Step 1 Score...advice please

[OptionMirror]

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So I just received my step 1 score today...216/91...wasn't the score i was hoping for cause my nbme were higher (230ish). I think it was the exam anxiety. Test questions were also really unexpectedly long, didn't finish one section 🙁. So now, was wondering if I had a chance to land a residency spot in california. At this point i dunno what i want to do yet, but i do know i don't want to be a surgeon. But I really like IM or EM, both of which are really different but I'm weird lol...I do live in california and do go to one of the top med school in california (i dunno how much a med school name really has on application for residency). Just started rotation, definitely will work hard...and hopefully i can get into LOD city. any advices are welcome....thanks...hope everyone who just got their score owned the exam.

 

[usermike8500]

Same exact story here. I'm a California student who did well on practice tests but got 216/91 on the real Step 1. I used to want to be an anesthesiologist. It's crazy how lifetime dreams can be shattered in an instant.

I don't know, part of me still thinks that we can overcome a step 1 score and shoot for things like anesthesiology, IM, or ER. I'm just scared to do so because I'm afraid that I won't match anywhere at all if I go for a specialty with average step 1 scores in the high 220s.

Hey, I bet a lot of people are in our same boat. I had a lot of questions that seemed way out of left field on my exam.

 

[KeyzerSoze]

Same exact story here. I'm a California student who did well on practice tests but got 216/91 on the real Step 1. I used to want to be an anesthesiologist. It's crazy how lifetime dreams can be shattered in an instant.

I don't know, part of me still thinks that we can overcome a step 1 score and shoot for things like anesthesiology, IM, or ER. I'm just scared to do so because I'm afraid that I won't match anywhere at all if I go for a specialty with average step 1 scores in the high 220s.

Hey, I bet a lot of people are in our same boat. I had a lot of questions that seemed way out of left field on my exam.

Please tell me you're joking. In the 2009 Charting Outcomes in the Match, of IM applicants with Step 1 scores between 211 and 220, 450/454 matched. That's about 99%. In EM 222/239 applicants with those scores matched, and in anesthesia 223/240 applicants, about 93% in each case.

Even if things have become slightly more competitive in the past few years, almost half of all US students have scores of 216 or below. Do you really think you have to be in the top half of all medical students to get an IM residency?

 

[ArcGurren]

Please tell me you're joking. In the 2009 Charting Outcomes in the Match, of IM applicants with Step 1 scores between 211 and 220, 450/454 matched. That's about 99%. In EM 222/239 applicants with those scores matched, and in anesthesia 223/240 applicants, about 93% in each case.

Even if things have become slightly more competitive in the past few years, almost half of all US students have scores of 216 or below. Do you really think you have to be in the top half of all medical students to get an IM residency?

In all fairness matching in California if you're not a state resident is a lot harder than if you're a resident/went to med school in Cali.

But for these guys this should NOT be an issue as they are both Cali residents and go to med school there.

 

[J ROD]

Please tell me you're joking. In the 2009 Charting Outcomes in the Match, of IM applicants with Step 1 scores between 211 and 220, 450/454 matched. That's about 99%. In EM 222/239 applicants with those scores matched, and in anesthesia 223/240 applicants, about 93% in each case.

Even if things have become slightly more competitive in the past few years, almost half of all US students have scores of 216 or below. Do you really think you have to be in the top half of all medical students to get an IM residency?

Exactly....you are not done if you have around a 215......

all those options are still open.....just try to do better on Step 2.

 

[Bartelby]

Please tell me you're joking. In the 2009 Charting Outcomes in the Match, of IM applicants with Step 1 scores between 211 and 220, 450/454 matched. That's about 99%. In EM 222/239 applicants with those scores matched, and in anesthesia 223/240 applicants, about 93% in each case.

I know... people on SDN seem so paranoid. I wonder how many people give up on trying for the specialties they want because their step score is at or 5-10 points below the specialty average?

 

[OpalOnyx]

I know... people on SDN seem so paranoid. I wonder how many people give up on trying for the specialties they want because their step score is at or 5-10 points below the specialty average?

hahaha yeah. desperation leads to resistance, which leads to not allowing good things to happen.
therefore 1) don't be desperate 2) don't resist 3) cheer up 4) move on and do stuff.

 

[OveractiveBrain]

I know... people on SDN seem so paranoid. I wonder how many people give up on trying for the specialties they want because their step score is at or 5-10 points below the specialty average?

Its worse to go for the gold and fall on your face because no one told you otherwise. It happened to three ortho guys (who are now prelim surgery). No one said "you just aren't that competitive, maybe you should consider general spots." Now, I agree that 5 points below a national average is not a write-off, and I agree that ANY score will get you IM or EM somewhere. At the same time, people who aren't stellar do need a wake up call: you can't always get what you want (but sometimes, you get what you nee eed).

 

[Hopefulone09]

I don't agree with the last post. If love something you should still shoot for it.... Don't take no for an answer. I personally know quite a few people that didn't do well on STEP 1 yet still wanted to do ortho. They didn't match a few did research for a year a a few did a preliminary year in surg and all matched in ortho the following year. There are other ways to get into the field that you want to go into.

 

[OveractiveBrain]

I don't agree with the last post. If love something you should still shoot for it.... Don't take no for an answer. I personally know quite a few people that didn't do well on STEP 1 yet still wanted to do ortho. They didn't match a few did research for a year a a few did a preliminary year in surg and all matched in ortho the following year. There are other ways to get into the field that you want to go into.

Undoubtedly this will be a source of contention, with people on either side. There are horror stories and their are great success stories. Don't be totally in the pits, but don't get your hopes up that high either...

 

[TexasPhysician]

So I just received my step 1 score today...216/91...wasn't the score i was hoping for cause my nbme were higher (230ish). I think it was the exam anxiety. Test questions were also really unexpectedly long, didn't finish one section 🙁. So now, was wondering if I had a chance to land a residency spot in california. At this point i dunno what i want to do yet, but i do know i don't want to be a surgeon. But I really like IM or EM, both of which are really different but I'm weird lol...I do live in california and do go to one of the top med school in california (i dunno how much a med school name really has on application for residency). Just started rotation, definitely will work hard...and hopefully i can get into LOD city. any advices are welcome....thanks...hope everyone who just got their score owned the exam.

Cali is very competitive. You have a chance, but it isn't good odds. Boost your application as much as possible from here on out.

 

[greg1184]

Step 2 CK.

Work your butt off to strengthen your application and put yourself in better position.

 

[Siverhideo1985]

I don't agree with the last post. If love something you should still shoot for it.... Don't take no for an answer.

Considering that a lot of (California) residencies have general Step 1 cutoffs below which your application just goes straight to the garbage, I would opt for more research on specific programs. If you just don't make the cut on paper it doesn't matter how much you won't take no for an answer.

Having said that I would just take a realistic approach. Talk to your school's Deans...discuss which fields you're interested in, what the possible programs are in that field in Cali and then see what kind of applicants they take. You can even call up specific programs (or shoot them an email) and ask if they have general cutoffs.

Be proactive in everything you do the next 2 years...seeking information on residencies, applications, rotations, away rotations at sites that you may want to do a residency at, talking with people, making connections, getting mentors, etc...I doubt a 216 will hold you back if you put in the work.