I totally disagree...posting USMLE scores on this website IS of help to some people.

Your points about the USMLE being discussed way too much on this site are dead on. And your points about rotating at a place and making a good impression are 100% right. But like it or not, Step I scores are important in getting interviews (as you noted), and getting interviews gets you a match.

People use this site to be able to compare their own numbers and resumes with others and see where they fit. So while I agree with you that the message needs to get out that there are many other things to focus on besides scores, I believe the statement that "Posting USMLE scores on here is of no help to anyone" is wrong. We need to see scores and hear stories to know that all is not gained/lost with a good/bad Step I.

You have to agree with this: EVERYONE knows before applying or thinking about ortho what a good score is. Average is 215, above average is OK, but 230 seems to be about the cutoff for interviews.

I'm tired of reading this post:

step I: 245
step II: 240
AOA: yes
Publications: 3

am I good enough??

On paper yes, of course, but in person, maybee not. There has to be a reason why a candidate is not ranked as high as another with the same stats, because most do have the same.

I also love the post: " I can't believe that I matched!!" with those same stats - B.S. Stop boasting about how good you are on paper and show me in person....

No, I don't have to agree with that, because if everyone knew what good scores were, we wouldn't have a bunch of questions like, "I got a 241, is that good?" as you said. Some people get bad information, like there's no way you can match with a 220, or there's no way you can match without >240, or there's no way you can match without publications. I had a guy at my med school orientation say in a panel discussion that if you want to do Ortho, don't even try unless you have a publication. This is complete bull shit- but I didn't know that at the time and got all worried. We're medical students...that's what we do. We overanalyze. We worry. We bicker and complain. Sad but true.

Don't misinterpret my earlier post or this one. I totally agree with you on most accounts, as I previously stated. Some people post like that just to blow their own horn, and when they do, usually the entire site, myself included, jumps on them. But some people genuinely don't know because they've heard stories and legends told by people who don't really have a clue what they're talking about. That's why they come here...to talk with people who are actually going through the process.

In the end, the whole process is imperfect and doesn't let programs see what they really need to see. On that point, I totally agree with you. That being said, I don't see many ways to significantly change it. You can't rotate everywhere. You can't test ortho knowledge, because most of us aren't taught much Ortho, with the slant of our education to primary care. You can't test someone's visual-spatial skills adequately. Oh well...

How hard am I working today? Two posts within the hour should tell the tale. Fourth year rules...

I agree that people like to toot their own horn, but here is why I am so vocal about not talking so much about scores...

My medical school (A well known school in the NE) started an interest group to focus on everything BUT USMLE scores, because people weren't matching as high as they should have in the past given their scores. This was specifically in ortho. We began focusing on where to rotate, how to rotate, how to interview, practice interviews...etc. Since then our match has greatly improved as far as how many applicants have matched in their top 3.

I matched last year so I remember the stress of going through all of this and how difficult it was. I don't want good applicants to be disuaded because they don't have 240's. Picking the right place is impotant to rotate and the resources are here to figure out how to do find the right places, but all I've been reading about are the "top 20 programs" and "are my scores good enough".

I disagree with some of your points; scores are much more important than you imply. First, the Step 1 score is the number one criterion used for interviews. I only received 7 interviews (half the number of most of the people who post here), and I can only assume it's because of my 218 Step 1. Second, away rotations guarantee nothing: I received honors, outstanding letters of rec, and great comments from my first away rotation, but was DENIED an interview because of my Step 1 score (according to the program coordinator). Finally, it is not true that Step 1 scores mean very little once you've received the interview. I was asked about my score at a couple of my interviews, and we were told at several interviews that USMLE scores are certainly taken into consideration when the program creates its ROL.

It's true that scores are not the only aspect that programs examine, but their importance can't be denied. Posting scores here is an ENORMOUS help to applicants. It is interesting and informative to see where people end up matching with various scores. Additionally, seeing the number of 240s and 250s here motivated me to work and earn a 242 on step 2. The success stories of those with sub-220 step 1 scores were inspiring. I agree that the posts that ask "am I good enough" with a 240 step 1 are idiotic, but as rwbrhp noted, the post-match result posts are great to hear the stories and see where we fit in.

I think you're missing my point. I'm not saying that scores don't matter. Step I scores are the most important thing in getting an interview. But it is adressed too much here. My point was that more emphasis in this forum should be on other things.

Secondly, in choosing an away rotation, I encourage people to pick ones that pre-screen. If they pre-screened you and still didn't give you an interview knowing your scores before you rotated, that just wrong. For example, Northwestern says if you don't have the grades/scores to get in, they won't let you rotate.

You can ask any dean at your medical school how your scores rank to others across the county. They can tell you what the average score is for applicants, people who got rejected, people who got in. This message board should be used more for peoples ideas and comments on programs, and experiences, not just a place to post your score.

Here is the bottomline:
Posting scores is good in that we get a general sense of competitiveness of both applicants and programs. Scores are important. A 240 wont be overlooked. A 230 is competitive and most programs would want to talk to you. 220s still is not bad, if u apply heavy, you will still get interviews.
Having said all that, if you kick ass on aways or do well in school or publish articles, programs will overlook your low step 1.
It all depends on you present yourself in the big picture.
And dont listen to anyone on how many to apply. The majority of my interviews came from unsuspecting places. I say go for broke! My creditcards have hit the roof and I eat only at the free meals durng seminars/meetings at my med school.

I am sorry for those who didnt match this year. All I can say is do research or prelim and reapply. If you want ortho bad, you will get it.

BTW, rwbrhp29 I met you in Geisinger. How are things going. I am assuming you matched.

SwiftGhoul, I'm doing well, man. Happy to have matched and anxious about Thurs. Good luck!