Repeating M1

[repeating]

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I go to a U.S. MD school, and the only way for me to not be dismissed for my low grades is to repeat M1. How screwed am I when I apply to residency? I'm not planning on applying to dermatology or any other super competitive specialty, but I have no idea what I want to go into, so I would hate to think that there's nothing I can do but family medicine (not that I have anything against FM, but I would like to actually choose it 😳).

I have no real excuse for getting these low grades (I failed almost every course up until now). I was emotionally fine, my heart was there, I worked as hard as everyone else, but got overwhelmed. I'm positive I can do better next year. Wasn't a science major, so definitely an adjustment. I've learned a lot of time management skills and learning what to know and what to skim over, etc... I'm sure you know how that goes. Overall, I've become a different person now, and the administration also thinks I can do better in M2 this way.

No smart remarks please - just honest answers. It's humbling as it is.

🙂

 

[45408]

It's really going to hinge on how well you do from this point. If you have respectable grades from here on out, and you do well in the rotation of the specialty you want, you stand a good chance at a number of specialties. If your board scores are competitive for your specialty as well, then this might be overlooked.

 

[NTF]

If you have respectable grades from here on out, and you do well in the rotation of the specialty you want, you stand a good chance at a number of specialties. If your board scores are competitive for your specialty as well, then this might be overlooked.

👍

I'm glad to hear that they gave you the option of retaking M1.

 

[njbmd]

I go to a U.S. MD school, and the only way for me to not be dismissed for my low grades is to repeat M1. How screwed am I when I apply to residency? I'm not planning on applying to dermatology or any other super competitive specialty, but I have no idea what I want to go into, so I would hate to think that there's nothing I can do but family medicine (not that I have anything against FM, but I would like to actually choose it 😳).

I have no real excuse for getting these low grades (I failed almost every course up until now). I was emotionally fine, my heart was there, I worked as hard as everyone else, but got overwhelmed. I'm positive I can do better next year. Wasn't a science major, so definitely an adjustment. I've learned a lot of time management skills and learning what to know and what to skim over, etc... I'm sure you know how that goes. Overall, I've become a different person now, and the administration also thinks I can do better in M2 this way.

No smart remarks please - just honest answers. It's humbling as it is.

🙂

The good thing is that you are going to be allowed to repeat your M1 year. This doesn't happen to many people who have "failed most every course" until now. Sometimes those folks are dismissed. The other good thing is that you still have more medical school in front of you than behind you. That means that you are not "relegated" to any specialty because you actually haven't done a third year yet. Having a strong third year can do loads in terms of getting you competitive for just about everything especially if you have good Step I scores.

Use the second go at M1 to keep doing inventory on your study skills and work ethic. If you nail your M1 year (put your first go behind you completely), you can start off your M2 after a strong M1 and go on to do well on Step I. Just get your head ready to work right out of the chute and don't apologize for the repeat. Look forward and don't let anyone make you feel inferior because you are not. As you have said, you took a bit longer with the adjustment but you made it.This is not the time for excuses but the time for forward action. No patient is ever going to ask you if you repeated M1 and won't care.

Don't beat yourself about a specialty because you haven't "burned any bridges" at this point (at least not any that are that important). Be positive, learn as much as you can and look ahead. Also, ask for help immediately if something isn't working for you. Ask loudly and persistently until you get what you need to do your best and succeed.

 

[ucsfstudents]

You have probably done this already, but if not, the school should provide you with an appointment with a learning specialist, not so much to label you as someone with a learning disability, but to find out how you learn best and to find out any weaknesses in your approach to learning the material that might be addressed through a change in behavior.

OK. So, this will be a red flag, BUT, if you do very well on Step 1, and on your clinical rotations, schools will be more forgiving. BUT, doing well in Step 1 is unlikely to happen unless you actually correct the mistakes made in first year.

Good luck! I hope things work out for you!

 

[Peds2ER]

You'll never be a dermatologist, but I think you have many more options than family medicine. Just my opinion, but I think if you do well, interview well you could probably do any but the highly competitive specialities. Good luck to you.

 

[Tru2me]

I can only imagine how it feels to have to repeat MS1- im really sorry this year didn't work out for you but I have some good news for you. I've come across two really high up doctors this year who've both admitted to failing out of their first year. One is even the Chief of her department. Basically they both said that they just improved a lot the second time around and "proved" themselves through their grades and boards.

Hope this news cheers you up! Just remember you will be a better doctor in the long run if you really learn the information and you will probably know it better than most doctors since you will have learned it twice!

 

[repeating]

The good thing is that you are going to be allowed to repeat your M1 year. This doesn't happen to many people who have "failed most every course" until now. Sometimes those folks are dismissed. The other good thing is that you still have more medical school in front of you than behind you. That means that you are not "relegated" to any specialty because you actually haven't done a third year yet. Having a strong third year can do loads in terms of getting you competitive for just about everything especially if you have good Step I scores.

Use the second go at M1 to keep doing inventory on your study skills and work ethic. If you nail your M1 year (put your first go behind you completely), you can start off your M2 after a strong M1 and go on to do well on Step I. Just get your head ready to work right out of the chute and don't apologize for the repeat. Look forward and don't let anyone make you feel inferior because you are not. As you have said, you took a bit longer with the adjustment but you made it.This is not the time for excuses but the time for forward action. No patient is ever going to ask you if you repeated M1 and won't care.

Don't beat yourself about a specialty because you haven't "burned any bridges" at this point (at least not any that are that important). Be positive, learn as much as you can and look ahead. Also, ask for help immediately if something isn't working for you. Ask loudly and persistently until you get what you need to do your best and succeed.

Sorry for the late reply, but thank you so much for the words of encouragement. It's a tough (humbling) situation for me to be in at this moment, so I've been trying to be as optimistic as possible. I guess with the increasing number of US medical students, I can't help but be scared about my prospects when it comes time to submit that residency application. Most people do it in 4 years.

I don't mind FM or really anything, as long as I can become a physician, but I can't help but feel discouraged should I find out that my options will be limited some day after everything I've been through.

Again, thank you so much for confidence boost.🙂

 

[repeating]

oh, and as for everyone else who replied on this thread, I've read all your replies, and I really appreciate the kind words. It is what it is I guess, and I have to make the best of it. Thank you very much! 🙂

 

[TexasPhysician]

Sorry for the late reply, but thank you so much for the words of encouragement. It's a tough (humbling) situation for me to be in at this moment, so I've been trying to be as optimistic as possible. I guess with the increasing number of US medical students, I can't help but be scared about my prospects when it comes time to submit that residency application. Most people do it in 4 years.

I don't mind FM or really anything, as long as I can become a physician, but I can't help but feel discouraged should I find out that my options will be limited some day after everything I've been through.

Again, thank you so much for confidence boost.🙂

While your residency options may be a little limited, you still stand a good chance at doing fellowships after and working wherever you want as a physician. 👍