WHat should I do??

[FractureFixer]

---

Members don't see this ad.

so scores came back and i got a 228. I dont know If i should be happy or sad. I am in limbo here. I was planning on competitive specialty and their averages are 230. SO i missed it by two points......... I really do not want to go into FM and with this score i may have to.....anyone with advice??🙁

 

[Steiner]

228 is not a death sentence. Plenty of people match into competitive specialties w/ mid 220's. Apply across the spectrum of programs and you'll do what you want.

 

[ObamaCare]

no worries. Step I is just one piece of the application. Most people applying to competitive specialties w/ 220s match. Do research, get your name on a paper, do well in your clerkships, and you won't have any problem at all matching. Congrats on your score! Outside of SDN-world, it's considered very high.

 

[Whats_up_doc]

so scores came back and i got a 228. I dont know If i should be happy or sad. I am in limbo here. I was planning on competitive specialty and their averages are 230. SO i missed it by two points......... I really do not want to go into FM and with this score i may have to.....anyone with advice??🙁

This is the problem with med students (and residency directors) across the country. You have to "break" a score, or else your doomed. Dude, make sure you have other things in your application that make it shine. Is not the end of the world. And 228 FM --> give me a break. *sigh*

 

[Pixelthecat]

Looking at the stats in the outcomes document, I see that 25% of the folks who matched for dermatology, for example, had scores of 229 or less. Makes competitive a bit harder, but not impossible.

 

[fergustsi]

so scores came back and i got a 228. I dont know If i should be happy or sad. I am in limbo here. I was planning on competitive specialty and their averages are 230. SO i missed it by two points......... I really do not want to go into FM and with this score i may have to.....anyone with advice??🙁

dude, chill out. 228 is a great score. you arent doomed to FM. anesthesia avg is low 220s if i recall. the only things out of the running are plastics, prob derm, etc etc. the ultra elite 240+ specialties. you many even sneak into ortho if the numbers int he charting outcomes paper still hold true. you wont get your pick of a super selective location but you can still match. and if you truly want say derm, you should be willing to suck it up and live in alaska if you had to and then you can move post residency. youll be fine.

 

[Sartre79]

so scores came back and i got a 228. I dont know If i should be happy or sad. I am in limbo here. I was planning on competitive specialty and their averages are 230. SO i missed it by two points......... I really do not want to go into FM and with this score i may have to.....anyone with advice??🙁

Advice: stop being such a douche bag

 

[theman1990]

I suggest just giving up and resigning yourself to FM... NO ONE who scores below the average gets into whatever field they wanted. NO ONE. That's what makes derm so hard... Such a high average you are required to beat. Yup, you may want to go talk to your dean about leaving school completely with a score like that...

 

[Captopril]

Advice: stop being such a douche bag

Time and time again, I've given this same advice. Any program worth its salt would look into douchebaggery above all other aspects of an applications.

 

[Whats_up_doc]

Time and time again, I've given this same advice. Any program worth its salt would look into douchebaggery above all other aspects of an applications.

Seriously, this reflects the lack of maturity of some students across the nation. This theory of ALL or NOTHING.. argh, I see it in the amphitheather with stupid questions, I see it on SDN with people who fall behind by two points. So tired of it. It's an AVERAGE, which means people may score above or below... Many other things compose the application process. To the OP TOUGHEN UP, this is not high school anymore. Research your possibilities (talk to your dean or residency directors) and stop whining on SDN.

Thank you for being a responsible medical student. 😀

 

[rgerwin]

I agree. Believing everything is doomed over a really good score is ridiculous.

 

[maygrl110]

I agree. Believing everything is doomed over a really good score is ridiculous.

Agreed, too...it's not like you got a bad score....just work hard on rotations-honoring would help=), get good comments and letters, and make them know you are interested. Take a deep breath....it will be okay

 

[bambi]

When you say 230 is the average for whatever specialty is that the average for applicants or people actually doing the job? If it's the latter, surely there isn't a lot to worry about, half the people will be below the average and you only just missed it.

 

[TMP-SMX]

Half of the people are above the median and half below. Your primary goal is to get an interview. Being strong once getting past the initial screening process is something within your control. Put Step 1 behind you and be happy at your score.

 

[FractureFixer]

Thanks guys for the support. I guess there is nothing I can do now....🙁 I ll just have to try and honor my rotations this year (which may be harder than step one) so ill probably miss honors by 2 points also.....FML

 

[docbill]

Thanks guys for the support. I guess there is nothing I can do now....🙁 I ll just have to try and honor my rotations this year (which may be harder than step one) so ill probably miss honors by 2 points also.....FML

what an optimist!

 

[McGillGrad]

Thanks guys for the support. I guess there is nothing I can do now....🙁 I ll just have to try and honor my rotations this year (which may be harder than step one) so ill probably miss honors by 2 points also.....FML

Did you actually read the posts people made?

 

[scube]

Looking at the stats in the outcomes document, I see that 25% of the folks who matched for dermatology, for example, had scores of 229 or less. Makes competitive a bit harder, but not impossible.

Im glad someone else knows how to use that document. I don't know why everyone looks at where the peak is and goes most (which isn't always true) got 241-250 so im screwed with a 230.

 

[McGillGrad]

Im glad someone else knows how to use that document. I don't know why everyone looks at where the peak is and goes most (which isn't always true) got 241-250 so im screwed with a 230.

It's like everything else in life. There are the vast majority who go with the flow and the minority that go above and beyond the minimum and do extra research/work to get at the facts/results. That's why there's one leader and many followers. It just works better that way.