Why DO Step averages vary?

[The Knife & Gun Club]

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So we always hear on here that Step 1 scores are more based on the individual than the school and that step averages are a pretty useless tool when comparing med schools.

So my question is why do they vary that much at all then? Basically what factors do cause a noticeable effect on Average performance.

If you think this is a dumb question I appreciate your opinion, so explain why it is a dumb question

 

[trs88]

Same reason why mcat scores vary so much. Each student has a different classroom setting that focuses on different aspects of the same topic, different resources used to study, different length of study times, the drives behind each student, test taking ability, natural talent when it comes to studying.

 

[JessebenBenjamin]

Same reason why mcat scores vary so much. Each student has a different classroom setting that focuses on different aspects of the same topic, different resources used to study, different length of study times, the drives behind each student, test taking ability, natural talent when it comes to studying.

Also... selection.
Don't expect people that got into top 10 schools to do poorly on their steps...

 

[The Knife & Gun Club]

Also... selection.
Don't expect people that got into top 10 schools to do poorly on their steps...

Thats the whole reason I made this post though. The average step at a great school is not significantly better than at a low tier school.

A good example is Miami (step avg 230) and FIU (step avg 238). Both in the same location, seeing a very similar patient base, many of the FIU professors were poached from Miami, and almost identical preclinical grading systems.

Yet despite UM being substantially more competitive (LizzyM of 71 vs 67 at FIU), FIU performed better on their steps by more than a margin of error. Just wondering if anyone has opinions about why something like this would occur

*not specific to UM/FIU, those are just 2 schools I'm familiar with. I know the trend of step scores not aligning with competitiveness extends to most US schools*

 

[ERDOC555]

Following!

I've posted similar threads before and they always get heated answers but never get a great conclusion.

My thoughts are that there are two main factors:
1. Smarter students get into better schools, which is probably the larger factor.
2. Exceptions to factor 1 come from poor/stellar pre-clinical curriculum meaning that it teaches to the test or teaches random stuff.

 

[mimelim]

Thats the whole reason I made this post though. The average step at a great school is not significantly better than at a low tier school.

A good example is Miami (step avg 230) and FIU (step avg 238). Both in the same location, seeing a very similar patient base, many of the FIU professors were poached from Miami, and almost identical preclinical grading systems.

Yet despite UM being substantially more competitive (LizzyM of 71 vs 67 at FIU), FIU performed better on their steps by more than a margin of error. Just wondering if anyone has opinions about why something like this would occur

*not specific to UM/FIU, those are just 2 schools I'm familiar with. I know the trend of step scores not aligning with competitiveness extends to most US schools*

Link to reliable sources of medical school step 1 numbers please.

 

[CheA]

I wouldn't be surprised if average step 1 scores were highers at schools where pre-clinical classes teach to the exam. I imagine more prestigious schools tend not to teach to exams because that would be considered to be beneath their scholarly ideals.

 

[The Knife & Gun Club]

Link to reliable sources of medical school step 1 numbers please.

Yea, that's one of the problems, obviously no uniform source of information. The numbers I'm quoting are from interview info sessions, so I guess the school could've fudge them. Although I'd imagine that a school wouldn't knowing deceive their interviewees with fake or padded answers.

to clarify this was more of a theoretical question...as in if something were afecting averages what would it be. Not intending to compare actual schools (dubious) numbers

 

[getdown]

So why do you care? Will it effect your school choice?

 

[chillaxbro]

I wouldn't be surprised if average step 1 scores were highers at schools where pre-clinical classes teach to the exam. I imagine more prestigious schools tend not to teach to exams because that would be considered to be beneath their scholarly ideals.

Also, low tier schools teach to the boards so they can get higher averages and not look as low tier

 

[Cytarabine]

Also, low tier schools teach to the boards so they can get higher averages and not look as low tier

As someone at a low tier that is soooo not true. Meanwhile upenn has like 10 weeks of dedicated time. Almost all true p/f are at upper tier schools as well

 

[Pastamahn]

As someone at a low tier that is soooo not true. Meanwhile upenn has like 10 weeks of dedicated time. Almost all true p/f are at upper tier schools as well

Dedicated personal study time is different than actually having the class teach to the boards, though.

 

[Cytarabine]

Dedicated personal study time is different than actually having the class teach to the boards, though.

It is, but if the goal of the school was to maximize step scores, it would follow that they'd use more than one approach ("teach to the boards"), no? My printed class notes for the first 2 years were over 5 feet tall stacked, which is slightly beyond the scope of boards

 

[Goro]

Some schools teach to the boards, others don't. Individual mileage can vary amongst different medical students. Some schools also game the system by delaying when their weakest students can take the exam.

My students who do poorly on COMLEX tend to be poor students to begin with, and have poor work ethics to boot. Good students who do poorly tend to have gotten nailed by some life event.

So we always hear on here that Step 1 scores are more based on the individual than the school and that step averages are a pretty useless tool when comparing med schools.

So my question is why do they vary that much at all then? Basically what factors do cause a noticeable effect on Average performance.

If you think this is a dumb question I appreciate your opinion, so explain why it is a dumb question