Rebounding from failing a class

[Juis]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I'm a second year and recently learned that I failed a class and may have to remediate that class over the summer before Step 1. I've read the posts on here and decided that the only thing I can do now is move forward and not let this get me down. Do you guys have any advice on how I can make this fluke look better?

I've been consistent on scoring pretty high marks in my classes. I've honored a couple classes during MS-1 but haven't honored anything during MS-2 because I've been combining board review along with classes. This recent failure was an accident coming from personal and family issues that I have under control now. Will it look better on my record if I go back on my honoring spree for the rest of the year?

Any advice is appreciated

 

[sunset823]

Hey,
Sorry about your situation but I totally relate. Due to one really bad exam day, I also have to remediate a course over the summer (this happened in December). At first I was a bit shell-shocked, but as you said, you just have to work through it. Although I had a bad exam day, I also knew my study habits weren't very effective coming into that exam, and I changed a lot of things during the last sequence and found myself to be pretty successful and more confident.

I talked to my dean about it and this will have a minor to no effect on your record (at least for moderate to low competitive specialties - it possibly could kill chances for derm or neurosurg, but I had no interest in those kind of things). My grades have been mediocre overall and I've never honored anything, but honors in general don't really matter. The one thing that'll probably happen is because of the remediation you won't qualify for AOA, so I don't think it's worth it to worry about honoring your courses, just make sure you have the knowledge to pass and focus on Step 1. A good step 1 score can cancel out any 'fallout' that comes from this.

So keep your chin up, it's not that uncommon a situation and the vast majority of us will end up getting through this, doing well in our courses and matching in the specialty of our choice.

 

[Lil Mick]

Some residency programs might care, but I think that they are genereally human and understand that you might bomb a class if something awful happens in your life. I personally wouldn't want to be at a program that isn't considerate of life circumstances. Just make sure you do well in your next classes and have a solid Step 1 score...

 

[Juis]

Thanks guys. Seems like Step 1 is going to be the make it or break it factor for people in my situation. I guess I'm coping all right, but I'm still bummed mostly because I had a good record going before this happened. Life is unpredictable, but I guess I just have to make do with what I got.

For the record, I'm interested in general surgery, or something surgical. Hopefully this doesn't make it too hard for me to match later on.

And sunset, thanks for your thoughts. Looks like we're going to be in the same shoes this summer.