Hey guys, I'm having really bad anxiety and depression over a lowish STEP 1 score (224) and cannot stop comparing myself to others despite getting H/HP so far in third year. It's like every day I find something that someone I'm working beside is doing so much better than I am and I always feel inadequate and worthless. I know logically I will never be the best and that I'm going into psychiatry so I don't need to be super competitive anyway, but somehow these facts still don't help. I know we're all super competitive and it would not surprise me to hear other people struggling with this problem as well. Is this just something ingrained in all of us at this point through our rigorous academic track? Does anyone have any tips on how they deal with this feeling on a day to day basis? I'd especially love to hear from fourth years and interns.
MD & DO Tips for getting over feelings of inadequacy after low STEP 1
- Thread starter wolf1992
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Hey! You got this far in your career. You've gotten an h/hp, which is more than I can say for myself haha. My score is not far from yours and I, too, am probably heading towards psychiatry. I, too, have felt that way, and in the last few months have been struggling to decide what I should go into. Since step 1 I haven't done much else besides volunteering, which I am content with...but I think at some point you have to consider your end goal. I think everyone more or less has felt that way, outside the few who haven't. What do you want to do? How do you want to live your life? It's great that people are doing well but don't let other people's successes blind you from your own. Outside of the medical field, you know more than the average person. You've taken many exams, studied countless of hours and met a lot of patients. You've come so far. That's what I tell myself. Honestly, I had to learn to stop caring about being competitive with others and focus on my own goals and success. It's okay to be that way, but do what you like and what makes you happy. There are people sadly who will throw you under the bus just to keep themselves elevated. Some, to compensate for a low score, will become gunners in clerkship and do as much as they can. Honestly, that sounds tiring and stressful to me- not my style. While sometimes I feel like I'm the only one who feels this way, like I'm not doing enough or not competitive enough, I do my best and hope for the best. Whatever happens is meant to be and that's all I need. It's that mentality and optimism that helped get me this far. I recommend finding things you enjoy, either medical or non medically related, and do that. It's your life- do what you'll be content with in the end. Idk if that helped at all but feedback from ms4 and up might be more useful lol
+ Hope you whatever program you're wanting ^_^
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Well the average was 228ish for the last year or so, so you're not that far off. If you spend time on SDN you're more likely to see high scores. Also people with higher scores are more likely to talk about their scores for obvious reasons. It gives you a skewed perception. Unless you're going for something ultra-competitive, you should still be fine, especially since it sounds like you're doing well with your clinical grades. You can always keep up with the studying during your clerkships, then rock Step 2 and show improvement.
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In the end dude, the life you LIVE is what matters most - not the life you wish you lived.
Despair is the life you wish you lived. Lots of people despair their whole lives. You will be able to become a psychiatrist, as YOU want, and will get to do what makes YOU happy. That is what matters. That is what you’ll bring home in your mood, and that is what people will remember you for.
Best of luck, youngblood.
Despair is the life you wish you lived. Lots of people despair their whole lives. You will be able to become a psychiatrist, as YOU want, and will get to do what makes YOU happy. That is what matters. That is what you’ll bring home in your mood, and that is what people will remember you for.
Best of luck, youngblood.
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Your H/HP speaks far more to your potential than your ability to memorize a bunch of minutiae. Step 2CK will likely be kinder to you. Just keep pushing forward. You're doing fine. Don't worry about what anyone else is doing.
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I scored ~20 points lower than you, matched to my first choice in a field as competitive as yours, and now I can safely say that I have no feelings of inadequacy. My Step 1 score is meaningless now. I've found that what separates the "good residents" from the ones that struggle has little to nothing to do with their knowledge base and everything to do with skills such as teamwork, hard work, and poise in difficult situations.
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I think @failedatlife has done a great job coping and I'm sure has some advice for you.
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Just register that you scored below average on Step 1 and that was more or less your ability at the time. Don't try to rationalize it as making stupid mistakes, etc. because that just introduces regret and added grief to the situation. That said, these board exams are game-able and don't test thinking skills, but recognition of very stereotypical knowledge. Know that you can always improve and Step 2 will make up for Step 1. The trajectory of your career is not determined based on medical school.
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If you can prove base knowledge, motivation to learn, and get along with everyone you should be okay. ive noticed alot of high scorers are super cocky or just have no social skill whats so ever, a pd would rather take someone whos willing to work hard learn than someone who thinks they know it all and is cocky. My first day of medical school we had an ortho pd speak to us. He asked who wants to do ortho in here, a large majority or males and a few females raised their hands. he told them thats great. "Competition is stiff but i could teach a monkey to do surgery, but i dont have the time to teach you to be personable and work ethic, thats what medical school is for". when he said that i laughed, most the people that raised their hands where the typical Bro ortho people.
