Why didn't I HONOR/High Pass my rotation???

[fj25]

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I just got my score score back from my family med rotation and I only got a Satisfactory. I'm angry! I tried really hard to do well. We were evaluated by people that we only worked 1 day with. How could they grade you based on that? I feel like I've been cheated and violated. I got a 68 on the Shelf (need a 56 to pass) I feel like I shouldn't have been so nice and not have taken crap from people and I would have gotten the same score. I feel like spitting on their cars! I worked really hard and I studied really hard. Do I need to study harder and work even harder? Then I would have never have time to even wash my ass. Maybe I need to show up dirty? Gosh, it makes no sense. At least I passed. I'm on OB now. We'll see. I can't do anything about it but try to learn from it.

 

[quideam]

Well... i'm going to take a wild guess here and say that it may be because of your shelf grade? Sorry 🙁... good luck w/ OB

 

[loveumms]

I just got my score score back from my family med rotation and I only got a Satisfactory. I'm angry! I tried really hard to do well. We were evaluated by people that we only worked 1 day with. How could they grade you based on that? I feel like I've been cheated and violated. I got a 68 on the Shelf (need a 56 to pass) I feel like I shouldn't have been so nice and not have taken crap from people and I would have gotten the same score. I feel like spitting on their cars! I worked really hard and I studied really hard. Do I need to study harder and work even harder? Then I would have never have time to even wash my ass. Maybe I need to show up dirty? Gosh, it makes no sense. At least I passed. I'm on OB now. We'll see. I can't do anything about it but try to learn from it.

So sorry about your experience ... that really sucks. Third year really seems like a crap shoot. I'm on surgery and we have NO idea who is grading us and what our grade really consists of. They told us its 50% evaluations then 40% exam and 10% from other crap but from what I've heard all the evaulations are "this student did well". Sounds kinda like your experience.

All I can say is you did your best and even though I'm sure its no consolation at least you can walk away saying you tried. I'm not sure how important family medicine is unless you want to go into it.

 

[TruTrooper]

Unfortunately, this is the way things work. I know it sux. This is why evals are really B.S. I remember working with a guy for only 1 case in the clinic and I heard him sort of arguing with another Attending as I walked past his office that I was a satisfactory student and didn't deserve honors.

I worked on another rotation and it was the hardest I worked on any other even though I was not planning on going into the field. I studied my butt and could answer most pimp questions thrown at me and worked about 5xs harder than the other students and was told by my senior that I was doing a terrific job. The education director evaluated me even though I never rounded with him. He gave me all honor marks in all areas except for one which was satisfactory. That one mark ruined my chance for honors because it was one of the five areas that I had to get an honor mark in order to honor the clerkship. I wondered why in the hell would he just leave that 1 mark out.

Another Attending evaluated me during a clerkship and he rounded with me only once and never even asked me one pimp question and wrote one line on my eval on my eval claiming that I performed satisfactorily.

This is just the way the cookie crumbles during clerkships. I realized that you basically have to brown nose in some sort of way to get honors clinically. I'll just take the satisfactory.

 

[loveumms]

This is just the way the cookie crumbles during clerkships. I realized that you basically have to brown nose in some sort of way to get honors clinically. I'll just take the satisfactory.

I feel the same way - I refuse to "kiss a**" to get a good grade. I realize that you have to be nice and seem interested in attendings and residents but I absolutely will not kiss someones a**.

I sometimes see my classmates saying stupid things like "oh, I've always wanted to be a surgeon" when they were just talking about how much they hate surgery. Then when the attending asks them why they have always wanted to be a surgeon, the student comes up with some lame answer that sounds pitiful. When asked if I want to go into surgery by one of my attendings I tell them the truth (ie "no") or just say "I am leaving all my options open".

I feel like most of the time the attendings and residents can see right through this type of behavior and I know if it was me I would get really annoyed by seeing students fall all over themselves trying too hard to impress. I could be totally wrong but if I can see right through these types then I certainly hope that those who are more wise then me can too.

 

[fj25]

Thanks guys. I feel much better now than when I was frustrated earlier. I did try my best but I guess that is how it goes. How knows what will happen in the future? maybe it wasn't all bad

I just got my score score back from my family med rotation and I only got a Satisfactory. I'm angry! I tried really hard to do well. We were evaluated by people that we only worked 1 day with. How could they grade you based on that? I feel like I've been cheated and violated. I got a 68 on the Shelf (need a 56 to pass) I feel like I shouldn't have been so nice and not have taken crap from people and I would have gotten the same score. I feel like spitting on their cars! I worked really hard and I studied really hard. Do I need to study harder and work even harder? Then I would have never have time to even wash my ass. Maybe I need to show up dirty? Gosh, it makes no sense. At least I passed. I'm on OB now. We'll see. I can't do anything about it but try to learn from it.

