Step 1 scores for Mayo Clinic

[BiggMann79]

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Sorry to start yet another one of these threads. I'm an M1 at the moment and I am interested in IM. I read an article the other day about how medicine is practiced at the Mayo Clinic and was very impressed. My question is what type of Step 1 scores should one shoot for in order to be competetive for a residency there? If it means anything my medical school is the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. We've matched people into internal medicine at Johns Hopkins in the past, so I know it's possible to match at the Mayo Clinic from here, but I just need some idea of how good I'd really have to be.

By the way, this is the article that I read:

http://www.fastcompany.com/online/23/totteam.html

P.S. I really have no problem with the location either, as Rochester is very similar to every town I've ever lived in from what I gather.

 

[avendesora]

This is a study with n=1, but I had a 218, with great letters and honors in IM. From the "post-match" correspondence I got from Mayo, they seemed to imply that I would have matched there if I had ranked them higher. I have no idea if this is typical -- hopefully some people who matched there will get back to you. Judging by the incredible f'ing smart people that I met while I was there, some of them did significantly better

Mayo was probably the best program I visited, but I could not stomach living in Rochester (diff'rnt strokes for diff'rnt folks). If it was in a major city it would be the among the most popular IM residencies IMO.

The best advice on Step I is to do your best, and then judge where you're competitive. It's not like you're going to say "I only need 220 for Mayo, so I'm shuttin' it down halfway through 2nd year". A better score is always better, period.

 

[BiggMann79]

True about the Step 1 scores, I just plan to go for broke and whatever happens happens.

 

[the END.]

BiggMann,

As far as Mayo goes, my advice is to obviously do your best on Step I and work hard in 3rd year especially. UAMS can put people into good programs (Vandy, MGH, Duke), but most places will hold Arkansas against you as an applicant. There's just not much respect for UAMS. Thus, it may take better Step I and pre-clinical grades vs an applicant from Hopkins or Stanford to get past pre-screening.

The best advice I can give is to do an away rotation early in your fourth year at Mayo. That will do wonders for you (providing you work your butt off there). Places always tend to favor interviewing those who have already rotated at their institution.

Meet with Dr. Bradsher sometime during your 3rd or 4th semester to express your IM interest, and talk with Dr. Wheeler to cater your rotations so that during IM, you can rotate with Andreoli or Bradsher as your attending. These guys know people everywhere and can get you a good word in. They will be more capable of writing you a stellar letter of rec. if you rotate with them.

Finally, a caveat, remember that you are an M1, and your preferences for residency, practice, or location may change (you may change, your life may change, etc.).

 

[Renovar]

Another study where N=1...

One person from my graduating class matched at Mayo for IM (#1), and for whatever it's worth, her step 1 was in the 230s. She is an outstanding applicant overall, and has pretty much interviews at almost everywhere she asked for.

 

[mediocre]

i think it helps A LOT if Mayo has taken residents from your school in the past. They took just one resident from our school a few years ago, and she was outstanding, so they're taking a few of us from our school every year now. I don't know the track record of UAMS, so you just might have to be that trailblazer.

As for me, my step 1 is not mindblowing by any means (220's). But I think my application was helped by 1. good medicine rotation & sub-I evaluations, 2. good recommendations 3. having another degree (MPH) and 4. having some research experience.

So you can't just go by numbers alone. Good luck.

 

[mediocre]

BTW: thanks for the article...


But Mayo is NOT the only place that you'll find which practices medicine in the manner illustrated in the article. There are plenty of other great programs out there as well. You have to go out and explore a bit...

And don't forget about the -20 degree F temps! That's how cold it was on my interview day...

 

[BiggMann79]

Originally posted by mediocre
And don't forget about the -20 degree F temps! That's how cold it was on my interview day...

I walked to school in -10 degree weather when I was in kindergarten. Seriously, my family lived in Wyoming when I was younger and all the cars had frozen up.

I'm sure other places practice medicine like the Mayo Clinic, but I found the article very interesting. In some friends of mine I've seen how long it takes to get anything done when you are bouncing around from PCP to specialist, scheduling surgeries, etc.