Still Struggling

[drlove4]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

I am at the bottom quartile and need advice moving forward. I struggled with basic sciences, barely passing many classes, but was a non-science major in undergrad and thought things would improve going into systems, which they did but my exams are still erratic (90% on one, 80% on the next, class mean consistently around 89%). I've sought out help with time management (non-trad, things get in the way of studying at times) and study habits have improved, but I am still worried about performing well in all my classes and on boards, especially because of my low performance most of first year. How does everyone consistently do so well? Am I in trouble here? I want to do peds or child psych. Any advice is welcomed, thank you!

 

[Azete]

Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. Even though you're struggling, it sounds like you're passing everything and that's all you need to be doing at this point.

Residencies care as much about your pre-clinical grades as they do your SAT score. They just want to see that you passed everything on the first try.

Also, 89% class averages? Your professors need to be writing harder tests -- they're not doing the students any favors by doing this. Is this one of the VCOMs? They're pretty notorious for grade inflation.

 

[grapefruit17]

how much time do you study a day? honestly scoring in the 80s isn't bad, unless the exams are too easy. But if 89 is the average it could also mean the class is generally smart/hard working.

 

[Azete]

.

 

[Rekt]

I am at the bottom quartile and need advice moving forward. I struggled with basic sciences, barely passing many classes, but was a non-science major in undergrad and thought things would improve going into systems, which they did but my exams are still erratic (90% on one, 80% on the next, class mean consistently around 89%). I've sought out help with time management (non-trad, things get in the way of studying at times) and study habits have improved, but I am still worried about performing well in all my classes and on boards, especially because of my low performance most of first year. How does everyone consistently do so well? Am I in trouble here? I want to do peds or child psych. Any advice is welcomed, thank you!

That average is way too high. Never heard of DO scores being that high. My school average is 78 to 82 at most. It's likely those questions are useless to you anyway. Keep scoring in the 80s, but focus on board material.

 

[tunicaexterna]

My school's average is also similarly high - especially during the last half of the year.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile app

 

[drlove4]

I forgot to mention the reason I am reflecting on this is because while I have been mostly in the 80-90 range, I got a 68% on the last test. I would guess I get average studying time in, maybe a little bit less, I feel like it takes me longer to get through the material at times but I don't know why I'd be so low in the class rank. I'm also worried about retention, sometimes I forget major details if asked to recall from what I studied a couple months ago, I don't know how people successfully review two full years in dedicated board time

 

[GUH]

I was in your shoes. Don't worry about your class rank unless you want something competitive. Focus on passing your classes and doing as well as you can on boards for now. Then work hard and be cool on your auditions and you'll be fine. At least for psych.

 

[Staphylococcus Aureus]

Is someone at the bottom of the rank always at a high risk for poor board scores? My school also has a really high average but I know 2018 had mediocre board scores, so it's probably inflated tests and not just my class being exceptionally smart/hardworking.

 

[Rekt]

Is someone at the bottom of the rank always at a high risk for poor board scores? My school also has a really high average but I know 2018 had mediocre board scores, so it's probably inflated tests and not just my class being exceptionally smart/hardworking.

I'm betting a lot will disagree with me, but after going through this process and knowing scores of many of my classmates, including the people who dropped out from taking step, there's a very obvious strong correlation between board performance and pre-clinical performance. There will of course be outliers, but this is by far the exception and not the rule. It's likely more from study habits rather than curriculum preparation of the school, although I wouldn't be surprised if DO schools follow FA closer than some MD schools.

 

[Azete]

I forgot to mention the reason I am reflecting on this is because while I have been mostly in the 80-90 range, I got a 68% on the last test. I would guess I get average studying time in, maybe a little bit less, I feel like it takes me longer to get through the material at times but I don't know why I'd be so low in the class rank. I'm also worried about retention, sometimes I forget major details if asked to recall from what I studied a couple months ago, I don't know how people successfully review two full years in dedicated board time

Don't worry so much about retention, almost everybody is the same way. I've learned about Myasthenia Gravis at least 6 times over my first two years, and yet just a few weeks after taking Step 1 I already forget whether it affects Ach or AchR.

 

[Brorthopedic]

Also, 89% class averages? Your professors need to be writing harder tests -- they're not doing the students any favors by doing this. Is this one of the VCOMs? They're pretty notorious for grade inflation.

Goljan would disagree with you, and I would agree with Goljan

OP, start studying for boards halfway through M2 year. You're not going to "suddenly" do well on boards, don't get caught in that trap.

 

[Hakuna Matata]

Just focus on passing. Especially for those specialties. Do your best on boards and do even better in your clinical and on step 2. Similar to undergrad, seeing an upward trend matters, specifically on step 1 -> step 2. If you're scoring in the 80's on average I wouldn't worry one bit.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[drlove4]

It sounds like 80s is decent at other schools, but to put this in perspective a 80% is approaching bottom 5-15% of the class.

 

[Azete]

Goljan would disagree with you, and I would agree with Goljan

OP, start studying for boards halfway through M2 year. You're not going to "suddenly" do well on boards, don't get caught in that trap.

What's Goljan say? Genuinely asking because I'm curious.

 

[Brorthopedic]

What's Goljan say? Genuinely asking because I'm curious.

He rants about teachers making overly difficult tests

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Goljan would disagree with you, and I would agree with Goljan

OP, start studying for boards halfway through M2 year. You're not going to "suddenly" do well on boards, don't get caught in that trap.

I think that having easier classes and tests can be a major help in that it allows the more dedicated students to really go off on their own and study for boards throughout the year. But it probably as a whole hurts the class.

 

[Azete]

He rants about teachers making overly difficult tests

I think there's a big difference between testing minutiae (bad) and writing challenging questions (good). I have no data to back this up, and I'm not an expert in education by any means. But, from purely anecdotal experience, I found that the teachers that challenged me the most were the subjects I ended up retaining the most.

 

[W19]

It sounds like 80s is decent at other schools, but to put this in perspective a 80% is approaching bottom 5-15% of the class.

Wow! These test must be extremely easy then.

 

[zero0]

Wow! These test must be extremely easy then.

Must be nice. I can count the number of As I've gotten on one hand...

 

[grapefruit17]

My class tests were routinely averaged at mid Cs, and sometimes low Bs to give another perspective. It was tough, a lot of random questions. Occasionally wed get a soft ball test to even out our grades and have a mid B average on it.

Preclinical grades were probably somewhat predictive of board scores. My friend had the highest USMLE score in our class, she was at the lower end of the top 20 if I recall, but she beat all the ones ahead of her.

Although..some of the ones in my class that were at the top, did very poorly on boards. There were some who were at the top who completely bombed boards. Partially because our classes rarely had board related material..lots of low yield/random stuff. And our class tests professors sometimes gave "hints" to only people who attended class or their favorite students, so yea..Also the questions weren't usually board style they were more "Did you memorize this powerpoint slide"

My preclinical grades were around average and my comlex was around average/slightly higher then average for my class. My step 2 was one of the highest in my class though, but that was probably because I was able to drop all the random mandatory classes bs and learn on my own and through clinicals-->teaching yourself is always the path of least resistance.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Must be nice. I can count the number of As I've gotten on one hand...

It'd be a major ego boost no doubt.