What score is in the "wow" category?

[Chris Benoit]

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Yes, a very shallow thread.

Not what's competitive, or what will seal the deal for any residency.

What score is like "40 and above" on the MCAT?

 

[SRK Jerk]

It seems hard to compare the two, no?

But, I guess I'd say "wow" to someone with over a 260. Kind of like to someone with a 40 or more.

 

[rgerwin]

I would like to think if you suck as a doctor, no score will "seal the deal."

 

[ZagDoc]

Don't know if there's a "wow" score that is "wow" enough to get you a residency spot solely on your Step 1 score. They probably exist, but its very specialty/program dependent.

All you can realistically hope to gain with a Step 1 score is to not be automatically declined for an interview during the pruning process by being below their cutoff; or more specifically, having high enough of a score to prompt them to say "this is someone we'd like to meet face to face". Once you get that interview its all about how they see you fitting with the program and what they think of your potential competence as an intern. Can your Step 1 score help in biasing how they view your competence? Sure, but I dont know if you could put a number to that in the context of everything else on your application.

 

[Whats_up_doc]

Don't know if there's a "wow" score that is "wow" enough to get you a residency spot solely on your Step 1 score. They probably exist, but its very specialty/program dependent.

All you can realistically hope to gain with a Step 1 score is to not be automatically declined for an interview during the pruning process by being below their cutoff; or more specifically, having high enough of a score to prompt them to say "this is someone we'd like to meet face to face". Once you get that interview its all about how they see you fitting with the program and what they think of your potential competence as an intern. Can your Step 1 score help in biasing how they view your competence? Sure, but I dont know if you could put a number to that in the context of everything else on your application.

This is just some great advice!!! Who needs SDN advisors when we have ZagDoc. Dude, seriously, you have your feet on the ground.

 

[kmal1]

anything above 255 = 95th percentile?.

 

[Deferoxamine]

"wow" category = 185+

Pull 1,000 people off the street. RIGHT. EFFIN. NOW. 990+ of them can't score this high. 800 of them can't score this high if they tried and tried and tried and tried.

Now close this thread.

 

[winthug]

I just found out yesterday that i got a 257 and I was pretty wowed by that. 😀

 

[Guyton Killah]

275

 

[hanky1982]

"wow" category = 185+

Pull 1,000 people off the street. RIGHT. EFFIN. NOW. 990+ of them can't score this high. 800 of them can't score this high if they tried and tried and tried and tried.

Now close this thread.

maybe one of the best lines ever written

 

[ObamaCare]

IMO:

on SDN, 260+ stands out

in real life, 250+ stands out

applying to residency, 240+ will get you considered at any program for any specialty

185+ will land you a residency program!

 

[NCF145]

imo:

On sdn, 260+ stands out

in real life, 250+ stands out

applying to residency, 240+ will get you considered at any program for any specialty

qft

 

[rahulb]

a 300 will wow nbme into investigating your test and making you retake it

 

[McGillGrad]

2 standard deviations above the mean

 

[scube]

just like the MCAT i'd be wowed if you got a 40

 

[Sislo]

Yes, a very shallow thread.

Not what's competitive, or what will seal the deal for any residency.

What score is like "40 and above" on the MCAT?

Should be wowed anyone who finish the first block without peeing in their pants

 

[kmal1]

"wow" category = 185+

Pull 1,000 people off the street. RIGHT. EFFIN. NOW. 990+ of them can't score this high. 800 of them can't score this high if they tried and tried and tried and tried.

Now close this thread.

That's quite a God complex you have for doctors. It doesn't take a genius to pass step 1. With the right resources, time commitment, and money most anyone can pass.

 

[Garrison1]

That's quite a God complex you have for doctors. It doesn't take a genius to pass step 1. With the right resources, time commitment, and money most anyone can pass.

Seconded. Get off your high horse. This probably isn't the greatest thread of all time but I'm sure some people are interested. In my opinion 260 is the threshold for "wow"

 

[Deferoxamine]

That's quite a God complex you have for doctors. It doesn't take a genius to pass step 1. With the right resources, time commitment, and money most anyone can pass.

See boldfaced text.

Check your calendar. It's 2009. Americans are lazier than ever before. You've got a difficult time convincing me that most Americans are willing to work that hard, let alone have any concept of what REAL work ethic is anymore.

My comment had nothing to do with natural talents or smarts.

