Step 3 and Fellowships

[TheDoctorIsZen]

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Hello,
I and some friends of mine in two different programs around the country are being asked to take Step 3 during our intern year before starting as PGY-2 next year. Problem is, we're not sure we will be able to score as high as we could because we're so busy there's hardly any time to study. We're worried that this will impact our chance of getting a fellowship when we finish. Is this a genuine concern? To what extent does Step 3 score impact fellowships in our field?

Do you think it's good advice to just take the Step at some point this year and as long as I pass that's good enough, allowing me to focus on PM&R from the get-go? I was thinking another year of floor work as a PGY-2 would set me up to do really well on Step 3, but I'm unsure if doing really well is even really that important going forward. What do you guys think? Thanks for any and all input, it is appreciated!

 

[DOctorJay]

Take it as an intern. You'll never know medicine better than that year. Get it over with.

 

[fozzy40]

Take it as an intern. You'll never know medicine better than that year. Get it over with.

👍

 

[Gauss]

step 3 is irrelevant to fellowship application. Doing well in residency and having good letters of rec are what matter.

 

[Taus]

step 3 is irrelevant to fellowship application. Doing well in residency and having good letters of rec are what matter.

I have no idea if the actual score was important for fellowship..... but agcme pain programs wanted the scores

 

[TheDoctorIsZen]

Take it as an intern. You'll never know medicine better than that year. Get it over with.

Thanks very much for the replies. So, there's nothing to the idea that a pgy-2 year of covering the rehab floors would allow me to perform better? Or would studying for the step really be a distraction from focusing on rehab?
Thanks again!

 

[Jitter Bug]

Youwill probably get a better score taking at the end of intern year because you are using that testable knowledge daily.

Not worth putting it off. You won't have any more free time in PGY-2 than you probably do now.