Step 3 Scores and Importance

[blueMD]

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How goes, folks? Finished my first week of transitional residency (and saving lives)... I just wanted to ask how important are step 3 scores? I plan on taking it sooner than later because I have some less-intense electives lined up in a few months. I'd like to get your feedbacks.

 

[radonc]

How goes, folks? Finished my first week of transitional residency (and saving lives)... I just wanted to ask how important are step 3 scores? I plan on taking it sooner than later because I have some less-intense electives lined up in a few months. I'd like to get your feedbacks.

not important at all, if you have already matched into radonc.

if you are unmatched, not sure what the importance would be, except that a higher score wont hurt you.

 

[Brim]

How goes, folks? Finished my first week of transitional residency (and saving lives)... I just wanted to ask how important are step 3 scores?

P = MD!

Assuming you've already applied to and matched into a rad onc program, the only thing that's important about your step 3 score is that it's > or = to the minimum passing score.

Here are some encouraging statistics:
http://www.usmle.org/scores/2006perf.htm

I especially like this quote:
"Like Step 1 and Step 2 CK, the ultimate Step 3 passing rate, accounting for repeat attempts, is expected to increase to approximately 99% . . . "

 

[blueMD]

thats a relief becuz i feel dumber now than i was a 3rd/4th yr med student

is this kind of the general feeling for all incoming fresh residents (prelim, transitionals) going into rad onc next year or is it just me?

 

[stephew]

if you do transitional year it will make step 3 that much easier.

 

[radonc]

maybe, maybe not. the majority of the test is still internal medicine and its subspecialties. the non-IM topics are pretty general, and just pickup a review book to go over those topics...

 

[trublu]

This won't be a concern for everyone, but Holman Pathway candidates must submit USMLE scores when applying - including Step 3.

It's unlikely that Step 3 scores weigh too heavily in their decision-making process, but they do claim to look for "clinical aptitude"...

 

[stephew]

step three bears no weight so long as you pass.