WAMC at top tier anesthesia with 239 Step 1 score?

[3AA]

Hey y'all, hope everyone is doing well and I hope I'm posting this in the right place!

Recently got step 1 score back of 239, I go to low-tier MD school in the NE, and was just wondering if I could still get into top tier programs in the area such as the big 4 in NYC? Thank you for any advice and feedback!

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[secretasianman]

42.0%

 

[GassYous]

69.69

 

[JiPo]

29.1%

 

[coffeebythelake]

Hey y'all, hope everyone is doing well and I hope I'm posting this in the right place!

Recently got step 1 score back of 239, I go to low-tier MD school in the NE, and was just wondering if I could still get into top tier programs in the area such as the big 4 in NYC? Thank you for any advice and feedback!

Depends on your other scores and overall profile. Step 1 score by itself means little. But yes it us possible.. i know many people who ended up in top tier programs with that kind of Step 1 score.

 

[BLADEMDA]

Hey y'all, hope everyone is doing well and I hope I'm posting this in the right place!

Recently got step 1 score back of 239, I go to low-tier MD school in the NE, and was just wondering if I could still get into top tier programs in the area such as the big 4 in NYC? Thank you for any advice and feedback!

Step 2 scores may play a more important role for your MATCH as some Med Students in the MATCH with you will ONLY have a Step 2 score. So, if you want a top tier program then crush Steep 2, interview well and get good letters of recommendation. But, if you only want to match in NYC then IMHO, not all the programs there are top tier.

 

[PainDrain]

What does a 239 mean these days? I scored a 248/99th percentile more than a decade ago and I was told then I could match into any specialty outside of derm and plastics. I scored better than several who went into much more competitive specialties. I heard some of the current ortho residents (who literally have no clue about medicine) talking about getting in the 260s. Has the grading scale changed or are people just crushing this exam now?

 

[coffeebythelake]

What does a 239 mean these days? I scored a 248/99th percentile more than a decade ago and I was told then I could match into any specialty outside of derm and plastics. I scored better than several who went into much more competitive specialties. I heard some of the current ortho residents (who literally have no clue about medicine) talking about getting in the 260s. Has the grading scale changed or are people just crushing this exam now?

Tbh I dont know why ortho needs 260 step score. (Or why they even need to go to medical school) You would think they were evaluated on how many lbs they can bench press or how many push-ups they can do

Also I thought step 1 is now pass fail?

 

[GassYous]

What does a 239 mean these days? I scored a 248/99th percentile more than a decade ago and I was told then I could match into any specialty outside of derm and plastics. I scored better than several who went into much more competitive specialties. I heard some of the current ortho residents (who literally have no clue about medicine) talking about getting in the 260s. Has the grading scale changed or are people just crushing this exam now?

For a while the step 1 scores were going up and up and seemed like they would go up forever with all the improvements in test prep. About ten years ago the average was 230 and a 248 would be top 85th percentile. It hasn't changed much since then. Every field was open to you. 239 is probably just above average. Step 1 is now p/f. Participation prizes for everyone.

 

[PainDrain]

For a while the step 1 scores were going up and up and seemed like they would go up forever with all the improvements in test prep. About ten years ago the average was 230 and a 248 would be top 85th percentile. It hasn't changed much since then. Every field was open to you. 239 is probably just above average. Step 1 is now p/f. Participation prizes for everyone.

Wait. My god I just realized I took step 1 almost 16 years ago. Wtf. Life really flies when your having fun.

 

[JiPo]

What does a 239 mean these days? I scored a 248/99th percentile more than a decade ago and I was told then I could match into any specialty outside of derm and plastics. I scored better than several who went into much more competitive specialties. I heard some of the current ortho residents (who literally have no clue about medicine) talking about getting in the 260s. Has the grading scale changed or are people just crushing this exam now?

With the average creeping up every year, 239 is probably around 55-60th percentile.

 

[nimbus]

I know for IM there is a big difference in step scores between the top programs and the rest. For example the top 4 NYC IM programs have average step scores that are higher than the national average for derm/Ortho. Not sure if the NYC anesthesia programs are as competitive.

 

[GassYous]

I know for IM there is a big difference in step scores between the top programs and the rest. For example the top 4 NYC IM programs have average step scores that are higher than the national average for derm/Ortho. Not sure if the NYC anesthesia programs are as competitive.


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When I applied I heard the average was around 240 for residents

 

[3AA]

When I applied I heard the average was around 240 for residents

just wondering, this average around 240 is that for anesthesia or IM? ty!

 

[NicMouse64]

The median step score is 233. It's creeped up about 1 point per year. There's a lot of crowding around the median. 60% of all US medical students get between 220 and 250. 260 is 95th percentile. FYI this data only takes into account the average for US MDs/canadians who take USMLE step1. It doesn't include IMGs or DOs. The real average is presumed to be lower around 227-230 overall. https://www.usmle.org/pdfs/transcripts/USMLE_Step_Examination_Score_Interpretation_Guidelines.pdf

 

[NicMouse64]

just wondering, this average around 240 is that for anesthesia or IM? ty!

it is 233 per charting outcomes.

 

[deleted697127]

Hey y'all, hope everyone is doing well and I hope I'm posting this in the right place!

Recently got step 1 score back of 239, I go to low-tier MD school in the NE, and was just wondering if I could still get into top tier programs in the area such as the big 4 in NYC? Thank you for any advice and feedback!

Look dude. According to Doximity’s rankings which are apparently worth a billion dollars, Dartmouth and Ohio State are 45 and 46 of 158 total anesthesia programs. The rankings are skewed towards bigger programs being at the top and overall don’t really matter. (Literally the bottom 20 are 5 residents per class) There were 1884 slots last year for all of anesthesia. Assuming there are 20 spots per program x 45, this accounts for 900 spots essentially in the top 50.

My point is there are a zillion good programs and even more slots for qualified students. You’d be fine at Dartmouth or OSU and your grandma would still be proud. You have an average application. That’s fine. This isn’t derm or ortho. Just don’t be weirdo and you’ll match somewhere you’re happy in the general region you’re interested in, likely at one of the ones you’re mentioning here. I’m pretty sure I’ve seen every “top” program in anesthesia have to soap at least once in the past decade.

You are firmly in the middle of the pack that’s unlikely to get talked about at rank meetings unless you do something really awesome, really obnoxious, or just plain weird.

*recent Doximity reserved shareholder

 

[secretasianman]

With this kind of question, if you somehow knew the answer, that would change your plan how?