Seconded. Get off your high horse. This probably isn't the greatest thread of all time but I'm sure some people are interested. In my opinion 260 is the threshold for "wow"

So anything below a 260 doesn't impress you? Minimizing the efforts and accomplishments of ~95%+ of medical students? Well that's just terrific. I'll get off my "high horse" once you step down from your ivory tower.

 

[McGillGrad]

That's quite a God complex you have for doctors. It doesn't take a genius to pass step 1. With the right resources, time commitment, and money most anyone can pass.

You mean going through medical school? Um, yeah. That's the point he's making. Unless you put in 2 years of work plus 4 weeks of intense studying, you're not going to get close to passing.

Do you think you could pass the Bar exam right now? Does that make lawyers another professional with a God complex for stating that fact?

 

[kmal1]

You mean going through medical school? Um, yeah. That's the point he's making. Unless you put in 2 years of work plus 4 weeks of intense studying, you're not going to get close to passing.

Do you think you could pass the Bar exam right now? Does that make lawyers another professional with a God complex for stating that fact?

If 90% of med students can pass, a 185 is not impressive since almost any med student can get that score. However, 95% of students study their asses off and can't pull of a 255, that's why it's such a 'wow' score. Just because people are lazy and don't want to go through med school, doesn't make a 185 impressive...the minimum is never impressive.

 

[defcon8]

Honestly, if I was a score <100 on SDN, it would "wow" me alot more than a score >260

 

[McGillGrad]

If 90% of med students can pass, a 185 is not impressive since almost any med student can get that score. However, 95% of students study their asses off and can't pull of a 255, that's why it's such a 'wow' score. Just because people are lazy and don't want to go through med school, doesn't make a 185 impressive...the minimum is never impressive.

You apparently did not read what Deferoxamine (or I) wrote...because you are talking about something totally different. You're talking about medical students, he is talking about the average person.

Build those reading skills, brah. They come in useful in life...

 

[kmal1]

"wow" category = 185+

Pull 1,000 people off the street. RIGHT. EFFIN. NOW. 990+ of them can't score this high. 800 of them can't score this high if they tried and tried and tried and tried.

Now close this thread.

So average people who tried and studied their hardest still can't pass step 1. Sounds like arrogance to me.

McGillGrad, we all know how to read, no need for ad hominem.

 

[McGillGrad]

So average people who tried and studied their hardest still can't pass step 1. Sounds like arrogance to me.

McGillGrad, we all know how to read, no need for ad hominem.

Yeah, that is exactly what I said. If you pull the average person off of the street and give them time to study for the step, they will not pass.

What exactly do you think 2 years of medical school is for before the step? Funtime?

 

[kmal1]

Yeah, that is exactly what I said. If you pull the average person off of the street and give them time to study for the step, they will not pass.

What exactly do you think 2 years of medical school is for before the step? Funtime?

I think 2 years would be enough. As I said before, anyone w/ enough money, time, and resources can pass...even 'average' Americans.

 

[NCF145]

What exactly do you think 2 years of medical school is for before the step? Funtime?

It was for me

 

[McGillGrad]

I think 2 years would be enough. As I said before, anyone w/ enough money, time, and resources can pass...even 'average' Americans.

Ok, you're apparently not playing with a full deck of cards. Like my momma always said, "never argue with an idiot because he will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience."

peace out

 

[bbtropi]

Ok, you're apparently not playing with a full deck of cards. Like my momma always said, "never argue with an idiot because he will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience."

peace out

Uh dude, the guy was being reasonable...you obviously didn't get a 'wow' score...sorry brah, no need to take it out on others.

 

[Garrison1]

See boldfaced text.

Check your calendar. It's 2009. Americans are lazier than ever before. You've got a difficult time convincing me that most Americans are willing to work that hard, let alone have any concept of what REAL work ethic is anymore.

My comment had nothing to do with natural talents or smarts.



So anything below a 260 doesn't impress you? Minimizing the efforts and accomplishments of ~95%+ of medical students? Well that's just terrific. I'll get off my "high horse" once you step down from your ivory tower.

I said what made me say "wow", not what I thought was impressive. But don't bother to read what I actually said. Look, the boards are hard and we all worked for it, but at the end of your career are you going to list passing step 1 as a great accomplishment? NO

 

[asdad]

I think 2 years would be enough. As I said before, anyone w/ enough money, time, and resources can pass...even 'average' Americans.

You have to remember that only 5-10% of medical school applicants manage to get into medical school. Getting into medical school is a big accomplishment and the average person off the street wouldn't be able to do this. Considering this (& that the admission committee selects the top 5-10% of applicants), it is safe to assume that the average person would struggle with Step 1, be it from lack of motivation / work ethic / intelligence / drive.

