USMLE scores for highly competitive residencies

[271559]

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What are very good scores for USMLE 1, 2, 3 for a match into neurosugery, plastic surgery, urology, ent, OR some other highly competitive field.

Let's say you're a vanilla, allopathic medical student going to your in-state college. How much should you be concerned about competition from DOs, FMGs, or even much better MDs?

All opinions appreciated. This is just for my own interest.

Thanks! 😛

 

[smq123]

What are very good scores for USMLE 1, 2, 3 for a match into neurosugery, plastic surgery, urology, ent, OR some other highly competitive field.

For starters, you can't take USMLE 3 until you've at least graduated, so it probably doesn't matter as much when it comes to matching into these types of fields.

That being said, the higher the better. Probably >240 for Step 1, although who knows how that will change when it comes time for you to apply. Whether or not you should take Step 2 is a matter of debate.

Let's say you're a vanilla, allopathic medical student going to your in-state college. How much should you be concerned about competition from DOs, FMGs, or even much better MDs?

Which allopathic med school in the US you go to doesn't matter as much (although almost every other pre-med on these forums will hotly contest this statement).

Competition from DOs and FMGs for those fields is much less. DOs have their own residencies that they can also apply to. Most really top residency programs in these very competitive fields will either be reluctant to, or categorically refuse to, interview FMGs. It's certainly not impossible for FMGs or DOs to fill these spots (I've met a few who have), but it's quite difficult.

 

[howelljolly]

mmmm vanilla.

go to www.nrmp.org

you'll find publications which tell you exactly what the average scores for each residency are. straight from the source. no opinions needed.

 

[Pinkertinkle]

step 1 score is just one thing, don't forget to honor your clinical rotations and do some good research.