The Importance of Honors During 3rd Year

[pillowsnice]

I am a few clerkships into my third year and I'm finding it incredibly difficult to obtain honors in any rotation. It looks like I am going to have mostly passes with some HP's scattered around. I guess my biggest weakness is the shelf as I haven't reached the cutoff for honors for any of them (although have gotten very close). My evals are ok in the sense that they aren't glowing "best student ever" type evals, but they aren't bad either. I have gotten some really good comments for some rotations, but it just wasn't enough. I'm wondering that if I would like to go into EM if this will impact anything while applying for residency? I have also heard from classmates that they are also passing so I have no idea who is even honoring these clerkships, as it seems like only a few most likely are. Should I just accept that my 3rd year grades will be mediocre? Or will this keep me from matching?

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[FutureEyeGuy]

Emergency medicine is not very difficult to match into in the grand scheme of all specialties. Having all passes will likely impact your ability to get into a top program, but it won't affect your overall ability to match. Try your best to honor your specialty specific rotations when 4th year comes around (ie EM if that's what you're doing).

Check out my signature below for specific tips for each rotation.

 

[Toxin066]

SLOE > boards > grades.

I'm just a 3rd year, but scuttlebutt says it won't stop you from matching.

You're always welcome to accept mediocrity. Your choice though. I get that you're probably giving it your all and not seeing results, but there's something to be said for resiliency. Though, it doesn't feel resilient when you'r being resilient - it just feels really crappy. Dream's not dead though. So you've got that going for ya.

 

[docbsb2015]

I’m anesthesia. I honored every single rotation as a 3rd year. Guess how many times they mentioned it during interviews... none. Guess what they did mention... boards. Sure it’s a plus when your clinical grades are nice, but it’s not gonna change your life man.

 

[Bonejorno]

I’m anesthesia. I honored every single rotation as a 3rd year. Guess how many times they mentioned it during interviews... none. Guess what they did mention... boards. Sure it’s a plus when your clinical grades are nice, but it’s not gonna change your life man.

I’m ortho. I didn’t honor a couple of my rotations (all high pass and above). I was asked specifically at 1 interview why I didn’t honor those rotations and what I could have done better to honor them. I agree it’s not going to change his life significantly, just adding one more anecdote.

 

[docbsb2015]

I’m ortho. I didn’t honor a couple of my rotations (all high pass and above). I was asked specifically at 1 interview why I didn’t honor those rotations and what I could have done better to honor them. I agree it’s not going to change his life significantly, just adding one more anecdote.

Interesting. That’s fair.

 

[96asdfhlkj]

I did not have any honors during 3rd year and matched into EM with no problem. As long as you do not have your heart set on the "top" programs you will have no issues assuming your SLOEs and board scores are fine.

 

[puahate]

Is all honors crucial for surgical subspecialties or high tier IM?

 

[Bonejorno]

Is all honors crucial for surgical subspecialties or high tier IM?

I don’t think so. I definitely didn’t honor all of my rotations. Most people realize 3rd year clerkship grades are very objective. I’d say it’s pretty important to get honors in the specialty you’re interested in though... especially for surgery since so many PDs and residents stress “fit”.

 

[Oh_Gee]

I don’t think so. I definitely didn’t honor all of my rotations. Most people realize 3rd year clerkship grades are very objective. I’d say it’s pretty important to get honors in the specialty you’re interested in though... especially for surgery since so many PDs and residents stress “fit”.

don't all programs, no matter the specialty, stress "fit"?

 

[Bonejorno]

don't all programs, no matter the specialty, stress "fit"?

Of course. But (and maybe this is just my bias) surgery programs seemed to stress it more in my experience and those of my friends. Maybe it has something to do with longer work hours, “more stressful” atmosphere, and/or generally smaller cohorts. I think individual fit for performs programs* becomes a lot more important if 4-6 of you are supposed to work with each other for 5 years compares for 20-30 residents for 3 years.

 

[Gilakend]

I’m ortho.

Incoming M1, very interested in ortho. You ever consider doing an AMA? Would love to hear the perspective of someone who recently matched. There is another ortho surgeon AMA on here that is primo, but feel like you having recently matched/recently been a med student could be a useful perspective on the path to actually get into a residency.

 

[Bonejorno]

Incoming M1, very interested in ortho. You ever consider doing an AMA? Would love to hear the perspective of someone who recently matched. There is another ortho surgeon AMA on here that is primo, but feel like you having recently matched/recently been a med student could be a useful perspective on the path to actually get into a residency.

I think there are so many great resources out there, I don't think I would add much more. Between SDN and reddit, I think most people should be able to find answers they are looking for. With that said, if you have any questions, feel free to PM me! I'd be happy to answer to the best of my abilities

 

[Espadaleader]

I high passed everything in 3rd and 4th except Surgery and Neuro (both PASS).

 

[Espadaleader]

In 4th year you NEED Honors or HP. Period.

