clinical grades

[mjlmjl]

Just wondering... just how important are clinical grades for your cores? can they really help or hurt you come residency time? the reason why I ask is because I feel as though they are EXTREMELY subjective (whether outstanding or poor).
Mike

[rsgillmd]

They are definitely very subjective. A 4th year warned us of that during orientation at the start of 3rd year. Don't worry about it too much. From what I hear, almost everyone gets "B's." When the school writes your Dean's Letter/MSPE they include comments from your evals for each rotation.

Score well on Step 1 and Step 2, get good letters of recommendation, and most importantly learn the medicine. If you know your stuff, it'll show in your letters and during interviews.

I signed outside the match with Jersey City Medical Center for my prelim year. My performance during my interview, which was mainly grilling me on a scenario, was what got me the offer.

I got grilled at Maimonides also on a scenario. I ended up matching there for Anesthesia.

My point is don't worry about the grades, unless you get a "C," in which case you will probably have some explaining to do. Rather learn the medicine. It'll show. Clinicals are about much more than grades.

Ravpreet

[stephew]

Just wondering... just how important are clinical grades for your cores? can they really help or hurt you come residency time? the reason why I ask is because I feel as though they are EXTREMELY subjective (whether outstanding or poor).
Mike
they are very subjective and rather important. But your letters of rec are more important.

[IndianBabu]

Who do you look to for letters of recommendation for residency?

Is it usually the doctors you follow during clincals?


IndianBabu

[rsgillmd]

From what I was taught, ideally you should ask some who not only is highly ranked in the department, but at the same time you've worked with sufficiently long enough for them to form a good impression about you.

I realize that was a run-on sentence, but I hope I was clear.

2 of the 3 letters I had met that standard. One was from the Associate Chairman of Anesthesia at St. Barnabas, and the other was from the program director of Surgery at St. Barnabas.

The program director for St. Barnabas runs the Burn ICU. I spent the month of July doing a rotation there. I was an oddity in there because I didn't want to become a surgeon. I did the elective out of pure fascination with the topic of burns. A lot of the competitive students will do a Burn ICU rotation to try to impress him.

The reason I mention that anecdote is if you are considering doing your residency at a certain place, see if you can do a rotation with a program director there. It'll allow you to make a good enough impression that you may get a good letter of recommendation out of it, and it may help you stick out among the dozens of candidates being considered for a residency spot.

Ravpreet

[nadab]

Now that I have gone through all this stuff, I can comment on this topic, since I have spoken to a variety of people about this very opinionated subject (I believe).

I am convinced that many programs consider you primarily because of your Step 1 score. Everything else is relative. But, at the same time, if you have a decent GPA (like a B average) and some good letters of recommendation, it won't hurt either. And, the business of networking is something to have in mind. Get to know the Program Directors, Attending Physicians, Program Co-ordinators! It could make your life easier. It is better because once interview season hits, you are a familiar face. Hopefully, you will have a good application too, but I am convinced that familiarity is important.

More to come on this topic, I am sure.

Dr. N.B.

[stephew]

actually i respecfully disagree with nada, sorta.

The step one scores do matter yes, and there is no way around that. But students, and especially imgs, get so caught up in that they forget the other things which make a big difference.

So putting aside the step one for a moment...

Threre is also your letters; they should come not from a resident but an attending. If you can get the director or chair, all the better. Again, not a resident. Your grades matter. Is a "B" bad? well no but you dont want it in your field youre going to. How do you ask and when? Best to ask while your doing/finishing the rotation while they know you. And stay in touch with the person. Do not ask to see the letter but they will usually show it to you anyway. A good way to ask? "Dr Jones, would you feel comfortable writting a strong letter of recommendation for me"? This gives them an out.

What else? Research particularly for specialized or competitive fields. It gives you a huge edge.

hey and dont forget the step two- it can help you if you bombed the step one.

Finally your interview day. Huge. Yes this matters. A lot. THese people want to work with someone they will like and who wont give them grief. Things to do: be nice, be friendly, look like you are enjoying yourself, be nice to the other candidates. Things not to do: be arrogent, a jerk, rude, a show off. You can ask about call and things like that but be smart- ask the residents not the attendings.

I had board scores that were respectable, but nothing more. BUt i had research, great letters and a great interivew. That's it.[/b]

[truthseeker]

Hello,
Steph I wanted to ask you a questions regarding your post..
How did you go about getting research. Did u do research on the islands or did you do it in the states???

Thanks..
take cares
Bye

[stephew]

Hello,
Steph I wanted to ask you a questions regarding your post..
How did you go about getting research. Did u do research on the islands or did you do it in the states???

Thanks..
take cares
Bye
the states but I did it prior to medical school and while in school. Just find someone who wants to publish and who will give you credit for your work.