who will take it before residency so that they are worry-free during their intern year, but it's not mandatory. now if you are an IMG, i have NO CLUE about those rules.

 

[usnavdoc]

Guys you dont take step 3 until you are in your intern year or beyond. It plays no part in the match at all. You take step 3 as the final US medical board to get a full unrestricted state medical license so that you can practice medicine which while in residency basically means moonlighting as you will be covered by your training license within your program.

 

[chemamr]

thank you guys, ok, so far, te consensus seems to be:
- for the match and residency: it doesn't matter at all.
- for a fellow: it's not very clear. Only CANES2006 says it's not a factor.

guys, any other answers or opinions are very welcome.

for a fellow: does it matter your score or not? my doubt is because somebody told me your score (step 3) was a factor in the selection criteria by many hospitals. But only this person told me this.

thank you. i need to clear this doubt.

 

[deleted87716]

SOMEBODY TOLD ME YOU NEED A GOOD SCORE IN STEP 3 IF YOU WANNA DO A FELLOW, BUT I'M NOT SURE ABOUT IT BECAUSE ONLY THIS PERSON TOLD ME THAT.

Close your eyes. Repeat after me: "Step 3 scores don't matter." Repeat it 100 times in succession, like a mantra. Now take a deep breath. Exhale slowly. Open your eyes. Turn off your CAPS LOCK.

Don't you feel better now? 😉

 

[chemamr]

sorry about that (CAPS LOCK).

🙂 thanks KentW.

 

[usnavdoc]

sorry about that (CAPS LOCK).

🙂 thanks KentW.

The only time step 3 matters is if you fail.

I havent aplied for fellowship yet but from what I understand the biggest factor is working with people in your residency who are affiliated with people where you want to go for fellowship. In otherwords. Word of mouth and LORs. beyond that I would think performance on specialty boards/inservice, research, etc...

 

[gutonc]

thank you guys, ok, so far, te consensus seems to be:
- for the match and residency: it doesn't matter at all.
- for a fellow: it's not very clear. Only CANES2006 says it's not a factor.

for a fellow: does it matter your score or not? my doubt is because somebody told me your score (step 3) was a factor in the selection criteria by many hospitals. But only this person told me this.

As a US grad, you do not need Step 3 for anything other than getting your unrestricted license and for qualifying for your specialty boards. Some programs may require it at a certain point in your residency but that varies from place to place. I know two people, both matched in Cards. One did a Chief year and took Step 3 about 12 weeks before he took his medicine boards. The other, starting Cards at Duke next year is taking Step 3 next month. The way I figure it, if you can get Cards at Duke w/o Step 3 you don't need it for much else.

YMMV of course depending on what you're going into and, if your Step 1 and 2 scores suck it might be helpful to rock Step 3 before applying for A&I, GI or Cards. Of course, if your Step 1&2 scores suck your Step 3 probably isn't going to get that much better.

BE

 

[chemamr]

i'd like to do Gastro, i know it's the most competitive (tied with Cards) in IM. That's why i was wondering if that will be a factor or not. I know your performance in IM, research, LORs, etc, etc play important roles in going to a fellow but i wasn't sure about step 3 score.

 

[chemamr]

any other comment is welcome.

 

[rajvosa]

Well, i thought that step 3 did not matter. However, I am applying for cardiology fellowship and several interviewers commented on my execellent USMLE scores, including step 3. In fact, one cardiology program (I personally know PD) got 600 applications and prescreened by using USMLE scores. Anybody who scored less than 90% on any of 3 steps was eliminated without even looking at their application.

 

[chemamr]

wow, thanks rajvosa. So, it IS a factor.

as i said, i'm interested in Gastro (whose selection criteria must be similar to cards), so, in my case (when i apply to GI) my step 3 score can influence. alright.

 

[medgator]

My guess is that for residencies starting at the PGY-2 level (rads, rad onc, derm, optho, anesth. etc.), Step 3 probably doesnt matter AT ALL. It has general med/peds/surg/OBGYN info that is irrelevant to most of these specialties. For fellowships off of IM/GS, I can't really comment. For OB or FP, it probably doesnt matter either since you've already secured your residency.

 

[cicatrix]

Well, i thought that step 3 did not matter. However, I am applying for cardiology fellowship and several interviewers commented on my execellent USMLE scores, including step 3. In fact, one cardiology program (I personally know PD) got 600 applications and prescreened by using USMLE scores. Anybody who scored less than 90% on any of 3 steps was eliminated without even looking at their application.

I've been told that Step 3 scores can be important for IM fellowships, but that's the only scenario I've heard of where it does. I suppose that there are other fellowships out there that put weight on it, but it doesn't appear to be consistent.

 

[Bevo]

I've heard that it could matter when it comes to VISA issues to have it done before starting residency. I dont know of any other information.

 

[tigershark]

Anything that is part of your permanent record can hurt you.

If you're applying for anything competitive you dont want there to be any indication in your file that you're a slapdick.

 

[chemamr]

i think guys (unless you think differently) that the consensus is that step 3 can be some important if you apply to a very competitive fellow (gastro, cards). Otherwise, it's only one more factor in the selection criteria (one of the least important)