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Realistically, chances with a 235 Step 1?

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ng08
  ng08
  Monday, 13 June 2011
  10 Replies
  6 Visits
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Hey all,

Long time listener, first time caller...

I've been trolling these forums ever since I started med school 2 years ago. It seems the main advice people gave was to CRUSH STEP 1. I studied my ass off, and somehow got 20 points lower than all my practice tests. I realize a 235 is a nice consolation prize and I'm sure there tons of students who would kill for it so I'm not complaining. I realize the average step 1 score for ortho is in the high 230's so I know its still doable.

Although I don't want to be one of those people who "might" match. I know of 3 students at my school last year with scores higher than mine who didn't match and attributed it to their board scores. Yes, I know the best thing I can do now is to work my ass off in M3 and try to annihilate step 2. I don't know if I am AOA material but am guessing I probably won't make the cut.

I was just wondering, if you were me, what would you do to ensure that you are not one of those 15% or so who do NOT match?

Thanks in advance.
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Guest
Guest
15 years ago
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#57485
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While im not going through the process till this upcoming year. I can say fairly certainty that your friends had 235+ on Step, it definitely was not the reason they didnt match it was something else.

I know this one guy has like a 255 step 1 is AOA (not applying to ortho), has research etc. However, he is a total douche bag and it is very evident within 10 mins of meeting him. His letters are most likely going to be crappy and no one wants to work with him. He will match somewhere but nowhere as good as he thinks he should be going and definitely no where he rotates
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Guest
Guest
15 years ago
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#57486
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Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner!

Scores only get you so far. Having a good personality, good work ethic, and all the other "intangibles" are what gets you into a competitive residency. If you have those, you'll be golden. You may or may not get into the residency spot of your dreams, but all things equal, your scores will not keep you out of a residency spot.
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Guest
Guest
15 years ago
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#57487
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Agreed. I had around a 225 Step 1 and only honored surgery and anatomy (with a lot of HP). I was still able to get 11 interviews, some very competitive academic programs and other less-competitive community programs. I matched at my first choice, and was told by my PD that my performance on my away rotation at his program put my application above others with much higher board scores and grades.

Basically, work your ass off in year 3 and on your away rotations. When it comes time for your application, try to highlight aspects which set you apart and will get your application pulled out of the pile.
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Guest
Guest
15 years ago
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#57488
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Thanks for the replies everyone. Its great to hear about your stories and it sounds like my application will be similar to most of yours. I know its certainly possible , but I guess what I'm wondering is if its PROBABLE to match with a score in mid-230s.

For some reason, there are 18 kids in my class who are interested in ortho and all but 3 have scores 240+, which I'm hoping isn't some kind of magic number for anything...
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Guest
Guest
15 years ago
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#57489
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It all depends on your personal definition of probable - is it 10%, 50%, 75% 95% etc. What is a "low probability" chance for you might be a "high probability" chance for someone else - and vice versa.

Look at 2009 Charting outcomes and you should be able to answer this question for yourself. I think they might be releasing 2011 data, but I am not positive.

Here is the link]www.aamc.org/students/download/ ... tcomes.pdf[/url]
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Guest
Guest
14 years ago
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#57490
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I got a 232 on Step 1 and matched, so its possible. I had just one research project and no spectacular extracurriculars. I did however get score in the mid 270s on Step 2 early which was brought up at all of my interviews.
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Guest
Guest
14 years ago
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#57491
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235, while slightly below avg, is not a death sentence. If you apply broadly and have an otherwise solid application this should not be an issue.

I agree with below, most people after not matching like to say that boards were the biggest factor and that may be the case if they applied to boards heavy programs that were way out of their reach...but it is much easier to state boards were the problem rather than actually admit you have a significant personality deficit or really didn't make a good impression on a rotation / interview.
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Guest
Guest
14 years ago
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#57492
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I personally have a friend who is a resident at the top ortho residency in NYC with a lower step 1 score. Very good guy, laid back and a hard worker. On the flip side, I interviewed a prelim GS resident who had over a 260 on his boards, junior AOA, research, #1 in his class - he didn't match twice. Within 2 minutes of interviewing the kid, I knew why.

Point is, don't exclude ortho based on a 235- if you want it bad enough, you will get there.
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14 years ago
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#57493
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If you don't mind me asking, What were those very competitive academic programs and less-competitive community programs? I've asked this question before, How do you know what are the more or less competitive programs out there???
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