 

[Espadaleader]

In 3rd year you can pass ANYTHING if you kill it 4th year. You can pass surgery in 3rd year and still match top program if you take 5 surgery sub I’s and Honors ALL of them.

 

[Espadaleader]

So it’s all about failing hard in 3rd year getting your butt in gear and performing in 4th year

 

[pillowsnice]

Thanks for all the replies! I really don't want to stress about P vs. Honors anymore, but its just so difficult because everyone around me is gunning for honors and when I receive my P grade, I actually feel like I'm not doing well.
As long as I know that with all Ps during 3rd year, I can still match into the specialty that I am passionate about (EM), that's all that will matter to me.

 

[Philosopher Jagger]

I am a few clerkships into my third year and I'm finding it incredibly difficult to obtain honors in any rotation. It looks like I am going to have mostly passes with some HP's scattered around. I guess my biggest weakness is the shelf as I haven't reached the cutoff for honors for any of them (although have gotten very close). My evals are ok in the sense that they aren't glowing "best student ever" type evals, but they aren't bad either. I have gotten some really good comments for some rotations, but it just wasn't enough. I'm wondering that if I would like to go into EM if this will impact anything while applying for residency? I have also heard from classmates that they are also passing so I have no idea who is even honoring these clerkships, as it seems like only a few most likely are. Should I just accept that my 3rd year grades will be mediocre? Or will this keep me from matching?

Remember that not all schools are on the Honors-High Pass-Pass-Fail system. So they only mean as much as they can be used to compare you to someone else. And if not everyone has them...

 

[CyrusHabs7695]

I’m anesthesia. I honored every single rotation as a 3rd year. Guess how many times they mentioned it during interviews... none. Guess what they did mention... boards. Sure it’s a plus when your clinical grades are nice, but it’s not gonna change your life man.

How are preclinical grades viewed? I know boards > clinical grades > preclinical grades, but would having all Ps instead of honors hurt for gas or any of the surgical specialties (if you happen to know)?

 

[jhenj529]

How are preclinical grades viewed? I know boards > clinical grades > preclinical grades, but would having all Ps instead of honors hurt for gas or any of the surgical specialties (if you happen to know)?

Doing well in class = studying for boards
High class grades = high board scores

Always a good metric to follow

 

[docbsb2015]

How are preclinical grades viewed? I know boards > clinical grades > preclinical grades, but would having all Ps instead of honors hurt for gas or any of the surgical specialties (if you happen to know)?

Honestly pre clinical grades don’t matter. But do the best you can because it will help when you start studying for step

 

[CyrusHabs7695]

Honestly pre clinical grades don’t matter. But do the best you can because it will help when you start studying for step

Yeah I feel you. Ive just switched to using Pathoma, Costanzo, Zanki and B&B instead of lectures. My q bank scores are increasing but my class grades are dropping because they test their own research interests and minute details that aren't in any important resources. So I was just wondering if I should stick with what im doing or go back to school lectures and do the other stuff come dedicated

 

[Chibucks15]

Yeah I feel you. Ive just switched to using Pathoma, Costanzo, Zanki and B&B instead of lectures. My q bank scores are increasing but my class grades are dropping because they test their own research interests and minute details that aren't in any important resources. So I was just wondering if I should stick with what im doing or go back to school lectures and do the other stuff come dedicated

Mix them both. You don’t wanna be bottom quartile of the class

 

[medicineman1234]

Yeah I feel you. Ive just switched to using Pathoma, Costanzo, Zanki and B&B instead of lectures. My q bank scores are increasing but my class grades are dropping because they test their own research interests and minute details that aren't in any important resources. So I was just wondering if I should stick with what im doing or go back to school lectures and do the other stuff come dedicated

Even worse is when they test you on something that contradicts the most recent edition of fa and they aren't even from that specialty

 

[docbsb2015]

Yeah I feel you. Ive just switched to using Pathoma, Costanzo, Zanki and B&B instead of lectures. My q bank scores are increasing but my class grades are dropping because they test their own research interests and minute details that aren't in any important resources. So I was just wondering if I should stick with what im doing or go back to school lectures and do the other stuff come dedicated

Yeah I would mix them.

 

[RealHumanBean1]

Yeah I feel you. Ive just switched to using Pathoma, Costanzo, Zanki and B&B instead of lectures. My q bank scores are increasing but my class grades are dropping because they test their own research interests and minute details that aren't in any important resources. So I was just wondering if I should stick with what im doing or go back to school lectures and do the other stuff come dedicated

I typically studied board material for most of the course and spent the last day or two before the class exam cramming pointless information into my head that I could just plan on forgetting immediately after.

The board material should cover around 80% of your exam's tested information and the cramming should give you at least a 50% correct on the class material. If you perform well on the board material (~85%) and maintain a 50% correct on the class material, you should be able to pull at least an 80% correct overall while getting in quality board prep.