 

[McGillGrad]

Uh dude, the guy was being reasonable...you obviously didn't get a 'wow' score...sorry brah, no need to take it out on others.

Did you really create a new identity to back yourself up...lol... that's just sad!

 

[kmal1]

You have to remember that only 5-10% of medical school applicants manage to get into medical school. Getting into medical school is a big accomplishment and the average person off the street wouldn't be able to do this. Considering this, it is safe to assume that the average person would struggle with Step 1, be it from lack of motivation / work ethic / intelligence / drive.

Yeah I agree with that, but it still doesn't make a 185 impressive. Who actually believes this? Would you hire a lawyer who barely passed the bar?

Also, I understand your point concerning med school applicants, but I'm pretty sure that the overall acceptance rate is higher than 10%.

 

[asdad]

Y

Also, I understand your point concerning med school applicants, but I'm pretty sure that the overall acceptance rate is higher than 10%.

This site lists individual school acceptance rates (http://www.doctorpremed.com/medical-school-acceptance-rates.html), I am not sure what the overall acceptance rate is because people apply to more than 1 school. But yeah, it could be > 10 %. Good point.

 

[fergustsi]

Yeah I agree with that, but it still doesn't make a 185 impressive. Who actually believes this? Would you hire a lawyer who barely passed the bar?

Also, I understand your point concerning med school applicants, but I'm pretty sure that the overall acceptance rate is higher than 10%.

youll never know really. while the bar is graded with a numerical number, when applying for jobs you are only ever asked if you have passed the bar and have a license to practice, not what your score or percentile was. it seems medical students are the only ones obsessed with ranking ourselves, over and over and over and over again.

 

[defcon8]

Yeah I agree with that, but it still doesn't make a 185 impressive. Who actually believes this? Would you hire a lawyer who barely passed the bar?

Also, I understand your point concerning med school applicants, but I'm pretty sure that the overall acceptance rate is higher than 10%.

Amongst people in your field, a 185 might not be impressive. The average person will say "wow" and think you are smart to have gotten that far and become a doctor. They will not ask you if you are one of the 10% or less in the field who got a score above 260 on USMLE step 1...

 

[scube]

Honestly, if I was a score <100 on SDN, it would "wow" me alot more than a score >260

already made that joke. but thanks for the flattery via imitation

 

[kmal1]

youll never know really. while the bar is graded with a numerical number, when applying for jobs you are only ever asked if you have passed the bar and have a license to practice, not what your score or percentile was. it seems medical students are the only ones obsessed with ranking ourselves, over and over and over and over again.

True, but in general, would you want a doctor that barely passed, I'm sure that there are great doctors with low board scores. But a 185 is low enough to question one's understanding of basic fundamentals.

 

[kmal1]

Amongst people in your field, a 185 might not be impressive. The average person will say "wow" and think you are smart to have gotten that far and become a doctor. They will not ask you if you are one of the 10% or less in the field who got a score above 260 on USMLE step 1...

Right I agree. But residency directors, who make the final decisions will understand the difference between 185 and 260. So those are the people you want to impress.

 

[Doctor4Life1769]

You guys who are done ... go have a beer. Have 2 for me as well ...

 

[doogoshly]

You guys who are done ... go have a beer. Have 2 for me as well ...

done and done.

 

[Blesbok]

270+ is wow category. 260+ is damn good, but there are still quite a few people that get that high so it isn't a score that would really wow me.

 

[vin5cent0]

That's quite a God complex you have for doctors. It doesn't take a genius to pass step 1. With the right resources, time commitment, and money most anyone can pass.

Hence why he said to pull someone off the streets. I.e.. no test prep.

 

[Pinkertinkle]

260, or maybe 265. Don't forget even a very high step 1 score isn't all that helpful without doing well in other areas.

 

[igottaquestion]

260, or maybe 265. Don't forget even a very high step 1 score isn't all that helpful without doing well in other areas.

👍

No matter what side of the Step 1 average your intelligence/effort/luck placed you, Step 1 is done and third year isn't. Focus on what you can change.

 

[TMP-SMX]

270+ is wow category. 260+ is damn good, but there are still quite a few people that get that high so it isn't a score that would really wow me.

That's a high wow point. At a certain point, the difference between 90th and 99th percentile is very small in terms of questions. Anything 1SD above the mean is pretty stellar.

 

[a winner is you]

1.5 SDs, which is the 93rd percentile and is around a 250.