 

[nerfherder]

I feel like I shouldn't have been so nice and not have taken crap from people and I would have gotten the same score. I feel like spitting on their cars!

hehe...welcome to third year. For your own insanity, don't think OB/GYN is going to be any better. Anyways don't take the evals personally. Keep your spirits up and you should get some good evals along the way.

 

[babyruth]

Do you get to choose who does your eval? Is it just the preceptor or is it a combination of all the docs you worked with? Some students get to choose which doc does there eval. and sometimes it is better to pick the doc you worked with the best. If not, I sympathize but at least you didn't get moderate or unsatisfactory. Maybe you could also ask the preceptor what you need to work on so that you can improve your clinical skills?

 

[Ice-1]

Keep your chin up and don't let it get you down. This sort of thing has happened to all of us. Seems like when I work the hardest on a rotation I get only average scores and when I lay back and don't work that hard I get excellent scores from evaluators. It's disappointing when you have worked hard and the attendings say good things to your face to then get an average eval, but the only thing you can do is just move on.

 

[dynx]

f-it. Move on man. if you did good on the boards THAT is what matters. I have been told by res. directors that objective scores and papers they can read are what matter. They know that 3rd year is BS...don't let the suck asses that fell off for the boards tell you otherwise they just hope that there evals cut it...maybe they can get into the best family practice res in the country.

 

[Trajan]

I just got my score score back from my family med rotation and I only got a Satisfactory. I'm angry! I tried really hard to do well. We were evaluated by people that we only worked 1 day with. How could they grade you based on that? I feel like I've been cheated and violated. I got a 68 on the Shelf (need a 56 to pass) I feel like I shouldn't have been so nice and not have taken crap from people and I would have gotten the same score. I feel like spitting on their cars! I worked really hard and I studied really hard. Do I need to study harder and work even harder? Then I would have never have time to even wash my ass. Maybe I need to show up dirty? Gosh, it makes no sense. At least I passed. I'm on OB now. We'll see. I can't do anything about it but try to learn from it.

It sounds like your demeanor in the office was "so nice" only because you wanted a good grade and not because you actually are a pleasant person. Perhaps your preceptor saw through the act. Further, your shelf grade was fine but unimpressive. Everyone can't honor everything.

You passed. Move on. Get over yourself.

 

[kaos]

f-it. Move on man. if you did good on the boards THAT is what matters. I have been told by res. directors that objective scores and papers they can read are what matter. They know that 3rd year is BS...don't let the suck asses that fell off for the boards tell you otherwise they just hope that there evals cut it...maybe they can get into the best family practice res in the country.

Yeah, but what if you didn't do well on boards and wanted to make up for it by doing well during the rotations?

 

[TruTrooper]

f-it. Move on man. if you did good on the boards THAT is what matters. I have been told by res. directors that objective scores and papers they can read are what matter. They know that 3rd year is BS...don't let the suck asses that fell off for the boards tell you otherwise they just hope that there evals cut it...maybe they can get into the best family practice res in the country.

Now, now, Dynx..don't come down on Family Practice like that. It is a very honorable specialty. They help to keep people out of hospitals. There were a few AOA students from my school's last year graduating class who chose FP and I have a couple of friends who were in the top quarter of their class that matched in FP and Psychiatry last year.

 

[TruTrooper]

Yeah, but what if you didn't do well on boards and wanted to make up for it by doing well during the rotations?

If you don't do well on Step 1, the only thing you can count on to make up for it is doing well on Step 2. You definitely can't and shouldn't count on clinical evals unless you are a tried, true and tested brown-noser with much confidence in your skills.

 

[peehdee]

I think they really should have 2 grades for clinical stuff. One for the shelf exam and another for the 'evaluation' part. I have a friend who did really really well on all aspects of the clinical stuff (H, P, sympathy, etc) but didn't do so well on the shelf. so should someone who is EXCELLENT on clinical stuff but can't remember the most facts shouldn't get honors or high pass? geez... it should say:
Shelf = P
Clinic = H

something like that?

 

[intoxicatedtiger]

I found that the harder I tried to get a good grade, the harder it was to get a good grade. I started getting outstanding remarks when I stopped doing things in my rotation just to get a good eval. My second half of my 3rd year, I completely lowered my expectations, and tried my absolute best with the hopes of just getting a satisfactory. I put in an effort to learn as much as I could and help out whenever possible. With this mentality, it seemed that I was able to "keep it real" and I guess it showed whether I wanted to or not. Everything became effortless effort. You know, it can be overbearing to residents and attendings to kiss butt and to have students tag around forever looking for opportunities to impress them. Help them out whenever the opportunity arises, but don't be around all the time waiting for that opportunity. Sometimes disappearing when not needed is a way to look good as well.

