try my luck with the test?

[hazlet]

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Hey everyone, I'm in a difficult situation right now and I need some advice. Just as some background, I am about to start my 3rd year at a U.S. allopathic school. It's not a top 20 school, its more mid/lower tier.

I'm scheduled to take step 1 on the 24th (one week from now) but I took NBME form 7 two days ago and I got a 177. My rotations start on Monday the 26th and my school requires that I take the Step 1 before I go on rotations. I asked the dean if there was any way to get extra time, and he told me the only option would be to change over to a 5-year curriculum, which would mean I graduate a year later than everyone else.

I'm concerned about switching over to the 5-year curriculum because I think it would be a red flag on my application and I think I'm already not in great shape since I have three Low Pass grades from my first two years and no honors at all. But on the other hand, if I take the exam and fail, I'd have to take the 5-year curriculum anyway. Also, I feel like I'll be pretty depressed if I'm the one guy who ends up staying back.

So do you think it would be better for me to try my luck with the exam this week, or switch over to the 5-year curriculum and take a couple more months to prepare? I'm also afraid that if I just barely pass, that won't be much better than failing, and would look bad with the rest of my record as it is.

If it helps, I'm interested in going into endocrine so I'd be looking for an IM residency that could get me a fellowship in that.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and I appreciate any advice you can give me.

 

[knuckles]

Take another practice exam a couple days before your exam. If your score is below a 200, I'd hold off.

Better to take 5 years, than to have a failing step score on your transcript.

 

[hazlet]

Thanks for your advice knuckles, I appreciate it.

I was just wondering, if I were to take a practice exam and get something above passing but just by a margin, would it be better to pass and stay on the 4 year track (if only by a couple of points) or to go on the 5 year track and pass by a significant margin.

 

[WellWornLad]

I was just wondering, if I were to take a practice exam and get something above passing but just by a margin, would it be better to pass and stay on the 4 year track (if only by a couple of points) or to go on the 5 year track and pass by a significant margin.

That depends on what you do for that extra year. Residency directors do not like unexplained time off during medical school, as it raises the risk that you won't get through residency.

If you could design a productive year off AND significantly raise your score (200+), I'd say go for the 5-year option. I'm not sure how long you've been studying for step 1, however, and whether a couple more months will bring a significant change in score. Barely passing is not great, but barely passing + unplanned year off is worse.

 

[NotMeNow]

Thanks for your advice knuckles, I appreciate it.

I was just wondering, if I were to take a practice exam and get something above passing but just by a margin, would it be better to pass and stay on the 4 year track (if only by a couple of points) or to go on the 5 year track and pass by a significant margin.

Take a year off and do research - and kill the exam. The year of research will even look good! My 2 cents.

 

[vr123]

Take a year off and do research - and kill the exam. The year of research will even look good! My 2 cents.

I totally agree with this. Even many students who are doing well take a year off to do research and bolster their apps for top residencies and specialties. If you can put that and doing great on Step 1 together, then you'll be in a lot better shape than you're in now.