Why Are People Afraid To Tell Others Their Scores?

[automan2]

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Just curious, why is everyone so secretive? People will hint that "I did good" or "I did ok" but rarely do others give out their actual scores.

Are people embarrassed of their scores? Are people afraid of putting others down because they did better?

I don't have a problem telling someone my score if they are curious, and that goes equally when I score a 65 or a 95.

Everyone is naturally curious about how other students are doing, that is a major reason most of you are on this board in the first place. Why is it that everyone wants to know everybody else's scores, but they don't like sharing themselves?

 

[docmode]

My guess is when they said they did well, is that they are avoiding bragging or making others feel bad. The ones that do not do as well sometimes disclose their score for needed support. The higher scores do not warrant support. It's really a very private matter, kind of like your personal income.

 

[automan2]

But why?

I like the analogy to money, but I don't get why people are so private about that either. Why to people f'n care so much?

It's just a number, it doesn't define you as a person.

 

[blz]

i would say if someone asked me. i really could care less about how other people score. i think in general, people have a good idea who is going to score high and low in their class.

 

[Ashers]

I don't plan on telling people in my class my score because I have friends who got mad when I scored higher than they on exams. I also don't want to tell my sister who's starting her M2 year at a different med school because we've always been highly competitive. I've got a select few people I'll tell, but, still yet, they're not in my class.

Here's a brief example of 1 reason why I don't want to tell based on some people who graduated in May. Two guys scored really close to each other. One got a 230 and the other a 233. The guy who got a 230 matched into ophtho, the one with the 233 went into ER. Mr. 233 lorded it over Mr. 230 that he did better on the boards.

Some of my friends are definitely like that, especially since right now, everyone in my class knows I've wanted to go into ortho since the beginning of med school. I could change because my score sucked, or I could change because I really want to do endocrinology instead, and no one would be sure.

 

[PeepshowJohnny]

I'm one of those guys who always gives a qualifier about an exam "I did ok" "Good, but I missed some dumb questions" "Not as good as I wanted".

The thing is, if I say my score, the other person is obligated to say there's. Now there are three options. A) We're in the same ballpark, everything's okay. B) I scored higher than him. He feels uncomfortable telling me his score. C)He scored higher than me. He feels uncomfortable telling me because he did better.

Personally, I don't care and I'll tell someone right out what my score is if they ask for it specifically, but I'll only say it if asked. My one exception was the MCAT where I was so happy with my grade I slapped it in my AIM profile. I inadvertently offended a friend of mine who thought I was trying to upstage her (She had put her score, just a few points lower in her profile right before I did). It was all a misunderstanding and we smoothed it over, but I don't go around shouting my scores anymore.

 

[godschosenone]

Though I revealed mine here, I normally don't. I only decided to state it here because I normally do well, and this is one instance where I did completely the opposite. But I did on SDN because I felt someone else might benefit from my story somehow. Generally, I feel it's no one else's business, so don't ask. What difference does it make to you to know my score? Answer: none.

 

[eforest]

When I take a test, I'm aiming for a score that's good "for me." When I took the MCAT, I was aiming for above a 35. I got a 38, and was happy that I did well. Someone who's aiming for a 31 and gets a 34 probably would feel the same way I did. So it's not about the specific score with me, it's more about how I feel about it. When asked, I usually just said that I did well and was happy.

 

[Terpskins99]

Just curious, why is everyone so secretive? People will hint that "I did good" or "I did ok" but rarely do others give out their actual scores.

Are people embarrassed of their scores? Are people afraid of putting others down because they did better?

I don't have a problem telling someone my score if they are curious, and that goes equally when I score a 65 or a 95.

Everyone is naturally curious about how other students are doing, that is a major reason most of you are on this board in the first place. Why is it that everyone wants to know everybody else's scores, but they don't like sharing themselves?

How about the most obvious reason... common courtesy. Other people's scores are none of your business.

 

[ayanjoe]

well I'm the kind who says "it's okay", but for the ones who insist on knowing the real score I'd just try to know their score first and then add 30 points to theirs !
by the way those who insist on knowing your score are the ones who get relatively high ones, as above 230, so I guess I'll stick to 260 in order to unify my outspoken score ! lol

 

[doctorp82]

If you've got a good score and ask someone how they did, you'll feel like a rub for asking.

If you did less well than the friend you question, you might sound nosey, since people will know that person as the "guy who does really well".

If anything, tell a friend in school who isn't getting their step score the same time you do. There's less urge to feel comparable when you're hearing a score of someone who's taken it ahead of you.

 

[fun8stuff]

Just curious, why is everyone so secretive? People will hint that "I did good" or "I did ok" but rarely do others give out their actual scores.

Are people embarrassed of their scores? Are people afraid of putting others down because they did better?

I don't have a problem telling someone my score if they are curious, and that goes equally when I score a 65 or a 95.

Everyone is naturally curious about how other students are doing, that is a major reason most of you are on this board in the first place. Why is it that everyone wants to know everybody else's scores, but they don't like sharing themselves?

why do you want to know other people's scores? that is what i don't get... you get a sheet with your score that tells you how you did compared to other people who took the test...

 

[Law2Doc]

Just curious, why is everyone so secretive? People will hint that "I did good" or "I did ok" but rarely do others give out their actual scores.

Are people embarrassed of their scores? Are people afraid of putting others down because they did better?

I don't have a problem telling someone my score if they are curious, and that goes equally when I score a 65 or a 95.

Everyone is naturally curious about how other students are doing, that is a major reason most of you are on this board in the first place. Why is it that everyone wants to know everybody else's scores, but they don't like sharing themselves?

There is nothing more obnoxious than someone who does well lauding it over people. It's one of our basic social mores -- you don't gloat while there are less fortunate folks around. Not everyone is going to join in this celebration.

 

[Law2Doc]

But why?

I like the analogy to money, but I don't get why people are so private about that either. Why to people f'n care so much?

It's just a number, it doesn't define you as a person.

To many people their earning power translates into how successful they are, and so in that sense it does define them as people. You will see folks driving flashy cars and wearing rolexes to try and show they are somebodies, and folks who are really somebodies downplaying their wealth. In the US the wealthy are both celebrities and targets, so you need to be cautious how you flaunt it.

 

[Medikit]

This thread is the precursor to Wednesday's post your score thread

 

[neoncandle]

So, I told some people and I instantly regret it. So, I support the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. I told some people on here, because even if there are some one here who know me in real life, there aren't many. Right? Anyway, I wanted someone to be happy with me. I don't care if I shouldn't need support from my friends, I always want them to know where I am at. I am happy for them when something cool happens to them.

 

[Law2Doc]

Anyway, I wanted someone to be happy with me. I don't care if I shouldn't need support from my friends, I always want them to know where I am at.

You need to be happy for yourself and not have others' constant approval; if you can't, you are just too needy a person, and this likely will manifest itself negatively in a wide variety of facets in your life.

 

[sunnysideOS]

it comes down to people being super competitive

 

[71263]

it comes down to people being super competitive

It can start drama. I was very careful about who I told my score to, and I almost always found out their score in return. I make it a pt. not to tell anyone someone else's score, unless they made it public.