Grading system at AUC?

[Kriterion]

do they have regular grading system for basic sciences i.e A,B, or C or do they just do a Pass/Fail kinda thing?

also i think i read somewhere that they have paper and pencil tests, thats kinda arcane, IMO tho staring a computer screen for a couple hours is enough to give anyone a headache.

also are the tests multiple choice or essay or short answer or a combo?

[slevit1]

do they have regular grading system for basic sciences i.e A,B, or C or do they just do a Pass/Fail kinda thing?

also i think i read somewhere that they have paper and pencil tests, thats kinda arcane, IMO tho staring a computer screen for a couple hours is enough to give anyone a headache.

also are the tests multiple choice or essay or short answer or a combo?

Honor/Pass/Fail, paper and pencil, multiple choice (scantron).

[Nelphus]

Edit : already posted previously

[slevit1]

Edit : already posted previously

two minutes too slow....sorry ;)

[Kriterion]

thanks a lot

[FOID]

step 1 is computerized

[Kriterion]

yea i know...

[rocketinpocket]

they actually give you letter grades but as slevit said honor/pass/fail is what really matters. They give you letter grades so they can rank you. The big debate here seems to be if your rank actually matters or not. I have no idea whether is does or not but I am not gonna waste time worrying about it.

P = M.D.

[Itempest]

Was wondering, from a matching perspective - all that matters is your USMLE, right? Does having good grades in Med school give a competitive edge at all? Or I suppose getting good grades is a way to find a professor who'll write a good rec?

[Kriterion]

do we need rec letters when applying for residency? i hated obtaining rec letters...

[BiologyBY]

I believe LORs help

[CaptainInsaneO]

You absolutely, 100%, no-way-around-it, need LORs for residency.

Why do you hate getting them?

[stateofequilibrium]

do we need rec letters when applying for residency? i hated obtaining rec letters...

You absolutely need them for residency application. There's a bunch of hoops and whistles you need to go through for the ECFMG now though. So it goes like this:

Me with my hat in my hand begging: Could you please write me a letter of rec?
Attending: Sure.
Me: Great, here's a huge list of things YOU need to do as well in order for it to be sent in.

[Kriterion]

You absolutely need them for residency application. There's a bunch of hoops and whistles you need to go through for the ECFMG now though. So it goes like this:

Me with my hat in my hand begging: Could you please write me a letter of rec?
Attending: Sure.
Me: Great, here's a huge list of things YOU need to do as well in order for it to be sent in.

can you explain the hoops and whistles thing?

does this mean the person writing my letter has to do a whole lot of crap? wouldn't that just piss em off?

[CaptainInsaneO]

can you explain the hoops and whistles thing?

does this mean the person writing my letter has to do a whole lot of crap? wouldn't that just piss em off?


It is part of the system. You do a good job, they reward you with a glowing LOR. Then, when you're a chief resident or attending, you do the same.

[stateofequilibrium]

It is part of the system. You do a good job, they reward you with a glowing LOR. Then, when you're a chief resident or attending, you do the same.

Not quite, the hoops and whistles I was referring to was a whole list that the ECFMG has out there on what is a valid LOR. Such as signing in blue ink, etc.

[Kriterion]

Not quite, the hoops and whistles I was referring to was a whole list that the ECFMG has out there on what is a valid LOR. Such as signing in blue ink, etc.

that seems quite pedantic and over-the-top, IMO. i mean if you've come so far as to apply for a residency who cares what color the ink is in?

i hope the ECFMG doesn't expect me to be wearing underwear when i ask for a LOR

[Scott1981]

i remember telling my LOR writers to just save a copy on their computer. when the time came that i needed it, they can just send it off complete at that time with the cover sheet that i got from eras. and yes, it was a pain in the butt.