Residencies care about grades in specific classes?

[218303]

Do specific residencies care about grades you get in certain classes more than others?

For example, one specialty I am interested in is Radiology, but in Anatomy I will probably only be in the top 50% of my class.

Hopefully I will do well enough on my boards to not have to worry too much about that, but do residencies look at specific classes, or just the overall rank?

 

[Pinkertinkle]

No, the people who make these decisions don't have time to go through your preclinical grades and figure out how you did compared to other applicants and with all the different grading systems out there they'd be hard pressed to even if they wanted.

But they sure do care about Step 1 score: simple, short, standardized.

 

[Law2Doc]

Do specific residencies care about grades you get in certain classes more than others?

For example, one specialty I am interested in is Radiology, but in Anatomy I will probably only be in the top 50% of my class.

Hopefully I will do well enough on my boards to not have to worry too much about that, but do residencies look at specific classes, or just the overall rank?

Nobody will care too much about specific basic science year courses. But the clinical year evaluations will make up the bulk of your Dean's letter so good comments in bigger courses like Medicine and Surgery would serve your cause.

 

[Winged Scapula]

Nope. No one cares unless you fail a semester/year, etc. and have to remediate.

 

[PeepshowJohnny]

Preclinical, no way, no how.

Now, they definitely look at clinical grades at what is relevant. So if you're applying for surgery and you didn't do that hot on your surgery clerkship and have some poor comments, yeah that's going to matter. So for radiology, try to do well in everything and you'll be fine.