What does it take to get an interview from a big name IM program?

[Lord_Vader]

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Something like NYP or Harvard? Can you for example get an interview with just a high Step 1 and average clinical grades? Or do you need to have high grades all around with a high Step 1 score? And what is generally the cutoff these programs use for Step 1 anyway?

 

[the argus]

Well, there's no such thing as the Harvard Internal Medicine program, so the first thing it would take is probably a portal to another dimension...

 

[Redpancreas]

Something like NYP or Harvard? Can you for example get an interview with just a high Step 1 and average clinical grades? Or do you need to have high grades all around with a high Step 1 score? And what is generally the cutoff these programs use for Step 1 anyway?

I've heard it takes both as well as research. IM at the top is as competitive as anything else.


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[Anicetus]

Something like NYP or Harvard? Can you for example get an interview with just a high Step 1 and average clinical grades? Or do you need to have high grades all around with a high Step 1 score? And what is generally the cutoff these programs use for Step 1 anyway?

If you are not from a top institution (like really the top), an honors in internal medicine is almost required. Coming from a random MD school in bottom tier honoring Internal med IS required. Then obviously the obvious stuff (step 1 massively high with research things).

 

[WedgeDawg]

High step 1
Research productivity
Honoring IM
+/- AOA
+/- coming from a top school (top IM programs seem to like eating their own)

 

[dadaddadaBATMAN]

Something like NYP or Harvard? Can you for example get an interview with just a high Step 1 and average clinical grades? Or do you need to have high grades all around with a high Step 1 score? And what is generally the cutoff these programs use for Step 1 anyway?

Usually a firstborn. Try not to name them, you'll only get attached.


But the answer is probably more that it varies by the school. Most schools at the top will have a cut off step 1, some will also want step 2, and all of them will want strong clinical grades (especially in im and related disciplines). If you have outstanding research you might get by with a lower class rank than you would otherwise, but if you have to choose go with a better class rank.

Some powerhouses will want research (they want people to carry **** forward)

 

[Kgizzle]

Usually a firstborn. Try not to name them, you'll only get attached.


But the answer is probably more that it varies by the school. Most schools at the top will have a cut off step 1, some will also want step 2, and all of them will want strong clinical grades (especially in im and related disciplines). If you have outstanding research you might get by with a lower class rank than you would otherwise, but if you have to choose go with a better class rank.

Some powerhouses will want research (they want people to carry **** forward)

Does type of research matter?

 

[Goro]

Be a superstar. High step I is just for starters.

Something like NYP or Harvard? Can you for example get an interview with just a high Step 1 and average clinical grades? Or do you need to have high grades all around with a high Step 1 score? And what is generally the cutoff these programs use for Step 1 anyway?

 

[dadaddadaBATMAN]

Does type of research matter?

As a disclaimer applying to a different specialty right now, but the more Im related the research is the better. If you wanna go pulm eventually do pulm or cc clinical work, if you wanna do cards do cards, etc

 

[libertyyne]

Quality of research matters far more than type. But beyond that, yes.

Clinical or bench ?

 

[gregoryhouse]

I would say a PhD also helps at the top academic places.

 

[sliceofbread136]

255+ step, aoa and some amount of research/other major interest. I don't think it is as hard as some people make it

 

[sliceofbread136]

If you are not from a top institution (like really the top), an honors in internal medicine is almost required. Coming from a random MD school in bottom tier honoring Internal med IS required. Then obviously the obvious stuff (step 1 massively high with research things).

Beyond honoring, I think AOA/mostly honors is almost required if you come from a no name place. If they don't know your program they atleast want to know you are the best at said no-name place clinically

 

[Anicetus]

255+ step, aoa and some amount of research/other major interest. I don't think it is as hard as some people make it

I could name some easier things in life.

 

[sliceofbread136]

I could name some easier things in life.

Agreed, but you don't have to be completely perfect which is the impression a lot of posters give on here

 

[gregoryhouse]

Agreed, but you don't have to be completely perfect which is the impression a lot of posters give on here

Eh I dunno. I'm from a no name school and had all those things and still was passed up by several top programs. Talking with other people on the trail who ended up at those places had either a phd or came from a well known school.

 

[ortnakas]

255+ step, aoa and some amount of research/other major interest. I don't think it is as hard as some people make it

I could name some easier things in life.

What I think every time SDN makes being a top medical student sound easy.

Absolutely no shade thrown at you guys who are pulling it off and making it look easy! But the reality is that things like having a PhD, getting several publications, already being at a top school and scoring in the 90th percentile on your USMLE all at once isn't a likely scenario for most of us.

 

[sliceofbread136]

Eh I dunno. I'm from a no name school and had all those things and still was passed up by several top programs. Talking with other people on the trail who ended up at those places had either a phd or came from a well known school.

You still got some though right? To get all of them then you'll probably need a bit more.

What I think every time SDN makes being a top medical student sound easy.

Absolutely no shade thrown at you guys who are pulling it off and making it look easy! But the reality is that things like having a PhD, getting several publications, already being at a top school and scoring in the 90th percentile on your USMLE all at once isn't a likely scenario for most of us.

Ya my point was I dont think you need all those things, just some of them.

 

[Slack3r]

But the reality is that things like having a PhD, getting several publications, already being at a top school and scoring in the 90th percentile on your USMLE all at once isn't a likely scenario for most of us.

Then maybe a top tier program isn't for you?

 

[ortnakas]

Then maybe a top tier program isn't for you?

Never said it was! I never claimed to have Harvard (or wherever else top tier) aspirations. Props to you guys who do, seriously. I've got a lot of respect for you guys.

I'm just saying that SDN makes it sounds like being able to check all these boxes is the norm for all IM applicants, when really it's not.

(Was actually agreeing with @sliceofbread136)

 

[Redpancreas]

Something like NYP or Harvard? Can you for example get an interview with just a high Step 1 and average clinical grades? Or do you need to have high grades all around with a high Step 1 score? And what is generally the cutoff these programs use for Step 1 anyway?

Sorry if this detracts from the main post, but after thinking about this too for a while, I think as IM applicants, we also have to ask ourselves what the end goal of receiving a "top" residency is. I personally would love to practice at any suburban or urban center in a single-friendly city 😉 that trains me well in the bread and butter of IM (which is probably a lot) and has enough prestige to offer me a great chance at fellowship if I do well down the road. I'm not sure if that's necessarily only HYP, Johns, UCSF, etc.


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