The 200 step 1 "cut-off"

[ultm8frisbee]

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I keep reading about an above 200 step one score. With my step 1 being 201, will I be grouped with all of the people with scores above 200, as far as programs that have cut-offs? Took step 2 on friday and I'm hoping for about a 20 point improvement. Some more info: I rank in the middle of my class, have been working on research on fiberoptic airways, I honored a couple of clerkships (OB and Peds) thanks to the help of shelfs in the 90 percentile. Got a c on surgery thanks to shelf in th 35 percentile. I'm starting my anesthesia elective next week and plan on busting my a$$! Can I dream about some of the "elite" programs? Or did step 1 screw me. Anyones opinions would be appreceated, especiaaly you UTSouthwest, you seem to have a good handle on admissions and what programs are looking for.

 

[UTSouthwestern]

I keep reading about an above 200 step one score. With my step 1 being 201, will I be grouped with all of the people with scores above 200, as far as programs that have cut-offs? Took step 2 on friday and I'm hoping for about a 20 point improvement. Some more info: I rank in the middle of my class, have been working on research on fiberoptic airways, I honored a couple of clerkships (OB and Peds) thanks to the help of shelfs in the 90 percentile. Got a c on surgery thanks to shelf in th 35 percentile. I'm starting my anesthesia elective next week and plan on busting my a$$! Can I dream about some of the "elite" programs? Or did step 1 screw me. Anyones opinions would be appreceated, especiaaly you UTSouthwest, you seem to have a good handle on admissions and what programs are looking for.

It's not impossible, but likely improbable. If you ace step 2 and get great letters, you will likely still have a good shot at the higher ranked programs. Regardless, you are going to have to keep your grades high and show the admission committees that your trend is upward. Depending on where you are located, a call from your PD to the institution you are looking at can also open the door for you to interview and if you get an interview, all things can happen.

 

[ultm8frisbee]

thanks for the input. my last two clerckships were the ones I honored. Hopefully my step 2's are good. I plan on applying to all of the texas programs, how would I match up with your average incoming resident at UTSW, I hear great things about your program, and I'm a huge Mav's fan.

 

[UTSouthwestern]

The last three years have been pretty phenomenal with the match. This past year, we matched 3 of our top 4 and got all of our class except for one in our top 40. Don't remember the averages of the Steps but probably 220. That doesn't mean you can't make it in with lower scores. I have always said that we firmly believe we can make you a great anesthesiologist, but we can't always make someone a great person, therefore we will overlook some things if a candidate is truly a hard worker and team player.

 

[Celiac Plexus]

I keep reading about an above 200 step one score. With my step 1 being 201, will I be grouped with all of the people with scores above 200, as far as programs that have cut-offs? Took step 2 on friday and I'm hoping for about a 20 point improvement. Some more info: I rank in the middle of my class, have been working on research on fiberoptic airways, I honored a couple of clerkships (OB and Peds) thanks to the help of shelfs in the 90 percentile. Got a c on surgery thanks to shelf in th 35 percentile. I'm starting my anesthesia elective next week and plan on busting my a$$! Can I dream about some of the "elite" programs? Or did step 1 screw me. Anyones opinions would be appreceated, especiaaly you UTSouthwest, you seem to have a good handle on admissions and what programs are looking for.

clas of '03 here... one of my classmates matched at an "elite" anes. program after failing step i. although i don't recommend failing step i, anesthesia is pretty uncompettive if you are a us senior applicant.

do an audition rotation at your dream program, and make some friends. a 201 score is not that impressive, and the most competitive places (say top 5% of programs) will screen you out, but there are so many spots all over the place, there will be a place where you will be happy. ask yourself why it is so important to be at a top name place anyway... i'm in my 3rd year of residency and i believe the most important factor in residency success is your overall happiness factor... and happiness factor for me and 99% of my colleagues is location...

 

[UTSouthwestern]

clas of '03 here... one of my classmates matched at an "elite" anes. program after failing step i. although i don't recommend failing step i, anesthesia is pretty uncompettive if you are a us senior applicant.

do an audition rotation at your dream program, and make some friends. a 201 score is not that impressive, and the most competitive places (say top 5% of programs) will screen you out, but there are so many spots all over the place, there will be a place where you will be happy. ask yourself why it is so important to be at a top name place anyway... i'm in my 3rd year of residency and i believe the most important factor in residency success is your overall happiness factor... and happiness factor for me and 99% of my colleagues is location...

Which program?

 

[ultm8frisbee]

Some programs that I am interested in are: Colorado, University of New Mexico, Arizona, Wash U, SLU, and UTSA. Anyone know much about these programs? Would it be difficult being accepted into one of these?

 

[erasmus31]

Hey UT (and all),
You mentioned something about your PD making a phone call. My dream program is 5 minutes from my and my fiance's folks, but also is middle to high tier program...which I am probably not competitive for. My school's PD, also my advisor, used to be the PD at this pretty prestigous program. He flat out told me in a kind way that I probably won't make their cutoff...but I know he knows people there. I would love for him to make a call, but feel kinda weird since he already said I was not competitive. Do you think it is appropriate for me to ask for him to make a call??? If so, how should I go about it???