 

[Hurricane]

Pretty much everybody gets screwed over on at least one rotation.

I got my first pass recently, in my AI. If you read the dean's letter comments, it sounds like a textbook high pass, but when you convert all of the subjective evaulations that the preceptors have to check off, the numeric score is a pass.

It sucks, but there is nothing you can do about it. Just try and keep a positive attitude, and work towards learning rather than for grades.

 

[VincentAdultman]

Now, now, Dynx..don't come down on Family Practice like that. It is a very honorable specialty. They help to keep people out of hospitals. There were a few AOA students from my school's last year graduating class who chose FP and I have a couple of friends who were in the top quarter of their class that matched in FP and Psychiatry last year.

Seriously...I hate d-bags that take a condescending tone towards Family. I think I've said this before, but in the grand scheme of health care, it's probably a more important area than dermatology, radiology, etc.

With that said, I'm probably not doing FP 😉

 

[tupac_don]

I feel the same way - I refuse to "kiss a**" to get a good grade. I realize that you have to be nice and seem interested in attendings and residents but I absolutely will not kiss someones a**.

I sometimes see my classmates saying stupid things like "oh, I've always wanted to be a surgeon" when they were just talking about how much they hate surgery. Then when the attending asks them why they have always wanted to be a surgeon, the student comes up with some lame answer that sounds pitiful. When asked if I want to go into surgery by one of my attendings I tell them the truth (ie "no") or just say "I am leaving all my options open".

I feel like most of the time the attendings and residents can see right through this type of behavior and I know if it was me I would get really annoyed by seeing students fall all over themselves trying too hard to impress. I could be totally wrong but if I can see right through these types then I certainly hope that those who are more wise then me can too.

To tell you the truth, I think it comes down to your personality. Some people are just good at BSing and getting along with others. They know how to butter other people up and get themselves into a favorable position. I think that it's a skill and a personality trait. With attendings it's a hit or miss, they are busy, they see you once or twice form and impression about you and that's it. Although you would think that working hard would get you places and get you higher evaluation, not so always but it can. But I think I would just work hard and try to learn as much as you can in the specialty that you want to pursue. If some brown nosers got there by charm they will be quickly exposed during intern and resident year when they have to step up to the plate and have to take actual responsibility for their actions. Things will fall into place, just hang in there. Best of luck.

 

[tupac_don]

Seriously...I hate d-bags that take a condescending tone towards Family. I think I've said this before, but in the grand scheme of health care, it's probably a more important area than dermatology, radiology, etc.

With that said, I'm probably not doing FP 😉

Yea, but it's all about lifestyle and cash. I think radiology and dermatology would probably be snubbed if salary was low and it wasn't that competitive.

 

[VincentAdultman]

Yea, but it's all about lifestyle and cash. I think radiology and dermatology would probably be snubbed if salary was low and it wasn't that competitive.

There's no "think" about it.

Interesting when I think of all those jackasses I interviewed telling me how medicine was their "calling" and how they "just wanted to help people." How many of them were fos?

 

[kaos]

I guess it's like one of the interns on my team said: "If you want to do well, go out drinking with your attendings and get them laid."

 

[carrigallen]

I guess its a combination of luck, being personable, and genuine interest. I also think it is possible to "work" too hard and burn out.
I think it is probably better to put in a fresh 100% effort for 8 hrs of work than stay late. No one cares if you stay late, if anything this is just annoying for the resident.
Also, most med student duties aren't really work, in so far that the intern/resident could perform them just as easily without you.

 

[Back34]

I feel the same way - I refuse to "kiss a**" to get a good grade. I realize that you have to be nice and seem interested in attendings and residents but I absolutely will not kiss someones a**.

I sometimes see my classmates saying stupid things like "oh, I've always wanted to be a surgeon" when they were just talking about how much they hate surgery. Then when the attending asks them why they have always wanted to be a surgeon, the student comes up with some lame answer that sounds pitiful. When asked if I want to go into surgery by one of my attendings I tell them the truth (ie "no") or just say "I am leaving all my options open".

I feel like most of the time the attendings and residents can see right through this type of behavior and I know if it was me I would get really annoyed by seeing students fall all over themselves trying too hard to impress. I could be totally wrong but if I can see right through these types then I certainly hope that those who are more wise then me can too.

This is what I'm dealing with on medicine. I'm doing my rotation with the gunnerest of the gunners. He told a medicine attending that he really wants to do general medicine, turned around and fed a GI fellow a line of crap about how he always envisoned himself as a GI doc. I know for a fact that he's applying for derm, but won't say anything lest it affect his grade.