repeat scores..

[hazlet]

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Hey guys, so I took the step 1 and I failed with a 182. I did some serious studying for 7 weeks, took the exam again and passed with a 230. Do you guys think I have a shot at a good university IM program now? I'm really bummed because if I had been able to get the 230 in the first place I'd have had a shot for sure. Will the program directors consider the fact that I improved greatly and give me a chance?

edit: not looking for top programs, just any decent university program because I really want to go into heme/onc.

 

[hazlet]

should have mentioned i'm a US student from a non-ranked school. also i'm asian. dunno if that matters, but some friends said program directors require higher scores from asians because there are so many applying-- that seems unlikely but i'm just putting it out there because I don't know.

 

[Hercules022]

Congrats on the 230... since you had such a sharp jump in score on the retake, I'd just come up with a believable explanation for what happened the first time. Do NOT just say you had a bad day, that is going to make you look like you took the test totally unprepared, which in turn would make you look careless / dumb / etc. Just say you had some personal issue, health or family related, but tried to take it anyways and bombed.

You will be fine with a 230 at a decent IM program... I'd apply broadly and also have Step 2 CK(with a good score) already taken when you apply. You may have more trouble with programs in the most desirable cities (NY, LA, DC, etc) but if you apply throughout the US and have a good CK score to back up your story you will be fine IMO

And you don't need a higher score because you are Asian, that is just silly

 

[karizma098]

you'll be fine.

a cousin of mine failed with a 183 and barely passed on his second attempt at step1, he matched at a fairly decent mid-level academic program last year. just do well on step 2 and apply broadly.