BTW, he agreed to write a letter for me, so that program will see his name there, but I'm afraid I will be screened out before then.

Thanks!

 

[UTSouthwestern]

Hey UT (and all),
You mentioned something about your PD making a phone call. My dream program is 5 minutes from my and my fiance's folks, but also is middle to high tier program...which I am probably not competitive for. My school's PD, also my advisor, used to be the PD at this pretty prestigous program. He flat out told me in a kind way that I probably won't make their cutoff...but I know he knows people there. I would love for him to make a call, but feel kinda weird since he already said I was not competitive. Do you think it is appropriate for me to ask for him to make a call??? If so, how should I go about it???

BTW, he agreed to write a letter for me, so that program will see his name there, but I'm afraid I will be screened out before then.

Thanks!

It's your future so it is more than appropriate to ask. I would ask him to give you an honest assessment of your performance thus far in your department and assuming it is good, then ask him if he would be WILLING to call them on your behalf. As always, I would recommend doing a rotation at your dream spot.

 

[phantom77]

I don't know if anesthesia is that non-competitive for US graduates. I graduated from a top 40 US med school, had >220 on both step 1 and 2, had good LOR, ranked 15 programs and didn't match. The way I see it it's pretty random. Or maybe it really is that important to have personal contacts, who knows.

 

[SleepyTime]

I don't know if anesthesia is that non-competitive for US graduates. I graduated from a top 40 US med school, had >220 on both step 1 and 2, had good LOR, ranked 15 programs and didn't match. The way I see it it's pretty random. Or maybe it really is that important to have personal contacts, who knows.

Interesting. Who did you have on your match list?

 

[VentdependenT]

You're pretty far out to the left on the bell curve man with that story. Sorry to hear that.

 

[UTSouthwestern]

I don't know if anesthesia is that non-competitive for US graduates. I graduated from a top 40 US med school, had >220 on both step 1 and 2, had good LOR, ranked 15 programs and didn't match. The way I see it it's pretty random. Or maybe it really is that important to have personal contacts, who knows.

I'd be interested to know what kept you from matching as well. Maybe you wore a suit with a hole in your crotch at each interview, or something as silly as that, but it's difficult to comprehend why you didn't match. Not saying that this is your case, but I have heard of and seen a couple of candidates who came across as very arrogant and cocky with stellar credentials that did not match at all. You should call the programs you had most contact with and just ask them for some brutally honest feedback as to why you did not match there to better improve your chances this year, if you are reapplying this year.

 

[sherpa]

Celiac Plexus, which program?

To SleepyTime and UTSouthwestern, a quick search of phantom77 revealed the following rank list:
1) U Mich
2) CCF
3) Case
4) Pitt
5) Wake
6) Yale
7) U of Louisville
8) Penn State
9) Mayo (Rochester)
10) U Cinci
11) Ohio State
12) MC WI
13) U Penn
14) Wash U

Phantom77, I'm sure you are holding your cards close to your vest, but do you care to share what would you have done, or what are you planning to do, differently?

 

[phantom77]

What would I have done differently? Write thank you letters. That's one thing I did not do. I don't know if it would have made a difference, but just do it. It may make a difference, and it's not worth gambling. When I was going through the process I didn't think it mattered, but.... Besides that I can't think of anything else. I don't think I'm cocky at all, and believe me, I wouldv'e noticed a hole in the crotch of my pants 🙂

 

[sherpa]

What would I have done differently? Write thank you letters. That's one thing I did not do. I don't know if it would have made a difference, but just do it. It may make a difference, and it's not worth gambling. When I was going through the process I didn't think it mattered, but.... Besides that I can't think of anything else. I don't think I'm cocky at all, and believe me, I wouldv'e noticed a hole in the crotch of my pants 🙂

👍 Cool. Thanks for sharing and taking the time to post.

 

[ultm8frisbee]

Well since I started this post I guess I'll update my info. Got my step 2's back today and was pleasantly surprised, 236/96. Will this help programs overlook my poor step 1? Wish I could go back and take that sucker over again, I didn't realize how important it was at the time. I am in the third week of my anesthesia rotation and loving every minute of it. If anyone has any input on how much this improved my chances of getting into a decent gas program, it would be greatly appreciated.

 

[ThinkFast007]

Well since I started this post I guess I'll update my info. Got my step 2's back today and was pleasantly surprised, 236/96. Will this help programs overlook my poor step 1? Wish I could go back and take that sucker over again, I didn't realize how important it was at the time. I am in the third week of my anesthesia rotation and loving every minute of it. If anyone has any input on how much this improved my chances of getting into a decent gas program, it would be greatly appreciated.

dude thats awesome! i hope ot be able to do the same!