Step 1 cutoff score - revisited

[ctmedman]

---

Members do not see this ad.

The residency program director at my school mentioned that the step 1 cutoffs for programs is a 240. I thought this rather strange since matched applicants have a 231 average. In any case, I mentioned this to her but she said she had received an email stating this but would double check to make sure.

Is there some new info out there?

Is it possible that she is referring to the top ten programs that may have this higher cutoff?

I figured cutoffs would start at 220 for most programs and maybe 230 for top programs. Any thoughts?

 

[MAYOphtho]

From what I heard...there REALLY is no cutoff score...however, you have to look at it like this...will you be more looked at if you have 240+, most likely

I would say it's from my experience that "Top Programs" have a 240 cutoff (but there is always room on either side), good programs tend to use 230...and some programs look at 220+...so it's program AND applicant specific...

I know people that matched at a "top 3" US News ranked program with 225...but they also had LOTS of rejections along the way...so again, each program is very different in what they use...and there is no hard and fast rule about what cutoff (if any) truly exists

best advice...apply to EVERY program you would be happy going to (whether there are only 15 or you would be happy at ANY program in the country) and let the application game determine where you interview

good luck

 

[bucknut101]

The residency program director at my school mentioned that the step 1 cutoffs for programs is a 240. I thought this rather strange since matched applicants have a 231 average. In any case, I mentioned this to her but she said she had received an email stating this but would double check to make sure.

Is there some new info out there?

Is it possible that she is referring to the top ten programs that may have this higher cutoff?

I figured cutoffs would start at 220 for most programs and maybe 230 for top programs. Any thoughts?

There is no way every program has a cutoff score of 240. As you mentioned the avg score last year for a matched applicant was 231. I'm sure each program has different criteria in determining which applicants they invite for interviews and certainly the Step 1 score is part of this. Some programs I'm sure keep there standards high and only invite people with very high scores. I don't know what my program's cutoff score is exactly but it is certainly not 240 and I doubt even 230.

Anyways I wouldn't stress too much over your score. There are lots of good programs you can get into without having a superhigh Step 1 score.

 

[JMK2005]

maybe 240 is a cutoff for an automatic interview

 

[alleyesonme]

Some schools may have absolute cut-offs, but I also know that some programs have pseudo-cutoffs that take other factors into account. For example, a 240 period, gets you past the first cut, but a 230 and honors in surgery and medicine or AOA also gets you past. A 220 plus honors in surg/med and AOA plus great LOR and 10 pubs may get you past. All programs are different and even though some may have strict cutoffs, I think the majority of them take several key aspects into account. Namely, they assess the same criteria we all know and read about over and over again on this site:
1) board scores
2) grades in surg/med
3) LOR - quality and who writes the letter
4) through 10) as above
the rest: AOA, research, extracurriculars, etc.

There is no magic formula and in the end, all of us, no matter how strong of a candidate we are, will get rejections at places we thought we should get interviews, and interviews at places we may not have anticipated. Programs cannot interview everyone with scores over 240 or even 250, there are too many people applying with those stats, and not enough interview spots. (60 interview spots at a top program, with 100-200 people with 240+)

In the end, once granted an interview, the interview determines the rank list.

 

[MR1]

In the end, once granted an interview, the interview determines the rank list.

I don't know if I would believe this myth. It may be true at some programs, but most I think use the interview to generally place applicants. But don't think that once you have an interview you are on an even playing field. They still look at scores and such to fine tune the list. So you might get in their top 10 with a 220, but if everyone else is 240+, I bet you it'll come up in the discussions and hurt you. Others actually on interview committees please give your 2 cents, this is just what I have heard from multiple people and 2 that actually were on inteview committees

 

[JMK2005]

Interviews can help weed out a person who looks good on paper, but has obvious personality issues.

Interviews are important, but for many applicants its equivocal. Final rank list takes everything into account.

 

[northandponce]

I followed the general advice given to those of us with less than stellar Step 1 scores.... and luckily, got my 99 on CK.

For someone like me, where do you think the "cutoff" would be? Do they take into account step 2 scores?

 

[Corn Dog]

?

 

[Corn Dog]

In the end, once granted an interview, the interview determines the rank list.

I'm not sure if I agree with this statement.

I think the rank list is made even before the interviews. Depending on the quality of the interview (at both extremes), the rank can change somewhat, but I think for a lot of programs, the original rank list is very similar to post-interview rank list.

 

[cubsrule4e]

I'm not sure if I agree with this statement.

I think the rank list is made even before the interviews. Depending on the quality of the interview (at both extremes), the rank can change somewhat, but I think for a lot of programs, the original rank list is very similar to post-interview rank list.

By that logic then, would you say that the pre-interview rank list is pretty similar to the order in which the interview invitations went out? (aside from stellar applicants who may have completed their app later in the cycle)

 

[Corn Dog]

By that logic then, would you say that the pre-interview rank list is pretty similar to the order in which the interview invitations went out? (aside from stellar applicants who may have completed their app later in the cycle)

Not sure if I would go as far as thinking that interview invitations are sent in the order of pre-interview rank list, but I know that there are people on waitlists for interviews for those not in top 50-60 (or however many the program interviews per season), who get called just days before the actual interview to fill a cancelled spot. So in a sense, it's true.

 

[BTS]

For what it's worth, the majority of programs say that they don't use a cut-off step I or step II score (you can argue whether more attention is paid to applicants who have higher board scores). Those that do usually have a pretty reasonable cutoff, not the 240 cut-off that has been suggested.

Some programs use the theory that everyone who is given an interview has the qualifications to be a good resident, and the interview means everything. Others use the interview as part of the bigger picture. But the interview does play a large part in the ranking of candidates, for the simple fact that most interviewees have very strong and similar resumees.